9
2011
Last Night’s Met Game Is Why We Watch
An article by 
It was a habit I picked up as a Little Leaguer, and that is to hang around until the last out. As a reporter, I had no choice, but as a casual viewer there were times I shut things down when the game got out of hand, which has happened more than a few times in recent seasons.
But, not so much this year, and definitely not last night.
There’s a resiliency about these Mets that make up for their void in talent. There is a likable quality to this team because they overachieve. They hustle where previous Mets teams did not.
Mike Pelfrey was frustrating as he squandered a three-run lead, and then the bullpen blew up. Normally, that would be the story line, but this time the offense – which had been stagnant – responded and thankfully made us forget about Pelfrey.
Normally, when the Mets get hit with a four-spot in the eighth, it is time to look away, but they quickly put two on with one out, and there was the curiosity factor with Mike Baxter coming up.
Of course, I wanted to see the local kid. He’s a good story, and I always root for good stories. His double and Ronny Paulino’s sacrifice fly made it a two run game. They made it worthwhile to keep watching.
I thought about Scott Hairston’s homer in Washington, and Lucas Duda’s ninth-inning, game-tying homer the other day. OK, they still lost, but the situation was there again and it made me wonder.
Jason Pridie singled, and one out later, so did Justin Turner, who is becoming one of my favorite players to watch this year. He hung in on Heath Bell’s breaking ball and dumped it into left. It was a pitch that could easily have eaten him up.
David Wright singled in a run, and all of a sudden the winning run was on second after another wild pitch by Bell.
Up again was Duda, who for some reason reminds me of Lucas McCain of The Rifleman TV series. There’s the name, Lucas, of course, but Duda is bull strong like the McCain character. Connors, by the way, played briefly for the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Dodgers before turning to acting.
The Mets are counting on Duda for power, but it was great to see him go with the pitch and take it up the middle. Professional hitting at its best.
It has been a summer with a growing injury list, the saga of the Mets’ finances and the future of Jose Reyes and where he’ll take his tender hammy next year.
But, for one night at least it was good to get away from all that and watch the Mets show their heart.
After all, games like last night is why we watch, and maybe it was the first game for somebody who became hooked on your ball club.
Last night was a game that reminded us why we are baseball fans and that the baseball clock ticks in outs, not minutes.
And, when outs remain, so does hope.
About the Author: John Delcos
I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.
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That was beautiful, man.
and you’re right. This is the stuff that can get someone hooked on a team.
Amen Brutha!
This is the most enjoyable Mets team in a long time, even 17.5 games out and .500
Ya Gotta Believe!
How can anyone dislike this post? Seriously, to you have to sling insults and call people names around here for people to like your posts? Geez, can’t make everyone happy.
Funny you should say Duda reminds you of Lucas McCain. He makes me think of Bamm-Bamm, from “The Flintstones” cartoons, for both his rocket-launching power and his appearance. Anyway, that’s my nickname for him. I can hear the Citi crowd yelling it now!!
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l616/MrNorthJersey/RealDirtyMets/RDM%20Public%20Gallery/TRDMB_FrontPage–10_507x675.png
Great writing John! You have invigorated my love of the Mets. Thanks!
Makes it worth watching when they are down cause they continue to work hard at the plate and on the field.
That play by by David diving for the ball despite the recent back problems is a great example of hustle on this team, for this game.
There are so many sayings about a game not being over until the 27th out. We’ve heard them all and depending on a team’s character…it is often the impetus of late inning heroics. Right now, our team looks focused on competing till that last out and for that we have our manager and coaches to thank who have installed pride and confidence as a part of the workings.
I contend that most real Met fans never stop watching and it is times like these that our pride and love for this franchise stands out. We are “the faithful” and our loyalty has been inbred to us very often by our father’s or grandfather’s love for their team. MY dad loved the Giants….yours maybe the Dodgers but when the Mets came along it was easy for us to become fan’s for this team. Perhaps the greatest sales pitch for becoming a new team’s fan base was orchestrated by Casey Stengel at the beginning. The other great concept was the idea that the team was going to be terrible because of the players available but the answer was to give the fan’s players that they knew from the past and sacrifice those early seasons in order to establish a solid and loving fan base……
I no longer live in NYC but I will never stop watching or rooting for the Mets…..My family has been instructed to scatter my ashes over the “footprint” of Shea Stadium….
It’s where I belong!