Only one New York baseball team has a chance to go undefeated this season and it’s not the Yankees. 

Collin Cowgill #4 of the New York Mets is greeted by John Buck #44, Daniel Murphy #28 and Ruben Tejada #11 after hitting a grand slam in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres on opening day
Collin Cowgill #4 of the New York Mets is greeted by John Buck #44, Daniel Murphy #28 and Ruben Tejada #11 after hitting a grand slam in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres on opening day (Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
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Yes the Mets stole the spotlight on opening day and it was not an April Fool’s joke.  While the injury-depleted Yankees were losing to the Red Sox in the Bronx the Mets, with a host of new faces in the lineup, were crushing the Padres across town and winning on opening day for the 34th time in the last 44 years.  Let me and my fellow Mets fans stick out our chests for a day or two and enjoy this. it won’t last long.

 

By the way it’s not surprising to learn that the Red Sox and Yankees have the highest-average ticket prices in the major leagues: both over $50.  The Padres and the Diamondbacks have the lowest: both under $17.

The most expensive hot dog is at Citifield where the Mets charge $6.25…you can get a frank at a Reds game for just a buck.  As for a cold beer, well it’s not always so cold.  Red Sox, Cardinals and Blue Jays charge the most and the Angels, Diamondbacks and Indians charge the least.  Of course you can save a lot of money, time and aggravation by watching at home.

The high school baseball season gets into full swing today although there were some openers yesterday when the weather was nicer than what we expect today.

Class “A South” is clearly the best division in Ocean County and often the shore and the division features four teams that have title aspirations.  Two of them meet head on this afternoon when Jackson Memorial travels to Brick Memorial.  The Jaguars are coming off a 25-3 season but have to replace some outstanding players, including pitcher Brandon Holup who late in the season threw five consecutive shutouts.

Coach Frank Malta has built an outstanding program and Jackson certainly rates the role of co-favorite in the division.  Sharing that status figures to be Toms River North, who returns a host of talented players and will open today at Lacey.

Of course Toms River South always figures into the mix as the Indians tied Jackson for the “A South” crown last spring, a year in which Ken Frank became New Jersey’s winningist coach.  The Big Chief is back for a 35th season with South to host Toms River East this afternoon.

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