It is easy to be cynical when the Mets win their first game in 8 days, especially when going into the Citi Field leg of the Yankees series. Two things were good, at least, about that isolated one game: The offense didn't completely fizzle out late after taking an early lead, and the game wasn't blown in the 9th inning.
The thing is, if they are ever to win two in a row again, the winning streak has got to start somewhere (insert "duh" gif here.) I like it when the Mets win, even when the more they lose, the more fervor gets churned about how much the Wilpons suck at running a baseball team. I'm not one for tanking (even if the result is a draft pick of glorious nature down the road.) I want miracles. I want Amazin' times. I glitch, though, when I utter, "Amazin'," because the nickname was arrived at in an ironic state, referring to the Amazin' Mets of 1962. By 1969, however, Amazin' was literally that, as we recollected on this past weekend. That is how quickly things can change. The "They" everyone talks about like to say, "Success is luck and preparation intersecting" or however you want to phrase it yourself. It would seem, cynically enough, that any success under the Wilpons, whether it is one isolated game or years like 2015 and 2016, is more luck than preparation. I'm sick of them proving us right, but as hard as it is to watch the nature of 2017, '18 and '19 after two great years in a row, I would never trade the joy and glow the memories of those two years have provided me. As much as we can sometimes laugh off the awful nature of the way things have gone, I'd still rather they figure out how to prepare to string together a bunch of 2015's and 2016's in a row. The winning streak has to start somewhere...
I mean, what else can I say? I'll quote myself from the below A Metsian Podcast: "Well, It's Groundhog Day...again. It's almost a feeling of Groundhog Day to continuously compare our fandom to that movie, but I'll tell you what? The next time I see Ned Ryerson, I'm going to punch him in the fucking face."
After taking in a game Monday in Philly, my first of the year where I actually still had a good time despite the final, I, like all other Mets fans, just kept watching the same thing over and over again, as we've been doing so for day after day, month after month, and year after year. Today should have been a day of celebration, with Tom Seaver being honored at Citi Field with the main address of 126th Street being named 41 Seaver Way. Instead, just the fact it was this far into the life of Citi Field, and Tom Seaver himself can't even take it in because he now has dementia...that they were doing it 3 hours before starting their 4th and final game against the Phillies...yet again, the ineptitude of the Wilpons are front and center. And then all we're talking about later on in the day is once more how AWFUL the Wilpons have allowed this team to be with another blown save. Today should have been a day of celebration, but instead, it is once more a reminder how how far this team is from those glory days of yesteryear, as well as the glory days of only 4 years ago. How do they expect to ever have consistent winning? There is nothing they can do to change the way this team keeps going through these peaks and valleys operating the way they continue to operate. I am exhausted talking about them, yet it is the only thing we can do because it is SO GLARINGLY this team's BIGGEST issue. We had a lot of great rants on the 30th episode of A Metsian Podcast last night, and I urge you to tune into listen to Rich, Mike and John aka Mets Daddy, as well as I, rant, rave and holler about this gloriously awful team we love to love.
Where to begin? I am beyond aggravated with where the Mets find themselves two days into the Cardinals series, with all that has transpired. I shouldn't blame anybody but the Mets for what they themselves can control. They could have taken adversity and gotten over it. They unfortunately continue to be the first and foremost thing in their own way.
What a metaphor. Maybe that is why we all can relate. So many of us have such potential for greatness, yet we find ourselves continuously self-sabotaging. You have to think to yourself, of course, there is no way the Mets are doing so in this particular instance. Whether it is fear of success...for the more we succeed, the more we have to lose...because obviously why would the Mets and their players not want to achieve greatness? They clearly don't WANT to continuously trip over their own two feet. Top down, however, they continue to put themselves in the position to be the most glaring reason they have the entire league shaking their heads wondering if the Mets will ever get it together for a prolonged period of time. I begin writing this without having gotten enough sleep but with a parking spot on my block in Manhattan that at least renders me some time to gather myself. I, however, am a hot mess indeed, so I might as well take a moment to rant without the rave about the hot trash that has helped to keep the Mets on the losing end of things 2 strange games in a row. 1. The Umpires - Could you make a decision with any conviction at all? Thursday night and the debacle with the tarp is front and center why most fans in the league think you are the worst officiating in sports and with absolutely no accountability amongst your ranks. Of course we all would rather wrap the game up as quickly as possible but the conditions were clearly within the traditional form of unplayable and you stand around, while things get worse, going back and forth about what to do AFTER you've already made a decision to begin the tarp proceedings. I mean, look at that photo I used. It looks like it was taken underwater. There is no thought given to what your indecision means for the young arm being forced to get up and sit down, attempting to stay warm before finally throwing a baseball in a downpour. Edwin Diaz will not be included in my hot trash takes because our young closer whom some fans want to give shit to right now has been nothing but dicked around. 2. Jeurys Familia - There was a hot second when I thought he may be turning a corner, but he continues to be put into high leverage situations and continues to fail miserably. The body language is completely off and the confidence of his youth has been completely wiped away. It is sad considering I keep flashing back to us fans dreaming of what could be when he was just a lil-ol' B-Met in Binghamton. Whether or not he should have even been brought back in the first place this past offseason has no place in my discussion right now. The only thing is he is what brewed the phrase in my head, "Hot Trash" after last night's horrendous 8th inning. At this point he should clearly not be anywhere near situations of that nature, no matter who may be rendered unavailable at the time. Speaking of which... 3. Mickey Callaway - I keep telling myself he will get better as a manager. I see no proof, however, of this way of thinking as of now. He would look much better as a manager if Familia was anywhere near dependable this year but he keeps making himself look bad by continuing to trust Familia in those moments. I can't tell you what the other options could have been considering apparently Gsellman had some back aches after his 7th inning last night, but at some point, Familia clearly once more did not have it, yet Callaway gives him all the room to fail. That isn't even the most egregious moment of the day. WHAT IN GOD'S NAME IS YOUR CLOSER DOING STARTING THE 10TH INNING OF A SUSPENDED GAME WHEN YOU MIGHT NEED HIS ARM COME THE 9TH INNING LATER ON THAT NIGHT?! I'm sure that was indeed the plan had Familia gotten through the 8th, but why, oh why, was Diaz even close to an option earlier?! It makes absolutely no sense. The only thing I can think of is you're trying to save other arms in case it goes deep and also trying to save other arms for the night billing. So, you think, I want my best available arm to shut these guys down immediately. Complete backfire. I just wouldn't have gone that route and I'm irrationally upset Callaway did. As I write this, I've been back and forth with a fellow fan who said it's time to move Wheeler or Matz. I would keep Matz 'cause he is still cost-controlled for a few more years (and better at this point) and Wheeler is on his way out most likely. I'll just go ahead and copy-and-paste the rest....At some point, if it keeps going this direction, move Frazier, Wheeler, and maybe even Diaz. I don't know, (to reiterate something I wrote way above) the Mets have all the potential in the world but cannot get out of their own way, and the Wilpons keep operating like the way they have all these years has been a formula for success. So frustrating.
They've trained us plenty at this point, but that doesn't stop a fan from getting excited after one game. It's the reason why we get excited on Opening Day. It's the reason why fans start posting standings with the Mets in 1st place at a 7-3 record, something I cannot stand, as cautiously excited as we all can be.
I've given them props for responding well to adversity before. They've come off of miserable road trips and played with life at home after looking so lifeless prior. They understood there was a lot of heat, at least in the press, on their manager after they played so atrociously for 5 straight games, and a good portion of this season since starting off so strong. It is certainly better than losing their 6th straight, and they needed an insurance run provided by the combo of a Carlos Gomez walk and a Dominic Smith single to more securely lead themselves back to the win column. This is all well and good. Even the worst teams, however, tend to win 70 games. Everyone wants to point to Brodie Van Wagenen only going so far to state the security of Mickey Callaway's job. There is no reason, however, for BVW to state unequivocally that Mickey's job is safe. Mickey could take a shit on Jeff Wilpon's desk tomorrow, something I can only assume is a fireable offense, though you never know with this shit show of an organization. There could always be a fireable offense that pops up, so it isn't exactly surprising that this kind of lawyer-like language is used. Good for Wilmer Font for serviceably pitching 4 innings, who's fault it is not that he's having to start every fifth day for this team. Good for Amed Rosario and Pete Alonso and Todd Frazier and Carlos Gomez and Dominic Smith for their RBIs. Good for Gagnon, who collected the dubbya, good for Zamora, good for Gsellman and good for Diaz (notice who's "Familiar" name I passed over?) Until we see more consistency from this team, however, there is no reason to get ahead of ourselves. Hell, until they secure a playoff berth, there is no reason to get ahead of ourselves. Until this team wins the World Series, there is no reason to get ahead of ourselves. I will always be frustrated over the fact that the Wilpons keep proving us all right; that the organization will never have sustained success year to year as long as they are owners. I thought it in 2015 and I desperately wanted them to prove me wrong. They reverted to the mean, however. And I'll always be sad about that. I'll also be sad that Yoenis Cespedes will most likely never play another inning for the New York Mets after breaking his ankle...falling into a hole on his ranch? Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
With my focus on an improv show that was the culmination of a 10-week class, I had a built-in excuse to not first-hand experience (from a fan perspective) the weekend that will live in Metsfamy. The weekend that, I can only speculate at the time I write this, sealed the deal for the firing of Mickey Callaway in his sophomoric year as a Major League manager. As of now, two years in a row, the team, after a hot start, has lost steam rather quickly. This has happened to other Mets teams, of course, but there seems to be an extra-special way the team seems to lose total preparedness for the grind of a hundred 62 game season. As many people are pointing out, however, Mickey, and any manager, can be scapegoated as much as the Wilpons want, but they themselves are the King-Kong-sized gorilla in the room. They are the only constant since 2002. We all know how the majority of those seasons have gone. The seasons that haven't gone that way where the Mets contend have only experienced two (ok, three) playoff appearances. None of which have the Mets winning the last game of the year. Two of which they contended till the last day of the season only to get completely exposed for their lack of preparedness. There is, however, no firing of those men. Those men will stay until they decide to cash in their Park and Boardwalk deeds. As I said on Friday, however, I ain't going anywhere either. If you're reading this, you most likely aren't as well. You will state, "I've had it with this team," but still decide after you're fed up with the Game of Thrones finale (once you catch up on-demand) to check in on the Mets game that night. They might be losing 2-0 to the Marlins once more, and you'll raise both your hands and say, "Figures!" But you ain't going anywhere. Unfortunately, the Wilpons know that. Maybe one day, however, they will see enough of it in their bottom line to recognize that even they have a deeper river bed than they thought. The rocks are slimy down there. They're covered in mud. Somewhere under there, however, is at least 2 billion dollars. We the fans, though, should always be careful what we wish for. It could always be worse.
Nowhere to go but up from here? The truth that is not.
While Jason Vargas, currently on the IL, has been better since I wrote about how they needed to move on from him, it all goes back to what I said then. The Wilpons can hold meetings all the want trying to swing the tides, but how can they be taken seriously when they run a pitcher out there, no offense to Wilmer Font, they literally traded for just because they needed an extra bullpen body? It is so many adjectives that go through the mind as to how the Wilpons run this team. AND I HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN INTO THE FACT THE OFFENSE COULD HAVE DONE THEMSELVES A FAVOR WITH RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION, TOO! Patrick Corbin is a great pitcher, no doubt, but seriously. We're going off the rails on a crazy train. And I'm not even going to use that song here. Quick turnaround with a day game after night game. Seriously, Mets. Just...seriously, come. ON.
Yet again we were fooled on cue by fake diamonds and pearls It may only be May 7th But these feelings go round the world Yet again it appears to be The shine that glimmered bright Was only a piece of shit wrapped up in foil blinding us with its light Yet again the holes are exposed Before they can be filled Many of us screamed, "Get the cement!" But budgetary restrictions spoke still. Yet again we just had to believe And yet again we probably will It is never as bad as when it feels at its worst And never as great when we're thrilled.
Yet again we're exasperated fooled by Aprils and Septembers 2015 a lifetime ago We can't live just to remember The losing the only consistency Of the last 50 years two years of winning six years of losing The rollercoaster fills many beers Yet again there is much more season left And things may yet turn around. But yet again It feels like crashing and burning will be the only sound. Yet again we will stay up late To watch them on the left coast. And yet again We will continue to push Hoping they don't just melt. Yet again we will watch this team As ugly as it can be.
On Saturday night, as the Mets got deeper into their extra inning loss to the Brewers that was the middle game of a weekend sweep, I was getting deeper and deeper into extra innings on the road. I was driving around on my rideshare game, picking up people as Quattro de Mayo turned into Cinco. I have no idea what the inning was that correlated with when I felt I needed a quick nap, but I couldn't even put the game on knowing I needed to get to sleep as soon as I could fall into it. When you're driving for a living, you have to be fully aware of the trouble signs.
It was 12:15 when I was able to pull over and grab my neck pillow. I set the alarm for 1 o Clock, putting on some classical music to soothe me to sleep after checking the score. When I woke up to finish up the bar scene, the Mets had lost. I had some strange feeling that this would be the alert I would see once I got back to my extra innings. It wasn't raining when I went to sleep, but it got literally right to it after I was up. Not raining when I rose...raining within ten seconds of me putting my drivers seat back into it's upright position. The only time the Mets or any baseball team can take a pause during extra innings is if it begins to rain. Looking at the results, it sure looks like the Mets could have used a snooze themselves. It wasn't until the next morning that I checked twitter that I had any idea of some of the details of how it all went down after the Mets took the lead in the 18th only to spit it back up in the bottom half. I had this to say on twitter about the weird yet weirdly satisfying way I woke up Sunday morning to my twitter feed feeding me the tweets from the exact moment the Mets lost.
And so it goes. The miserable way Saturday night ended was in company with a miserable weekend. The Mets managed in the last two games to buck the 1-run trend, but not enough for it to manifest a W in either. My pessimism is such that when Juan Lagares made it 3-2 yesterday with a solo shot, I said to myself, "That's the final score." It was manifested. Yet again as it was in 2018, Mickey Callaway got his team off to a good start only to be under .500 sometime thereafter. I cannot tell you what the threshold is for when he should be concerned for his job, but you cannot manage that way either way otherwise your job loss will indeed manifest itself. It is a sucky feeling knowing that the main reason the Mets keep finding themselves in baseball purgatory is because of the way their owners run this shop. We at A Metsian Podcast were able to give the Wilpons some credit for a change somewhere in our offseason podcasts. Syracuse was a great move. And some other stuff, too. That, however, was short lived, and we're staring down the barrel of the gun recognizing once more that this team, as I feared leading up to 2015, will never be able to get out of this rollercoaster pattern of good for two years, awful for six. I will always hope they prove me wrong someday, but that hope is better suited for other parts of my life. Jeez. I have to believe, don't I? Hard to do so when the evidence points elsewhere.
Monday nights these days are set aside for improv classes as I try to get out of my head a bit. A bit is a bit of an understatement. Improv is therapeutic that way as you have to be on your toes and ready to accept offers as they come from your fellow improvisors. There technically aren't any wrong things you can say; just say it, stop thinking. It is only wrong to throw off the rhythm and flow.
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports Photo via Metstradamus
I found myself turning off the radio feed of the game just before the Mets scored their first 2 runs of their eventual 7-6 win over the Phillies on Jackie Robinson Day. At points where my attention wasn't directly needed, whether it be myself improvising or giving the respect ones on stage deserve, I saw a prototypical Mets-Phillies battle ensuing as I was checking the score on the At Bat App. It was the type of game we have gotten plenty used to these teams partaking in against one another. Back and forth, up and down, never a moment where you felt any particular relief on either side of the respective fanbases. And I don't want to get into the Noah Syndergaard factor right now. The Phillies' ace, Aaron Nola, was pitch-for-pitch basically not as sharp as well. The biggest issue right now is the bullpen for us, other than the Jason Vargas issue. I got out of the improv class just in time to see a runner on and no outs with Jeurys Familia on the mound in the 8th. He both did a poor job of sticking to the script as well as keeping the rhythm and flow of the scene moving with a Mets 1 run lead at 6-5. After his sensational breakout season of 2015 where, from my memory, he was the most reliably consistent closer the Mets had ever had (up until his 2nd quick pitch in a row to Alex Gordon in game 1 of the World Series) he has resorted to typical Mets closer fashion, i.e., forcing you to self-manicure with your teeth as the clippers. Whatever is going on with him, he cannot seem for one second to find the plate with any pitch he administers, lolligagging the ball every which way. When he's over the strike zone, his pitches are way too hitable, and he provides no sign he will be getting any better any time soon. At 3 years and 30 million dollars, let alone the familiarity factor of why Brodie decided to offer him the sizable contract, Familia must figure out how to get out of his head before he is a non-factor on the field but a huge factor on what we know is a tight, specific, non-altering budget the Wilpons have come up with. In the end, however, the Mets persevered. They came up with big hits in their first extra inning game of the year to pull a much-needed division win against the Phillies in their first match with Bryce Harper in a different logo's red. We were all wondering why Edwin Diaz wasn't in there instead of Robert Gsellman in the 8th inning after Familia walked the world. Apparently the answer is they are committed to only using Diaz for 3-out saves. While I'm not sure I agree with this, Gsellman settled down in the 9th inning after walking in the winning run and WOW did Diaz deliver when he got the opportunity in extras, striking out the heart of the Phillies order to close out the game. Also, if the Phillies fans weren't aware of Jeff McNeil before last night, they sure as heck are now, as he collected 3 hits, 1 RBI and made 2 spectacular defensive plays. They were able to push past the lost momentum from the Atlanta weekend and get what we hope is back on track. Lock down the series tonight and render Wednesday's day game only playing for icing on the cake. Stay focused, but out of your head. Transition, revelation, resolution. It's a long season, but sharpen the senses now and it will make the rest of the stretch that much easier.
I believe the Mets to be good. Ya Gotta. I think what they have shown us so far is much more reason to be optimistic than last year's above-their-heads 11-1 start. The offense has had a fantastic approach, seemingly attacking in ways the opposition cannot continuously adjust around. Usually, when a team is making a run, the starting rotation is lucky to have two aces at the top with the other 3 pretty good to round it out. It is a blessing, of course, that we have 4 horses that could potentially in the long run be other team's best.
The 5th starter, however, is not supposed to be this freakin' awful. Many of us all offseason long were screaming that no matter how Jason Vargas seemed to get better in the 2nd half of the season last year, we all expected him to resort to the atrocious pitching he presented at the beginning of it. He wasn't all that good in his first start and he was skipped to keep our better pitchers (cough cough deGrom) on a regular pitching schedule with so many off days early on. So, maybe he was a little rusty, but excuses excuses excuses. This world hates them (no matter how hypocritical each of us are and how often we seem to make them) and you have to adjust to what is thrown your way. His throwing was so bad he was taken out in the 1st with clearly no faith he would get back on track. Post-game, Jason Vargas made the excuse that he wasn't out there long enough to make an overall assessment of his pitching. Oh, please. This isn't the type of talk fans want to hear and most likely not the type of talk teammates or coaches want to hear either. There isn't an easy fix, no matter how much we keep screaming for Dallas Keuchel. That would be INSANELY AWESOME. This is the Wilpons, however, we're talking about. They do not operate in the same operational plane that most successful teams do. Signing him would not only most likely sure up our potential success but prevent our divisional rivals from swooping in to counter our attack with the pitcher of topic. It's crazy that a former Cy Young award winner, and one who hasn't had a drop off in performance of Matt Harvey territory, is still out there on the free agent market along with an elite closer of Craig Kimbrel's ilk. At this point, give a kid down in Syracuse a chance instead of someone who wants to keep making these excuses. We all will make excuses, but we have to continue to check ourselves and make less and less of them as time goes on. Maybe one day, the Wilpons themselves will heed those words as well.
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