Done Dickey Deal

As the excitement grows for a game you are going to, it never plays out in your head as a come-from-behind victory. At least for me, but for most you too, right? In my head, the Mets score a couple runs early and R.A. Dickey throws a perfect game. That's not exactly what happened, but how that game played out was certainly one of the biggest baseball thrills in my lifetime.

For most of the game, I sat next to the father of my friend on the inside who got me the tickets, up the 3rd base line in the outfield. I kept saying to him, "They're gonna do it. They're gonna get him the runs he needs."

I met up with Greg Prince of Faith and Fear in Flushing behind my section in the middle of the 5th. He was only a couple of sections over, but when I tried with my 110 ticket to go say hi to him in 114 earlier in the game, the green guys didn't allow it, (a fact I will not get into right now because on the last day of the season it perturbed me to no avail.) Anyway, as we were catching up and talking Mets, it. All happened. Much needed good luck after the first 2 games we took in together did not exactly pan out well for the Metsies.

Is the best part of all this how juiced the crowd was all day for R.A.? Was the best part that our All-Time Hits Leader got that much closer to the Home Run Record with a 20-win-clinching bomb? Was the best part that Jon Rauch didn't blow it so I could actually appreciate this catch?

Yeah. That might be it.

If you haven't seen it, your eyes will yell at you for taking so long. In context, this hypothetical Mike Baxter home run would have tied the game at 2 in the 2nd inning. Being up the 3rd base line in right field, we had a pretty solid view of the Mo's Zone. Off the top of my head, before I link it ('cause I'll do that in the editing process,) I cannot remember the player's name. I certainly cannot remember witnessing a better catch in my baseball history as well. I've seen some catches. This guy reached around 5 FEET OVER THE NEW MO'S ZONE WALL. HIS ENTIRE ARM IS OVER THE WALL. Unbelievable. There was definitely a buzz throughout the crowd after that. So good, I might actually frame it one day...you know, now that the Mets won that game. They don't win that game, they lose 7-6 or something along those lines, THAT'S the catch that would have denied them the victory. Spectacular. It's unfortunate that my camera was out of commission for the day, but the image is certainly burned into my brain. (When you watch the video, I gotta give Howie the best call of the play. "HIGHWAY ROBBERY!") Oh, yeah, and that's an easy fly ball last year. Much more excitement with those walls WHERE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALL ALONG.

(And something random...as I looked at Keith without his 'stache....I couldn't see him without it. The 'stache was still in how my mind's eye perceived him. His upper lip was also extremely white from zero sun for 20 or so years.)

I have praised Robert Allen a bunch here. If you've been reading this blog throughout 2012 (and I must say thank you once more) then you know I am not surprised by this kind of season from our knuckleballer. He is an inspiration, and I look forward to several more years of the Knuckleball Wobble.

They did it. 

They actually did it. 

They got RA his 20th and they got to double-digits in 2nd half home wins. Only 10 after the All-Star Break (6 of which happened in their last 7), but I don't care. They obviously need to clean up their 2nd half act from now on, but it doesn't take away from how much fun I had at Citi Field this season. I saw a ridiculous 9th inning comeback against the Phillies, I saw RA get his 20th, I saw the 1st Mets no-hitter, and many, many more.

Yes, we want October baseball in Citi Field.

But I can't thank the Mets enough for some spectacular memories.

The 50th Anniversary season has been nothing short of Amazin'.

The 2012 New York Mets.

CY. YOUNG. DICKEY.

LET'S. GO. METS.

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

A Dribbler Does It.

This one belongs to Wright and Hefner.

There were many different players, but those two take the game cake.

Great bounce back start by the Hef.

Can't say enough about Wright's role in this franchise.

Kev: "Before I let you go, do you have another 1400 hits for you in a Mets uniform, to give these fans, you think?"

Wright: "I hope. That's the goal."

YES, that is the goal. With at least a couple ring sprinkled into the mix.


All of a sudden, the end is nigh.

R. A. DICKEY.

LET'S. GO. METS.

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

Whatever.

It's not apathy. It just is. At least there was some fight in 'em as opposed to those other 26 losses in the 2nd half at home.

I went between the TV, the At Bat and the radio as The Big Bad Baseball Gypsy and I unloaded stuff from the show into his apartment from my Mom's lovely-lended-out vehicle. I can turn the car on remotely and since I had the pregame on before arriving at their place I knew the game would be on for me as I opened the back door. I grabbed some fluorescent lights and Josh Lewin erupted in jubilation as David Wright made it 4-3. Fantastic timing.

But alas, the comeback fell short.

Every win is a victory and every loss is a victory, as every single player gets evaluated heading into the offseason.

(I hope Robert Carson's Ok.)

And David Wright should break the Mets' hits record either tonight or Thursday.

Two more games.

Then no more Citi Show.

Don't pretend. You know you're gonna miss it.

FINAL. NIGHT. GAME.

LET'S. GO. METS.

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

The Spoils of 6

I ventured out to Citi Field Monday evening for the first game taken in together by a few of us Rising Apple Folk. We got tickets in the Pepsi Porch, the first time any of us had sat up there.

I certainly was dreaming of an Ike Davis Bomb, but where his 2 home runs of the evening landed sufficed. 30 home runs. Fantastic turnaround after a historically bad start.

I'm still not sure what to make of Mejia, since he had 70 pitches through 3 innings, but he settled down to go 5 shutout frames. Undecided on his role going forward, but must give props where props are due. His best Major League start so far and we were thrilled to take it in live.

It was very refreshing after my last game to have a 6 run lead for most of it, as I'm sure it was for many (oxymoron these days) Mets fans in the stands. Even though those tight games are what baseball is really all about when it comes down to it, but, at least this time around, I liked feeling a lot better about having the game in the bag.

Afterwards, I got gas at the corner of 114th Street and Roosevelt, and I'm waiting for the attendant when I noticed a man signing a credit card receipt at the pump on my left.

"Is that...Is that Ruben Tejada?" 

It was. Fillin' up his Black Camaro.

He got out of that Citi quickly.


I'm heading out there next for "Closing Day", Thursday at 1 to watch RA go for the 20th.

Let's finish strong and continue to drive the dagger into those Black and Yellow Bucs.

KEEP. IKE. DAVIS.
LET'S. GO. METS.

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

Gettin' Back On Track at the PNC

Jon Niese bounced back from a horrific 4 home run outing in Toronto to help deliver the Mets to a 3-1 win yesterday afternoon to leave the steel city with a series victory and a .500 road trip.

After getting called out by Dan Warthen for his lack of preparation, Jon Niese was outstanding, using his backdoor cutter on the outside part of the plate to establish his sinking fastball on the inner-half of the plate. The Pirates were having such trouble with these pitches he all but abandoned his curveball. Niese's stuff is too good for outings such as the Toronto one, and as long as he makes the proper pre-game preparations and in-game adjustments those outings will be few and far between.

In yesterday's game post, I failed to mention how awesome a job both Mike Baxter and Kirk Nieuwenhuis did bouncing back after dropping the ball on Monday. In this win, they continued to put the error out of mind as each had huge rolls in this win. Baxter went 1 for 4, scoring on David Wright's double in the 5th inning. Cap'n Kirk went 2 for 3, touching the plate once and gaining an RBI on a sac fly in that 5th. Just as it looks as if the league might have caught up to him, Kirk continues to adjust as well and do the right things to help us win. Both him and Baxter are huge parts of this team.

Bobby Parnell has done a complete 180 from last year.  With 2 on in the 8th and after Jon Niese could not get the last out, Parnell was brought in to face Andrew McCutchen with 2 on. Catcher Rob Johnson threw down to 1st to try to pick off the runner, but Ike Davis could not handle the throw and it trickled down the line, moving the runners over to 2nd and 3rd, including the tying run at 2nd. The old Parnell more often than not would buckle under the pressure, but this year's Bobby Parnell has such confidence in his stuff that he reared back and threw a smokin' fastball to the outside and low part of the strike zone. McCutchen checked his swing, but it didn't matter because the pitch caught the strike zone. Instead of throwing the fastball as fast as he can right over the plate, he's locating it so nicely, as well as throwing his breaking stuff for strikes. He's becoming a pitcher, instead of just a thrower. BOOM!!!! Bobby P.

After only 7 games at home in the last 25, the Mets are back in the Citi for an awesome 11-game homestand, beginning tonight against the San Diego Padres. Jeremy Hefner, making his 1st Major League start, will take on the southpaw, Eric Stults. Let's sweep the Fathers.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Converted Mets Fan is now on Twitter. Follow me @convertedmetfan. And for Rising Apple twitter updates, click here.