My addiction is permeating everyone in my home. We are becoming consumed by this team, and I love it.
Last I remember, Steven Matz had just slashed a double down the right field line and Dave Roberts took the ball from Scott Kazmir. Next thing I know, I wake up to Geico Sportsnight on SNY. I glance around to get my bearings, look at my phone, and realize it’s 3 AM. My sons will be up in two hours; I have to be at work in four.
Sadly, the first thing I think is NOT, did I lock the front door? Is the alarm on? Did I take out the garbage? Or even, did I brush my teeth? My initial conscious thought, Did they hold on?!?
Happily they did. I even watched some in game highlights with one eye open to see another stellar showing by the suddenly very deep NL best bullpen. I barely had the strength to get up off the couch and get to bed.
I sleep another two hours. Probably five total.
My oldest son wakes up and, like every morning, asks, “Daddy, did the Mets win?” I mumbled an inaudible reply and just handed him my phone. He is six years old and knows how to check the apps and watch the in game highlights.
Its 5:05 AM. My youngest son arrives in the room still wiping his eyes.
Michael, my oldest son, tells his little brother Carter about the game. “Iron-Matz got a hit Carter, and the Mets won!” Before little four year old Carter can open his eyes, he says, “Daddy, you had breakfast with Iron Matz.” He is right, you can read about that here.
I see myself as a very big fan. Probably the most intense one that I know personally. Lately I have been stopping to smell the roses, but it is a bit challenging with 10:40 PM and 10:10 PM starts. In past years, especially since becoming a father, I may not have made it 5 plus innings into a west coast game.
But this year is different.
Seriously, how fun is this? I hope you all realize how great this is. Every single game is an event. No longer is the question, ‘If Santana is pitching, want to go to the game?” or “Let’s go out for the game, Pedro is pitching.” It is a given that the game will be entertaining, because the starting pitching is a draw. A very far cry from the old Boston Braves adage “Spahn and Sain and pray for rain.”
This pitching rotation is truly a treat. We all know they are very talented and have a chance to be one of the greatest ever assembled, but how fun is the process of watching them grow?
Steven Matz, Long Island’s own, is proving to a top flight south paw who is harder on himself than the New York media could ever be.
Noah Syndergaard has the ability to take over this city, and I am totally okay with that. The dude throws 100+ and has a great social media personality.
Jacob Degrom has already done great things such as winning the Rookie of the Year Award and striking out the side in last years All Star Game on ten pitches. His game five start in last years NLDS was one of the most memorable performances I have ever seen. He clearly did not have even close to his best stuff, but battled through to get the win and propel the Mets to the NLCS.
Matt Harvey, the first and most highly scrutinized of the young rotation to debut, is always in the spotlight. Hopefully Sunday’s start was the beginning of the beginning for him in 2016.
Lastly, the ageless Steve Nebraska-like Bartolo Colon. The guy is non-stop comedy. Always having fun and laid back but always focused on the task at hand. He is a walking reality television show that would rival Matthew McConaughey in Edtv.
Remember Zack Wheeler? He’ll be back soon.
This team is entertaining. It is worth being a walking zombie at work the next day. Every night there is a reason to watch, which is a far cry from where the club was just a few short years ago. I am not going to tell you to set aside a couple of days for the ticker tape parade in early November. What I am going to ask you to do is try to enjoy the journey!
Think about all the non pitching related story lines that we have already seen thus far. Neil Walker‘s historic April. Cespedes has started off hotter than the prize pig he roasted. The ascension of Michael Conforto, and Colon’s historic homer just to name a few.
All this drama and we are only 19% of the way through the regular season. With the first 2016 clash with the Nationals just a week away, the story lines are only going to get even juicier. So, enjoy the ride!
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