The St. Louis Cardinals haven't got off to a very good defense of their 2006 world series title. They lost to the New York Mets in a rematch of last year's NL championship tonight 6 to 1. Future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine got his 291st win for the Mets while the Cards ace Chris Carpenter allowed 9 hits and 5 runs in 6 innings.

For the Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca had 2 hits and 3 RBI. While lead off man David Eckstein got off to a great start for the Cards by going 3 for 4 with a double. Unfortunately for the Cards the batting order 2 through 4 went 1 for 9 for the night wasting the opportunities that Eckstein provided.

Certainly the first game of the season is always going to have amplified meaning and perhaps be taken as more important than it really is but this seems to be a strong message from the Mets that they are going to be the team to beat this year in the NL. They have the strongest lineup in the NL in my opinion. While the Dodgers certainly have a stronger pitching staff if Pedro Martinez can come back strong the Mets should have a rather solid rotation of their own by the time the playoffs come around.

Labels: New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals