The Endless Season
I haven’t blogged much this season. OK, I haven’t blogged at all this season. Life kind of got in the way, with work and planning for a wedding next June. Plus, the 2009 edition of the New York Mets hasn’t really inspired much to write about. We’re at a point, however, where if I don’t write something about these Mets, they might drive me to the insane asylum.
In April and May, when we had our full compliment of everyday players, the Mets were a slightly above average team, keeping within striking distance of the division leader and grwoing accustomed to their new ballpark. They hadsome hot spurts, which inspired confidence, and some down periods, which inspired panic and crazy trade ideas. They took 2 out of 3 against the mighty Red Sox on Memorial Day weekend! I was in Connecticut with my future in-laws who happen to be Sox fans. That was fun. After that series, I was sure they would take that momentum through June.
Then something happened. Karma, bad luck, the wrath of the baseball gods, whatever. The injury bug hit, and hit big time. Down went Reyes, Delgado, Maine, Putz, Beltran. They didn’t just go out the normal way either. It started with a little “tightness” or “soreness” that they kept playing through until it turned into a tear, or a bone spur, or a bruised bone. Somehow the medical staff kept underestimating injuries until they turned into major, perhaps season-ending (still yet to be determined) injuries.
Because of these injuries, the Buffalo Bisons started showing up at Shea Citi Field. Soon, Jeremy Reed was our center fielder. Fernando Martinez got his chance finally. Then got injured. As did Angel Pagan and Fernando Tatis. Thus the injury bug hit our reserves too.
Still, somehow I kept holding on to hope somehow. Not anymore. I was hoping the All-Star Break would give players a nice rest and they could come back and play decent ball. Now, 9 games out of first, and with the Billy Wagner being the player nearest to coming off the DL, I can safely say: pack it in. Bring up some young prospects to get some big league experience. Let Jon Niese and Nelson Figueroa pitch. What’ve we got to lose? And if, by some miracle, we can come back and make it into the playoffs, wonderful. I doubt it would ever happen, but maybe the Phillies can have a collapse even worse than our 2007 collapse.
This is the essence of being a Mets fan. Experiencing losing season after season, especially in painful ways, is just part of our lives. People wonder why CitiField honors the Dodgers so much and somewhat neglects the Giants portion of National League history in New York. Compare the Mets to both teams. Which team does this franchise more closely resemble? Maybe we can nickname the Mets “Dem Bums 2”
Still Amazin' After All These Years. 