A Look At Tonight's Game

Marty Noble at Mets.com, writes about the opening game against the Brewers tonight at Shea:

Randolph noted Wednesday the Brewers' young talent -- Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy, Bill Hall -- is as plentiful as that of any team in the league, the Dodgers and Mets included.

At the same time, at least one Mets player identified manager Ned Yost as the primary reason for the Brewers' renaissance.

"I wasn't here for Willie's first year," Billy Wagner said Wednesday. "But from what I hear from other guys, it's kind of the same thing. Ned has changed the atmosphere in their clubhouse the way Willie did it here."

"I mean, they have talent, and now they have a genuine closer [Francisco Cordero], and [Derrick] Turnbow gives them a real 1-2 punch in the 'pen. And they gave us fits last year, so you knew they were coming. But I think a lot has to do with Ned. He worked under Bobby [Cox] all the those years in Atlanta and he learned how to let his players play. You know, 'Show up on time and play hard.' ... Those are his only rules.

THE PITCHERS:

RHP Jorge Sosa (1-0, 2.84 ERA)

Sosa allowed one earned run in 13 2/3 innings against the Brewers last season.

Jeff Suppan (5-2, 2.63 ERA)

Suppan allowed one run in 15 innings aganst the Mets in the NL Championship Series last season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Keep an eye on the Mets' left-handed hitters. Right-handed hitters are batting .240 against Suppan this season; the left-handed counterparts are batting 102 points higher.