Last season, I watched Opening Day from Row U of the Upper Deck of Shea Stadium. This year, having advanced in age, I decided to watch Opening Day from the comforts of the couch in my rec room. Each method of game-watching has its advantages. As it turns out, I’m very glad I didn’t have to wait for the 7 train amongst a mass of angry fans after the disaster that took place out on the field yesterday.

Before I get into the negatives from the game (and of course, there were plenty), let me mention two very small positives to take away. I enjoyed the cut of the outfield grass. I can’t remember seeing Shea in that particular triangle pattern before, and the contrast in greens really showed up well on the broadcast. Our stadium looked as good as it can in its final opener.

Also, I was weirdly happy for the home plate umpire, veteran Doug Eddings. Eddings has had his share of hard times (see his indecisive umpiring in Game Two of the 2005 ALCS for the most obvious example), but maybe those hard times forced him to perfect his craft. I think I agreed with every one of his ball and strike calls—and I never agree with the home plate umpire on balls and strikes. Not only that, Eddings was clear, immediately declaring “ball outside” or “ball low” as soon as the pitch hit the catcher’s mitt. He’s come full circle from his own Buckneresque moment of a few years’ back. If we get quality umpiring like this all season, I’ll have that much less heartburn.

Unfortunately, neither of these positives has anything to do with the quality of our baseball team, but I think right now we should take whatever victories we can get.

The game itself started to go bad for us when Oliver Perez walked the 45-year-old opposing pitcher who was trying to sacrifice bunt. It continued to go bad when every other one of our pitchers continued to walk everyone else. Met pitchers had seven walks yesterday against two strikeouts. That’s just not going to get it done against a good team.

Then, of course, we have the glaringly obvious problems with our team that were on full display in the home opener. 1) Our manager doesn’t know how to use his bullpen. Many of us have been saying it over and over—Scott Schoeneweis should never face a righty. And yet Willie Randolph had Show in there against two righties yesterday. Unfortunately, I don’t expect this to change. Show faced more righties than lefties last year. Utterly ridiculous. 2) Carlos Delgado is not good at playing first base. His lack of defense was much less of a problem when he was hitting 38 home runs. Now that those days are past him, it’s clear we’re going to get well-below-average production from the first base position this year, much as we did last year. 3) Many of our guys are old. Case in point, 32-year-old Luis Castillo pulls himself out of the game (presumably because it was too cold out), and he is replaced by someone six years older. A lot of our regulars are teetering on the brink of the DL all the time, and we’ll have to deal with it all season long. 4) We’re just not that good, especially without Pedro Martinez. I’m sorry, but it’s true. Over our last 162 games, we are now 86-76. Even if Johan Santana adds five wins to our total (and that’s a monster number for one player to add, considering that he’s replacing a serviceable major league pitcher in Glavine), that makes us a 91-win team. Ninety-one wins would be all fine and good, but it’s foolish to think we’re an elite team who can threaten 95 or 100 wins. We’re a decent team, but certainly a flawed team, at least for now—and we’re going to need some things to go right to beat out the Braves and Phillies for the division title.

But there is always hope. Today, hope comes in the form of our beleaguered starter Mike Pelfrey. I think I speak for all of us when I say Go Big Pelf! Let’s put the seven walks, one error, and two passed balls behind us and let’s actually enjoy baseball tonight. Let’s Go Mets!

Luis Castillo left this afternoon’s game against the Phillies after the fourth inning. He was replaced by Damion Easley.

More to come….

Newsday’s David Lennon reports that Willie Randolph was a bit shocked by the line of questioning post game yesterday, when reporters focused on Castillo failing to hustle on a double by Beltran. The managers response included ‘threats’ to bench Castillo, who is still recovering from off season surgery.

Did he? I’ll chastise him later then. I’ll beat him

Ah, the media hammering the manager over a little play that didn’t really affect the outcome of the game. Yep, baseball’s back.

The Mets lost to the Cardinals by a score of 10-3 this afternoon in St. Lucie. Johan Santana was shaky, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits, while striking out 5. For a full recap, head on over to MLB.com.

A few notes:

• Luis Castillo went 0-1 with 2 walks in his return from the lineup from offseason knee surgery.
• Carlos Delgado finally broke out of his mini slump, with a home run in 3 ABs.
• Angel Pagan continues his hot spring, going 1-2 and is hitting .385
• Ricardo Rincon essentially fried his chance of making the team, allowing 4 runs in a third of an inning.
• Billy Wagner pitched a spotless seventh and his ERA is now under 2 for the spring.
• Joe Smith allowed 2 runs in his 1 inning of work.
• Aaron Heilman pitched a scorelesss 9th, and was helped out by nice DP turned by Anderson Hernandez.

Pedro Martinez makes his first start for the Mets tomorrow in St Lucie against the Tigers.

The Mets held a 6PM conference call to confirm that they have indeed signed Luis Castillo to a four year deal. This will now allow the Mets brass to focus on the little things, like a starting pitcher than can go 200 innings, and a catcher. Also, the bullpen.

Castillo was a midseason acquisition from the Twins, and had recent surgery to clear out his knees. He’s expected to be 100% by the time spring training starts.

Matthew Cerrone was on the conference call and provides details on Mets Blog.

MLB Trade Rumors relays an article from Dominican sports website Impacto Deportivo that reports the Mets and 2B Luis Castillo have agreed to a four-year deal worth $25 million. They say to expect an official announcement shortly.

Castillo, 32, was traded to the Mets at the deadline this past season for two minor leaguers. In his time with the Mets, he played in 50 games, compiling 199 at-bats with a .296 average. Castillo also played spectacular defense at second base and worked well as the perfect compliment to Jose Reyes on double plays.

Ken Rosenthal posted the story as well, after the Impacto Deportivo article was released, on Fox Sports citing ‘major league sources’ .

I guess we should hold our breath before calling this official, considering the events of the last 24 hours. The money isn’t that bad, considering Eckstein wanted the same years at $36 million, but does anyone actually think Castillo’s knees can hold up four years?

Hat tip to Gary Grund for finding the story and contributing to this report.

Ken Rosenthal on Fox Sports reports that the Cubs are considering Luis Castillo along with Kaz Matsui to fill second base. The Mets and Astros are talking to Castillo as well.

Marty Noble, on MLB.com, writes that David Eckstein — not Luis Castillo — appears to be the Mets’ primary target for second base. However, as Hot Foot relayed from Adam Rubin on the New York Daily News this morning, Eckstein may want more than what the Mets are willing to offer.

Rubin writes that Eckstein is seeking a four-years, $36 million deal, similar to what Julio Lugo received last year from the Boston Red Sox.

Adam Rubin at the New York Daily News reports that David Eckstein is seeking a deal in the neighborhood of what Julio Lugo signed with the Red Sox last year: four-years, $36 million.

The Mets are likely to balk at that price, which is more than what Luis Castillo is expected to demand.

In the Associated Press, Omar Minaya was intentionally vague when asked about his plans for the Mets catcher in 2008. When asked how Paul Lo Duca falls into those plans he gave this answer:

“We have Plan A, Plan B, Plan C,” general manager Omar Minaya said. “He is definitely in our radar. Where he is, I’d rather not comment on that.”

He was unclear about his intentions on Luis Castillo as well:

“Castillo is a guy that we said we’re talking to but I don’t want to kind of say where,” Minaya said. “I just don’t want other clubs to kind of know who we’re targeting or as far as the level of interest because that would put me at a disadvantage.”

Minaya also said he has not had any discussions with Tom Glavine.