Some of you FAFIF old-timers might recall this post, which described a day at a Mets-Cubs game when practically everything seemed surreal. You're in the middle of it and you realize it and you decide there's nothing you can do about it and you just let it ride and see where it takes you.
Well, I am at the tail end of another one of those days. I'm hoping it's done, actually, because it's been extraordinarily weird. As little of it has to do with baseball (save for an unexpected appearance of sorts by everybody's favorite high-rolling, youth-dating catcher), I'll spare you the details. Except for this:
I watched Chan Ho Park mow down the Marlins in the first. I heard him overwhelm them in the second. In the third, Stephanie and I entered a supermarket. When we came out, Stephanie pointed out the full moon above, suggested it was messing with me and I said “that means tonight's the night. Chan Ho Park is going to pitch a no-hitter.”
Then I got in the car and the Mets were down 5-0 in the third. Before we got home it was 7-0.
Finally, normality.
So?
In the grand tradition of the 'Did they win?' inquiry after a 19-run outburst, one must ask: Did he get his no-hitter?
Can someone explain what it is with this guy? He has no trouble mowing through the Marlins 1-8, then gives up a single to the (admittedly excellent-hitting) pitcher with two outs in the third, and all of a sudden he has no idea where the strike zone went? Is he so emotionally fragile that he has to throw TEN STRAIGHT BALLS after yielding that one line single? Then, not happy simply with walking the bases loaded, he finds the zone again but loses all movement on his fastball. Bangedy bang bang come the line drives.
Even with all that, if Easley holds on to the shot he leaped for and got his glove on, the Mets win this game handily instead of trying in vain to climb out of a 7-0 hole. That was the last best chance.
Once that went wrong, all kinds of things went wrong, as they often do. The official scorer was very generous to have given the Mets only one error; I counted four borderline boners that could have been E's. For Pete's sake, Paul LoDuca of all people couldn't throw accurately to first on a squbbler — that kind of night it was. And “Poor David Wright” — that's his official name now — burned a ball into the left corner that was about a foot foul of being a dandy run-scoring triple.
But we might have survived even an official genuine autographed life-size Chan Ho Park meltdown, if Easley's glove had only held that ball.
On the LIRR Shea Stadium platform after the game, they were announcing trains to Penn on track 1 and Port Washington on track 2. Where's the train to New Orleans, I wanted to know, so I could stuff Mr. Park on it, postage due.
This one is easy to explain.. If they go to a guy like Park to replace any starter -they better stay healthy! Also, expect to see Pelfrey a lot longer dispite controll problems. They have NOBODY. Park had an ERA of over 7.00 in AAA, and he gets the call-up!!
This team depends on too few, for too much, too often.
My second game is tonight. I better not be waisting my time and money. The Rangers play tonight. Sitting in a cold and wet Shea watching Wright and Delgado go hitless as Pelfrey falls behind every count will have me in an ill humor…
Pcelli60
When the hit came in the third inning, the crowd actually indicated upset that the no-hitter was broken. I love being a Mets fan.
Greg,
What was most surprising about last night was finding out that you actually didn't watch or listen to the entire game. Unbelievable!!!!
Expectations are so high Greg. NY fans in all sports have very little patience..David should not be booed every night, but everybody is so worked up with these expectations that it's just going to come out!!
I will see for myself tonight.
Remember the expectations after the 85' season? 86' was our year, no way we could be denied..Those teams had real personality and substance. The NL was a tougher league then..I just wonder about these guys..Perhaps it's just because I'm a little bit older. I just dont have the expectations. Maybe it's the fear of dissapointment, but I still have the faith..Win or lose.
Pcelli60
Yet nobody ever complains about how cold it is at an ice hockey game.
And it's always cold at the Curling Tournament…