Morning Papers

The Bullpen Can't Save Bannister's Great Start April 6 New York Times (registration required): "But the bullpen erased his fine effort by allowing the game-tying run in the ninth and five more runs in the 10th as the Nationals defeated the Mets, 9-5, at Shea Stadium. " Wagner ends on sour note April 6 New York Daily News: "The Mets fell apart with a Paul Lo Duca passed ball and throwing error in a five-run inning as the Nationals beat the Mets, 9-5." Theme turns less comic April 6 Newark Star-Ledger columnist Dan Graziano (registration required): " Six hours later, with the Mets holding a 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth inning of their second game of the season, Wagner came into the game with Metallica blaring and the crowd loving it, and he gave up a solo home run to Washington's Ryan Zimmerman." Mets see Brian deliver like chip off the old Bannister April 6 New York Daily News columnist Bill Madden: "His daddy, who won 134 games in the big leagues from 1977-92, had told him to just take it one pitch at a time, relax and enjoy the moment - sound and simple advice that 25-year-old Brian Bannister seemed to follow in stages while making an impressive if somewhat imperfect major league debut under less than ideal conditions at frigid Shea last night." Grouchy Pedro Will Toe The Line April 6 New York Post (registration required): "In a candid conversation with reporters before last night's game with the Nationals, the Mets ace did his best to dampen expectations of tonight's season debut and cautioned that he still needs to get in shape." For Julio, nightmare of a debut April 6 New York Daily News: "Nobody seems to care what Jorge Julio's entrance music will be for the Mets this season. But he won't get out on the floor too often if opponents continue to slam-dance his pitches out of the park." Amazin' New Bats Boomin' April 6 New York Post (registration required): "The bullpen meltdown of Billy Wagner and Jorge Julio overshadowed their performances, but Carlos Delgado and Xavier Nady each notched their first Met home runs in the 9-5 Met loss to the Nationals."