A lot of us were able to watch the Nats TV feed of last night's 4-4 10-inning tie, either on MLB Network or MLB.TV. If you missed any of the game, check in with Matt Musico over at Rising Apple for a recap and his thoughts on it all.
The most interesting item from the game, for me, was 22-year-old Rafael Montero. The Mets- coaches, front office and players alike- have been raving about this kid for a long time, and it was the first I ever got to see his stuff. Very impressive. He will begin the year in AA and will most likely be in the minors the whole time, but a September call-up is not out of the question (unless he breezes through everyone and forces the organization to speed his process up, but I'm looking towards the 6th month of the season for Montero's Citi Landfall.) There were plenty of other things from the game that drew my attention (besides, generally, the Mets and baseball) but I can't really get into detail about it all right now. So, please (once again) head over to Rising Apple, for Matt Musico has got you all covered. This song is randomly stuck in my head this morning. Probably 'cause Silver Linings Playbook is for some reason randomly stuck in my head (for those of you who saw the film, you understand the tune reference.) It's a really beautiful rendition (not to say the original folk version isn't fantastic as well, but this one gets me.)
As these winter meetings get under way in Nashville at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel (seen on the right), there is one rumored R.A. Dickey trade destination I can get behind: Texas. The narrative seems right, and if a trade to improve our team arises with the Lone Star State and the trade makes sense from a practical point (which is not my point of view when it comes to my firm stance on keeping R.A.) then for him to kind of "go home" to the place that gave him his first shot and help them win would be a storyline I can get behind. R.A. has found a home here with our Mets family, but if the deal is right, sure, send him back to Texas. I'm kind of starting to salivate over Wil Myers, though, you guys, and I would LOVE to see Sandy pull off a trade for the young slugger WHILE STILL signing R.A. to an extension. And KC is unlikely to include their prospect in a deal for a 38-year-old journeyman knuckleballer coming off only his 3rd straight great campaign (you and me know R.A. is no fluke and will likely keep his consistency and/or find what he needs to do to adjust to pitching as an older gentlemen, but other teams are appropriately weary to giving up their team-controlled prospects for him.) It is much more likely a deal could form around a coming-into-his-own southpaw with a reasonable 5-year contract. Sorry Jon. I'm sure you don't take offense to myself and many other fans tossing you into a hypothetical trade with Kansas City. I'm sure this very instant you're watching a Wil Myers highlight reel saying you'd trade yourself for this kid... Anyway, I like the approach Sandy takes in most of the things he does. We fans are supposed to enter all of this with emotions constantly running high. That's ok. Sandy's job is pretty much the opposite. Emotions are supposed to take over very little in his job. Technically, the Mets ARE desperate. Omar would probably be walking in their with that, "Man, I need a catcher, outfielder and bullpen" look on his face as he shakes hands and schmoozes with everybody. Sandy's probably cracking jokes about it with the rest of baseball, but he will not trade his commodity in an act of desperation. He will make a keen baseball observation, and do what he must. What a week, folks. Let's see what unfolds.
As I've been saying a bunch recently, this game was not in my immediate consciousness. It's tech week for us Fools, so my eyes won't be seeing much actual baseball (unless there's a day game. Is there a day game this week?.....No, there's no day game this week.) It's All About the At Bat. I would check in and they would have something "going", but then remarkably the hits that were there earlier in the year are no longer (no really. REMARKABLE. This whole 3 wins at home since the All-Star Break is pretty unfathomable. It feels like only 3 wins, right? I don't feel like counting it now. It will only depress us that much more.)
I have not read anything about the game. I know not whether there was a controversial call or two. I know not whether errors were made that led to some of the baserunners driven in or whether there were awesome plays made that only said "so and so makes the catch" on my phone. I only know that all the runs came on the homer. Frankly, I don't need to read anything about it right now. I need to only move on to the next game (Let's. Go. R. A.) and pray that they finish ahead of the Marlins because of that $100 bet I made with a (Yankee fan) friend before the Marlins signed Jose that the Mets would finish ahead of the Marlins again. They should. They are a better team. (The Phillies beat them tonight, right?...yeah, they did. 'Cause they're beating everyone right now.)
We can try to explain all we want what is wrong with the offense. The 24/7 cycle leads us to over-analyze and micro-magnify every move these players make. But nothing can really explain it. Other teams are just playing a really hard game that much better than the 2012 New York Mets.
I'm gonna go to sleep. I'm exhausted.
Keep the Fire Department and Police Officers in your mind today.
