I wouldn't call that one a classic — too much bit-spitting in situations where the thing should have ended earlier — but it sure was fun. About the only thing it was missing was one or both managers picking their least-worst-hitting starting pitchers to pinch-hit. (Glavine and Smoltz?) Along the way…well, I'm not quite sure I can remember. When Gary reminded us that early in the game Lo Duca got hit in the wrist by Andruw Jones's backswing, I was startled: Wasn't that like last week? Even Billy Wagner giving up a pinch-hit home run to Wilson Betemit was a bit aged in the memory by the time this one was over. Which is best for Billy, as it will mute the muttering in tomorrow's papers and blogs somewhat. Though not enough: I'm not ready to say something's wrong with Billy Wagner, but I did catch myself wondering if Billy Wagner's all right.
But anyway. At one point I dimly recall Steve Trachsel being infuriating, Carlos Beltran hitting a smooth and easy home run, Cliff Floyd hitting a sudden and very violent home run, Bobby Cox arguing about balls that haven't been strikes since Maddux and Glavine were atop the heap, wondering why on earth “Sir Duke” isn't Lo Duca's theme music, thinking I sure wish Roger McDowell wasn't wearing that uniform, an Australian pharmaceutical salesman making us look silly, laughing at Keith and Gary as they became increasingly unfit for narrating television, and finding it incredibly funny that they'd show the radar-gun readings of the four pitches of an intentional walk, which suggested I was becoming increasingly unfit for watching television.
In the end, two more-recent and lasting impressions to take into the night:
1. A game ball for Jorge Julio. Willie kept saying the right things about trusting him, but I bet he didn't have this in mind for Julio's first real test: straight into the lion's den to face Chipper and Andruw with no margin for error. He came out not only alive, but with Andruw's pelt. Nicely done.
2. We all know Carlos Beltran made a heads-up play when that ball eluded McCann in the 427th inning. (Or whatever it was.) But there's another reason to give thanks for his heads-upness: Wright's game-winning hit landed on the warning track and hopped into the bleachers. If Beltran hadn't taken second, that would have been a ground-rule double, and Beltran would have been sent back to third.
Second and third, two out…and I don't want to know.
Whew. Jesus that was a long, somewhat ridiculous game. I thought Castro had it won for us, but no, it kept on chugging. Tomorrow (today) looks worrisome, but on the positives: I know Kaz was only 1 for 5, but he had a pretty encouraging game. His hit was clutch, his fielding was sharp and his bunts were expertly done, if impossible to capitalize on. Good for him.
as ridiculous as it is to say, this was a crucial win — if indeed a game in early may against a third-place team when you're leading the division can in fact carry high stakes.
mainly it was a statement — the team kept coming back until they won the damn ballgame, as murph might say. the only time they led all night was at the end. previous mets teams, including last year's, would have lost this game. this isn't the first time, and it won't be the last this season, when we note that the retooled Mets 06.0 version is different.
we're also facing two more games against the braves with the very shaky back of our rotation, and after tonight, the bullpen won't be able to supply much help, at least not in the game that starts, what, in less than 12 hours? so it's possible that this game was the must-get of the series. and the mets got it.
I'll go a step further…if Beltran doesn't take second, Andruw Jones is probably playing deeper to prevent the double, and Wright's ground rule double is caught by Jones for an out.
Truly a game that makes that “I was there when…” marketing slogan they use not seem cheesy for once. Definitely a game that would have been a lost cause in other years the second the ball left Wilson Fucking Betemit's bat (as it was, that temporarily sucked the energy out of Shea to the point that the section I was in couldn't even muster up the proper level of Chipper-booing later on that inning). So many moments to cheer for, so many other moments that would be a lot more frustrating were it not for the final outcome. And in the end, rather fitting that the game that started on Cinco De Mayo was won by #5.
Also of note: The “song” unleashed earlier this year was nowhere to be heard. Instead, between innings fairly early in the game (at least 11 or 12 innings before it ended) there was a Diamondvision sing-along to “Meet The Mets” (complete with the “bring the kiddies, bring the wife” lyric). Interesting.