Belt Busters

Written by Benny B. | 27 April 2010

"There is a real spark to this team..."

-Gary Cohen

Before I start, I want to say it is still very early in the season and thus too early to draw any real conclusions.  Of course, that didn't stop all the bloggers, beat writers and talking heads from writing off the Mets even before the season began. I was furious when George Vecsey alluded to the Dante's Inferno when describing the Mets (I've had words with him in the past).  "Abandon all hope Mets fans" was his message.  So today, he wrote a retraction. I expect more of these types of foot-in-mouth admissions once the lazy minds in sports start realizing the Mets aren't an easy target any longer.  Nevetheless, that didn't stop them, so it won't stop me from lavishing a little optimism in this post.

There is a spark with this team right now as the Mets (12-9) quite literally busted out of their jerseys (Wright and Pagan both broke their belts stealing) in sweeping today's doubleheader vs. the Dodgers 4-0, and 10-5.  There was a lot to like and enjoy if you are a Mets fan still capable of enjoyment: Gritty never-say-die pitching, smart & aggressive base-running, great defensive catches, clutch hits, slump busting hits, & milestone hits.

It was windy and cold today and even the great Johan had trouble gripping and controlling the ball in game #1.  But Johan is Johan and battled for 6 scoreless innings to lower the Mets 3rd best team ERA.  Bay hit a monster HR--his first as a Met--and is officially out of his slump.  Castillo came through with a clutch hit to tack on two more insurance runs, and Nieve & Feliciano continued to be spotless closing out the game.

Things got a little more wild in game #2 as Ollie only lasted 3.2 innings.  Ollie isn't Johan and couldn't figure out how to make it work as he couldn't hold and early 3 run lead.  The good news is that the Dodgers didn't have any Johans of their own and were equally affected by the weather, so the Mets came back in a BIG WAY.  Behind yet another excellent relief outing by Takahashi  (3.1 innings, 5ks, 1 run alowed) Jason Bay hit his 3rd triple and made and amazing diving catch. And finally, David Wright's Bat has come alive!  He wen't 3-3 in game #2, with 4 RBI's (3 of which came on a bases loaded triple) while collecting his 1000th base hit.  It got a little dicey in the last two innings with the mets giving up a couple runs, but at that point, the writing was on the wall.  Nothing was going to stop the Mets from sweeping.

Yes, the Mets are showing what this team is capable of when firing on just most of it's cylinders.  Explosive offense and lock down pitching is a deadly combination and the reason they have won their last 6 games and are 8-1 on their current home stand.   However, the Cubs, Braves and Dodgers played just terrible, sloppy, uninspired & error plagued baseball.  Quite frankly, the Mets opponents looked like a mirror image of the 2009 Mets...but it was the 2010 Mets that showed the killer instinct.  They are resilient, exciting & gelling before our eyes.  I can't remember a feeling like this in a long, long time....and it is refreshing.

Like I said, it is still early, but the Mets are now currently sitting in first place, and--pending the outcome of the the Phillies game tonight--could be is sole possession of first place by tomorrow.  But regardless of the standings or if they complete the sweep tomorrow, the mets are right where they want to be going into the first WTTTB battle at Philly. Last year, one of my first posts was about the realization that the Mets did not have the tools necessary to compete after the first Mets/Phillies series.  It's a different story in 2010 folks.  The Mets are rolling into Philly.  It has already been anounced that Johan will pitch on Sunday.  Do I smell a Doc Halliday Vs. Johan battle to determine the fates of their respective teams in a battle which hath never been seen by mortal eyes in the history of baseball?! Time will only tell.

Lets get the series sweep, lets keep the energy and fire going into Philly....LETS GO METS!