Preoccupied by the goings-on at the first Amazin' Tuesday (thanks to all FAFIF readers who joined in the fun), I can't say I really watched the Mets-Nationals game [1], but I did look up at the Two Boots [2] screen now and then.
I looked up and there was Nyjer Morgan, who has become the second coming of Willie Harris, making a difficult catch easily.
I looked up and there was Jeff Francoeur, defensive whiz, making an easy play not at all.
I looked up and there was Omar Minaya chatting away with Gary and Keith. The sound was down. Just as well.
I looked up one more time and there was Long Beach's own John Lannan posting the Washington Nationals' first complete game shutout since former Met Pedro Astacio spun one in 2006. I imagine Pedro Astacio, not quite 40, is contemplating a comeback given the decent chance he, too, could shut out the Mets in 2009. Pedro Astacio won 129 big league games. The 2009 Mets have competed in only a handful since the end of May.
The Mets, looking up at the Phillies from ten lengths back now, have been shut out five times in their last 13 games, seven times in 26 games. They have shown up. They haven't competed. You don't have to watch all that closely to notice the difference.
To the Amazin' Tuesday attendees who asked about purchasing my book, sorry I didn't think to bring copies. But Faith and Fear in Flushing: An Intense Personal History of the New York Mets is available from Amazon [3], Barnes & Noble [4] and at bookstores throughout the Metropolitan Area. Thanks very much for asking. The discussion continues on Facebook [5].