SubscribeJML update: Games of Aug. 31
Remember the 1989 movie Major League? It was the saga of the Cleveland Indians, designed on purpose by the owner to be so lousy that they’d finish dead last, thereby allowing her to move the franchise to Florida. Sure enough, the team — the cinematic cliche of rag tag has-beens and never-weres who eventually bond and come together “against all odds” to in, if not on the field, in the greater game of life — starts off poorly, playing to an opening day home crowd of about 20, including a trio of hearty fans in center field, decked out in Native American headdress and drums. No matter how badly the team plays, they remain optimistic.
Yeah, well this is the real world. Any Mets fans who thought they would suck it up, pull it together, rally round the flag, etc., as they took on the Atlanta Braves got a slap in the face last night.
The Mets marched into Georgia for a four-game series 10 games behind the division-leading Braves and the consensus was they pretty much had to sweep to remain in contention (they began the night in fourth place at 65-65). Trailing 5-2 in the fifth, the Mets had first-and-third with one out with their No. three and four hitters coming up. So David Wright pops out and Ike Davis fans. End of threat. Davis had a double in five at bats and struck out three times.
An inning later, the Mets’ lead-off batter singles and the next batter triples to drive him home. Braves 5, Mets 3, runner on third, no one out. The next batter walks, runners on first and third, no one out. Carlos Beltran comes up as a pinch-hitter and hits into a fielder’s choice at the plate, but the runners advance to second and third, so that’s not so bad: two in scoring position, one out.
The next batter strikes out — looking (Swing the bat, man!) –and you get the feeling you’ve been here before…many times. The next batter walks to load the bases, but sure as shootin’ the inning ends on a ground out and no further runs score.
The Braves go on to score four more runs, (they went 4-10 with runners in scoring position. The Mets? 1-14) including a home run on the second pitch tossed by malcontent extraordinaire Oliver Perez, who made his first appearance since the first day of the month. He also walked two batters in his one inning of work. Now here’s a guy who’s all about the team: after being put on the disabled list (which I still think was just a way to get him out of the manager’s hair for a couple of weeks), Perez, who’s making about $12 million this year, refused to be sent down to the minors, effectively giving the Mets a handicap of playing with 24 on their roster. The inmates are running the asylum.
New Yorkers have a perception of having a sense of entitlement. As the biggest, they should be the best. But the Mets, with their combined salary among the tops in the Majors, have shown that arrogance doesn’t get the job done. The Braves visit NY for a three-game set beginning Sept. 17. At this point, I just hope the Mets can keep out of the basement.
And now, having vented my spleen, here’s the rest of the JML report:
- Ryan Braun (Brewers) was 2-5 with an RBI in a 10-inning, 5-4 loss to the Reds.
- Craig Breslow (A’s) did not appear in Oakland’s 11-5 loss to the Yankees; Brad Ausmus (Dodgers) did not play in LA’s 3-0 shutout over the Phillies. Danny Valencia and the Twins had the day off.
- John Grabow (Cubs), Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox), Scott Feldman and Ian Kinsler (Rangers) remain on the DL. The Dallas Morning News reported “Kinsler finally saw game action this weekend after missing more than a month with groin inflammation, though the results weren’t particularly inspiring. Kinsler followed an 0-3 Saturday with a single and an RBI in three at bats Sunday. Frisco’s roster also including big leaguers Nelson Cruz and Cristian Guzman this weekend, meaning the Rangers could a number of reinforcements in the near future.”
- And finally, even though he, too, is on the DL, a Happy Birthday to Gabe Kapler of the Rays, who turns 35 today.
Good summary of the agony of being a Mets fan, Ron. I would hope a housecleaning is coming this offseason. I now await my Jets to disappoint me as well. Scary when you see the Jets, of all teams, being picked as a favorite for the Super Bowl. We’ll see soon enough.
Well, Francouer is gone. I have mixed feelings. He wasn’t the greatest player (like me in softball, he never liked to let a pitch go unswung at), but he almost always seemed to have a smile on his face, at least on the TV screen.