The Pitch That May Have Saved the Yankees' Season
Life ain't perfect. But at least in a baseball sense, we sure did get close this weekend.
Up 1-0 in the third inning, up 2 games to none in the series, the Mets had the bases loaded and a 3-1 count to Jose Reyes. The Yankees' rookie starter had managed to sneak through the first couple innings relatively unscathed but appeared on the brink of a meltdown. A walk to Reyes and it would be 2-0 Mets. And the Mets, of course, had no need for more momentum.
We all know what happened.
Jose Reyes swung at what looked like ball four and hit a weak fly ball to left field, ending the inning. A Johnny Damon blooper to right field and a Derek Jeter ding dong and the game was lost. Oh well.
Here we are Monday and in retrospect, you have to look at the series as a success. We took 2 of 3 from the Yankees while the Sox took 2 of 3 from the Braves. We improved and the Yankees got worse.
Unfortunately, I am not too thrilled. Yes, we had a good weekend, but we were SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO close to something beautiful. A three game sweep and the culture of New York City baseball would have changed a whole lot.
We sat there all weekend watching Brian Cashman look like a little school girl, desperate for love and attention and praying that people would notice him. His job on the line, a job that he really hasn't been very good at.
So what if Jose Reyes took ball 4? What if the Mets broke the game open? What if Shawn Green played Johnny Damon a few steps in?
1. Joe Torre would not be manager of the Yankees. George Steinbrenner would have been so embarrassed by his team's efforts this weekend, the dismantling handed to them by the Mets that I gotta think his manager would have been out.
2. This whole Jason Giambi saga would have hit full media circus. Isn't it funny how when Jason Giambi isn't hitting we immediately hear about steroids? Why was no one complaining last year when he was arguably the most dominant hitting force in the American League?
3. The Yankees would be 11.5 games out of first place. They would be dreaming that they were J-Schubes' beloved Orioles.
4. And the Mets. All the momentum would be there. The ground would have finally been broken. 2006 was the start. But this abusive sweep would have cemented New York as Mets town.
As I said before, life isn't perfect. We all don't get to canoodle with the chick from Vegas that Tony did the No-Pants peyote dance with. We all can't have a jump shot like Tom Coverdale.
But we do have something pretty damn sweet these next three days.
We have the Red Sox coming into town to potentially finish what we started. The only thing more disheartening to George Steinbrenner than being swept by the Mets on national TV would be getting swept by the Red Sox on national TV, right after getting your shit handed to you by your crosstown rival.
For my money, there isn't a more enjoyable game in sports than a Red Sox vs. Yankees game. I would try to go to at least one a year at Yankee Stadium just because I loved to be a Met fan in the middle of it.
I recommend you all do the same.
Prices will be down. Yankee fans are scared to show up in their own stadium.
Go check out this series, and go root for the Sox. Because if things go for them as they almost did for us, then Thursday's paper will be one of the most beautiful backpages you've seen in some time.
Vaya con dios,
Sip
One more thing. It was really fucked for the Shea faithful to boo Dougy Mientkiewicz. Don't they know that that is AFOMG's guy? Come on guys, what did he ever do to us?
(Images courtesy of mlb.com and cbc.ca)
Up 1-0 in the third inning, up 2 games to none in the series, the Mets had the bases loaded and a 3-1 count to Jose Reyes. The Yankees' rookie starter had managed to sneak through the first couple innings relatively unscathed but appeared on the brink of a meltdown. A walk to Reyes and it would be 2-0 Mets. And the Mets, of course, had no need for more momentum.
We all know what happened.
Jose Reyes swung at what looked like ball four and hit a weak fly ball to left field, ending the inning. A Johnny Damon blooper to right field and a Derek Jeter ding dong and the game was lost. Oh well.Here we are Monday and in retrospect, you have to look at the series as a success. We took 2 of 3 from the Yankees while the Sox took 2 of 3 from the Braves. We improved and the Yankees got worse.
Unfortunately, I am not too thrilled. Yes, we had a good weekend, but we were SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO close to something beautiful. A three game sweep and the culture of New York City baseball would have changed a whole lot.
We sat there all weekend watching Brian Cashman look like a little school girl, desperate for love and attention and praying that people would notice him. His job on the line, a job that he really hasn't been very good at.
So what if Jose Reyes took ball 4? What if the Mets broke the game open? What if Shawn Green played Johnny Damon a few steps in?
1. Joe Torre would not be manager of the Yankees. George Steinbrenner would have been so embarrassed by his team's efforts this weekend, the dismantling handed to them by the Mets that I gotta think his manager would have been out.2. This whole Jason Giambi saga would have hit full media circus. Isn't it funny how when Jason Giambi isn't hitting we immediately hear about steroids? Why was no one complaining last year when he was arguably the most dominant hitting force in the American League?
3. The Yankees would be 11.5 games out of first place. They would be dreaming that they were J-Schubes' beloved Orioles.
4. And the Mets. All the momentum would be there. The ground would have finally been broken. 2006 was the start. But this abusive sweep would have cemented New York as Mets town.
As I said before, life isn't perfect. We all don't get to canoodle with the chick from Vegas that Tony did the No-Pants peyote dance with. We all can't have a jump shot like Tom Coverdale.
But we do have something pretty damn sweet these next three days.
We have the Red Sox coming into town to potentially finish what we started. The only thing more disheartening to George Steinbrenner than being swept by the Mets on national TV would be getting swept by the Red Sox on national TV, right after getting your shit handed to you by your crosstown rival.
For my money, there isn't a more enjoyable game in sports than a Red Sox vs. Yankees game. I would try to go to at least one a year at Yankee Stadium just because I loved to be a Met fan in the middle of it.
I recommend you all do the same.
Prices will be down. Yankee fans are scared to show up in their own stadium.
Go check out this series, and go root for the Sox. Because if things go for them as they almost did for us, then Thursday's paper will be one of the most beautiful backpages you've seen in some time.
Vaya con dios,
Sip
One more thing. It was really fucked for the Shea faithful to boo Dougy Mientkiewicz. Don't they know that that is AFOMG's guy? Come on guys, what did he ever do to us?
(Images courtesy of mlb.com and cbc.ca)
posted by A Friend of Mr. Glass' at 10:25 AM
4 Comments:
Speaking of Mientkiewicz, John Maine has GOT to get a handle on these 4-pitch walks. I love Dougie Doug, but you've gotta make him beat you, you can't walk him on 4 pitches. I seem to remember some of those pitches being close calls, but whatever, you've gotta throw strikes to a weak-hitting 8 hitter in that spot.
Whatever, 2 out of 3 works for me.
why boo dougie?
"I don't why they would pick up my option, but if they do, I might quit...I'm serious. I don't want to be back there...I always thought Minnesota was a great place to play. After a year with the Mets, an organization that doesn't have a clue, I know that for sure."
http://metstradamus.blogspot.com/2005_10_01_archive.html
a little down the page (oct 25th)
DOugie Eyechart was booed for 2 reasons.
1. He SUCKED while here
2. what gbaked posted.
Coincidence that he was thought a douche in Boston? I think not.
I need someone to explain to me why Giambi gets into a world of NEW trouble for speaking the obvious truth, other than the fact that he's not producing and the Yankees would like to walk from the back end of his contract. I don't have much sympathy for the guy but I have zero understanding, other than the Yankees' financial motives, of the overwhelmingly negative reaction in the media to his most recent comment. Was it not wrong to "do that stuff?" Were the policies that were in place not absurdly deficient? Did everyone not turn a blind eye? I feel like it's been several years since the obvious finally became obvious to everyone, and still the baseball back office and media establishment comes down on you for saying that? Seems like nothing's changed. And if he starts hitting that will be the end of the cancel-his-contract talk.
Post a Comment
<< Home