I had this dream – it was about the Mets. They were playing the Phillies and Roy Halladay.
In this dream I was on my way to the sports bar to watch the game with a friend. The game had already started, and I was yelling at Jonathon Niese through my radio. ”Oh good, fall behind another hitter,” I admonished. ”3-0, 3-1, 2-0, that’s the way to get batters out,” I sneered.
It was already 2-0 Phillies as I arrived at the bar, I looked up as Niese walked another batter. I greeted my friend with “There ya go, another walk. Good Job,” then shook his hand hello.
The game settled in and so did Niese. I respected his persistance despite not having his best stuff. He pitched out of jam in every inning, then left for a pinch hitter in the fifth, still down 2-0. I comforted myself by thinking I didn’t expect a win against Halladay anyway.
Then I dreamt Andres Torres and Kirk Nieuwenhuis found a way to get on against Roy Halladay. Then David Wright hit a grounder right over the bag, which caromed of the outcropping of the third-base stands in a way that was too good to be true. Torres scored, and Nieuwenhuis came all the way around from first in dreamy fashion.
Manny Acosta pitched a perfect sixth inning of relief. It was around this time that I knew I was dreaming.
Bobby Parnell got out of not one, but two first-and-second, nobody out situations in back-to-back innings, with big assist from Tim Byrdak in the eighth. At one point, it looked like the Phillies had taken the lead. But the Shane Victorino was called for interference for sliding halfway into center field to break up the double play. Perhaps a measure of revenge for the bogus interference call on Marlon Anderson against the Phils in 2007? Even this dream couldn’t be that perfect.
I dreamt Josh Thole made one of the toughest defensive plays I had ever seen, hanging on to the ball as he staved off a tough, clean slide from former Met Ty Wigginton. Ty’s shoulder caught Thole flush in the face, knocking him nearly unconscious, but he still held onto the ball. Then the Phillies fans gave Thole a round of applause as he walked off the field (silly, right?)
Perhaps the craziest part of this dream was when Jordany Valdespin, just re-recalled from Buffalo to replace the injured Ruben Tejada, suddenly turned into Omir Santos. He hit a go-ahead three-run homer off of Jonathan Papelbon for his first major league hit. Then the man with the reputation for a bad attitude rounded the bases with a child-like grin he could barely contain.
I knew for sure it was a dream when Frank Francisco got three outs before I barely had time to look up from my $3 Miller Lite.
Then I woke up, still in a good mood.
19 comments
gategem
5/8/2012-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
If winning a game against the Phillies on May 7th sends you into rapture I hate too image your response to a WS victory. I don’t think I would want to be in the same state as you if that happened.
Paul Festa
5/8/2012-12:20pm at 12:20 pm (UTC -4)
The $3 Miller Lites had a lot to do with it.
Stickguy
5/8/2012-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
No man, it was all true. Except the Acosta part. That had to be some bad ‘shrooms or something.
Paul Festa
5/8/2012-12:21pm at 12:21 pm (UTC -4)
Then I had this nightmare that Miguel Batista was in our starting rotation.
Ceetar
5/8/2012-2:51pm at 2:51 pm (UTC -4)
on the flip side, he’s matched up against Joe Blanton, who’s career ERA is only a tick below Batista’s. I like the Mets chances since they also have a better offense and bullpen.
Prismo
5/8/2012-3:17pm at 3:17 pm (UTC -4)
Thus far the teams have almost identical bullpens and offenses. You’re really splitting hairs to say the Mets are better in those respects.
And let’s be real – at this point in their careers, Blanton is a better starter than Batista.
That said, the Mets have a shot, but only if Batista pitches well enough to keep the Mets in the game.
kingman 26
5/8/2012-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
He’s not splitting hairs.
He’s speaking Ceetarese.
Blanton’s been excellent this year.
Batista’s been horrible.
Batista’s career ERA really has a lot of relevance to this discussion in 2012.
Ceetar
5/8/2012-4:59pm at 4:59 pm (UTC -4)
yes, let’s throw out hundreds of innings of data in favor of cherry picking 4 or so just because they’re the most recent.
Batista has more wins too.
Mets score .1 more runs than the Phillies per game and that’s with a lot of bad breaks with RISP consider their OPS is .046 higher and that doesn’t even factor in park. The Mets have drawn 39 more walks. the Phillies have drawn the fewest in the league. The Mets are just better.
I don’t really know how to breakdown the bullpen in 30 seconds, but the Mets beat their only great reliever and Parnell and Francisco and Rauch and Ramirez can get the job done.
Stickguy
5/8/2012-5:51pm at 5:51 pm (UTC -4)
well, batista is 41 and hanging on by a thread, so IMO his career #s are pretty meaningless. Heck, bring Ronnie down from the booth, he has pretty good career numbers!
Your argument is probably more valid comparing Pujols and, well, pretty much any other 1B except 9sadly) Ike Davis!
kingman 26
5/8/2012-12:37pm at 12:37 pm (UTC -4)
I was drinking just water while working on the postgame, and frankly, when Nickeas hit the double, I checked my water bottle to see if I WAS drinking Booker’s 128 proof!
trs86
5/8/2012-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, I was playing a game with the situation as I need to start a diet because I have gained 10 pounds since basketball season ended. I said if Mike Nicky drives in the run to tie the game then I will fast until the entire day today. Luckily for me and this nice lunch I am eating I got my cake and get to eat it too.
trs86
5/8/2012-12:49pm at 12:49 pm (UTC -4)
Whoops, meant tie breaking run.
kingman 26
5/8/2012-1:35pm at 1:35 pm (UTC -4)
HAHAHA!
I kind of do something similar as I often work out while watching baseball or basketball—I won’t look at the clock/timer to see how much time I have left on the bike/stairmaster until the Mets get a hit or the Nets score a basket—needless to say, this makes the workouts go MUCH faster, especially during basketball season.
trs86
5/8/2012-2:22pm at 2:22 pm (UTC -4)
Man, I have seen some games where you would have had to run a couple of hours at that pace. LOL.
kingman 26
5/8/2012-3:29pm at 3:29 pm (UTC -4)
Hey, I am in good shape.
gategem
5/9/2012-1:18am at 1:18 am (UTC -4)
Then you two gentlemen work out for the three of us. My philosophy to exercising:
Running—Only if someone is chasing you.
Walking—Only to get from point A to point B if no car is available.
Bicycling—See “Walking.”
Sit-ups—If you’re reclining and wish to sit.
Walking or Running Up Steps—Only if you wish to change floors and no elevator is available.
Lifting Weights—Only if it’s a hot blond in the heat of passion.
Gymnastics—See “Lifting Weights.”
Pushups—See “Lifting Weights.”
Mr North Jersey
5/8/2012-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
Do me a favor Paul, dream more often.
srt
5/8/2012-2:13pm at 2:13 pm (UTC -4)
As long as you didn’t wake up today to find out it really was just a dream, it’s all good.
Beating Halladay and the Phillies, in CBP on a blown game by Papelbon made my night.
Stickguy
5/8/2012-3:56pm at 3:56 pm (UTC -4)
If they beat the evil phils again starting Batista, then I know the Mayans were probably right.
also, tomorrow could be interesting. Lee is coming back, but will he be sharp? Also was reported today that the Phils were going to limit him to about 80 pitches, so if the mets can have some long ABs, might get rid of him early.