While much of today’s print coverage of the Mets focuses on the debut of Johan Santana and on a team turning the page on The Collapse, there is a great note in the Post today by Bart Hubbuch concerning manager Willie Randolph’s bullpen maneuvers in the 8th inning.

With the tying run on deck in a 6-2 game, Randolph had Jorge Sosa face the Marlins’ hot-hitting Josh Willingham in a situation that seemed ideal for set-up man Aaron Heilman.

Even Heilman appeared to be caught off guard, but the gamble paid off when Sosa caught Willingham swinging on a 3-2 pitch in the dirt to remove the last bit of drama in the Mets’ eventual 7-2 Opening Day win.

Randolph said Heilman would have pitched the eighth in a closer game, but Sosa appreciated the show of confidence.

“It was great,” Sosa said. “It gave me an idea of what they think about me.”

Matt Wise allowed a couple of singles in his 1/3 of an inning, however the offseason acquisition was bailed out by Scott Schoeneweis and Sosa. Heilman pitched a perfect ninth.

Though the personnel called on by Willie would be different in a tighter spot, I thought Willie managed his pen aggressively and it paid off. Moreover, if GM Omar Minaya is still thinking of pursuing some right-handed help (Marcus Thames or Brandon Inge of the Tigers for instance), it can’t hurt to see Schoeneweis and Sosa pitching out of jams in the late innings.