My Wife Wrapped Up the New York Mets Season
Last night the New York Mets were in Boston to take on the Red Sox at Fenway Park. I was flipping between that and the Yankees vs. Rangers game, while following the Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays game. This was all in an effort to keep up with the American League Wild Card race and keep a scant eye on the dim playoff hopes of the disastrous baseball franchise that I root for.
As the Yankees were launching solo home runs out of the stadium, Marcus Stroman was on the Fenway mound dodging in and out of trouble over 5 innings giving up 4 runs but keeping his team in the game. The Amazin's big bats of Lindor, Baez and Alonzo all scored and Pete Alonzo even launched his 38th home run but it wasn't enough.
A moment came in the fourth inning, that seemed to sum up the Mets season. With the bases loaded and 2 outs, the Mets already had one run in and were looking to have a big inning. Michael Conforto ripped a single up the middle. Javier Baez easily scored. Red Sox center fielder Kíke Hernandez charged the ball and was in good throwing position when for some unexplained reason, New York Mets 3rd base coach, Gary DiCarcina decided to send the less than speedy Alonso home. Hernandez fired a strike to Red Sox catcher Christian Vasquez, who quickly placed a tag to the face of the Mets first baseman for the 3rd out of the inning. This was all instead of 2 runs in, bases loaded and two outs and another opportunity with Kevin Pillar at the plate.
After the inning, I walked into the other room and my wife, Kim, said, "what's wrong?" Trust me, this isn't the first time that she has seen the "Mets Misery Face." She has been dragged to her fair share of games at Shea Stadium and Citi Field, in addition to the 150 or so broadcasts splashed across her TV's each season. So, Kim's a vet. So, I explain the scenario and without hesitation she says, "doesn't that play sum up their season almost every year? They get you all excited. They do good things and win. Then stupid decisions cause them to lose and the season is over."
As I contemplated this simplistic breakdown of my baseball fandom, realizing that it may be completely true, the Mets proceeded to finish the job and lose to the Red Sox, 6-3. You see, the Mets did get their fans excited this season. They were in first place from May 9th through August 5th but that's not the time of year that counts. Bad decisions, like then, soon to be terminated general manager Zach Scott saying that his players are at fault for their own injuries and that the team "played very mediocre baseball for most of the year,” Scott said. “This recent stretch has been much worse than mediocre. We’d have taken mediocre at this point.”
What GM says that? From that point on, the team completely collapsed going 13-23 since those comments. Another great decision by the Mets front office. Hence, my wife is right again. The Mets do good things. The drag you in by winning and then they put their foot in their mouths and the season is over.