Lately, it overtakes me when I’m washing the dishes, getting changed in front of my locker, trying to read a boring book, or while walking the dog. I find myself visualizing baseball’s most exciting scenarios, such as the big strikeout in the ninth w/ bases jammed, that fabulous leaping catch at the wall, a bang-bang inning- or a game-ending DP.
But for me the home run remains the most heart-stopping, potentially exhilarating or devastating moment in baseball games. Doesn’t matter if it barely clears the fence or if it’s a majestic, Strawberry-esque blast off the scoreboard. The thing just satisfies, it gets you out of your seat, up off the couch, or curling up in the fetal position when struck by the enemy.
On a sweltering summer’s day, you might find yourself half-napping and woozy during a lackluster game when, all of a sudden, CRACK! And your screaming your head off, high-fiving the previously insufferable characters sitting around you, engaged again with the equivalent of a quadruple shot of espresso.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I still favor a well pitched , defensive baseball game with a low final score more than anything; I don’t really like slugfests unless it’s a positive, one-way Mets beatdown.
So here we are at the beginning of February and my obsession with home run power already has got me palpitating. No predictions now (I hate them because I’m almost always wrong because I over-project), but why not some conjectures for a great Mets homerun season. I am excluding Manny since, um, he’s not a Met…yet.
Here goes:
Wright – 35
Delgado – 30ish
Beltran – 30
Church – 25 (could happen!)
Reyes – 20
Murphy – 20
Tatis – 10-12
If this comes close to passing, or if we get another big bat to replace the platoon mainstay of Murphy/Tatis, watch out!
