“Clash of the titans!” my pal Pete texted from San Francisco, previewing Friday night’s Mets-Giants game.
My response? “Shitty baseball can be fun!”
Hey, sometimes I’m a prophet.
I feel a little bad for Pete, an on-again, off-again fan who chose this year to get more interested in the Giants. Oops — the Mets are bad (news flash) but the Giants are horrible, with problems from their GM on down to the on-field product. I also feel bad for telling Pete he’d love Harrison Bader [1], having no idea that Bader would be responsible for more HR drama than on-field heroics. Seriously: Tug McGraw [2] and Ron Swoboda [3] faking a slip on the ice to cover up a toboggan mishap was one thing, but good luck explaining being drunk on a scooter and having a fire truck run over your foot.
While I watched side by side with my mom, the Mets had their way early with the delightfully monikered Tugboat Wilkinson [4], known formally though disappointingly as Matt: Mark Vientos [5] connected for a three-run homer in the first, with the second bringing a Francisco Alvarez [6] solo shot and a Bo Bichette [7] two-run drive. (Alvarez and Francisco Lindor [8] would later homer against mop-up man Yunior Marte [9].)
Meanwhile, Nolan McLean [10] wasn’t at his best and looked like his night’s work would be a five and dive, but he then came out for the sixth and added a 1-2-3 inning to his tally. I’m not sure how Andy Green [11] would fare as manager in a non-interim role, should one be offered to him, but I love how he’s balanced managing escalating innings for the Mets’ young starters with pushing them to break through the next barriers in their development.
The Giants fought back against McLean, Jefry Yan [12] and then Austin Warren [13]. Though look at the pitch from Warren that Rafael Devers [14] hit out — it would have resulted in a strikeout or a grounder 95% of the time. Warren looked perplexed, and with reason. There’s no answer beyond the fact that Devers is a beast. The Giants wouldn’t quite go away, requiring Kodai Senga [15] to come in for a save chance — which he handled with aplomb. And thank goodness: A baseball circus is entertaining until the weariness sets in, and by then everyone was exhausted. Or at least Mom and I were.
(Before we go, though: The fans Steve Gelbs lured away from the U.S. Open for an entertaining albeit very “we’re 12 games under .500 in September” bit? They were a delight.)
Shitty baseball? Check. Was it fun. Also check [16].