My baseball buddies are Mets fans, and they are superstitious. During our company softball tournament they wear the same socks - granted, its only two days, but eww.
So to say that the NLCS was intense is an understatement.
We watched game 6 from a bar in DC. Howie paced the whole time, Erik did the Lee Mazilli rock, Jamie sat nervously on his barstool, and I stood the whole time, scoring the game (which I had done for all but Game 3 when I was out drunk at a bar). We chanted for Jose Reyes and Paul LoDuca when they came up to bat (two rounds of each of their signature chants). The Cardinals brought Braden Looper out of the bullpen to replace Chris Carpenter in the middle of the bottom of the 6th inning - I thought, "Oh, commercial - good time to go to the bathroom." WRONG. I got 5 steps away from the table and Erik yells, "NO YOU CAN'T GO TO THE BATHROOM DURING AN INNING! YOU HAVE TO HOLD IT!"
And all I could think was, "Damn - is that why we lost Game 2? Did I take a bathroom break at the wrong time?"
The Mets won Game 6. The group decided we would keep the karma and meet for Game 7, same time, same place.
A funny thing happened to me on Wednesday night. I had a dream - I walked into the makeup room of my news bureau and Tommy Lasorda was sitting in the chair. He said, "Make sure you watch the World Series."
Tommy is in those MLB commercials, convincing baseball fans who's teams didn't make the postseason that it's their duty, as baseball fans, to watch the World Series; that the games are for everyone, whether or not your team makes it.
Was this a prophecy from Tommy Lasorda in my dreams? And what did it mean? Did it mean that I would be like that Cubs fan sitting in the tree - devastated that my team didn't make the final round? Refusing to watch other teams battle it out? Or did it mean that my Mets were, indeed, headed for victory?
I wasn't sure. And I was so superstitious I couldn't tell my friends about it.
Game 7. I got to the bar at approximately the same time as I had for Game 6. PARKED in the same spot, walked the same route to the bar - crossing the streets at the same corners. I wore the same jeans and shoes (changed the rest of it). Even straightened my hair like it was the night before. I got to the bar and had the same buger (cheddar, medium well), ate the fries first like I had the night before, and left half of the bun on my plate. Drank the same Miller Lite (although, admittedly, more of it). We were missing Howie - he was up in NY. But I stood the whole time, pacing. Erik did his Mazilli rock.
Delgado blew a catch on an infield pop fly that would have closed the 1st inning, but they got away unscathed (it just LOOKED ugly). Oliver Perez threw a great game - six innings, one run, four hits and two walks. David Wright, who had struggled in the NLCS, had three hits and an RBI in the first inning to give the Mets the first run of the game. Unfortunately it was the only run of the game.
At the bar, tension building, beer flowing...I thought I was going to give myself an ulcer. That is, until the top of the 6th inning. One man out, Jim Edmonds on first. Scott Rolen comes up to bat and hits one deep into left field. Edmonds took off for third base. The ball went out of the park - and came back. Endy Chavez made a leaping catch, extending his arm over (and behind) the back wall to steal a ball that would have otherwise been a 2 run homer. After the incredible catch, he hurled the ball to Jose Reyes (who threw to Carlos Delgado) for a 7-6-3 out at first base. Edmonds couldn't get back in time. The advertisement on the wall where Endy made the catch read: "The Strength to be There". How apropo.
It was incredible. I relaxed, if only for a moment.
Top of the 9th. The Mets don't bring in Billy Wagner, they stick with Aaron Heilman. Heilman strikes out Edmonds but Rolen comes up to bat next and hits a single to left field. Catcher Yadier Molina comes up and gets a HUGE hit, WAY over the left field wall - there was no way Endy Chavez was pulling that one back. The Cards went up 3-1.
Mets at the plate - bottom of the order. Jose Valentin and Endy Chavez both get on base. We bring in Floyd to pinch hit and he strikes out. Reyes is next, fly out to center field. 2 out with 2 men on. Paul LoDuca at the plate - and he gets a WALK! A 2-out WALK to load the bases, people! The Mets had a CHANCE! With Carlos Beltran coming up to the plate.
Incase you weren't watching, Beltran hit a homerun in Game 1 to bring in the Mets ONLY 2 runs in that win. Beltran hit TWO homeruns in Game 4. And in Game 7, he struck out looking.
An amazing season comes to a disappointing end. I was heartbroken. Looks like Tommy Lasorda was telling me to watch the World Series, even though my team won't be there.
I might watch. But if I do, you can be damn sure I'll be rooting for DETROIT.
