Keep That Flag Raised High

This morning, after I poured my coffee and turned around to travel the small walk to my computer, my eyes searched for a coaster so as not to chance a coffee ring anywhere. When my eyes finally found what my brain finds familiar in the coaster universe, the American Flag was once again in my consciousness. There on the mini-bar of my mom's place were 4 American Flag coasters, and I was reminded of last night's loss to Puerto Rico.

The American Flag is not necessarily something that has ever been in my household THAT much. I remember when I used to live on Any Block USA/Rendale Avenue in Richmond, VA, that we would interchange flags on the front door of our house, as most of the block did and I'm sure as most of you who grew up on a block like that can remember (and/or currently still practice.) I don't have as much of a memory of it on Cordova Road in West Palm, but apartment circumstances in Manhattan led to a different relationship with the flag than what I had within the world of the Suburban Americana Household. It is a very strong flag, and one that is unique in design when flying high next to the other nations' flags of the world. Here in New York City, the American Flag is constantly flying next to other nations; an entire world represented within its borders.

Stil, in Manhattan, you can usually find an American Flag within a block to a block and a half radius of one another. They are on the outside of bars, in Arab-owned delis, randomly hanging outside of somebody's window...  

In the outer boroughs, especially in those neighborhoods with many Americana-style blocks of houses, it is raised above the door next to a Mets, Yankees, Giants or Jets flags (and so on in our sports world and so forth.) When you really think about it, it is a comfortable symbol. One that subtlely reminds you that no matter how messed up politics are, how screwed up war is, how corrupt public officials can be and/or all that jazz that can piss off both the majority and the minority, all us citizens are some lucky SOBs.

That should humble us, and strengthen our patriotism (not create an arrogant and hollow presentation of what that is.)

Last night, Brooklyn-born-to-Puerto Rican-(Met fan)-parents Nelson Figueroa pitched quite possibly the game of his life, stifling the USA batters for 6 innings, not allowing the 2 baserunners to reach against him make it to 2nd base (and when J-roll tried with 2 out in the 6th, Yadier Molina gunned him down.) Right behind home plate and throughout the stands, Puerto Rican Flags flapped in people's arms, most certainly outnumbering the amount of American Flags being flapped around. They were loud and never stopped being loud, even as their small uneasy 1-0 lead held firm until the top of the 6th, when a questionable pitching change of Ryan Vogelsong (who was still 8 pitches off the limit) led to Puerto Rico breaking through for 3 more runs. Not to say there were not loud American exceptions and with Flags throughout, but we were certainly not overpowering the Puerto Ricans (as we did not against the Dominicans.)

[That's mainly because I wasn't there to single-voicedly overpower an entire Miami-crowd-size stadium worth of Puerto Ricans, which helps when attempting to get other Americans involved.]

Let's put aside the argument on whether or not Puerto Rico should have their own national team when they are not even a nation. They should not be penalized for the little bit of imperialism left over. As brought up by Michael Lecolant and discussed on this week's podcast, Americans don't do a great job at nationalism in their sports rooting. I attributed it to the saturation of sports franchises throughout the land, with each very concerned with their brand and the fans very concerned with that brand as well, many walking advertisements as they make their way around their respective cities and towns (and around the country and world.) The American Nationalism debate is one that can go on forever (and the tinier discussion of it should be listened to on the podcast...) but for the sake of this post, let's stick to our characteristics and traits when it comes to rooting in general.

When we as baseball fans are taken out of our element at the game, when our team is not doing well and/or the game gets completely out of hand, we generally get very introverted, leading to a much quieter rooting environment. When we break our silence, its mostly to shrug and quietly say to the ones sitting around us, "If this had been different..." or "If that had been different..."  It's not till our teams start something back up that we get juiced again. Whether or not that's a flaw in our fandom is another discussion, but in the moment of a WBC game, it might not be lack of Nationalism that is keeping us subdued, but our rooting habits instead.

The Coaster

I never feel more American than when I'm watching baseball, and especially when I'm right behind home plate, the American Flag is raised high and flapping mellifluously in the wind, the National Anthem is struck up by the band and the caps are off, placed over our hearts. There are many reasons why I believe the American team keeps coming up short in these tournaments (including my opinion that Joe Torre was a step behind and a generation too old for what managing calls for in this new age product that is the World Baseball Classic.)

Maybe, just maybe, the way we root is a reason too.

It was unfortunate that our Captain America had to go down, but he did what he continues to do, which is play through injury (and well) and represent the brand across his chest (whether its Mets or the country that allows for his prosperity) as well as anybody ever has. Forget the argument about whether or not the tournament is worth it or whether its timing is off; David Wright opened some players' eyes to how much pride you should have for the country you call home, and the one that perfected that ancient practice of bat and ball.

I love New York City and have a lot of pride in these 5 boroughs. My pride, however, is certainly based in pride for America. New York City only exists because of America, and the fact it was the greatest portal into this country the land presented to us (possibly the greatest harbor in the world.)

This City is as American as it gets.

I was very happy for Figueroa, as I don't believe he was given the respect he deserves from the former Mets regime, and never got the chance to become the "Puerto Rican Greg Maddux" with his hometown team. He was given quite the chance to do it in an elimination game for the island he considers helped give him his existence. He was nasty, and I'm proud of him, as I'm positive his dad with the brick outside Citi Field is at this very moment as well.

It will be time, however, to take back this sport of ours in 2017. I don't want to hear the March excuse, and you know the players (at least some of them) won't allow themselves to give that excuse.

We'll grab the title one day.

Long live the USA.

OOOH. SAY. CAN. YOU. SEE...
LET'S. GO. METS.

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Will Someone Get Captain America Some Tylenol?!

Last night, after a fantastic Metsian evening in the clubhouse* with Ira Berkow, author of Summers at Shea, I found myself in a melancholy mood as I clicked on mets.com for the David Wright headline. A few hours before, my attention was more concentrated on getting downtown than it was on any pregame World Baseball Classic news, though pumped for the game I certainly was. I didn't find out about the David Wright scratch until we, the clubhouse, turned the game back on around the 5th. 

That was a bummer. 

Though it was awesome seeing R.A. Dickey had bounced back.

So, around the midnight hour, I just stared at whatever info had been gathered so far on the left rib cage soreness (which was first reported as a sore back). It was clearly precautionary, clearly of some concern, but nothing to necessarily freak out about (though I try to say that more often than not these days about most things.) As I read on, I realized I hadn't even addressed in my last post of yesterday the fact the USA and The Dominican were playing last night, which is counter-productive to everything I've been talking about. If you were a superstitious fellow (which I am) you'd think that I was the reason for last night's loss; that I started the evening off sending out bad karma.

OR, maybe it was just Kimbrel's pitch selection after that terrible call (and I mean TERRIBLE, by the way.)

Anyway, I stared at my computer contemplating writing about the night. And I just kept coming to the conclusion that I wasn't in the mood.

So, I read my friend's interview with David Cross.

Then I thought about watching a random episode of Arrested Development, even though I recently went through the whole series again.

Then I watched Louis CK at the Beacon instead.

And dosed off seemingly mid-crack-up.

Oh, also, I used to love Jose's antics, but an ENTIRE TEAM OF IT is getting on my nerves.

I want to beat those guys so badly...

Anyway, tonight we play an elimination game against Puerto Rico at 7 PM EST. Ryan Vogelsong on the mound for the US, and NELSON FIGUEROA on the mound for PR.

Somebody else has to start coming through for this team.

They won't have Captain America to drive in 2 with a game-winning single this time.

Step it up, USA.

LET'S. GO. METS.

*(More on the evening at the Clubhouse this coming next week...)

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Captain America?! Captain America.

I'm not sure who started this, whether it was the announcer Matt Vasgersian or just a hashtag that took off, but I kinda LOVE IT.

I also LOVE how pumped Sgt. Felix Perez gets.

Nice win, USA.

Here's the Random Song of the Day.

BASES. LOADED.
LET'S. GO. METS.

I like that this is when I can root for J-roll, 'cause let's face it. If he were on our team we would LOVE him. He's a good villain, but for now, keep drivin' him in, Captain America.

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A Metsian/WBC Weekend in Review

As all of us recover our internal clocks from losing that hour we used to have, let's recap the baseball weekend for not just all of you, but for myself as well, who missed most of the Metsian news and games that occurred (and apparently a thriller of a Cuba v The Netherland Kingdom game this morning.)

On Saturday, The New York Mets beat our old friends the Houston Astros 9-6 in a game where The Duda finally broke out of it a bit with a 3-3 day. A real highlight for me, on the fan side, was watching the WBC, following the Mets on twitter, and then all of a sudden everybody giving Adam Rubin crap for tweeting too early that Bobby Parnell had a 1-2-3 inning...just as Parnell dropped the last out and kinda lost it for a second. Rubin deleted the tweet immediately, but not before several twuman beings replied, retweeted and gave crap to Adam Rubin (I'd link you some, but they have come and gone in my twitter ether...And I'm sure you can imagine them well enough.) Luckily (but only for the overall Parnell Pscyche, because come on, this is just Spring) Bobby got it together and the Mets held down the win. Here's the Rising Apple Recap for you all.

Sunday brought another Spring Dubbya to the Orange and Blue, with Shaun Marcum as strong as he's been yet in the Mets 3-0 win over the Cardinals. It was scoreless till the 8th, when Jordany Valdespin singled in Travis d'Arnaud for the 1st run of the game. A couple 9th inning insurance runs later, and the Mets locked the game down. For the Rising Apple Recap, click here.

The Mets made their first set of Major League cuts on Sunday, including Zack Wheeler, Darin Gorski and Collin McHugh, all of whom we should expect to see in the Big Leagues at some point this year. Gorski was being considered for a lefty out of the bullpen role, but with Pedro Feliciano, Robert Carson and Josh Edgin the most likely to make the team, it made sense Gorski would be sent out to Vegas to be the Depth Down Below. McHugh will be the 6th or 7th starter waiting in the wings, and Zack Wheeler....well....he'll be up soon enough.

Moving on to the WBC - after the air was taken out of all of our sails because of the flat Knuckleball R.A. had friday, the USA ballclub took on Italia Saturday night in a do or die game. Italia was up early 2-0, but the Stars and Stripes came back to tie it........And then The Captain happened.  (and it was so nice, I had to watch it twice...and watch a close-up slow motion shot over and over again.) 

David Wright had his place in all the success of the USA squad this weekend, for on Sunday, down 3-2 to Canada in a Winner-goes-on-loser-goes-home game, David took a walk and scored the go-ahead run on Adam Jones' double. USA then pulled away and won the game 9-4.

Mexico followed their win over the USA Friday Night with a dud to Canada Saturday, finishing 1-2 and getting eliminated from the tournament (and getting into quite the bench-clearing brawl before it was all said and done.) Venezuela could not get through either the DR or Puerto Rico, as they got eliminated from play this weekend as well (interesting note from the V/PR game: Edgardo Alfonzo threw out the 1st pitch, representing Venezuela.) 

España FINALLY scored some runs...but in a game that didn't matter, and in a game where they lost 14-6 anyway. Clearly, they have a long way to go, but I hope their failure in their rookie WBC campaign does not lead to even less funding for the baseball program over there. 

SO. 

On this side of the world, Round 2 will include the DR, Puerto Rico, USA and Italia.

This morning in Japan, THIS happened.



Though it's too bad 3 of their starters were injured, I'm very happy to see The Dutch move on to the Final 4, especially after their mercy-ruling at the hands of Japan.

The Netherlands will take on those Japanese once more for a End-of-Round-2 tune up tomorrow morning at 6AM EST.

Until then, we have the day off from World Baseball. Preseason ball will fill the MLB Network day, but our Mets will not be televised (and neither will the Revolution...[Random Gil Scott-Heron reference.])

Have a great start to your week, everyone.

Here's the Random Song of the Day
brought to you by the Big Bad Baseball Gypsy.

WHERE'S. THAT. HOUR?!
LET'S. GO. METS.

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One More Time Before This Do or Die Game...

USA. 

Canada. 

Winner Goes On. 

Loser goes home. 

4PM EST on MLB Network.

Tune in there, but for now, tune in here.

WRIGHT. IS. THE. MAN.
LET'S. GO. METS.

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Well, That was disappointing.

I'm not so much disappointed in R.A., as the Mexicans came out swinging and he did not have his knuckleball working yet. He DID have some good ones, but one (to Adrian Gonzalez) stayed way too up and was way too devastating. The air was deflated from all the other players by their Knuckler not having it early. And the USA team never recovered. They looked listless the whole night, and not in sync. Wright had a great defensive showing, though, and a better offensive showing after he grounded into a double play in the 1st inning, including the first USA rbi of the year with a single to right, plating Jimmy Rollins (which is still weird to say, but we might as well get used to it in these tournaments. Luckily, it's the only place we'll be saying it.)

That overall performance, combined with Italia mercy-ruling the Canadians, and we are looking at kinda a scary matchup all of a sudden when the USA takes on Team Italy at 9PM EST tonight on MLB Network.

Sidenote: R.A. Dickey really is the first athlete ever I will root for and follow like he is a team.

He is an extension of my Met fandom and an extension of the Mets....until he finishes his career with us.

As for this Spanish team, as I type this, they are working the same formula today as they did against Puerto Rico: pitch ok but not good enough to keep a great Dominican lineup off the board early, and miss every RBI opportunity you have...and play poor defense. Their inexperience is dangling off their sleeve, and they are tripping over it. BUT if their offense comes around, it could get interesting...but what is most likely going to happen is that DR will mercy-rule this thing at some point.


Lotta baseball today. Got the Mets on SNY at 1PM, Canada v Mexico at 2:30PM, Puerto Rico v Venezuela at 5:30PM and, once more, USA v Italia at 9PM, with World Champion Ryan Vogelsong on the mound.

We'll see how he does on March 9th.

(Oh, and Cuba mercy-ruled Chinese Tapei early this morning.)

Enjoy your Saturday, folks.

Here's the Song of the Day.

LET'S. GO. METS.

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