An Amazin’ 1-2 Punch at the Top of the Order!
I get knocked down,
But I get up again.
Never ever gonna keep me down.
I get knocked down,
But I get up again.
Never ever gonna keep me down.
Damn, now I’m gonna have that song stuck in my head all day…
I can’t stop smiling after a Mets game these days. I love this Mets team so much. They are so incredibly captivating and engaging to watch night in and night out, and I would argue that they are more fun to watch than last year’s version, which is saying a lot.
I really thought we’d win more games than we did last season, but it doesn’t bother me one bit that we may not win 90 games this year – Even though we still have a slim shot if we win 12 of our last 15 games. (Totally doable!)
And that’s why I’m so hooked on these 2016 Mets. I can’t even count how many gut punches this team has endured this season because there have been so many of them. Going into the 2016 season, the Mets had two faces of the franchise; their beloved captain and third baseman David Wright, and their indisputable ace and dark knight of Gotham, right-hander Matt Harvey. Before the 4th of July weekend, both of them were out for the season.
When the news broke for each of them, it hit us like a ton of brinks, even though neither of them were exactly having good seasons. It was a psychological blow not only for us fans, but for the team as well. Each of them were the heart and pulse of the team and leaders in the clubhouse.
Joe D. Really Misses Duda Smash!
There were other huge losses, perhaps none greater than the team’s cleanup hitter Lucas Duda, who had crushed 64 homers over his last 1,000 at-bats and whose OPS was second only to Yoenis Cespedes in 2015. We lost Duda before the end of May, and while James Loney provided a quick fix, let’s not kid ourselves, Loney’s OPS was 200 points lower than Duda and his 0.3 WAR is nothing to write home about. But still the Mets dealt with the loss and endured.
Honestly, when Asdrubal Cabrera landed on the DL with that knee injury, I wanted to punch a wall. It felt like everything kept going against us. Between that, and then Neil Walker‘s balky back and Yoenis Cespedes’ strained quad, I think any other team would have been so demoralized they would have simply quit. But still the Mets kept fighting even though 80 percent of their opening day lineup was either out for the year, limping, hobbled or had the Zika virus.
I guess the last nail in the coffin came when on top of everything we had already endured, news broke that Zack Wheeler was not returning this season, Steven Matz was out with a bum shoulder, and Jacob deGrom had a strained forearm. It was enough that the media closed the book on 2016 and articles popped up about firing Terry Collins and calling Sandy Alderson to the carpet. One New York Post article even suggested blowing it all up and having a fire sale. (Really?)
But this season wasn’t over by a long shot. Enter the Replace-Mets, who not only revitalized the team with their youth, energy and enthusiasm, but they made the team so much fun to watch. But more important than that, the team started winning and little by little that 5 1/2 game deficit behind the second wild card started to evaporate.
Lo and behold, the ballpark was full again, the fans were delirious, and the Amazins owned the back pages again as the Replace-Mets took turns playing the hero. And of course it didn’t hurt that Asdrubal and Cespedes were back from the DL, taking names, and kicking some major ass at the plate. It was all starting to come together for the Orange and Blue, and what perfect timing.
Robert Gsellman, Replace-Met Extraordinaire!
August ended on a high note as the Mets defeated the Marlins 5-2 on the last day of the month thanks to a two-run blast by Wilmer Flores and then an 8th inning bases loaded double by Kelly Johnson. It was a memorable game because not only did we send the Marlins into a death spiral, but the Mets had closed the gap behind the Cardinals to just 1.5 games and the wild card was clearly within our grasp.
After a heartbreaking loss to at home to the Nationals with Noah Syndergaard on the mound, the Replace-Mets again rose to the occasion as Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo came through with spectacular performances and each earned a win as we took the final two games against the Nats to take the series, and while we were at it we caught the Cards and took hold of the second wild card. The Mets would go on to win six games in a row featuring huge home runs by Matt Reynolds, Wilmer Fores and Alejandro De Aza, and more great pitching by the Replace-Mets. It was so freaking exciting to take it all in.
So now here we are, with just 15 games left to play and the postseason beckoning… And there’s no god-damn f’kin way any team is going to keep these New York Mets from taking the field on Wednesday, October 5. No way, no how. This Mets team has earned their right to fight this one-game battle with lots of blood, plenty of sweat, and countless tears. It was all so very gruelling, and yet all so very satisfying as well.
The only question, as far as I’m concerned, is whether or not that wild card game will be played at Citi Field… And I’d bet you dollars to donuts that it will.
So there’s my two cents on the next 15 games and the Amazin outcome. And to all my not so optimistic friends, this why you never give up in June, July or August. Because Mets Baby!
