MET NOTES
WASHINGTON – The toughest obstacle the Mets may face in Washington this week is not being in New York.
Last year the Mets were tremendous at Shea (48-33), but since they finished 83-79, you know that they were far-from-tremendous away from home.
They were 35-46 on the road last season, and though they’re off to a 4-1 start, today marks the beginning of their first road series of the year.
“If you’re going to be a team that’s going to go to the next level, you have to play better on the road,” Willie Randolph said on Sunday.
“That’s the way it’s been over the history of the game. Most teams struggle on the road unless you’re one of the top echelon teams. We hope to pick it up a little bit more and win our share, so we can have that confidence going on the road.”
Last year, actually, Washington was one stop the Mets didn’t have trouble in. They won seven of the 10 games at RFK Stadium, including the final five contests.
The last two times the Mets made the playoffs, they played better on the road than they did last year. In 2000, they were 39-42, while in 1999, they were excellent at 48-34.
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In Port St. Lucie yesterday, Kazuo Matsui (right knee MCL sprain) DH’d in an extended spring training game, going 2-for-4 with two singles and two stolen bases.
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Anderson Hernandez was the last Met regular to get a hit this season, and he remains the last one to draw a base on balls.
The rookie second baseman is walk-less in 19 at-bats. Last year, Hernandez drew one walk in his time with the Mets, during which he was 1-for-18.
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Vice President Dick Cheney will throw out the first pitch before today’s game.
Pitching matchups for the Nationals series: RHP Brian Bannister (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. RHP Ramon Ortiz (0-1, 10.80); tomorrow, Pedro Martinez (1-0, 6.00) vs. RHP Tony Armas (0-1, 3.60); Thursday, Victor Zambrano (season debut) vs. Livan Hernandez (1-1, 5.25).
Additional reporting by Michael Morrissey