Generosity

Break up the Mets.

Yup, a road series win in April, after having to wait about a full season in between road series wins in ’09 and ’10.  Time will tell how impressive this series will be considered, as the Florida Marlins were generous enough to throw baseballs to everyone, and not just their first baseman.  Nice of them.  But this is a team that’s going to contend?  My distate for Hanley Ramirez aside … no, to hell with that.  I have a large distaste for Hanley Ramirez, and it warmed my heart to watch him tank what should have been an easy double play in the first and throw the ball toward the dugout.  And with every throw and every new muscle that pops out of his chest he’s just playing his way in the direction of third base.

Okay, now let’s put it aside.  Willie Harris hit a home run in the first inning to get things started.  With all of Harris’ efforts to kill the Mets in the late innings, I’m shocked he knew there even was a first inning.  But it was three in the first, and four more in the third thanks to an Ike Davis bomb and a throwing error by Emilio Bonifacio (another one of my favorites) and off they went.  The more egregious Bonifacio gaffe to me came in the eighth where he received a Ramirez throw on a force play and he wasn’t even stepping on the base.  I’m sure there’s a logical explanation why third base isn’t one of Bonifacio’s best positions, but that was a little league error, and I enjoyed it.  To hell with the Marlins with their Saturday night concerts and all the dirt they hijacked from Shea Stadium.  I don’t need to be mature about this.

All right, enough schadenfreude.  For all the sloppy defense the Marlins played, Ike Davis continued to hit, and R.A. Dickey provided just enough Dickeyness.  At the risk of harping on a familiar theme all season, I think Dickey’s going to be fine this season.  Sure, the league can figure him out all they want.  But good luck hitting a knuckleball even when you know it’s coming.  As long as his control is good (three walks in six innings), Dickey will be all right.  Sure, if he moves in any direction, it’s going to be down … since I don’t see him having a season much better than last season.  But merely matching 2010 would be fine with me.  There’s no reason to think he can’t do it … yet.

Next up, Chris Young on Tuesday against the Phillies.  Another question begging for another answer.