As the marketing slogan says, I live for this. Two months ago, I arranged my work and travel schedule to coincide with the New York Mets hosting Games Three through Five of the 2007 World Series this weekend at Shea Stadium. And now I am actually flying into NY for the games! In the most wonderful of omens, Saturday night's game is the 21th anniversary of the Mets winning Game 7 of the 1986 World Series against the Red Sox. And they're playing Boston once again! My seats this year are not as good: I am in Section 23 of Arthur Ashe Stadium across the street. But, at least, I am going to be in the same borough for all the excitement.
The Mets' journey to get to baseball's promised land has been a whirlwind of thrills. It seems like just yesterday that the Mets needed to pin down just one win that last weekend in order to secure a playoff spot. I can only recount the events as they unfolded before my very eyes.
On that last Sunday of the season, Tom Glavine pitches a gutsy 19 innings to propel the Mets into the playoffs for the second straight year. The final score is 1-0 and scrappy Jose Reyes contributed to the winning run scoring from the dugout. Reyes' Spanish chants so unnerve Marlin reliever Kevin Gregg that he experiences internal combustion on the mound. Jose Valentin, back from a seven year stint on the disabled list, scores from third and immediately dons a FDNY cap as firemen rush to hose down Gregg on the infield. After the game, Glavine announces that, despite his pitch count being over four hundred, he will be ready for Game One of the playoffs. Unfortunately, he won't make that start after being hit by a taxicab on his way to a golf course the next day.
The National League Division Series begins in a cloudy Shea Stadium. And, in a rematch of 1969, the Cubs are the opponents. The National Anthem is sung in Spanish by Jennifer Lopez as the Met fans gleefully wave their rally serapes. Orlando Hernandez, aided by two caregivers from the North Shore Assisted Living home, takes the mound and doesn't have it. He scatters 10 hits over 1/3 of an inning and the Cubs take an early 6-0 lead. But, Cub starter Carlos Zambrano doesn't have it either. By the fifth inning, the Mets have mounted a formidable lead, 16-6. While it is not a save situation, closer Billy Wagner still enters the ninth inning to the strains of "The Sandman." Ultimately, the Cubs close the gap to 16-15. The Mets are reduced to using pitching coach Rick Peterson to finish the game, stranding pinch hitter Lou Piniella at third as the tying run.
Game 2 of the NLDS begins after a stirring rendition of the Colombian National Anthem by a barbershop quartet of convicted drug mules. Met starter Oliver Perez walks 19, but gives up only two hits. At the same time, Cub starter Carlos Zambrano doesn't have it. Powered by a Carlos Beltran grand slam, the Mets go two up in the series and head to Chicago.
The wind is blowing out at Wrigley Field for Game 3 of the NLDS. Oprah Winfrey throws out the first ball and then announces that all 35,000 in attendance will receive a free bag of Funyons and a bottle of grape soda. Thanks to a first inning homerun by Aramis Ramirez off Met starter John Maine, the Cubs get off to an early 2-0 lead. But, Cub starter Carlos Zambrano doesn't have it. Thanks to an inside-the-park single by Moises Alou in the seventh, the Mets prevail 3-2. They happily advance to the National League Championship Series against the Padres, who have successfully appealed to the US Supreme Court to overturn the umpire's call in their tiebreaking match vs. the Rockies.
Following a 10 hour rain delay at Shea Stadium, the Mets and Padres finally begin Game 1 of the NLCS at 5:15AM. TBS star Frank Caliendo throws out the first ball, while simultaneously doing a dead-on impression of Madeline Albright. Met starter Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez becomes the first playoff starter to pitch from a sitting position and dedicates his performance to Raymond Burr. He confuses the Padres thoroughly at the plate as they manage just one hit over six innings. The only Padre to reach base does so when a ball up the middle gets stuck in the spokes of Hernandez' wheelchair. Meanwhile, the Mets piece together four timely hits to gain a 2-0 victory. Surprise closer and non roster invitee Jesse Orosco finishes it up with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Due to the Game 1 rain and the accommodation of TV schedules, Game 2 of the NLCS starts 10 minutes after the completion of Game 1. In their first reunion in twenty years, the original members of Menudo sing the National Anthem, with two of the kids accompanied by their parole officers. Met starting pitcher Oliver Perez electrifies the Shea throng when his first three pitches to Padre Brian Giles wind up in the mezzanine. Carlos Delgado strikes out three times with the bases loaded, but a Shawn Green fifth-inning double plates three off Padre starter Chris Young. The three runs stand up as the Mets win, 3-2. Surprise closer and non roster invitee Neil Allen gets the save. The Mets go 2 up in the series as they head off to San Diego's Pet Bowl Park.
There are only 10,000 empty seats when the Padres take the field for Game 3 of the NLCS. Veteran starter Greg Maddux lasts seven innings and throws just 42 pitches as the Met bats are silent. Met righthander John Maine brings nothing and the Padres belt him around for 13 runs. Because of a shortage of available arms, Met Manager Willie Randolph is forced to leave Maine in the game. His removal is requested only when two San Diego paramedics arrive with a court order. As a peace offering, Randolph lets one of the paramedics finish the game at second base.
After getting 21 days of rest after his last start, Pedro Martinez pronounces himself ready to start Game 4 of the NLCS for the Mets. His mound opponent will be Padres' Cy Young candidate Jake Peavy in what promises to be a pitching duel. The first inning lasts 2 hours as the two teams pummel each other with a total of 35 hits. By the third inning, the Padres lead by a field goal, 16-13. San Diego's closer deluxe, Trevor Hoffman, comes on for the save in the ninth. He promptly walks the bases loaded. The Mets grab the lead when David Wright hits a 3-0 fastball for a grand slam. Surprise closer and non roster invitee Galen Cisco wraps up the Mets' stunning victory as they find themselves just one victory away from the World Series.
When it is announced that El Duque has undergone hip replacement surgery, the Mets turn to rookie Mike Pelfrey for the potential World Series clincher. Padre Manager Bud Black tries to revert his fate by having closer Trevor Hoffman pitch the first inning and the future Hall-of-Famer responds by walking only two and not allowing a run to cross the plate. As the teams switch in the middle of the third, Padre Mike Cameron and the Mets' Carlos Beltran collide just behind the pitching mound. Both leave the game and are taken to the hospital for x-rays. Pelfrey pitches the best game of his young career and the Mets, with four runs in the sixth, win the National League pennant with a 4-2 victory. And, now, it's off to the World...
"Flight attendants, prepare for landing." Huh? Why the hell am I making this trip again? Dinner last night: Turkey burger and grilled vegetables.
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