The Mets have a reliever named Scott.
For pitching late innings, he was sought.
I’m not among those who
Now vociferously boo
But his entrance a "relief"?? I think NOT!
Author: Susan Laney Spector
-
S-c-h-o-e-n-e-w-e-i-s is NOT how I spell relief!
-
Embarrassment of Riches
O.K. We were always taught that it’s not polite to brag. And we certainly do not have our slump so far behind us that we can lord these recent wins over everyone else.
However, there’s nothing wrong with counting our blessings, right?
That said, it’s not easy to single out a single play, feature, or player in thinking about the glorious way the Mets welcomed the Cardinals back to Shea last night.
But since I am limited in time, I’ll mention the first thing that comes to my mind today.
As a Mets fan, for this–among MANY things–I am grateful today:
-
Take a Whiff
Although I certainly don’t like the way this game is going in the 7th inning, I loved seeing Carlos Gomez’s 2nd major league homer earlier in this game. I loved the run, of course, but I also loved the youthful joy he took in the home run and couldn’t help smiling at Willie later calling him over and taking him under his wing (presumably to advise him not to show up the pitcher next time by watching the ball before the running the bases!)Thanks to a response posted to an earlier e-mailbag query posted to Metsblogger, the mystery of Carlos’ curious batting ritual has been revealed…if not fully explained.
He’s sniffing his bat "for hits"??!!
Seeing him constantly sniffing that bat made me think of this hilarious Onion photo from last fall. THAT would be something to sniff for sure!
On-Deck Prince Fielder Puts Dozen Donuts On Bat
Actually, I was kinda relieved to hear that that was all that was involved. I had been wondering if he was inhaling pine tar or some other substance for some other quick "high" before his at-bat. Just what we need, I thought: the youngest player on the team getting started with some kind of personal stimulant that will become addictive and problematic.
But seeing as how it’s nothing like that, I figure it’s now only a matter of time until some marketing executive gets wind of Gomez’s ritual and sniffs a money-making idea:
SCRATCH-AND-SNIFF BATS!!
I can see…er, SMELL them now! They’ll no doubt come in a myriad of colors, coordinated to match a veritable smorgasbord of flavors!Pictured above are suggestions for a fruit and candy line, but hey, why limit oneself to sweet taste sensations? Why not some of the salty tastes of the ballfield itself: pretzel, hot dog, french fries, popcorn, etc.?
What about special limited edition series bats for post-season play? Especially if–as we hear–the post-season might extend into November, how about turkey-and-gravy? Pumpkin pie?
Hey, Carlos. If sniffing your bat gives you hits, you just keep on doing what you’re doing!
-
LoDuca Bobblehead Day
There once was a catcher named Paul.Who was sure a called strike was a ball.
It happened once more.
At the the umpire he swore.
And he put on some show for us all.
Funny thing.
When my daughter pulled her Paul LoDuca bobblehead doll out of its packaging on Sunday afternoon, it didn’t quite look like the the promotional picture on the Mets’ website.
Not only that, but within moments, the figurine’s head began to turn bright red, the arm started flailing around violently, and steam started coming out of its ears and from under its helmet.
I mean, she’s grateful for the giveaway and everything, but…
-
Building Blocks
What a feelin’! Friday’s win, followed by a win Saturday, and another Sunday. A series win.
A SWEEP.
I/we almost forgot what that felt like!
How nice too that Sunday’s game was good FUNDAMENTALS!
Good pitching, good hitting, good fielding!
What a thrill to see the Mets building one win at a time: building blocks toward a series win and towards getting that "edge" back.
They did so by taking advantage of some opportunities handed to them:
I submit the letter "A" for the A’s themselves for handily giving us a series and a sweep. Thanks!
Trevor Buck’s mishandling of Wright’s liner that allowed Castro to score in the bottom of the ninth on Saturday night I chose for "B".
And Cust’s poor throw following Reyes’ 1st inning hit in Sunday’s game, allowing Reyes to jump up after sliding safely into second and round third and go home is my selection for "C".
Oh. And Castro is also on there for good measure as well for his contributions in the second game of the series.
Feel free to continue through the alphabet if you wish! "D" for DiNardo, oops…Cards are coming in now…ummm, let’s see. "E" for Encarnacion, "F" for Franklin.
You get the idea. The important thing if to just KEEP IT BUILDING.
Block by block by block by block…
-
“TOM- my GLA- vine”
"BOOOOOOOO!!!!!" the fans cried out indignantly at Willie as he walked purposefully to the mound after the first batter led off the top of the ninth last night with a single. How DARE he take the ball away from Tom Glavine! The crowd was obviously thinking that, but most of us obviously knew too that Tom had probably only come out in the ninth just to get that rousing ovation as he did take the mound in the ninth and then when he departed after that first at-bat to deafening cheers and a well-deserved ovation. Mr. G certainly had it all last night: (1) his good stuff and the ability to mix it up appropriately, (2) lots of run support [Heck, HE even scored a run and drove in two himself!], and (3) a bullpen that could keep things in check. [Pitching eight entire innings minimizes the possibility of bullpen catastrophies at least!]
I’m sure Glavine finally slept well last night, but he wasn’t the only one. This was a great, well-played game by a team that sorely needed one of those, played in front of fans that needed the same!
Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I had stayed at a home game long enough to hear the XM Sing-A-Long "Sweet Caroline"–my daughter belted that out especially lustily last night to make up for all the lost refrains.
And how sweet it was to hear the strains of Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s "Takin’ Care of Business" after the Mets had indeed done so!!!
-
Spirit Days
This is my daughter Melanie. She wore this wacky hat one day, all day, to school this week as part of "Spirit Week" at her elementary school.Her school has these "spirit weeks" several times a year, each day featuring some different way to "show spirit".
She wore her King Tut hat (pictured) for "Wacky Hat Day". Some other days that have been celebrated during previous Spirit Weeks have been PJ Day (wear your pajamas to school), Wacky Socks Day, School Colors Day, etc.
As I watched my pre-teen walk down the sidewalk to school in her Egyptian headgear, her rolling backpack being pulled behind her, I couldn’t help but think, "Perhaps the Mets need some sort of ‘Spirit Week’ or ‘Spirit Day" themselves."
Yes, of course, the fans always show up in Mets colors. But maybe the players themselves should devote a day to some wackiness. Would THAT get them out of the doldrums, do you think??!!
Well, I don’t think Major League Baseball would approve, much less Willie Randolph, but while they had a day off, I had some fun imagining "what if" anyway:
***WACKY SOCKS DAY***
It has the added advantage of seeing a balk (if the opposing pitcher is wearing them) or as an aid for the umpire in distinguishing the bottom of the strike zone.
***PJ DAY***Not only are pajamas comfortable to play in, but if games go into extra innings and go late into the night, players can just sleep in their uniforms!
And last but not least,***WACKY HAT DAY***
Unlike the aforementioned spirit days, Hat Day could present problems with regard to the players’ performance, but we could address those on
an individual basis, of course. Oh, and if they so chose, opposing teams’ players and managers would be invited to participate in the day’s theme too.
I’m tired of playing with PhotoShop, you Mets guys.
Could you please start playing some great baseball again so that we bloggers could have something fun to blog about again??!!
-
Catharsis
They did it.They won.
And I cheered.
I high-fived.
I yelled.
I sauntered down the ramps of Shea with a smile on my face.
And yet…
I don’t feel HAPPY today like I thought I would.
Maybe it’s just that I’m being cautiously optimistic after I promptly crowed "Off the Schneid!" in my post following Perez’s win against the Yankees and Clemens, only for that lovely win to have been so quickly followed by two less-than-lovely Bronx bombs.
Believe me, I rejoice in a Mets win. And I am not punishing the Mets or asking them to "do penance" for their losses. I don’t play those games:
"You guys were SO AWFUL that I am NOT going to cheer for you until you’ve won THREE GAMES STRAIGHT and that’s final. Take THAT, you guys!"
Like they would really care what I think.
No, I’m not withholding my love from them or playing hard-to-get or distancing myself somewhat so I won’t get my heart ripped out again or any other such nonsense.
Maybe, it’s more a matter that, after being down so long, last night’s win at home was more of a cathartic experience than it was a celebratory win.
Perhaps I am not alone in this reaction. Fellow Mets blogger Toasty Joe compares his feelings following the Met win last night to (How shall I put this delicately?) relieving oneself in the bathroom after an inability to do so for quite some time. (Scroll down to post entitled "Ahhh…")
Appropriately enough, the term catharsis has been used for centuries as a medical term meaning a "purging". The Greek word katharsis comes from kathairein (to purge) and from katharos (pure).
With regard to the term’s application to Greek tragedy, Aristotle described catharsis as a purifying or figurative cleansing of the emotions, especially pity and fear–a most necessary element of any tragedy in his estimation.
But I was referring more to the word’s psychological usage in which it can be defined as a technique used to relieve tension and anxiety by bringing repressed feelings and fears to consciousness.
Playing my own shrink for a moment, I think I just had to have gone to at least one home game and yelled and screamed and cheered and clapped and chanted. For some good Mets starting pitching. For a lot of Mets hits. For some Mets getting on base and NOT GETTING LEFT ON BASE. For a few Mets home runs. For a good outing by the bull pen. For an overall positive baseball experience.
Maybe it was just too much to expect (or too SOON to expect) that I would feel exhilarated by their win last night.
Maybe all of that physical activity on the field–and off the field in my Mezzanine Box–was slowly but effectively purging and cleansing some of those awful pitching starts, horrible swings, bone-headed fielding playing, frustrations over injuries, frustrations over conflicting reports regarding injuries, etc., and the anguish and frustration caused thereby from my system.
Maybe last night was part of a process. A process TOWARD celebration.
I sure hope so. I sure like the feel of the "thrill of victory"!
-
Off the Schneid
With the help of the Yankees??!! The end of this interminable slump would’ve felt this good no matter who it was against. Maybe it just feels EXTRA-good because it was just so, well…unexpected.
At least by me! But, hey, I LOVE surprises like this one!
First off, GOLLIE OLLIE! Hats off to you!!
I promise I will now open my Sports Illustrated issue with your broad grin gracing the cover and read the article on the Mets now. I have been avoiding doing so ever since the magazine showed up in my mailbox during this downward spiral. I look forward to picking it up off the bedside table this evening…if I can ever go to sleep!!
Secondly, Carlos Gomez: you jump-started things in the third inning for us offensively. Kudos too on that catch you didn’t let those greedy Yankee fans take away from you!
As good as I personally feel, I can only imagine how the players and staff must feel this evening. I hope they can carry those positive vibes forward into the rest of the series and the upcoming homestand.
This team is far too good to be kept down for too long…just as everyone kept saying about the Yankees when they were in THEIR slump.
Perfect Pitch 
