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The New York Mets continue to be a laughingstock, and it feels never-ending.
Which makes being a fan — full disclosure, I’ve been a die-hard since birth — the worst.
You always feel like if just this one or two or ten things turn around, maybe they’ll FINALLY get on track to a really good season. That’s the hope that keeps us all afloat.
But then it feels like luck is never on the franchise’s side, and stuff like what happened on Sunday happens.
Slugger Yoenis Cespedes — who signed a huge deal with the franchise in 2017 and then battled injuries until he returned as a DH in 2020 — opted out of the season, which of course is his right and understandable. But it was the way in which it all went down that was just so Mets: he was reportedly nowhere to be found, didn’t report to the ballpark and apparently left without telling anyone he was done.
And if, as reports say, that his frustration could be contract-related? In the first time he’s been healthy in years (even though he was off to a somewhat slow start)? It’s another situation that could have everyone else laughing once again at the Mets.
On top of that, a team with some potential is once again in the basement of the NL East standings. Behind a two-time Cy Young-winner Jacob deGrom (who, as Mets fans always note, seems like never gets run support in his dazzling starts), the pitching depth isn’t great, especially with Noah Syndergaard out for the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery. A lineup that actually looked really solid is mostly off to a slow start (maybe they’ll get that Tim Tebow guy in at DH?)
And, on top of that, there’s that team across town. The Yankees have lost just one game in this season, have Aaron Judge hitting practically everything he sees over the wall and have free-agent signing Gerrit Cole pitching well as usual.
What’s going to happen with the upcoming sale? Instead of that being a bright spot for Mets fans, we’re all nervous about it being a disaster. And that’s what life is like as a die-hard for a franchise that just can’t get it right.
Sunday’s biggest winner: Everybody who thinks a tomato looks like Larry Bird.
Seriously. Someone took a photo of a tomato that looks like the Boston Celtics legend and it REALLY does. We all win. It’s amazing.
Quick hits: Trevor Lawrence, Jack Flaherty, the Raptors
– Trevor Lawrence threw his support behind Pac-12 players who are threatening to boycott the season.
– Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty turned his hotel room into a bullpen. That’s innovative!
– The Raptors keep proving they don’t need Kawhi Leonard.