Smith enjoys the experience

Rookie relief pitcher and possible future closer, Joe Smith takes in all the sights and sounds of his first season. Smith especially pays attention to his mentor Billy Wagner.

Perhaps no one at Shea Stadium on Thursday night, not even Wagner, enjoyed his 326th save as much as Joe Smith, the Mets rookie reliever. Like every rookie, Smith has a checklist of firsts -- first game, first out, first strikeout, first save, et al. Smith has achieved each of those, save the save, and he already has experienced his No. 1 first. "Billy Wagner, ninth inning, save situation, Shea Stadium and '[Enter] Sandman.' That's what I really wanted to see," Smith said. "And a full house, too. But they were pretty loud. Pretty awesome." source Marty Noble