FRISCO – Early indicators point to a trying year for us Mets fans. Wait… What’s that, Yankees fans? That’s every year at this time, you say? Ugh. You’re right. For even when the Mets win, they lose. Indeed, last night’s win was the very definition of a Pyrrhic victory.
SOTO HURT
When Tyrone Taylor trotted to the outfield as a sub for Juan Soto in last night’s win against the HATED Giants (they abandoned NYC in 1957, people!), diehard fans of the Metsies (who stayed up late), vomited in their mouths a little bit. The long, long, long list of stars with serious injuries immediately played in an endless loop in our battered brains. “NO! NOT AGAIN!” we cried as visions of deGrom, Harvey, Syndergard, d’Arnaud, Diaz, and perennially hurt franchise face David Wright, danced in our heads. Aside from being the only guy in the anemic lineup that was hitting, Soto is one of two players they CAN’T LOSE. Any remote notions of postseason play are contingent on many planets aligning, but it all crumbles if Soto and Francisco Lindor don’t have great seasons.
Segue to…
LINDOR UNDER THE GUN
With rumors circulating re his wife’s politics clashing with those of Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo being the reason(s) those players no longer work in Flushing, the pressure is on Lindor to produce more than ever. In that glare, he has gotten thrown out at the plate after a “bad route” in an extra-inning loss, forgotten how many outs there were, AND gotten picked off first base in a bad loss. Throw in his inability to hit water if he fell out of a boat (.185 after two hits last night), and the team’s rocky start and we could be looking down the barrel of a flop not seen seen since the Amazin’ Vince Coleman, Bobby Bonilla & Eddie Murray catastrophe.
IF…
Soto is out for any extended period, the 5-inning starters don’t average at least six, and the likes of Carson Benge continues making the starting lineup despite hitting at a .130 clip, Did I mention the next coming of Cy Young, Jonah Tong, has an ERA of 6.35 through 5.2 total innings?
BUT…
Ya Gotta Believe! And count me in as a sucker that does, despite all of the above! #LFGM
