It wasn't until after the multi-season hit, edge-of-your-seat show "24", with Kiefer Sutherland finally sunset that I ever even watched the show - at which point I got immediately hooked on it and rented and binge-watched every show of every season.
His oft-repeated line in those shows was:
"We're running out of time!"
And for many of us old who are enough to be Social Security recipients, that "24" line bears real meaning when it come to a Mets World Series crown.
Well, folks, '24 is almost upon us - the 2024 season, that is.
I would like to see the Mets players 1024% committed, as Jack (Kiefer) Bauer was, to accomplishing the absolutely impossible...in the Mets' case, to win a World Series not in 2025 or 2035 or 2045, but in '24, even though the year 2424 often seems more likely.
If you watched the shows, Jack Bauer encountered innumerable hopeless situations and overcame them all.
None of the shows, though, to my recollection were shot in Queens.
He likely knew doing the impossible in Queens was too tall an order for even him.
The oddsmakers (per a recent ESPN post) think the Mets' series chances in 2024 are pretty hopeless. But not COMPLETELY helpless - on December 24, they somehow had the 11th best odds of an MLB team.
The Dodgers new trifecta (Ohtani, Glasnow, and Yamamoto, who combined cost the Dodgers $24 trillion) tore past the Braves in the eyes of oddsmakers. But if you bet $10 on 2nd-ranked Atlanta, who just trade for Chris On-Sale, you'd win just $65. If you bet $10 on the Mets, you'd win $280.
Other 24 Options?
Willie Mays? Yes, he wore #24 but he said he won't be back for what would be his 24th big league season. Say Hey, that's OK.
Dwight Gooden won't return either, despite winning 24 for the Mets back in 1986, a year in which the great Gary Carter slugged 24 HRs.
We certainly don't want the Mets to add Jack Fisher, who lost 24 in 1965 for the Mets, or Roger Craig, who lost 24 in 1962.
Maybe add Hubie Brooks, though, who hit in 24 straight in 1984.
Hopefully, there will be no 24 inning losses by a score of 1-0, as occurred in April 1968 when former Met Al Weis made an error leading to the deciding run scoring.
Brandon Nimmo hit 24 homers in '23, so maybe he'll hit 23 homers in '24?
And Francisco Alvarez hit 25 in '23, which totals 48, so maybe he can hit 24 in '24?
Just spit balling here.
The Mets were 25th both in team batting average and in saves in 2023; is it really too much to ask they are at least 24th in both categories in '24?
Me?
I think the '24 Mets will win 24 by Memorial Day, and 80 in total in '24, but it they get "Jack Bauer inspired" and win 24 more than 80 in '24 and instead finish at 104-58, they'll have a shot at the 24 carat gold World Series trophy.
If they only win 99, though, which is 24 more than the 75 they won in '23, they may fall short of the division title once again.
The East is a Beast, where the Mets might be the least.
And...what about age 24?
Man, do I wish I was 24 again. How about you?
Anyway, only about a month and 24 days to the spring training game opener, people, so please be patient, remain in your seats, and keep your seatbelts securely fastened. The pilot is expecting turbulence.
Have a Happy New Year 2024. Make 24 resolutions you'll immediately not keep.
Before I go, a question:
Who won the 1924 World Series? Not the Mets, for obvious reasons.
If you guessed the Washington Senators over the New York Giants, you were correct.
Ray says he had excellent seats for every game and even got to watch Walter Johnson pitch.
Walter Johnson, at age 36, was 23-7 and won the league's 1924 MVP (sorry, Babe), and also threw 666 complete games in his career, twice having 40 or more in a single season. The entire major leagues had 35 complete games in 2023.
Johnson also had 4 seasons in which he threw between 369 and 372 innings...compare to Tom Szapucki. My nickname for the latter is Tom Horrific.
Big Train Johnson from age 19 thru 21 was just 32-48, despite an ERA slightly below 2.00, so Jake really had nothing to complain about.
Lastly, from age 22 through 31, a 10 year stretch, Johnson's ERA was about 1.50. Pretty sick. Only above 2.00 (and not by much) only once in those 10 years.
What would he have been paid 100 years later?
It would have taken a Big Train to haul the cash
Jack Bauer and I are off desperately trying to find the location of a rogue nuclear device.
Remain under your desks (or at least under the cap) until you get the all-clear signal.
BIRTHDAY GIFT WITH A METS MOTIF
My sister Joan, a lifelong Mets fan, got me this nifty Mets Skyline sweatshirt - ways I figure it, if I only wear it when they win, it should stay well-preserved:
Bauer and his agent Luba sued one of the Mack’s Mets writers for what he said then called his place of employment and convinced them to fire that friend of mine for exercising his constitutional right.
ReplyDeleteI will cease to exist online if the Mets sign him
Mack...say no more. No Bauer.
ReplyDeleteThe article has been, shall we say, "adjusted.
ReplyDeleteMorning guys, how hard did Koosman and Gentry throw. Looking at videos of Gentry he had an smooth delivery
ReplyDeleteThe BigTrain was awesome. Should have seen him against the '27 Yanks.
ReplyDeleteRay, I took too many Big Trains in my life...LIRR double deckers.
ReplyDeleteKoosman and Gentry? I'm not sure but 96 or 97 at their peak. I have two memories:
ReplyDelete1) Watching Koosman firing fastballs, having the Pirates light him up, and having him say in an interview it was his best fastball of that season, and he tipped his hat to the Pirates hitters. Year? Not sure.
2) Gentry in one at bat going after Hank Aaron with all high cheese, Hank getting a piece of each, until pitch 12 or 13 was launched into the night. Gentry threw hard enough to get into that "obviously I'm throwing all high fastballs, Mr. Aaron, let's see who wins" duel, and it took 12 or 13 pitches for the great Aaron to catch up and win. Tip of the cap to Gentry, nonetheless.
Happy new year to you Tom, and to everyone else here as we keep each other a little long distance and internet company. That’s a cool shirt, I can see how proud of it you are.
ReplyDeleteMack, you have to be kidding me about Bauer. Shame on them. Losers and that should be known throughout Metsville. I’ll make it my business.
Tom, your article had 24 paragraphs of entries greater than one line! I have never seen that show, ut may look to find it now. Saving the world never gets old when making a movie.
As for the Mets, it’s the off season, I’m in no hurry since they aren’t, LOL
Gus, right back at ya. It is mid 40s and cloudy in NY today, which is basically what your average Citifield opener is. Usually 70 the prior 10 days, then the Mets open and it's Bring Your Parka Day.
ReplyDeleteI watched season 3 and 4 of Jack Ryan the other day - I liked John Krasinski quite a bit in it, but Kiefer Sutherland was my guy in 24.
I started watching season 2 or Reacher. Half way thru. I'd not mind having Reacher (Alan Richman?) hit clean up in my line up. He is a Caucasian Hulk with great delivery. Great show.
Thanks! I’ll look for them.
DeleteGreat shirt. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteThanks, TP, same to you.
ReplyDeleteRight now, we're even in the loss column with Atlanta, and no one thought that was possible this late in the off-season..