Now there’s the ticket.
The Mets played six innings against the Phillies Wednesday night, which meant no disastrous fourth time through the order, no bullpen implosion, no horrifying defensive gaffe, no bats gone home early. Robert Gsellman [1] looked aggressive and strong for five innings, less good for one inning, but then he was done. And the Mets did plenty of hitting against former tormenter Nick Pivetta [2], with Asdrubal Cabrera [3] and Travis d’Arnaud [4] leading the charge.
And, OK, a tip of the cap to the rain.
This one of those games that was all about what the rain had done for us lately. With the Mets having jumped out to an uncharacteristically big lead, the worry was that it would show up and wash away everything from Gsellman’s non-surgically repaired attitude (now there’s a rare fix in these parts) to TdA’s offensive outburst. Then, with the Phillies creeping back into view, the worry became that the rain would take its time, drizzling ambivalently until lead and possibly sanity had been lost.
But no, the rain performed admirably. Someone give it a share of the crown [5].
If this wasn’t the most sparsely attended game of the season, I don’t want to know what lies ahead. Greg, who seems trustworthy about these things, noted the paid attendance of 19,617 was the lowest in Citi Field history. Actual butts in actual seats? You had enough for two teams (should the Mets and Phils have decided to stay warm and dry and play videogames) but probably not for your own replacement league.
A hearty salute, though, to those who had a ticket and made use of it. Pretty much every conceivable misfortune became reality for this year’s Mets, it was a miserable night that promised to get far worse, and Citi Field’s a short subway ride from a metropolis with a near-infinity of things — many of them indoor pursuits — to interest anyone.
I may question the sanity of those who decided watching Gsellman exorcise his self-summoned demons was the best use of their Wednesday night, but I’ll never say a peep about their passion. In the background of the broadcast, you saw people sitting in the rain in ponchos, in converted garbage bags, or protected by nothing more than stoicism and love for the game.
Including my personal fan of the game — the artisanally bearded gent meticulously keeping score under an umbrella emblazoned with the word ENJOY. Now that’s a fan. And more than that — given the circumstances, that’s a Mets fan.
Here’s hoping you’re back tonight, sir, and Matt Harvey [6] and the Mets give you nine innings, a full two pages in the scorebook, and another win.
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Our famous Faith and Fear numbers shirt is back, now featuring Mike Piazza’s 31, the same order you’ll see at Citi Field, and even a more accurate font. For men’s styles, go here [7]; women’s styles are here [8]. Either is $24.08 from T-Shirt Mojo, with proceeds helping us pay our server costs. Wear it with pride, in whatever weather.