Port St. Lucie, Fla. - So we were geared up driving to Tradition Field today knowing we’d be seeing Johan for the first time live in a Met uniform. As we got in the gates and paid our $5 for parking, wmagnume realized that we were in Florida: all the parking attendants had clearly been spending too much time in Magnum PI’s closet. Blue Hawaiian shirts and Met hats substituted for the Tigers lid, yup gotta love South Florida.

Anyway, a few notes from today’s game:

  • Johan verses Pujols in the first inning was a real treat. The best pitcher and hitter in the NL going head to head in March. Give Pujols the hat tip for guessing right on a first pitch fastball leading to a double and an unearned run scored.
  • Johan quickly learned his lesson and started mixing it up throwing change ups first, and honestly, that pitch is just ridiculous.
  • Delgado starting to go to left hitting a ball hard followed by a HR in his following at-bat. Hopefully he continues to take the inside fastball and look to drive the ball the other way.
  • After Jose Reyes hit a sinking line drive off Adam Wainwright, eerily similar to his out in the 9th in 2006, I had a flashback. Luckily, after thinking, “Tyree, Tyree,” I felt much better.
  • As much as I was looking forward to seeing Johan, I was thinking all morning about destroying my first Premio sausage/peppers of the early season. Unfortunately, the bread was a little soggy and, you guessed it, I had a blowout. Can’t wait until they’re in midseason form.
  • On a negative note, Omar may regret this 4-year Castillo signing. We’re thinking this may have Allan Houston written all over it as in a nice guy who will be in street clothes more than in uniform.
  • Memo to Joe Smith: If you want to make this team, I’d advise not walking the lead off batter in a 10-3 game.
  • Memo to Ricardo Rincon: Take up tennis.

And by the way, we sat in the stands yesterday at Roger Dean and watched a jaw dropping throw from Fernando Martinez. After tracking down a gapper, F-Mart winged the ball to second base on the fly- from the warning track.

This kid is special.

Heading back tomorrow to check out Petey.