I’ve little to say about yesterday’s loss, except that I didn’t see the thing at all. I missed Frankie Rodriguez giving up the grand slam, and much like Luis Castillo’s dropped pop-up at Yankee Stadium (“The Play,” I’ve been calling it, for no other reason than I enjoy definite articles and initial caps), I don’t know that I ever want to see it.
I’ll vacillate, I’m sure. No one who buys a ticket to a Mets game this late in the season doesn’t wonder if he must complete the circle of masochism by exposing himself to all sorts of baseball horror, like Jimmy Fallon’s character in Fever Pitch, sealing himself off in his apartment and watching tape of the end of Game 6 over and over again.
“…behind the bag, and it gets through Buckner!”
But for now, I’m excusing myself. It’s in the past.
Jose Reyes has a torn hamstring, which completes that particular circle and starts a new one. Won’t be verbally tearing anyone a new anything based on this news; I stated yesterday that we as fans need to start asking the right kind of pointed questions if we want to see changes made with this team. I’ve no earthly idea what the right kind of question is re: Jose Reyes, and I don’t think I’ll work too hard to think about it today. Again, excusing myself.
The Times sent Ben Shpigel to cover Jerry Manuel and someone there–whether Shpigel, his editor, or a merciful web tech–gave it the frame of Tuesday’s loss, not yesterday’s. So they’re ignoring it, too. Not shirking their responsibility, as they have repeatedly over the past few weeks, but ignoring what is too much pain. With sardonic humor that makes me want to lie down and take a nap, too: check out the graphic. “Finally, a Lead In the N.L. East.” You can’t see it, but I’m making a rude gesture with my finger.
And yes, sure, fine, the Mets gave Mariano Rivera the pitching rubber from his five hundredth save, and I’m coming quickly to the belief that this will become the talking point on ownership ineptitude. But for my money, the man can take whatever pitching rubbers the Mets want to give them, as long as the Mets learn to beat tough opponents and stomp on turkeys.
It’s the man’s 500th save; the Mets put the Yankees in the position of making it happen, and the game’s long since done. Let’s not condemn people for trying to be good sports; let’s be smarter, healthier, and more productive with our ire. Or let’s dump it entirely and go play some ultimate frisbee before it gets too cold out.
Truly, the only problem I have with the USA Today article, besides it being a product of USA Today, is the Pettitte quote:
“You guys haven’t changed from Day 1. Y’all deserve it,” Pettitte said.
“Obviously, we are so proud of y’all. It has been a privilege and an
honor to play alongside of y’all.”
He should’ve said, “Y’all haven’t changed from Day 1,” and cemented his legacy.
Smarter, healthier, more productive: this is my off-season mantra. I refuse to be, figuratively or in practice, the guy who sits in his room and watches tape of awful play in garbage time, or gets hot and bothered about people doing things which are generally nice.
There are a whole host of things to batter the Mets for. Allowing that loss yesterday is something to take to the players. Jose Reyes’s hamstring is something to take to the trainers, the doctors, and the front office.
The stuff about the Times is something to take to the Times. And the pitching rubber thing is something to let go.
Time to seize the day.
