The Return of the Heart Breaker

After David Wright's sac fly to to tie the game in the 9th, I thought for sure we were going to win. I was going to lead this post with "I love this game" because this was a regular season classic and baseball truly is the greatest game on earth. Instead, I will say that I hate this game because this, was a classic heart breaker and this stings. Why do I love this game?

As baseball fans, and Mets Lifers, we are all too familiar with these defeats. It is in our DNA. You're a Mets fan, you shall suffer. Whether you endure a Game 7 NLCS loss, or an important regular season contest, we are bound to be heart broken. Which is why I prefer to lose early, rather than late; get blown out, rather than get teased.

Many times I find myself trying to rationalize this game, my passion for this team. 'It's only a game, what's the big deal?'or 'They're just a bunch of overpaid athletes playing baseball, wearing blue and orange uniforms in Queens.' Never works. As much as I try to keep things in perspective, these games have a way of ruining my mood. And while I am doing what I can to mentally prepare myself now for that inevitable, torturous post season defeat, the one that is really going to rip you up, I realize I am no match for my dream of a Mets championship. Somehow, I will fool myself into thinking the bull pen will get hot, that Delgado will actually hit, and that Perez and Maine will surprise us again. Until then, I am mere a mortal. A Mets Lifer, destined for heartbreak.

I love this game.

Payback: Round 2

I will never forget Game 7 of the NLCS, the energy, drama and ultimately the heartbreaking end to what was a tremendously exciting Mets season. I will also never forget the St. Louis Cardinals players, celebrating their victory in the confines of our own building, mocking the original (for Baseball that is) Jose-Jose-Jose chant that has become a staple at Shea.

Therefore, it is incumbent upon this Mets team to continue to apply the beating they so thoroughly delivered to the Cardinals at the start of the season when they swept them in St. Louis. Revenge is sweet and until we get our chance to crush them in the post season, these regular season games will have to suffice. And I hope Willie and boys put forth a relentless attack. I want to see an all out assault starting with Reyes and Gomez tearing up the base paths, ripping bags left and right, scoring runs at will. I want to see Beltran, Wright and Delgado hit lasers into the Cardinals dugout (I mean out of Shea). I want to see Glavine, Perez and El Duque dominate and see a renewed Wagner shut down this got-old-quickly team.

It is time to put the nail in the coffin and extinguish the ’07 Cardinals season. And it all starts tonight. Let the beatings commence!