I Appreciate Playoff Trophies, Even If Not Of The Queens Kind
When it comes to baseball, I am, first and foremost, a New York Mets fan.
As such, my primary focus in that regard is the Mets getting into the playoffs, something that they’ve done with all too little regularity over 64 seasons, I am sure you would agree.
As a Mets fan, unlike many who put all their eggs in one basket, I prefer to hedge and diversify my risks, so to speak.
Meaning, I closely follow the results of the Mets minor-league teams.
If you are pulling for five teams, in terms of potential playoff action, rather than just the frequently disappointing one in Queens, which got swept badly by the Phillies, and are melting down faster than an ice cube reentering earth’s atmosphere, you are less apt to be crushed and disappointed. (The painful sweep left them a horrific 31-47 in their last 78 games through Thursday). Then,Tong proved he was a mere mortal as he had a bad outing in an 8-3 loss to Jake and the Texans. Four games over .500. No parachute.
Whether or not the NY Mets make the playoffs this year, in fact, I have at least three minors teams (Binghamton, Brooklyn, and St. Lucie) that are seeing playoff action this year.
And I love to see that.
So, how are those three teams faring in the playoffs? Well, Binghamton has not started their playoff series yet, as their season ends on Sunday, but their playoffs will start early next week. I will be following that eagerly. Their chances are excellent.
Brooklyn and St. Lucie?
Well, their playoffs started this past Tuesday. How’s it going, fellas?
Brooklyn won on Tuesday, then St Lucie won on Wednesday. Brooklyn then won their series 2 games to none on Thursday, but St Lucie lost to go to one game apiece in their series. Then lost 2-0 to exit the playoffs.
The Cyclones’ Joel Diaz pitched great on Thursday, 7 scoreless, and my guy Yonaton Henriquez had 2 hits, two steals, and 2 runs scored while Matt Rudick and Yohairo Cuevas each drove in two runs in a 4-1 win. Their finals start Sunday.
Senga was fine in his AAA rehab game, BTW.
BRING HIM BACK.
I nominate Saul Garcia for the reliever of the year
ReplyDeleteBrooklyn: 4-2 1.85
Binghamton: 1-0 1.32
Combined 76-K in 47.2-IP
working on BB... WHIP at Binghamton down to 1.02
Saul is deserving. Others are Ross, Lambert…and old man Metoyer.
DeleteI always heard Japanese players took their work-outs to ridiculous lengths and thus were in great shape all season and we get Mr. Softie Senga who I would not be surprised if he hurt himself walking to the mound. His "ghost fork" not nearly as present as his ghost injuries and of course because we missed out on Yamamoto which we can file under what else is new. I don't even know how to comment anymore on our team as it seems Mendy is out of answers but we have to face reality we suck and have been playing way below expectations for 3 months now so this is who we are. The big question is "now what"?
ReplyDelete"now what"is in the hands of Mr. Cohen
DeleteGary, Michael Baron ripped them a new one today. I am glad we are not the only site that isn’t in “rah rah, sis boom bah, we love you and can never point out the flaws” mode.
ReplyDeleteSenga needs to suck it up and get back here. For his next start.
ReplyDeleteI too expect Senga to return latest next week
DeleteNeeds go have a good outing to make him more tradeable this winter making more room for Tong, McLean and Sprout
DeleteMack, this team fails because there are too many weak-willed, and too few warriors. Philly has a higher quotient of warriors.
ReplyDeleteHarsh as that sounds, unfortunately it is true. Given the cash invested (& paid to the players), the organizational resources & commitment, the crowd behind them - the players have failed: individually & collectively. It is very disappointing & a huge fail this year.
DeleteTrue Tom, well said.
ReplyDeleteThe 86' Mets would have depantsed this team in the schoolyard and sent them home in their tightly whities and sent them home to mommy.
1986 (and 1985) were warriors.
DeleteSteve, don't really see Tong and Sproat as locks anymore. May need more seasoning I believe McClean is the real deal. Hope I'm wrong.
ReplyDeleteAt this point, let them get the experience.
ReplyDeleteI’d probably keep Tong here, to not burn an option. Might as well get him experience.
DeleteWith the exception of a couple of seasons the Mets have been historically a pretty disappointing team. They’ve had eras of awfulness and eras of dashed expectations. I call the curse of Paul Blair. Blair was a promising young player who played in the Met minors in 1962 who they let loose after that season despite having a decent year and showing promise. This was just the first on boneheaded moves- to many others to mention- Chilcott drafted over Jackson, Otis traded for Foy, Ryan and others traded for Fregosi. The biggest mistake I made for my sport mental health was becoming a Met fan and I’ll probably take it to my grave
ReplyDeleteAptoklas, as I have gotten older, I have reprioritized. I used to be an “every sport” guy. Now I am down to just the Mets. The last team I dropped was the Brooklyn Nets, when they gambled the franchise on veterans and it blew up in their faces. I feel like I am edging closer to this with the Mets, who I have frankly hardly watched since the June swoon lasted 3 months and counting.
DeleteTom- I completely understand what you are saying. I don’t take baseball as seriously nearly as much as I did when I was a kid. It’s funny- I’m still upset the Mets blew the ‘73 World Series and Berra didn’t pitch George Stone game 6. By contrast I’ll be disappointed but won’t lose a minute of nights sleep if the Mets blow this season. It’s perspective and maturity. But I’ll probably alway be a Met fan. Going though the escalator of life- college, raising kids, seeing loved ones die etc, the Mets are the one constant in my life and I can draw a straight line back to the 1960’s when I first became a fan. It’s not necessarily logical but that’s what being a fan means
DeleteApyoklas, I hear ya. Every fan is different.
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