You can root for the Mets without being convinced of their doom
Goodbye 2009 New York Mets
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| From 100409_Astros |
I caught your final game in person at Citi Field, and it was a good game. I’m glad I was there.
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| From 100409_Astros |
Better luck next year. How many days until pitchers and catchers?
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| From 100409_Astros |
I hope the rumors about Manuel and Warthen staying are false. For 2010’s sake.
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| From 100409_Astros |
Opening Day.
The day we’ve all been waiting for.
It’s such a relief to see the Mets finally playing meaningful baseball again, and finally it’s time to put aside conjecture and projections for real stats and concrete results. Citi Field is nice and all, but now the focus can be on David Wright’s batting average, Jose Reyes’ range, or Beltran’s shear awesomeness instead of tacos or exclusive beers (as great as those things may be).
I seem to get more and more excited for baseball every spring, and this year was no exception. I even went to seven baseball games already. Four spring training games plus an exhibition as well as the St. Johns game at Citi Field and a World Baseball Classic match-up. It’ll be nice to sit down, crack open a beer, and root for the Mets on the same team and really care about the outcome.
Thanks to the Braves, the Mets are already a half game ahead of the Phillies (one in the loss column.) However, they’re behind the Braves by a half game(tied in the loss column.) There is a lot to look forward to this year, and it all starts today. It’s great that the Phillies lost, but you can’t scoreboard watch in April anyway(I won’t tell you that the Phillies elimination number is 162). It’s about the Mets going out there, game after game, and taking care of business. Putting up Ws.
You can find something to complain about and be nervous about later. For now, let’s sit down with our empty slate and enjoy some baseball. Collapses or Championships from last year don’t count in this years win total. Let’s Go Mets!
Edit: And the Mets win! Good Start to the Season. Woo!
Letters to the NL East, Part 3 of 5 (part 0, part 1, part 2)
Dear Atlanta Braves,
Could it be that you’re relevant again? Barring injuries, you just might have a shot at sticking around this year. Last year it seemed like you had some good stretches, but injuries got the better of your team. We’ll see how you stand this year. Acquiring Derek Lowe certainly helps the pitching rotation, and there are some young arms there that look pretty good too.
Somehow my hatred for you has ebbed, and you’ve risen to my 28th favorite baseball team. The challenge is on, can you get back down to 29th or 30th? Do you have the manpower in the lineup to compete for this division, or are you going to wallow away and fight with the Phillies for second place? Currently I expect you to beat them, and for at least that first night of baseball before the Mets have a chance to play, I’ll be rooting for you.
Your longtime enemy,
Optimistic Mets Fan
Part 1 of the 5 part series, “Letters to the NL East” (Part 0)
Letters to the NL East, Part 1 of 5
Dear Florida Marlins,
I don’t have much to say to you, except shame on you! I can’t take you seriously or give you any respect, even for your two World Championships, while you still are so obviously profiting off your team. Between licensing money and luxury tax money, you could probably pay all your ushers the same as the players and still make money. When Babe Ruth hit more home runs than some teams, it was a great thing for baseball. When Alex Rodriguez makes more money than your entire roster, it’s not a good thing. I know this is the same paragraph from last year, but that’s how useless you’ve been.
I think the Nationals may even finish ahead of you guys this year. That’s sad. Your claim to fame the last two years has been being on the field when the Mets were eliminated. This year you won’t even have that.
Hope may be on the horizon. I’ve heard that you’re getting, finally, a new ballpark. This is good news, and hopefully it’ll provoke you to spend some money and have a real team on the field when it opens. Maybe you can even convince Hanley Ramirez he wants to stay, because I’m sure he’s drooling over the stories in NY about the Yankees moving Jeter in a couple of years from shortstop. We all know up here about Hanley’s New York fetish.
Sincerely yours from the other side of the division,
Optimistic Mets Fan
Watched some football today. Giants look good.
I miss baseball.
Baseball.
Spring Training Yet?
Speaking of which, I got my letter for renewal of season plans. Thinking about whether I should get a 15 game package, or just try to get 15 games on my own. Of course, I can have 3 extra seats, so if anyone out there wants to join me/us..