PORT JEFF, NY – What a time to be a fan of New York sports! Let’s have a looksie, as per our headliners: Mets Moving On, Giants Stun Seahawks, Jets Fire Saleh
NOTE FROM MANAGEMENT: The Stanks beat the Royals and are moving on. BORING… Now back to Jackson Sternberg.
Mets Moving On
For the first time since Citi Field was opened, the Mets clinched at home. In the process of doing so, they knocked out the rival Phillies, which makes this 10 times sweeter. As I’ve previously mentioned here, I cannot stand the city of Philadelphia – more specifically, the sports teams that make their home there. Ranging from the Flyers, 76ers, Eagles, even Villanova, and of course… the Phillies. We saw the Knicks knock out the Sixers in the NBA playoffs last season, and as great as that was, nothing compares to our beloved Mets knocking the Phillies out in their first ever postseason meeting.
The series itself was a doozy, with almost every game being a 1-run game heading into the 8th inning. What stood out to me most in this series was the Mets ability to get off the mat after taking a punch. In game 2, they went up 3-0 early and coughed up the game for good after Edwin Diaz blew a save chance. Even after the Phils’ comeback, the Amazins tied the game in the 9th, after Mark Vientos hit a towering two-run homer. Even though the result was not what we wanted, it proved to the whole world that this is not the “same old Mets.” David Peterson, Sean Manaea, and Jose Quintina have been nails for this team when it mattered most. It’s easy to get caught up in the greatness of Lindor, or the heroics of Pete Alonso, but the Mets pitching has not gotten the credit it deserves thus far in the postseason. In the NLCS, the Mets will welcome back Jeff Mcneil to the roster who had been with a fractured wrist. Mcneil was not having one of his normal seasons, but don’t forget, this is a guy who shows up when it matters most.
Giants Stun Seahawks
The Giants secured a massive road win on Sunday. After winning just a single game, most people (including me) gave them no shot at being competitive. Without star WR Malik Nabers, the task for the offense to score points seemed almost impossible. Rookie RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. broke out in his first career start with 120 rushing yards. Daniel Jones was money. He, along with veteran WR Darius Slayton and 3rd year man Wan’dale Robinson, torched the Seahawks. Having said all of that, the story of the game was the Giants’ defense. Once again, they came to play and sacked former Jet and Giant QB Geno Smith seven times. Big Blue has a chance to once again get back to .500 in a Sunday night match-up against a limping Bengals team in prime time.
Jets Fire Saleh
This felt like just a matter of time. With how last season went and how this season began, it seemed as if the Jets players were not getting whatever Saleh was preaching. I do think Arron Rodgers of course played a role in this, seeing as how he has made almost every call since being traded to Gang Green in the offseason last year. My only question would be: “Why not fire him after last year’s disaster?” To look that incompetent on offense for that long is coaching malpractice. Hackett should have also been fired a long time ago, yet he remains a friend of Rodgers, so alas, he has a job.
