THE METS SWEEP UP A PAIR OF SOX

I did laundry after work last night. I could have easily put it off until the weekend, but I knew that the laundry room would be less contested on a Wednesday night as opposed to a Saturday afternoon. I chose to do what any responsible adult and doting husband would do. What I didn’t anticipate was that my chosen dryer would decide to sabotage me. While I took piping hot clothes upstairs, I soon discovered that all of my socks were damp. Somehow, using some sort of physics logic that I can’t comprehend, the dryer detected all of the socks, filtered them and made sure that they got zero warm air. 

 

The Mets took care of business last night. They could have easily put it off until the weekend, but they knew that the wild card race will be just as contested Saturday night as it would be Wednesday night. They chose to do what any thriving team and gritty contender would do. What I didn’t anticipate was the symmetry that would be occurring between my television and the pile of clothes on my bed. While the Mets stayed piping hot, all socks remained cold and damp. Somehow, through scheduling logic that I can’t comprehend, the Mets had 6 straight games against the White & Red Sox and gave them zero wins. 

 

It’s simply not a good time to be a sock.

 

The Mets rolled into Chicago on Friday with their heads held high after winning a much-needed series in Arizona. The spiraling White Sox are on the verge of being the Worst Team Of All Time and the Mets pitching staff took advantage of that by only allowing 4 runs in 3 games. Tylor Megill got back on track by tossing 5 ⅓ innings of one-run ball, followed by Jose Quintana earning his first win since July and Sean Manea allowing 2 hits over 7 innings. It was a great weekend for the pitching staff, as the fledgling bullpen only allowed 1 run. Regardless of who they were playing against, it was an opportune time for the staff to get their confidence back as we enter the last month of the season. 

 

The Mets promptly returned home for a 3 game series against the sleeper contender Red Sox. Once again, the pitching staff stepped right up to the challenge. On Monday, Luis Severino had another solid 7 inning outing. Tuesday was David Peterson’s birthday and he celebrated by striking out a career-high 11 batters. And on Wednesday, Tylor Megill was chased out of the game early, but a committee of 5 relievers shut the door on the game and the sweep. But giving credit where credit is due, the offense also showed up when it mattered. On both Tuesday and Wednesday, they knocked in 4 insurance runs in the 8th inning. That’s the kind of consistency you love to see, especially in the age of top-heavy offense. 

 

Jesse Winker is looking to be on of the best trade deadline acquisitions in baseball. His numbers don’t lie and he’s been extremely clutch. He hit a grand slam in the first inning of yesterday’s game, which hasn’t happened for the Mets since Wilson Ramos did it in 2019. Over the last week, he’s slashing .391/.440/.739. And he also fit into the clubhouse like a glove. One would think that he’s been a Met for life with the way that he immediately became best friends with the locker room and the fan base. 

 

I’ll go more in-depth about it at a later date, but Francisco Lindor is making a very strong case for MVP. On both sides of the plate and both sides of the field, nobody is playing like he has been this summer. His defense has been out-of-this-world. On Wednesday, he initiated a double play in 3 straight innings. Having a runner on first with 1 out just feels like an automatic inning-ender with him. After hugging the Mendoza line until June, he has brought his batting average up to .274, which seems like an impossible task. Simply put, he is the glue that keeps the team together in every way imaginable. If the Mets somehow find themselves in the Postseason, you best believe that MVP ballots will be cast for him. It’s just a shame that, you know, Shohei Ohtani plays in the NL.

 

My socks were still damp as I put them on today. It was a quick reminder of what the Mets accomplished in the last week. But as they dry in my shoes, I’m looking at the road ahead. The Mets currently stand at 76-64, just a half game away from a Wild Card spot. Their next opponents are the Reds and Blue Jays, two teams sitting at 67 wins and on the verge of giving up for the season. It feels imperative that they keep racking up wins, as on the horizon they still have 7 games against Philadelphia and 3 against the Braves and Brewers. The real test is coming soon and hopefully, they’ll be in the position to have fate in their own hands.