Now that Johan Santana’s Opening Day handshake video has gone viral, here’s a brief explanation of what went down before the Mets’ 2-1 victory over the Reds.
For those of you who haven’t seen the video, Santana worked his way down the bench - minutes before his start - and greeted every one of his teammates with a personal handshake. Here’s how Santana explains a few of the moves.
To Carlos Delgado: “He says I look like a [clothes] hanger, so he puts me up and then pulls me down by the shoulders.”
To David Wright: “That’s ‘Guard the line, Guard the line.’ ” Santana repeatedly points both of his index fingers to one side.
To Ramon Castro: “That’s the best.” Santana puts both hands to the sides of his head and makes it look like it’s exploding. Castro is famous on the Mets for his huge cranium.
To Jeremy Reed: “He has long hair, so I do this,” Santana says, flicking the back of his neck. “He was begging me all spring to know what I was going to do and I told him to wait until Opening Day.”
To strength coach Rick Slate: “Slate hears everything,” Santana said, explaining why he cups his ears for that handshake.
Santana said the handshakes are not new - he did them last season, as well. Another one of his favorites was the greeting for Luis Ayala, who got what Santana described as a Mexican dance. As he did so, Santana shimmied around in a little circle.
When told that it looks complicated, Santana disagreed, saying, “When you look at someone, they know exactly what to do.”
Obviously, seven weeks is a long time to spend in Port St. Lucie, Fla., so the Mets had plenty of time to work on their routines.
Uh-oh, it’s Ollie
Oliver Perez makes his debut Thursday after a disastrous finish to his exhibition season Saturday against the Red Sox, when he didn’t make it out of the first inning. The Mets are hoping that Perez, whose preparation was derailed by the WBC, will benefit from the fresh start.
“Ollie has been a guy that the bigger the game, the bigger the man,” Jerry Manuel said. “He kind of put his back against the wall a little bit. I’m looking forward to him coming out and performing like he does in big situations.”
Extra bases
Alex Cora is expected to start at second base and Ramon Castro will be behind the plate as Manuel looks to work in some of his bench players on this trip . . . When Gary Sheffield hits his 500th homer, he will be the first player to do it as a Met. Only Willie Mays has reached a higher milestone in a Mets uniform, hitting Nos. 650 and 660.
Comment posted byRamonon April 9, 2009 at 11:05 am (#948807)
That’s interesting. I guess I taught myself hockey (and refined my hitting) at the last moment. After high school, I got really big into teaching myself new sports.
You can do this. But remember I am talking about the top 5% of athletes in their sports. There is no chance you will thrive at a professional level in those sports after learning them in the late teens.
Comment posted byLunkwill Fookon April 9, 2009 at 11:05 am (#948808)
Funny thing, I can’t even imagine Olajuwon playing soccer. Not a sport that favors the long-legged.
Comment posted bysheadenizenon April 9, 2009 at 11:06 am (#948809)
I hope we run a LF out there today, Confused. ;)
We don’t need one Danny. Ollie will be walking the park. A few extra infielders will probably help.
Comment posted byLunkwill Fookon April 9, 2009 at 11:06 am (#948812)
You can do this. But remember I am talking about the top 5% of athletes in their sports. There is no chance you will thrive at a professional level in those sports after learning them in the late teens.
OH YEAH!!!!!!!??? :)
Correct me if I’m wrong, by the way, but didn’t Mackey Sasser start playing baseball at age 15 or something?
Comment posted byLunkwill Fookon April 9, 2009 at 11:07 am (#948813)
We don’t need one Danny. Ollie will be walking the park. A few extra infielders will probably help.
The more people to meet at the mound, the better.
Comment posted bysheadenizenon April 9, 2009 at 11:08 am (#948814)
When Gary Sheffield hits his 500th homer, he will be the first player to do it as a Met.
And the mets will shower him with gifts….spending the same amount of money it would cost them to cut Anderson. They left that part out of the blurb. Thought you’d want to know. ;-)
Comment posted bytim in St. Louison April 9, 2009 at 11:09 am (#948815)
bob gibson played for the globetrotters…..out!
Comment posted byDannyon April 9, 2009 at 11:09 am (#948816)
GAME THREADZ OPEN….
Comment posted byRamonon April 9, 2009 at 11:11 am (#948817)
When Gary Sheffield hits his 500th homer, he will be the first player to do it as a Met.
Sounds so bush league to even mention it. I hope the Mets didn’t issue this out their press release to sell tickets or I’d be very disappointed. Its like the Rays making Jose Consexo sign a contract that in order to play their during his late career, he’d have to be inducted as a Ray if he were ever allowed into the HOF. LOL!
Comment posted byConfusedon April 9, 2009 at 11:13 am (#948820)
GAME THREADZ OPEN….
and the smallest dump in metsgeek history is now over.
;)
Comment posted byEd in Westchesteron April 9, 2009 at 11:16 am (#948823)
Correct me if I’m wrong, by the way, but didn’t Mackey Sasser start playing baseball at age 15 or something?
that would explain his inability to throw to 2nd base then.
Definitely. I want to see someone argue against that!
You can do this. But remember I am talking about the top 5% of athletes in their sports. There is no chance you will thrive at a professional level in those sports after learning them in the late teens.
Funny thing, I can’t even imagine Olajuwon playing soccer. Not a sport that favors the long-legged.
We don’t need one Danny. Ollie will be walking the park. A few extra infielders will probably help.
OH YEAH!!!!!!!??? :)
Correct me if I’m wrong, by the way, but didn’t Mackey Sasser start playing baseball at age 15 or something?
The more people to meet at the mound, the better.
And the mets will shower him with gifts….spending the same amount of money it would cost them to cut Anderson. They left that part out of the blurb. Thought you’d want to know. ;-)
bob gibson played for the globetrotters…..out!
GAME THREADZ OPEN….
Sounds so bush league to even mention it. I hope the Mets didn’t issue this out their press release to sell tickets or I’d be very disappointed. Its like the Rays making Jose Consexo sign a contract that in order to play their during his late career, he’d have to be inducted as a Ray if he were ever allowed into the HOF. LOL!
and the smallest dump in metsgeek history is now over.
;)
that would explain his inability to throw to 2nd base then.