Beat writers and columnists covering a team often look for compelling stories to talk about over a long season. Bloggers and fans do this as well, although to a lesser extent and they’re less likely to look for off the field drama to drive a narrative. I’ve always been fascinated by some of the parallels and story lines you can draw from baseball. However it seems like lately every great story set-up the Mets stumble into fails to produce fruit.
In 1999 the storyline was that no one in the NL East, specifically the Mets, could beat the Braves. The Mets fell behind and ultimately needed a game 163 just to make the playoffs. When they met the Braves in the NLCS, the storyline was affirmed as the Mets fell to the Braves in six games. The season ended on a Kenny Rogers based-loaded walk, reaffirming what Yankees fans already knew about him; that he couldn’t win in New York.
The 2000 season featured the Roger Clemens bean-ball incident, where Clemens hit Mike Piazza in the head and Piazza, and most fans, clearly felt was intentional. The two teams met in the World Series, with Clemens starting game two on the mound for the Yankees. It was the perfect setup for Piazza to get his revenge and carry the Mets to a championship over Clemens and the Yankees. Instead, Clemens flung a shard of broken bat at Piazza and the Mets lost the game and the series.
The end of the 2001 season found the Mets in the center of the 9/11 tragedy. Piazza’s home run in the first game back in New York could’ve been a catalyst to lead the Mets back into the playoff race and a third consecutive trip to the playoffs. Instead they won the game but fell out of the race soon after.
In 2006 the Mets had the best record on the majors and went up against a barely above .500 Cardinals team in the NLCS, but there was no magical storyline. Carlos Beltran absolutely destroyed them, again, in a losing effort. Cliff Floyd pinch hit in what could’ve been a Kirk Gibson moment with him barely being able to run but at bat as the winning run. This was after the amazing Endy Chavez catch over the wall to rob Rolen and double-up Edmonds game. That play could’ve gone on to be one of the most amazing moments in postseason history had it led to a victory. Chavez had a chance to break open the game himself in the bottom of that same inning, and failed to do so. No magical endings to this one.
2007, and 2008, were the real start of the negative narratives. The talk was about collapses, devastation, and injury. Shea Stadium didn’t end with a bang, in fact that failed Endy Chavez game was the last one ever played in the park. Citi Field didn’t open with a bang either. Injuries piled up and the Mets crumbled under all the mess, both on the field and off.
So what’s the story for 2012? What’s the magical journey for the Mets? The one I’m hoping for is the New York Giants parallel. A team given no chance to beat Philly that’s dealt with a lot of injuries despite actually having some talent.
