The NY Mets had one of the craziest, strangest, exhilarating weeks a baseball team can possibly have

They got things starting with Monday’s incredible comeback in game one of a doubleheader in Atlanta to clinch a wild-card playoff spot. After a no-show in the 2nd game, they ended up having to fly back to Milwaukee for a 3 game series against the Brewers (who had just beaten them 2 out of 3 over the weekend. They responded by playing a great game to take a 1 – 0 lead in the best of 3 series (All games on the road). They then came out strong in game 2 and jumped out to a 3 – 1 lead in the 2nd inning, and things were really looking good. Then they just stopped. They were unable to score any more runs and finally gave up the lead when the Brewers scored 3 runs in the 8th (including Jackson Chourio’s 2nd HR of the game) and lost game 2 by a score of 5 – 3. This forced a decisive game 3. Both teams struggled to get anything going offensively and the game was scoreless after 5 innings. The Brewers finally broke through in the 7th with back-to-back home runs to take a 2 – 0 lead. The Mets continued to struggle and when they failed to score in the 8th, it meant they had gone 15 consecutive scoreless innings. But this is the 2024 Mets. A team that seems to never give up always finds a way. Francisco Lindor led off the 9th with a walk (until this point, the Mets had managed 2 hits, and both were by Lindor) and there was still hope. But after Mark Vientos stuck out for the 1st out, things really looked bleak. Brandon Nimmo then laced a single to the right, and the Mets had life again. Then up came Pete Alonzo. You could not have written a better script. Pete had been struggling most of the season and has recently looked lost at the plate, flailing and striking out on breaking balls every other at-bat. He had also tripped over his own bat the night before, costing him a hit in game 2, and one inning earlier, had dropped an easy foul pop-up that almost allowed the Brewers to tack on some insurance runs. He is also in the final year of his contract, and with Scott Boros as his agent, there is a chance he will go elsewhere after the season. So this could have been his final at-bat as a Met. After taking the 1st pitch strike, he showed some patience and took the next two pitches for balls. Then he got a hold of the next pitch and sent it over the right field wall for a game-changing 3-run Home Run. The Mets tacked on an insurance run and held on for a 4 – 2 victory and a match-up with the Philadelphia Phillies starting Saturday in Philadelphia.

Games like these are what make baseball the best sport. So many unscripted and unexpected things can happen at any moment.

Here is the list of the Mets last 13 games played, as well as their next 3 in the playoffs

PHI, PHI, PHI, PHI, ATL, MIL, MIL, MIL, ATL, ATL, MIL, MIL, MIL, PHI, PHI, PHI, …

There was some sad news this week in the world of baseball. Pete Rose (April 14, 1941 – September 30, 2024) passed away at the age of 83. “Charlie Hustle” was the all-time hits leader in MLB History, amassing 4,256 hits over his 23-year career. He won 3 World Series and was a 17-time All-Star. He is perhaps best known for stuff off the field. He was suspended for life in 1989 for betting on baseball, including betting on his own team, the Cincinnati Reds. This kept him out of the MLB Hall of Fame for the rest of his life. Like him or hate him, he was one great baseball player and left his mark on all future players and fans. He will be missed.

Also, it is unfortunate to see that actor John Amos passed away at the age of 84  (December 27, 1939 – August 21, 2024). A great actor known for his role as Kunta Kinte in the mini-series Roots, as well as James Evans Sr. in the show Good Times. He was also a fine film actor appearing in numerous classic films. He was born in Newark N.J. and lived for many years in Tewksbury Township, New Jersey which is one town over from me. I did see him walking around or at the local grocery store. Another person gone to soon and he will be missed.

Besides the Mets, the NY Football Giants have a big game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Seems like forever since they last played a game (Last Thursday against the Cowboys).

#LetGoBigBlue

Lehigh Football has back to back bye weeks before taking on Yale on October 19th

Need some downtime and will be back with my thoughts on Survivor 47 — Mostly positive

Enjoy your weekend and Let Go Mets

#PEACE
#Survivor47
#NeverToOldForSurvivor
#GiveMeAChance
#NickGilder

AverageAndy