Here's the obvious question - why haven't I been posting more?
The Mets have won eight straight games since The Franchise and I sat in box seats* and watched the Cubbies deal the home team their only loss in a 10-game swing at New Shea. (Yes, I called it New Shea. I will never refer to the corporate sellout name if there is an alternative. When I'm angry at the Mets, it's Ebbets Field North. When I'm happy with the Mets, it's New Shea.)
* I'm biting** Joe Posnanski's style here, but do baseball fans really know what "box seats" are? I've always used the term to refer to any seats in the Field Level, but I suspect that there is a more specific meaning that I am unaware of.
** When you were a kid, did you use the term "biting" when you thought someone else was being a copycat? (The asterisks could go on all day, but I'm pretty sure everyone used the term "copycat" in their lives.) I remember that in Broad Channel, it was thrown around very loosely - to the point that if you were wearing a blue shirt and someone else was wearing a blue shirt, you may find yourself accused of biting off them.
My new favorite term for that behavior is "swagger jacking." As in, "Did you see how Tim Walsh started posting content at Flushing University after I did? That boy is nothing but a swagger jacker."
So why haven't I been posting more? Mack called me out at Mack's Mets the other day and I immediately started a "State of the Mets" piece so I that could have some new content, but I ran out of material before I got through the relievers. I just lost the patience to get through another long-form post and abandoned the project.
The Mets are in first place, they beat up on the Phillies last night and they are turning heads in the National League. So why am I not posting more?
Complacency, I guess. It's hard to rail against a team that's won 10 of 11 games. I think that I've set myself up as a contrarian voice against what remains a wildly mismanaged franchise, but that voice rings hollow when the team is winning.
As a writer, I have become a pathological second-guesser. Too much time is spent focusing on what is wrong and not enough on what is right. And right now, the Mets are right.
Of course Jenrry Mejia should be in Double-A and working on secondary pitches. But he dominated the eighth inning last night even if the Mets already had an seven-run lead. It's obvious that Frank Catalanotto should be unemployed right now instead of doing his worst Marlon Anderson imitation. It's clear that Carlos Beltran's career may be over and the team's mismanagement of a very serious injury may have contributed to that.
But, Mets fan, what do you care? The Mets are in first place. Ike Davis looks like a keeper. Mike Pelfrey looks like a #2 starter. Jon Niese looks like he will be a legitimate #3 starter once he gains a little more experience. Jeff Francouer, God save us all, is hitting.
The shrill voice of logic and reason can always be drowned out when, in the moment, it *looks* like everything is going right. I've been drowning that voice out myself - and that's why I've had very little to say.
EDIT: I have to give credit to Greg Prince at Faith and Fear in Flushing, whose own experience I swagger jacked to write this post. His piece about finding his religion in the Arctic cold of Tuesday's doubleheader spurred me to write this one.
3 comments:
Since I taught you everything you know, its hard to call me a "swagger jacker", which, as a phrase just sounds dirty.
A disclaimer for your readers. I attended my first game since June of last year the day Ike Davis was brought up. So I will take full credit for the current stretch, your welcome.
The only game the team lost during this stretch, other than last night, was the game where "Mr. Productive Outs" brought his Yankee fan wife. A week later, when the Mets gave us some free baseball, I called the kid and we attended the double dip. He showed up late and left early. That tells you all you need to know about "Mr. Productive Outs"
Swagger Jacker, that's fine. However, my work is filled with guerilla style and sublime truth. A Constellation of Logic, if you will. (constellationoflogic@blogspot.com)
Shameless!!
First of all, I showed up late for the double-header because I have a job. Productive Outs don't pay the bills, you know? I left early because it was freezing, the Mets were winning 10-3, and I had spent six straight hours with you. Enough was enough.
Even if I give you the pass for arriving late, you know there is no excuse for leaving. By leaving, you stand with the Fascist, and you're negativity has obviously caused this current 3 game slide
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