Two out of three is pretty damn good
Talk about a reversal of fortune.
Carlos Delgado, who many fans, talk show hosts and writers wanted flushed out of Flushing, is playing like the Delgado of old.
Oliver Perez, whose inconsistency drove fans nuts, is pitching like an ace -- consistently.
The Mets are 9-4 against the Phillies, who beat New York 12 out of 18 last season.
Jimmy Rollins, lauded last season for doing such a terrific job as the Phillies' captain, needed to be disciplined for the second time this season and publicly disagreed with his manager's decision, a sign that the Phillies -- not the Mets -- are the most dysfunctional team in the East.
And, oh yes, the Mets are 21-12 under Jerry Manuel and are alone in first place after taking two of three from Philly, winning Thursday's afternoon tilt dramatically, 3-1.
Hard to believe that this is the same team that was so low under Willie Randolph, and maybe it was just a matter of the talent finally reaching its level, but the Mets are finally playing the way everyone hoped -- even expected -- them to, and they're doing it without their starting corner outfielders (or even Angel Pagan, who was supposed to spell Moises Alou).
It's a pleasure watching baseball again. Instead of waiting for the other shoe to drop, we look forward to seeing the Mets put the hammer down with a lead or rally back from behind. Guys are having fun again -- David Wright could have flattened a charging rhino with the fist pump he released after scoring on Delgado's double.
And can we lay off Jose Reyes, please? His home run trip wasn't a fraction as aggregious as anything Barry Bonds or Gary Sheffield or Manny Ramirez have ever done. And it absolutely amazes and disturbs me how Mets fans -- not the media, from whom we expect ridiculous spasms of outrage -- get on Reyes for every little thing.
Don't you remember 1986? Everyone hated the Mets. The curtain calls, Gary Carter, the high-fives, the perceived arrogance -- I want other teams to hate the Mets because it means the Mets are getting under their skin. And if the team plays better that way, all the better.
And that doesn't mean I condone showing up the other team. But almost nothing Reyes has done in particular or the Mets have done in general have been in that vein. So lay off and just enjoy the winning vibe, already.
Delgado's game-winning double was a fantastic piece of hitting. Too bad Perez didn't get the win, but hitting Howard after intentionally walking Burrell was a killer. Nice to see Heilman able to come into a huge spot and succeed, and good to see Manuel have the guts to call on him, which only bodes well for the stretch run. And Wagner was Wagner, again.
It doesn't get any easier this weekend with the Cards in town. I'll be at the game Friday night with my man Vince, in from Seattle with Rosie. The two Queens natives and die hard Mets fans wanted to see Shea one last time, and get an up-close look at Citi Field in progress.
And to see the Mets put a hurting on the Cards and Tony LaRussa, who we do not like.
Carlos Delgado, who many fans, talk show hosts and writers wanted flushed out of Flushing, is playing like the Delgado of old.
Oliver Perez, whose inconsistency drove fans nuts, is pitching like an ace -- consistently.
The Mets are 9-4 against the Phillies, who beat New York 12 out of 18 last season.
Jimmy Rollins, lauded last season for doing such a terrific job as the Phillies' captain, needed to be disciplined for the second time this season and publicly disagreed with his manager's decision, a sign that the Phillies -- not the Mets -- are the most dysfunctional team in the East.
And, oh yes, the Mets are 21-12 under Jerry Manuel and are alone in first place after taking two of three from Philly, winning Thursday's afternoon tilt dramatically, 3-1.
Hard to believe that this is the same team that was so low under Willie Randolph, and maybe it was just a matter of the talent finally reaching its level, but the Mets are finally playing the way everyone hoped -- even expected -- them to, and they're doing it without their starting corner outfielders (or even Angel Pagan, who was supposed to spell Moises Alou).
It's a pleasure watching baseball again. Instead of waiting for the other shoe to drop, we look forward to seeing the Mets put the hammer down with a lead or rally back from behind. Guys are having fun again -- David Wright could have flattened a charging rhino with the fist pump he released after scoring on Delgado's double.
And can we lay off Jose Reyes, please? His home run trip wasn't a fraction as aggregious as anything Barry Bonds or Gary Sheffield or Manny Ramirez have ever done. And it absolutely amazes and disturbs me how Mets fans -- not the media, from whom we expect ridiculous spasms of outrage -- get on Reyes for every little thing.
Don't you remember 1986? Everyone hated the Mets. The curtain calls, Gary Carter, the high-fives, the perceived arrogance -- I want other teams to hate the Mets because it means the Mets are getting under their skin. And if the team plays better that way, all the better.
And that doesn't mean I condone showing up the other team. But almost nothing Reyes has done in particular or the Mets have done in general have been in that vein. So lay off and just enjoy the winning vibe, already.
Delgado's game-winning double was a fantastic piece of hitting. Too bad Perez didn't get the win, but hitting Howard after intentionally walking Burrell was a killer. Nice to see Heilman able to come into a huge spot and succeed, and good to see Manuel have the guts to call on him, which only bodes well for the stretch run. And Wagner was Wagner, again.
It doesn't get any easier this weekend with the Cards in town. I'll be at the game Friday night with my man Vince, in from Seattle with Rosie. The two Queens natives and die hard Mets fans wanted to see Shea one last time, and get an up-close look at Citi Field in progress.
And to see the Mets put a hurting on the Cards and Tony LaRussa, who we do not like.
posted by Gaspo @ 6:02 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home