This is it and the Song of the Day

Well, fellow Metsian folk, we have arrived at game 162. In an alternate universe, the 2012 Miami Marlins and the 2012 New York Mets are tied for the division lead heading into this afternoon's match-up, and one will avoid a one-game wild card playoff. Unfortunately, that's not the way it is, but that doesn't mean we can't have fun for another 9 innings before grudgingly giving way to non-Orange-and-Blue playoffs, which will be pretty awesome per usual once our sighs go away.

(Oh, just so I don't completely miss it, his abdomen was ripped THE ENTIRE TIME?!)

I've been preparing for the offseason by getting knee deep in New York: A Documentary Film, as I've mentioned here recently. It is absolutely fantastic, and I advise you all prepare for your offseason the same way. We're gonna need something to do when there's no Mets baseball on. Might as well ride these epic documentaries out. It is a fascinating, atmospheric look at how certain decisions for one region can send history soaring towards where we are today, including our Orange and Blue history. For there are no Metropolitans without the Metropolis.

I just wrapped up Episode 3, which takes us to the end of the 19th Century. They detail a song about the ole neighborhood that became "one of the most popular songs ever written about New York City." As the tune began, I noticed familiar notes that sing, "East Side/West Side," which our excellent Mets tune obviously paid homage to when it was time to record in the early 1960's.

First, since I'm feeling a little melancholy, here is the actual documentary version of the song.

Enjoy game 162 everyone.

Now, let's pick up the pace.

ONE. MORE. TIME. NOW.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for Rising Apple twitter updates, click here.

The Wild One

When they peered out into the bullpen in the late innings and I saw Ramon Ramirez, I said, "Oh, great. It's Ramon Ramirez." Its amazing how quickly a reputation can change, and Ramon Ramirez, after having the 6th best reliever ERA from 2008-2011, has fallen into a long line of relievers to exert that kind of reaction from Mets fans after killing it in other corners of the MLB. He continued what Jeurys Familia began, who walked the park in his debut but kept the Marlins off the board through 4. Other relievers followed suit, and what was a 2-0 lead became a 2-3 deficit. Mix that with double digit LOBs, and you have a loss.

That's just the nature of the beast.

Of all the bullpen problems, Ramon Ramirez is the most troubling. Others, like Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch, were coming off of uneven seasons. The former you kind of expected something like this (an odd mix of a 5.53 ERA and 23 out of 27 opportunities locked down) and the latter with solid showings sandwiched in between early on and recent non-effective outings. Manny Acosta kind of gets the same "Oh, look who's in the bullpen" reaction Ramon Ramirez gets, but I like Manny when he's pitching well. He's an peculiar show on the mound. Ramon Ramirez was supposed to be THE piece of the Angel Pagan trade. Andres Torres was just replacing a position player, with the hopes he would somewhat duplicate his World Champion 2010 season. "Whatever. Sandy got Ramon Ramirez, one of the most effective righties in the National League." Oofph. He looks lost out there. In another world. I hadn't seen a pitch sail like that in a long, long time. I look forward to not seeing Ramon Ramirez in that bullpen next season. I'd rather see a kid get the chance than give him another shot.

You know, the funny thing about baseball is that even in a game the TV crew dubbed "a 4th place team playing a 5th place team kind of game," and rightfully so, it still tugs on your nervous system as you wait for what the next pitch will bring. After Fred Lewis* got hit by the pitch in the 9th, every Ike Davis foul had me waiting and hoping for the dramatic from my team. I was on the edge of my seat till he almost hit it passed Carlos Lee at 1st for the final out. That's what people who call baseball boring don't understand. All you have to do is focus your mind on following that little white ball from the pitcher's hand to the small diameter of the plate, and seeing what happens to it every time that motion occurs. It's a fascinating game. I absolutely love it.

Anyway.

I'm gonna go watch the rest of episode 3 of New York: A Documentary.

So, let's file this wild one away, and get ready for the final R.A.

KNUCKLE. THAT. BALL.

LET'S. GO. METS.

*Fred Lewis has yet to have a 2012 New York Met Moment. He's running out of chances. I was hoping he would have that moment with 2 out in the 9th, tying the game with a pull home run down the line. Got hit instead. Oh, well.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for Rising Apple twitter updates, click here.

Discovering History After the Reaction Loses in Atlanta

While the Mets were losing 0-2 in game 158 to the Braves in Atlanta, where the big hit seen Friday just didn't occur, my friend and I decided we were gonna watch the first of an epic journey through New York's History. He had seen it before and couldn't believe I hadn't. It's by Ric Burns, younger brother of Ken Burns. We didn't start till right after they lost, after I pulled the one bud out of my ear.  I have now seen Episode One, and it's time you do too. I understand if you are reading this and have stuff to do today, go ahead and bookmark it. Or when you get a chance, go to youtube and look up part 1 of 8 of episode One.

One day I will surely get the 18-hour box set, which originally aired on PBS from 1999 to 2003, but these first 2 hours are some of the greatest minutes of film my eyes have ever seen.

So, for those of you who have some Sunday time before Football, pull up a chair and see how we got to the New York Mets' loss to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, September 29, 2012.

Enjoy the game today, everybody.

NEW. YORK. CITY.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for Rising Apple twitter updates, click here.