From JOEL SHERMAN

The Mets did not spend nearly as much as the Yankees did this offseason, but they did address — in a major way — their great 2008 deficiency, their late-inning bullpen. And, as opposed to C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixeira, J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez did the eighth/ninth-inning thing superbly to secure a one-run Opening Day victory in Cincinnati. There are few elements that either boost or deflate a team’s spirit more than the late-game bullpen. It is incredibly frustrating within the core of the team when lead after lead slips away. Starting pitchers get upset because they have chances at wins evaporate. Hitters get mad because they feel they can never score enough runs.

It is similar to having a bad field goal kicker. Everyone on the team thinks they are doing their job, but the kicker can’t make the 38-yard field goal at the end to win the game.

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