Morning Papers

Wright and Nady Hit. Wagner Saves. Mission Accomplished. April 4 New York Times (registration required): "Then, the Mets threw out another daring base runner in the ninth to put a flourish on their opening-day performance, a 3-2 victory against the Nationals at Shea Stadium." Loosening Up The Belt April 4 New York Post columnist Joel Sherman (registration required): "Twelve minutes. That is all the time it took for Carlos Beltran to fail offensively for the first time in the 2006 Mets season and the Shea crowd to begin a verbal assault that would last, literally, to the last instant of the season opener." Beltran boos carry over April 4 Newsday columnist Wallace Matthews: "Even in the best of times, it doesn't take long for New Yorkers to isolate and attack a target. Yesterday, it took about a half-hour for Mets fans to lock on to Carlos Beltran. Who knows when they will let go?" Plagiarizing Mo? Mets hope so April 4 Newsday columnist Ken Davidoff: "So Jose Reyes grounded out to end the eighth inning yesterday, and there you could see Billy Wagner jogging from the bullpen to the mound, $43 million worth of drama." Signs Point to Postseason for the Mets April 4 New York Times columnist Murray Chass (registration required): "Confession of a foolish man: I have picked the Mets to win the World Series." Who Is That Nady? April 4 New York Post (registration required): "The unproven Nady, acquired from San Diego for veteran Mike Cameron last winter, went 4-for-4 with two doubles, a run and an RBI in the 3-2 victory over Washington." Lo Duca Master Of Illusion April 4 New York Post (registration required): " In Lo Duca's first official day on the job, the new Mets catcher delivered the best acting job by a Met since Keith Hernandez was hanging with Jerry and Elaine on 'Seinfeld.'" Heilman should be thankful April 4 Newsday: "But if not for a blown call yesterday, they easily could have been the losing team instead of a 3-2 winner over the Nationals, and it would have been partly Heilman's fault." Aaron left in pieces April 4 New York Daily News: "Lefthanded batters hit only .208 against Aaron Heilman last season. So it was uncharacteristic for him to allow consecutive singles to lefties Marlon Anderson, Brandon Watson and Jose Vidro to open his outing and surrender a run yesterday." Mets On TV Is Hit Or Miss April 4 Hartford Courant (registration required): "DirecTV reached agreement Monday night with SportsNet New York to carry the new television home of the Mets. The first game will be Wednesday against the Nationals on Ch. 625." SNY must work out the kinks April 4 Newsday columnist Neil Best: "The Mets did their part yesterday for their new regional sports network, giving SportsNet New York an entertaining Opening Day victory. Alas, at least three important things were missing from SNY's regular-season debut..."