On Saturday afternoon, the Mets lost to the Braves by 18 runs [1]. On Saturday night, the Mets lost to the Braves by 6 runs [2], looking darn near professional if not particularly effectual for most if not all of nine innings. They still lost by 6 runs, which is not the goal of a major league baseball team contesting a major league baseball game, but it does represent a net improvement of 12 runs.
Climbing the ladder from utterly shameful to merely dreadful in a matter of hours. Got your hat hung on that yet?
Me, I’ll be grabbing my hat if not my coat and heading out to Citi Field tonight for Sunday Night Baseball to a) avoid watching Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN; and b) enjoy the sublime company of my friend Kevin, who makes sure he and I see the Mets play the Braves at least once every year, even though Kevin is acutely aware of trends and standings as concerns the Mets and the Braves. Trust me, it’s fun.
Maybe that should be the advertising slogan for the rest of the season. Picture Steve Cohen or Buck Showalter or Outfielder Du Jour with “TRUST ME, IT’S FUN” in a comic balloon. They might also think about discounting the hot dogs a few bucks. They’ve already discounted the baseball several levels.
Well, not the Braves. They’re still playing splendid baseball. They score 21 runs in the afternoon, yet don’t look the least bit blasé about scoring 6 more come evening. I doubt Brave verve and panache are what Kevin and I are seeking out, but trends and standings indicate it might be the featured attraction, Kodai Senga’s ghost fork pending.