Queens is buzzing — not about a home run, but a pitching change rewriting the rules. A sacred baseball ritual meets a $38 million gamble: Opening Day, Mets style. Carlos Mendoza’s decision to name the Mets’ Opening Day starter has sparked plenty of debate. Many expected a familiar face on the mound, but Mendoza’s choice — Clay Holmes — caught many off guard. Was this a calculated risk or a gamble that could backfire under the pressure of Opening Day?

Holmes’ history adds even more intrigue to this choice. Despite signing a four-year, $38 million deal with the Mets this offseason, he wasn’t the most obvious pick for Opening Day. Holmes built a reputation as one of the league’s most dependable arms with the Yankees, but the last time he started a regular-season game was with the Pirates in 2018. However, Mendoza’s choice to give Holmes the ball suggests a greater belief in his abilities and possibly a wish to change the rotation’s dynamic.

There were conflicting views when Clay Holmes was named the Mets’ Opening Day starter. Evan Roberts expressed his feelings, which weren’t exactly positive, on a recent broadcast of WFAN. “So my reaction to Clay Holmes starting opening day, okay, great.
Like it doesn’t affect me one way or the other because it doesn’t mean anything.” “I mean, maybe something in the short term for Clay’s an accomplishment, but obviously as a fan, it doesn’t mean anything.”

He explained that although it might be a personal accomplishment for Holmes, it doesn’t yet have any bearing on the team’s long-term success. Roberts’ response is in line with what many Mets supporters feel. Although Mendoza’s choice to give Holmes the ball on Opening Day sends a strong message of faith, there will be tremendous pressure to perform as he makes the vast career leap from the bullpen to the starting rotation. He said, “Clay Holmes is trying a big career change this year. Yeah, that’s a good point. And so here’s Mendoza saying, you know what, buddy? I’m going to give you opening day. I’m going to empower you.”

Given his decision, many people are curious about what Mendoza sees that others do not. One thing is sure: performance isn’t the only factor here. By giving the ball to Holmes and demonstrating trust and strategy, Mendoza establishes the tone for a new era in the Mets’ rotation.

Why Clay Holmes over other options?

Carlos Mendoza selected Clay Holmes from a roster full of arms. But why him? The season of the Mets starts with a puzzle. Given the other rotation choices available to the Mets, the choice to start Holmes on Opening Day becomes even more intriguing. Kodai Senga, too, had a fantastic season the previous year with 202 strikeouts in 166.1 innings pitched and a 2.98 ERA. Jose Quintana, a veteran lefty who ended the season with a 3.57 ERA, also offered consistency in the rotation. On Opening Day, even up-and-coming pitchers Tylor Megill and David Peterson appeared ready to take the mound.

However, Mendoza’s choice was based on empowerment and trust rather than statistics. During his time with the Yankees, Holmes demonstrated his capacity to perform under pressure. He recorded a 2.54 ERA with 20 saves in 2022 and played a significant role in the Yankees’ bullpen during their postseason run. Even though he has much experience as a closer, moving to the starting lineup is a risk for both Holmes and the Mets.

When Mendoza was asked why Clay Holmes, he replied, “We’ve had guys go down early in camp”. “And then seeing Clay taking that next step … not only the results — which, I don’t know if you can put too much on the results in Spring Training — but the characteristics on his pitches, the metrics, how he’s feeling, the workload, and things like that. He’s in a good place. We’re going to need people to step up, and he’s doing that right now.”

It appears that Mendoza is focused on maximizing Clay Holmes’ potential. By giving him the Opening Day nod, he indicates that No.35 is a key component of the Mets’ future, not just another offseason addition. The question is whether Holmes can handle the situation or if the change will reveal the boundaries of his power.