A few people were giving me the business on twitter last night asking why I am like this. I shall answer.
Once, a long time ago, last century, before you were born, the Mets won the World Series. It was really great. They came from behind in Game 6 and 7 and I think I saw an actual miracle. Anyway it was great.
The Mets had this you pitcher, he was the best you’d seen in a long long time. You’d even think of Tom Seaver when you saw this kid.
Then he didn’t show up at the parade. Nothing to worry about, we were told. He just overslept or something.
35+ years later I am still waiting to feel that amazing feeling again.
Fast forward to last night – and I keep thinking of one of Springsteen’s newer songs. “One minute you’re here, next minute you’re gone.”
One minute JDG is mowing down everyone and knocking in the runs himself. As fun as baseball gets. Then suddenly he’s out of the game and the next thing I know I am googling scary things about flexors.
Then I watched the postgame. Oh, Jake know all week that he didn’t feel right but it’s ok he knows how to manage it. Deep down inside I think of the kid who overslept to miss a parade. Am I really supposed to believe this story? How many skipped starts and short starts does Jake get before I’m allowed to worry without twitter getting mad at me. Maybe he comes back in 5 days, maybe 10. Who knows? But will he be right? Will the Mets take care of him and save him from himself, or will they giggle as he throws 102 to some 19 year olds in a rehab start like that’s not insane?
So that’s why I am this way. I’m content to be the crazy old wizard out here in the desert who has seen it all. I’ll watch as you kids put Matt Harvey and Pete Alonso in the Hall of Fame, and they can go hang out with Strawberry and Gooden there.
Do you really think the Mets are going to handle this correctly? Even me asking that question will make people mad. That’s OK, I’ll go back to my cave. I like it here. You kids go fight the Empire. I know the First Order will just replace it. I’ve seen it all…..including a Mets World Championship.
