Under Control, Part II
So last night I just about bottomed out. I was numb, pretty much unable to speak after the 6th inning or so.
The loss hit me hard. I really thought we were going to win last night. We hit the ball well against Jeff Weaver in the top of the first, but we didn't make good on that early promise, and Weaver had himself another fine performance.
And now all that's left is hope, really. Well, hope and a little something else.
Hardwired into the Mets fanbase's collective thought process is that oft-repeated phrase, "Ya gotta believe."
It's one of the first things you learn as a Mets fan, it's that or you learn about Game 6. The two go hand-in-hand, after all.
If there's one thing 1986 taught any Mets fan, whether you have memory of it or not, it's that nothing is over until it's over.
I wrote about this the other day, the morning before Game 4 when the Mets were trailing 2-1 after getting shutout in Game 3:
"But one thing I believe in very strongly is that no series is over until it's over. The Red Sox didn't win a championship because of a 5-3 lead with two outs in 1986. The Yankees didn't make the World Series in 2004 because of a 3-0 lead."
Nothing's over until it's over. The Cardinals don't have this series wrapped up, not with a one game lead heading back to our house. That's not blind optimism, that's the way it is.
And that's what I've been telling myself all day, and I've been feeling a little better. Nervous, sure; tense, yeah. You probably are too. There's probably no avoiding it.
Tonight the series returns to Shea Stadium. I'll be there with the Hound and B.O.A.F.O.M.G. I have this deep suspicion that the entire stadium is going to be ready for a funeral. In some respects, you have to be. It could happen.
But to everyone reading this, whether you'll be watching this game from home or from somewhere in Shea, I urge you to put that thought out of your mind.
Instead, imagine what it would be like to come back and win this series. Imagine the celebration on the field. Imagine the elation of the crowd. Imagine the high fives and hugs you'd dole out, to family, friends or complete strangers.
Imagine that all happens. Hope it all happens. Believe it will happen.
After all, that's all you can do right now. Imagine, hope and believe.
If you're the type who prefers to lean on logic, you've got two things going for you right now.
One, we hit Chris Carpenter hard the last time we saw him, ages ago, in Game 2.
Two, the last time we had a must-win game, Game 4, we played our best game of the series. That was must-win in a different sense -- a loss wouldn't have ended our season after all -- but for my money it was still a must-win game. And we rose to the occasion.
But if you're anything like me that logic stuff just doesn't console you that much right now. You know we've got our work cut out for us, and there's no statistic out there that can change that. The only statistics that matter right now are wins.
And because of that you're through with logic, you're stuck with imagining, hoping and believing. You're not hoping for a miracle, you're just hoping for two wins.
And the good news is that this team has given you reason to believe in it from the first day of the year. After all, Game 4 wasn't the first time this team rose to the occasion, it was only the most recent. It's happened all year.
So I believe. I'm a Mets fan, it's what we do.
It hasn't kept me or my friends from doing all the little superstitious things we can. I didn't shave this morning or wear my coat to work; that's bad luck, didn't you know? Sip refused a ticket to the game tonight because the Mets are 0-2 in games he's attended this series.But in spite of it all I know we both believe. After all, a win tonight is all it takes to bring this series back.
Win tonight and we're all even going in to Game 7.
Win tonight and we've got all the momentum, for whatever that's worth.
Win tonight and everything's under control.
Win tonight.
Ya gotta believe.
- A.F.O.M.G.
posted by A Friend of Mr. Glass' at 2:53 PM
6 Comments:
At this point, all we want is to win our last game of the year.
Make it happen boyos. It's not unreasonable.
"We're just going to try to come out swinging and break their hearts." - David Wright
Go.
I remember a few years ago, prior to a Met-Yankee series, that one of the local newspapers compared the franchises. In the stadium comparison, the Bomber's home was aptly described as "The House That Ruth Built". Shea was described as "The Place Where Miracles Happen".
That said, to echo the main point of the blog as well as F. McGraw...
YOU GOTTA BELIEVE!
"John Main. New York Mets."
Put it on a t-shirt and I'll see you at Shea...
Please, all year long we've thought that it was too easy. Now we don't have a starting pitcher, our offense is in the tanks (game 4 notwithstanding), people are starting to count us out and it seems that hope is lost.
Basically, we're right where we want to be. These are the f'in Mets.
You gotta believe,
(Still) Happy Will
regardless of the outcome hold ya head up(high)
Fellows
win or lose.
know that we have about 6 other pitchers in the minors waiting for their chance knowing they should have a shot at as many as 4 spots on the rotation.(I know it doesnt help right now but shit..I am trying to stay positive)
Up until this point I have been entirely silent on this blog. I feel it is time for me to make an appearance.
I have watched A.F.O.M.G. put all of his faith in this team. I have watched the highs and lows... and now it comes down to Game 7.
He says, 'ya gotta believe.' Maybe that is what it takes. Anyway, I do believe... let's go Mets!!
Post a Comment
<< Home