I wanted to go home from Friday night’s game sick of “OMG”. I wanted it to be forced down my throat and stuck in my ear. I wanted it to be played to within an inch of my life. I want the Mets’ home run song to be blared incessantly because I want the Mets to homer incessantly.
There was indeed a ton of “OMG” at Citi Field, but we never reached the saturation point. Close enough, however, will do for now.
The Mets bashed five home runs Friday. Jose Iglesias therefore belted out his chorus in a veritable loop, including within two self-serenades. There was also the matter of his walk-up accompaniment, which happens to be the very same smash hit. Bring it, Candelita.
Between repeat airings of “OMG” and the eighth-inning karaoke crowd choice of “Dancing Queen,” I was ascending simultaneously toward musical and baseball heaven. Stephanie and I, ensconced in lovely Field Level seats down the third base line alongside our ever thoughtful friends the Chapmans (Sharon and Kevin, the undefeated couple of Mets baseball in any season), always perk up to ABBA, especially on a Friday night when the lights are low. Looking out for a place to go? Try over the fence, repeatedly.
Met noise. Bat noise. Fan noise. It’s a beautiful noise. Little remembered is the Colorado Rockies grabbing a 2-0 lead on a home run of their own in the second inning. Hard to forget is the Rockies nearly causing a fatal avalanche with four late runs, almost crashing our baseball party until it was on the verge of shattering. But in between, it was a Met gala the likes of which I’ve rarely experienced in July at Citi Field. Vientos goes deep! Iglesias goes deep right after! One out later, it’s Bader! All in the bottom of the second. So much for the Rockies jumping ahead early.
See that team, watch that scene, digging the big Mets lead. Once it got to be 7-2 in the fifth — another homer apiece for Jose and Harrison — it was unimaginable any harm could be done to the spectacular vibes. The only real mystery remaining was how many kids in the rows below us were going to reach out and touch Mr. Met. Yet my inner karma barometer told me the Citi A/V squad was pouring it on a bit too thick with the psych-out light & sound spectacular they unleashed on the scoreboards and ribbon boards every time the visibly downtrodden Coloradoans made a pitching change. Sure enough, close calls began going against us and the Rockies rose from the dead to nip Sean Manaea for another homer to dent his otherwise superb seven innings. Then they did to the Met bullpen what every team does to the Met bullpen. Versus Jake Diekman and Phil Maton in the eighth, they turned a laugher into a beseecher. We went from singing “Oh! My! God!” to thinking “oh dear God…”
Edwin Diaz and his blast-from-the-past entrance music became necessary for the ninth. Then Diaz became nerve-inducing. A couple of walks. A surfeit of preemptive grumbling. Ultimately, the vibes survived as the Mets hung on, 7-6. We’re still a playoff team months before the playoffs. Everything about this team is still fun as hell. But maybe next time you’ve got them where you want them, let sleeping Rox lie.
Anyone else consider Mendy’s outrage as a bit of a performance? Considering the score at the time,I would have preferred a cooler version of his ire there.
It’s OK to see the fiery side of Mendy — he’s usually such a cool customer. In the press conference after the game he was gracious about it, didn’t pile on the umpire, just said he felt he had to express his frustration at what really was a horrendous call. Meanwhile, he’s got to be given some credit for the Mets’ turnaround.
Yeah, I kind of liked that Mendoza was showing some fire. We hadn’t seen much of that lately — even Buck seemed kind of subdued.
Great read! Very fun. Captured my feelings.
I’ve come to believe the bullpen is getting kickbacks from Citi Field concessions. When no lead is safe people aren’t leaving in the 7th inning of a 6-run game to beat the traffic. They stick around – and then engage in stress eating.
The home plate ump had an odd strike zone all night, and with both teams. I figure Mendoza, for whatever reason, decided enough was enough. I don’t think Iglesias was on the verge of getting tossed but maybe he was and he did it to protect him. Best stat of the night, other than the final score – Manaea with just 1 walk. Rather see him give up a lead-off homer in the 7th than walk someone with a 5-run lead.
Well, that wasn’t a long stay in the circle of trust for Maton.
Watching Mets games with this bullpen, a 1-2 run lead is like losing, a 3-run lead is like a tie, and a 4-5 run lead is like a 1-2 run lead.
Since churning through major-league journeyman relievers isn’t working out, and other than Nunez, churning through Mets minor-league relievers isn’t working out, I advocate for pulling more Mets minor-league starters into the Mets bullpen. Maybe they’ll find more Buttos. I have in mind Tidwell, Vasil, Hamel, Stuart, and Suarez, all of whom have an ETA of 2024 on MLB.com’s Mets prospects list, yet none of whom is viewed as 2024 starter depth. Megill, too, though the Mets may want to keep him in reserve as starter depth.