I don't know if Tuesday's events are the start of something magical, or simply another "dead cat bounce" that delays the inevitable like John Maine's 13-0 win and the corresponding Phillies loss was last season. But whatever happens, let me just say this:Johan, you're the flippin' man.
Dude, you could have come here, negotiated your new contract, and proceeded to become a huge disappointment like most people that make their way here to Flushing for big bucks. You could have torn your ACL and your MCL stepping out of a golf cart. You could have taken the mound wearing earplugs. You could have trafficked weed in peanut butter jars. Nobody would have known the difference.
Instead, you haven't lost since I saw that crazy woman get dragged out of Shea in a strait jacket. And that was a while ago. Every big start that this team needed in the last three months ... you've provided. It's too bad your talents have been wasted on this team and this bullpen ... you should be a 20 game winner. You should be in the Cy Young conversation. You should have had the opportunity to really turn this town on its ear.
In fact it's to the point where if you start this Sunday and have a clunker, I can't even be that mad at you. I mean yeah ... I'd be a little mad because if you had a clunker the last day of the season, I'd have to go on another "meaning of life" quest to the Arctic Circle or something because I wouldn't even know what do say, do or think at that point. But I'd wind up taking it out on Aaron Heilman, Tom Glavine, and Armando Benitez anyway. Because what you've done up until this point should have been more than enough. What you did last night ... eight innings of gutty baseball pitched with a hit and a fielder's choice where you beat out a double play ... on a night where I had the "season's over" proclamation ready to go, should really be enough.
Instead, this freakin' team is still fighting for their lives. But whatever happens from here on in, just know that it's not your fault Johan ... it's not your fault.
10 comments:
Yep ... he's money in the bank. He even had some 'tude last night, chirping at the home plate umpire.
Let's give some kudos to Wright and Reyes too - big time hits in big time situations. You could argue Wright's hit saved the season.
And how about Castillo? He didn't kill or injure anybody on the field. Way to go Luis!
I don't know about anybody else, but I think after the 125th pitch, Johan's arm was somewhere on the first base line....
We have to win and clinch a spot by Friday...there is no flippin way we can count on Johan to pitch on Sunday....
God Help Us Mets Fan....
Beezermess
And I hear you on Pearce. Thanks for that homer, but Kendall's fly ball should have been caught.
So sad. If it weren't for the bullpen, Santana wouldn't be in the Cy Young conversation -- he would BE the conversation.
(and the Phillies fans would be the ones staying up late to watch Prince Fielder his walkoffs, not us...)
In Johan we trust.
We could use 7 more Johans, 4 for the rotation and 3 to use in the bullpen.
Caption for that photo:
"And now, for my NEXT trick... I shall make this ball disappear!"
Ok kids, let's think outside the box. Let's say the black bat thing is a sign from God and the Mets rip off three wins and clinch the wild card on Friday, while at the same time the Phillies maintain a 1/2 game lead in the Division. What does Jerry do? Does he take the WC and throw anybody on Saturday and Sunday to prep Santana for the playoffs, or does he go after the Division and throw Santana Sunday?
Here's what I'm thinking:
If on Saturday night, Sunday morning ...
The Mets have the Wild Card wrapped up but need the win and tie the Phillies in record (which would mean the Mets would win the division on tie-breaker) Yes. You wouldn't get Santana until Game 3, but it would be a tough start on the road so I'd want him there anyway.
The Phillies have the division wrapped up and the Mets need the game to WIN the wild card: NO. Heaven forbid Santana starts and the bullpen blows it for him and then they have to play Monday, they have no Johan.
The Phillies have the division wrapped up and the Mets need the game to TIE the wild card: YES. Then I'd be happy just to get to Monday, and I think Ollie's pitched well against Milwaukee this season.
So what do we get out of Ollie tonight? 7 or 8 shutout innings of 2 hit ball?
Or 2/3 of an inning during which he gives up 5 runs.
Either is possible. I'm banking on his history of pitching pretty well in big games, but I swear I could see him having one of those horrible days...
Looks likely we're gonna have at least one game washed away this weekend. Which would probably mean a double header Sunday. If both Friday and Saturday are rainouts, then what? A double header and a game Monday? Fun thing is Philly is gonna have the same weather.
This could get crazy...
Keep writing that Choke 2 script. Hard to believe it is happening two years in a row....and like Metstra said...they are falling against two teams (one of which was in a complete tailspin a week ago and fired their manager). Seems like every night over the past three seasons its been a Pepto Bismol moment...I don't know how people can live like this.
Last blogger has an interesting point about the weather this weekend and its implications in the northeast and how this affects playoff first round and how games are made up to close the season.
Think about how wiped out the Phillies, Mets, and Brewers will be going into the playoffs this year. The Mets are using 7 pitchers a night and will see the staff shrink if they make the playoffs. Yes - you can ride the momentum into the playoffs but at some point the gas runs out of the tank. After tonight's brutal loss, though, you may want to end your travel plans.
I'm not sure what the Mets are doing for the close of Shea this weekend (no doubt it won't be like anything they put on in the Bronx last weekend)...but how cruel would it be to close Shea with a second choking collapse. I'd hate to see them roll out the living 69 and 86 Met players only to close the facility in disgrace.
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