Anatomy of Another Brutal Mets Loss: A Team, Its Fans and Gameday
A wise man once said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Such words are perfectly applicable to Mets fans. We continue to watch.
Day in, day out. We endure rain delays. We go to Shea. We tune into SNY. We follow team news and debate it, as if any of it matters. We do this all while unrealistically begging something will change. Hoping against hope that this team will miraculously prove it is something other than painfully average. We do this because we are fans. And doing this makes us completely insane.
What is worse than insanity? Watching a team do the same thing over and over again on mother&%^*?@& MLB Gamecast. Hanging on pitch by animated pitch. Observing little dots fill up and move around the bases while a little computer message tells you that your pitching coach is making yet another trip to the mound. This is not merely insane, this is torture.
Let me explain, or just read and you'll get it. You'll get how Mets fans are pessimistic and melancholy by nature. You'll get how we always fear the worst. And you'll get how we're usually right.
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The New York Mets played a day game against the Arizona Diamondbacks this Thursday afternoon. After blowing leads of 5-1 and 3-0 over the past two games, preceded by a painful West Coast road trip, Johan Santana took the mound.
Santana did exactly what the Mets paid millions of dollars for him to do. He pitched seven innings giving up three hits, no runs and striking out 10. Johan left the game up 4-0. At 3:41 p.m., approximately the time Joe Smith was on the mound trying to protect that four-run cushion, the following email arrived in my inbox. It was addressed to four individuals, all of us Mets fans. The exchange between us over the next hour and a half (or three innings as it turned out) is all you need to read to understand the 2008 New York Mets (names have been removed to protect the no-longer-innocent).
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 3:41 PM Subject: Re: here comes the implosion, boys. man do we stink
Consistent with the mindset of the die-hard 2008 Mets fan. A rising feeling in the gut of one's stomach of pending, unavoidable doom. Also, incredibly clairvoyant. This was sent at 4-0 with Joe Smith relieving Johan Santana in the eighth and stuggling.
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 3:43 PM Subject: RE: I won't be able to handle being up 4-0 and losing with johan throwing 7 inning 3 hit 10 K ball. Nice job by Dwright hitting a sac fly with the bases loaded and 1 out in the 7th. We didn't even need a hit.
Take note of the supremely subtle use of sarcasm. Sometimes it's barely perceptible to the untrained eye.
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:45:32
Subject: RE:
Waiting to throw up.
Just be patient, anonymous Mets fan (this was actually me).
-----Original Message----- Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 3:50 PM Subject: Re: Why did they bring in scho to walk a guy?
With this team, and this manager, questions frequently abound.
-----Original Message----- Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 4:00 PM Subject: oh Billy billy billy billy billy. The old billy barool
Billy Wagner comes in from the 'pen with the score now 4-2 Mets. From here on out, not a whole lot of explanation is necessary...
-----Original Message-----
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:02:48
Subject: RE: oh
He better get it done today. That's all I'm going to say. In the words
of Harry, He needs to "totally redeem himself"
-----Original Message----- Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 4:17 PM Subject: Re: i hate this f--ing team. I am throwing a tantrum in my office. I hate them all.
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Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:20:43
Subject: Re:
well, on the bright side, we finally got mark reynolds out
On 6/12/08, wrote:
Gotta love it. Closer comes in. Shuts door. Awesome.
Date: Jun 12, 2008 4:31 PM Subject: Re: i'm hoping easley gets plunked here (third time's the charm) to win it. it's the only way.
Dreaming for a bases loaded hit batsmen...that's what it's come to for fans of this team.
-----Original Message----- Sent: Thu 6/12/2008 4:35 PM Subject: RE: oh No worries, all. Heilman's in. What could go wrong?
Aaron Heilman proceeds to promptly give up go-ahead run in 1oth...right on cue.
From:
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 4:41 PM
Subject: Re: oh
i didn't have heilman giving up the double, sac, sac, i confess. i had two hr's and no outs, followed by feliciano. my bad.
On 6/12/08, wrote:
my head hurts....
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 4:54 PM
Subject: Re: oh
have a great time tomorrow. i'm really jealous that you guys are going.
Labels:
Billy Wagner,
Gameday,
MLB.com,
New York Mets,
Omar Minaty,
Willie Randolph
3 comments:
I have to say.....Willie's gone. Unless they win, like, 22 in a row, Willie's done. With the trades they made, the money they spent, someone's got to fall. And I don't think he should be him, but he will be the choice. Then he heads to L.A. and ends up a coach for Joe T. out there.
i would tend to agree. i think he gets the axe this weekend, actually
As a Mets fan in Cincinnati, I was following along at the end of the workday and I am completely in line with the thinking here.
I watched painfully on ESPN GAmecast as Wags blew his 3rd save in a row. The &%$# hit the wall and the guy next door came over and asked if I was alright. I pointed to the 4-4 score and just nodded his head and walked out.
This team is taking years off my life. Please, for the love of God, make it stop.
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