Pardon the New York-centric take on the post-season baseball, but we’d better do this fast, inasmuch as I don’t see the Mets and Yankees playing a Subway Series.
The Yankees look tattered as they prepare for their wild-card match with Houston on Tuesday. They are not the same without Mark Teixeira. Beltran and A-Rod gave it their best shot. This is not wishful thinking on my part. I would never do such a thing. The Mets are not the same, either. This was evident in the last few weeks of the regular season. National League pitchers were going outside on Yoenis Cespedes. Then a little more outside. Then way outside. And he kept swinging. Those guys in the stands taking notes were sending emails to the home office confirming what the American League already knew; this guy can be pitched to. But what a wonderful run it was. Mets fans need to thank Terry Collins and worthies like Granderson and Wright and Familia and the pitchers, young and old. It was fun. May still be fun for a while. Meantime, the Mets won the duel of the general managers. in their division. Sandy Alderson made a prophet out of my friend Steve Kettmann, who wrote a book called “Baseball Maverick” with the daring subtitle: “How Sandy Alderson Revolutionized Baseball and Revived the Mets.” Seemed like over-reaching in March. Turned out to be correct. The Mets fans should also thank Mike Rizzo, the general manager of the Nationals, who did not dismiss Matt Williams in mid-season when it was clear, absolutely clear, that the Nats were less than the sum of their parts. The Mets could still have some retro fun in October but they need to hang onto those 45 days from Alderson's grand revival at the trading deadline.
Brian Savin
10/5/2015 06:19:31 pm
George, please dear idol, stop. I just sat down to a cocktail. I am overjoyed about New York baseball and looking forward to a great week. I've watched Bobby Valentine say hopeful things about the Mets. Although I have little regard for the Yankee manager and GM I love the team of my childhood. Now I'm torn between dinner or a second cocktail. You've put me on the road to perdition.
George Vecsey
10/5/2015 09:34:24 pm
Brian,I never have faith in the Mets, and I always fear the Yankees. But as Richard Pryor said, "Are you gonna believe me or your lyin' eyes?" I didn't know about CC. Hope he gets it right. And I see the Nats dropped Williams, two months late. The mets smoked them when it mattered. That was great fun. I am just concerned that Cespedes cannot improve the lineup the way he did, Did you have a second cocktail> GV
Steve Kettmann
10/6/2015 09:24:01 am
Thanks, George. My one prediction: The Mets will win Game 2 behind a dominant performance from Syndergaard.
George Vecsey
10/6/2015 05:28:18 pm
Steve: you know this stuff. You wrote the Mets were revived - and they won 90. Syndergaard was a beast last time. That's only 1 game. G
Brian Savin
10/6/2015 07:45:43 pm
Although I stopped at one cocktail yesterday, and we just finished dinner, your continued doubts about the Mets may yet drive me to drink, George. Gerardii maddens me. He's sat the wrong guy. Jacoby is a money player.
Mendel
10/7/2015 02:07:44 am
The Mets will beat LA because my children will be disappointed if they don’t.
George Vecsey
10/7/2015 07:28:20 am
Dear Mendel: It is a well-known fact that no children root for the Dodgers, but the Mets appeal to the child in us all. Mets fans are now reassured. Thanks,GV
Josh Rubin
10/7/2015 10:00:26 am
"but the Mets appeal to the child in us all"
Roy Edelsack
10/7/2015 10:50:57 am
On Jeopardy! the other night in the category "Baseball Stats" the answer was, "The 1962 NY Mets had 120 of these." A poor woman contestant questioned, "What are wins?"
Brian Savin
10/7/2015 05:55:20 pm
Grrrrrr. Gerardi, you so and so..... Over and done. My biggest concern now is that the man who should be managing the Yanks is now facing my beloved Mets. Roy, don't make me cry. I remember very, very well.
George Vecsey
10/7/2015 06:28:01 pm
40-120. It was so much fun to cover that team. I was a kid baseball writer and I loved every minute of it. They even had two rainouts, to make the math memorable -- a poifect 250
Brian Savin
10/7/2015 07:17:14 pm
Don't forget the 1899 Cleveland Spiders (National League team) that holds records even the Mets can never break.
Steve Kettmann
10/8/2015 10:16:29 am
George, I also like the Mets' chances in Game 3 back at Citi Field. Matt Harvey will have a LOT to prove. And he'll probably he even show up to the game on time.
George Vecsey
10/8/2015 07:20:26 pm
Steve, I agree with you that Harvey will have a lot to prove. The Mets surely did not have his back when he screwed up. I'm guessing this may not have gone over well on top of the Boras pressure play. I'll be in touch about Friday. G
Mendel
10/9/2015 02:24:21 am
International Children of Mendel meeting to determine game-watching strategy for Middle East viewing. Visiting Father of Mendel - fan since ’62 - unenthusiastic about cracker-jacks at 4am.
George Vecsey
10/10/2015 09:12:17 am
Mendel: imagine if your family has to do that until late October? A month's diet of Cracker Jacks at 4 AM? But it is for a cause. GV
Mendel
10/10/2015 01:22:44 pm
Because of our Sabbath observance, we waited until after sundown on Saturday night and watched the condensed game on MLB.com without knowing the result. No one in my ritually-observant neighborhood ruined the surprise, and Wife of Mendel took one for the team by setting up the online viewing. Lets Go Mets, Go!
George Vecsey
10/10/2015 07:26:57 pm
Good for you. Even the Mets go silent on the Shabbat. It is a lovely observance. Remember when the Mets had two games scheduled within the 24 hours of Yom Kippur in 1986? Deluge!!!! GV Comments are closed.
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