Last night I was one of the 45 odd lucky thousand fans to be on hand for game 1 of the National League Championship Series. The crowd was electric despite the plunging temperatures which were exacerbated by the strong winds that came off of Flushing Bay, plus the 8 p.m. start- time which compared to this past Monday’s 8:45 start time was definitely optimal (although I would have been happier if it was a mid afternoon start time.
But the Mets beat the Cubs 4-2 on the strength of Matt Harvey’s dominant pitching as well as some moon shot home runs by Murphy and d’Arnauld. This was in my opinion the perfect way for the Mets to set the tone for this series.
I came away from last night’s game:
1. Even if Cespedes bat is cold he can still beat you with his arm ! I along with the people around me roared when Travis applied the tag on Starlin Castro. Cespedes cleanly handled the ball and threw a bullet to home plate. I know he just turned 30 and Sandy Alderson isn’t big on doling out rich second generation contracts but I feel he should go all out (within reason to re-sign him).
2. Wilmer Flores made a couple of highlight reel plays – especially a leaping grab to rob Kyle Schwarber of a base hit.
3. Travis d’Arnauld’s homer was a monster ! I think that I have seen only one other player hit a homer into the Home Run Apple !
4. Whatever your opinion of Matt Harvey was going into last night’s game he redeemed himself on so many levels last night. The “Dark Knight of Flushing” proved the he is still an elite pitcher and last night’s win was a crucial one.
5. Daniel Murphy is this generations Ray Knight. If there was a player that ever proved to be an important key to the Mets for this entire season it was Murphy. He was the go to guy and captain in charge while David Wright was out for almost 3 month’s and it seemed like there were times that he totally carried this team. Unfortunately just like Knight I think that Murphy’s tenure as a Met will be over once the season ends and the front office most likely lets Murph walk.
I could go on and on about all the key plays and clutch at bats from last night but I think these 5 are a decent overview of what looks to be an exciting series.
LETS GO METS !!!!
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes:
Spot starter/middle reliever from the ’79 season, Andy Hassler is 64 (1951).
Utility infielder from ’09-10, Alex Cora is the big 4-0 (1975).
Middle reliever from the ’12 season, Garrett Olson turns 32 (1983).
Power hitting stud of an outfielder, Yoenis Céspedes is 30 (1985).
Other transactions of not includes:
The New York Mets traded outfielder, Art Shamsky, middle reliever, Rich Folkers and minor league pitching prospects, Jim Bibby and Charlie Hudson to the St Louis Cardinals for Reserve outfielder, Jim Beauchamp, and relievers, Harry Parker, Chuck Taylor plus minor league infielder, Tom Coulter on October 18, 1971.
The New York Mets purchased the contract of middle reliever, Elvin Ramirez from the Washington Nationals on October 18, 2011.
Kyle Schwarber is no Mo Vaughn !!!
