Okay, the Mets have lost 9 out of 10. They’ve lost a commanding lead and a sense of inevitable victory in their division. They have had their injuries, they’ve been up against good teams, but they have also played badly over these past ten games. They have not been unlucky. Atlanta and Philadelphia have played well and they have earned their right to be in a pennant race with us. The Yankees have begun to play spectacularly well and we can no longer enjoy the sense we enjoyed a month ago that we were the game in town this year.
We have lost what we had. This is our darkest night since the September collapse in 2005, when we lost 14 out of 17. We are going into Yankee stadium for a three-game series.
We are still in first place.
Our good seasons have not normally been this interesting. And that’s because in our good seasons, we’ve normally had a sense of what we could depend on. This year, we’ve built our lead with great pitching and we don’t really know if we actually have a great pitching staff. What do we have? A record of 36-28. Which projects to 91-71. That’s pretty close to what most people predicted for us.
Ten games ago, I wrote a very happy post. I’m no longer happy. But I am still hopeful. Should I get all lyrical and inspirational? Sorry. I’m not in the mood. I wish I could tell you what I think is going on and what I think will happen. But I feel like I’m in quicksand. I remember how quicksand terrified me when I was a kid. But there were movies, remember, where someone actually would get pulled out, because the rope would hold. Are we going to be sucked into the earth or are we going to be able to use our feet again to walk on dry ground?
Why am I asking you? You’re as helpless as I am. But no one right now looks as helpless as the Mets. Somebody named Loney just hit a home run. The Mets are losing 9-1. I’m going to sleep.
Not for nothin” but I read recently that if you lay on your back and raise your legs slowly, you can’t sink in quicksand.
Short of that, I just want to say that I need a win right now. It’s not about the pennant, it’s not about the Yankees, it’s about ME (and you, and all the nice people who read this blog). My mood is starting to be affected. I just need a win.
Need a win badly, and tomrorow, especially.
Amen to what Chris and Subie say. We need a win desperately.I am trying to be my optimistic self. It would be wonderful to win at least 2 of 3 from the Yankees. It would make a statement that the Mets are going to climb out of the quicksand. I am using all of my good luck charms and wishing. I can’t figure out why the whole team fell apart. Last year when one area was in trouble, the others bailed them out. I know Willie is doing the best he can, but if the Yankees can’t get the Mets motivated to escape the quicksand, I don’t know what can. Maybe they should shave their heads again? Couldn’t hurt.
I’d be fine with a season as uninteresting as 2006. I think that the Mets will be fine, and I expected that the NL East would be tighter. I didn’t expect as much of the team to be as flat as they’ve been. Hopefully we can write this all off to the Curse of Sports Illustrated (which, regardless, had a terrific article on Minaya.)