David Wright told Adam Rubin that tying Ed Kranepool’s record is bittersweet because of the team’s second-half struggles. I think it’s a shame that he feels uncomfortable celebrating such an accomplishment — he is like the anti Tom Glavine — even though none of us are happy with how the season played out…
But despite one of the all time worst second-half records, for this fan the 2012 season was one I am glad I got to experience.
I spent Opening Day at CityField with my wife and two friends I’ve been going to games with for twenty years. We had zero optimism on that day. Zero expectations for a heading into the All Star Break six games over .500. But we had a great time. Lots of laughs, lots of stories, and lots of celebrating as we broke the news to our friends that we had a baby on the way, due sometime after the Word Series. I even scored a magnetic schedule, but that’s a post for another day.
Later that season, with my four year old sleeping upstairs, and my wife out for the night, I chose to watch the Mets on TV instead of catching up on Breaking Bad . That night Johan Santana made me feel like an eight year old kid. Yours Truly, contemporary in age of of R.A. Dickey, was screaming, jumping around on our couch like a jubilant child on Christmas morning in excitement about the first no-hitter in Mets history. I said to myself in the 7th that even if Johan’s arm fell off it would be worth it. I still feel that way. It was worth it. I was so grateful to Johan that night for an Amazin’ memory. I still wouldn’t let him take my wife golfing, but I really am grateful to the guy.
The next day I took my son and my father to a Mets homegame. People told me I bought tickets to a game one day too late, but being at CityField that day was like being at a huge party. Everyone has juiced up from the no-hitter, R.A. Dickey was on the mound, and my son was happy because we got some orange visors on the way in. Three generations enjoying a complete game shutout, with David Wright making the apple rise in Center Field? Yeah, I’ll take it.
This past Saturday I once again took my son on the trek from Central New Jersey to Flushing again and met my buddy at The Apple to partake in another Mets home game. R.A. Dickey earned #19, we saw two homeruns awarded by instant replay that were obvious to us even with our obstructed views in the Promendade. Hairston made the Apple rise, we found our brick outside the Endy Chavez rotunda, and a good time was had by all. I missed three innings and Jason Bay’s homerun trying to buy a hot dog, a sausage and peppers, and a replacement hot dog, but again that’s a post for another day.
What’s my point? Yeah, sometimes we live and die by wins and losses and offseason acquisitions or lack thereof, but if you can’t take pleasure in baseball’s pleasures, I feel bad for you.
In truth this was a very bittersweet season – and it started without the greatest SS in team history and a top five all-time homegrown Met, passed over by a regime with no vision.
Then we got our hopes up (very slightly) – and it all collapsed again. And we saw the willingness of this front office to make the moves necessary to compete: none. Now it’s the end of the year and the future doesn’t look particularly bright.
All that said, it’s baseball and the Mets. We sign up to be battered and hurt – and to enjoy the game. Welcome to MP!