PORT ST. LUCIE — Between the top and bottom of the first inning Saturday at Clover Park, the fans turned on one of their own, though I am not sure what kind of Mets fan this was standing on the home dugout since he was offered this layup: Who did the club beat in the 1969 World Series?
That he needed a lifeline brought the first wave of boos and that he still answered the Red Sox rather than the Orioles intensified the “What in the name of Gil Hodges?” jeers.
And with that came the conclusion of pretty much any negativity for the home side in this spring opener.
It was a packed house replete with the good vibes carrying over from the baton pass of a surprise NLCS run last year to a terrific offseason. Part of that offseason involved signing Clay Holmes, who sure looked like a starting pitcher over three perfect innings. Part of that was bringing back Pete Alonso, whose presence again in a Mets uniform and in the batter’s box brought the sing-song chant of his name. But mostly it was about Juan Soto, who was Juan Soto.
