Yesterday marked the end of Major League Baseball’s regular season and for a select ten teams that meant the beginning of postseason play. And for the first time since 2006, my beloved New York Mets are included in this distinguished group. To put that into perspective, the last time this happened George Bush was in the middle of his second term as president, Snapchat was six years away from being created, and Caitlyn Jenner was still named Bruce. It’s been a while.
The team has had its fair share of ups and downs this year. Losing the captain David Wright for nearly four months with a career-threatening back injury was not prime. Neither was losing catcher Travis d’Arnaud for months after breaking his hand getting hit by a pitch. The offense was abysmal without the two. Unbelievably bad. I saw them get no-hit by a spot starter named Chris Heston in June. I could’ve made that name up and you wouldn’t know the difference, that’s how anonymous he is. The lineup was statistically worse than the 1962 expansion Mets that lost 120 games. Nauseating.
But then something amazing happened (get it, Amazin’ Mets. haha. I’ll show myself out.) Somehow the pitching staff was strong enough to buoy the team while Triple A players like BC grad Eric Campbell and John Mayberry Jr. were in the middle of the order batting .190. They hung around within striking distance of the Nationals in July. Then d’Arnaud came back and Conforto was called up. And Wilmer Flores was traded and then cried, only to find out he wasn’t going anywhere. And Uribe, Johnson and Clippard were brought in. And they acquired a guy named Yoenis Cespedes. And then this happened.
after
Unbelievable.
They won that game, swept the series and never looked back. Cespedes carried the team at times and deGrom, Harvey, and Syndegaard showed the division and the rest of the league how strong the Mets’ pitching staff really is. Familia has emerged as a lockdown closer with Clippard as his setup man. The offense looked like a juggernaut after the trade deadline and propelled them to first place and eventually the division championship. 2015 NL East Champs. Put it in the books.
This team is scary to face in an elimination series. Harvey and the boys tossing gems. Long Island’s own Steven Matz out of the pen. Bartolo there for coming relief. Granderson, Murph, Wright, Yo, Duda, Wilmer, TdA, Uribe. The 7 Line leading the way as CitiField descends into chaos. Buckle up. October’s gonna be wild in Queens.
Cubans puffing Cubans. Fat guys being #fatguys. White guy dance moves. This team is special kids!
When Bryce Harper heard the Nationals had signed Max Scherzer in the offseason he asked where his World Series ring was. Now he’s booking his flight back to Mormonville. What an idiot! What a freak!
PS – Could not be happier for David Wright. The guy is the heart and soul of the organization and he deserves to win more than anyone after surviving the dark ages. Now enjoy this hype video and prepare to #BeatLA.