This Mets Team Is Good

Actually, let’s shake it up. Because these Mets aren’t those Mets. I want to believe that these Mets are different. Alvin, given me some Narco.

Mets fans, how are you living? How loudly were you blasting Timmy Trumpet this morning? Because I know it was loud. Loud as hell.

And I know you were losing your minds last night when Edwin Diaz jogged in from the bullpen with those trumpets blaring in the 8th.

I will be the first to say that winning a baseball game in late July does not matter at all. Not if you’re about trying to win a World Series. But last night felt like the World Series for Mets fans. Don’t tel me it didn’t.

The Mets had won 59 games before last night, but none of them mattered nearly as much as last night. Because last night was against the Yankees. Last night, was a chance for little brother to RISE up AND PUNCH BIG BROTHER IN THE FACE. 

And that’s exactly what they did.

First of all, they were playing in front of their third sellout of the year. And the other two were Opening Day and Keith Hernandez’s jersey retirement. So you can’t tell me that last night’s game didn’t matter to Mets fans. Don’t even try to be cool about this Mets fans, don’t try to act like you’ve been here before. 

In fact,  be honest with me, Mets fans, you were about ready to burn your Yo--enis jerseys and your “Generation K” t-shirts after the top of the first inning, weren’t you? Because that’s when Aaron Judge went yard.

And then Anthony Rizzo chased that with a home run of his own the very next pitch.

2-0 Yanks. And be real, Mets fans. You knew what was happening. You had a nice season going, beating up on little kids, but big brother came to your place and gave you an atomic wedgie.  And you knew it was coming.

Because that always happens to the Mets. You get your hopes up only to get your souls snatched.

Except these Mets are different. They were down 2-0 before they even picked up a bat, but when they did, they went to work. A quick one-out homer to make it 2-1, then an RBI double to tie it up, and then this from Eduardo Escobar to take the lead.

Meet the damn Mets! . Step right up and meet the bleeping Mets. From down 2-0 to up 4-2 by the time the first inning was over. 

And listen to Eduardo Escobar talk about that bomb.

“It was like a World Series home run. I’ve never played in an environment like that.”

And listen to Pete Alonso: "I’ve never played in a major-league playoff game, but if I had to guess, that’s what it would be like. Looking to change that this year, though."

These dudes were feeling it. They weren’t down playing it. They weren’t saying it was just one win in July. They weren’t saying that it didn’t matter, it did matter. They were feeling it big time and don’t lie to me, Mets fans. I know you’re feeling it too. 

But...but... Don’t tell me you weren’t bracing yourself for another “here we go again” moment when Diaz fumbled a Judge grounder in the ninth. I know you were prepared for the Mets to choke that away. For Diaz, who has been lights out this year, to suddenly melt under the pressure of the moment was like the most Mets thing ever. 

But he didn’t. He struck out Rizzo and then closed it out.

The Mets win! The Mets win! The Mets win! 

I haven’t said this in a long time.  I’m not sure I’ve ever said this.  But This Mets team is good. Really, really good. And I know I’ve never said this, but I bet them to win it all: I hit them at +800 which feels like pretty damn good value to me.

And this is a huge Buck Showalter house.  Always has been, everyone he’s been:  He’s one of the best managers around. But he isn’t just managing this team against the other 29 teams in major league baseball, he’s managing this team against its own history. And that is nastier than the Yankees lineup and the Dodgers roster. 

I’m just going to say this – be careful. Be very careful. Enjoy this. Enjoy that win. Enjoy the fact that you got over on big brother. But don’t get carried away.

Because you know how this has ended in the past. With implosion, rage, with players fighting each other in the tunnel, and with Mr. Met flipping off the fans. I’m not here to hate, I’m just here to remind you this generally ends badly for the Mets and Mets fan.  But I’m going to tell you, it does feel different: because of buck.  Because that have a stone cold closer.  Because they swing the bats every single day. Because their best player has even played yet.  And when Jacob deGrom does come back and if he’s still anything like the dude we know him to be, look the hell out: then, I’m all in on the Mets as a legitimate force and contender.  And even without him, I’m almost there: close to put my money where my mouth is: now my question is, where the hell are you Mets fan? How good did last night feel and are you allowing yourself to believe!! Because to me that may not have been a World Series game, but it sure as hell wasn’t just a meaningless, mid-week game in late July either.