Gut Reaction: Phillies 4 Mets 3 (9/29/15)

This is the least upsetting loss in Philly in September I can ever remember. Lucas Duda's two home runs aren't enough to overcome Darin Ruf's power, Odubel Herrera's pesky consistency and the Philadelphia bullpen's stinginess. For all the Mets' bluster -- six hits and two walks in four and two-thirds innings off starter David Buchanan [...]

Does David Wright play tight when the heat’s on?

The Mets are taking slow, inexorable steps towards their first division title in nine years. By the calculations over here, they should clinch sometime in the September 30/October 1 area. Funny word, should. Similar things were said in 2007 and 2008 – and many fans right now are pushing the panic button, having horrible flashbacks [...]

Gut Reaction: Braves 6 Mets 3 (9/23/15)

The story of this frustrating, infuriating game, as told by me on Twitter (@CharlieHangley): Just before the first pitch from Bartolo Colon: Let's goooooooooo Bartolooooooo Update from our Nation's Capital in the first inning: Baltimore 2 Washington nil... Bottom of the first, Daniel Murphy up with two outs: MURPH! Long blast! 1-0 Bottom of the [...]

A Met fan’s realization: it isn’t 2007 anymore

It’s a chronic condition, pessimism is. It’s been a component of Mets fans’ DNA almost since the beginning, a lurking recessive trait that didn’t rear its head until June, 1977 or so. That’s when we all found out that as fans, we can take nothing for granted: we found out that Tom Seaver was not [...]

Gut Reaction: Mets 6 Phillies 5 (8/25/15)

Tempers flared like the rivalry of old and Michael Cuddyer was the hero du jour as the Mets came from behind to beat the Philadelphia Phillies, their fifth straight victory. Noah Syndergaard started, looking for his first major league road win. The game's first two hitters staked him to an early 2-0 lead. Curtis Granderson [...]

Mets fans’ apprehension is informed by the past

The Mets lost last night in excruciating fashion. We should be used to that by now, and the team did have a four-and-a-half game cushion going into it, but a loss like that still stings. The fact that the Washington Nationals were able to shave a game off that lead didn’t help. The collective “uh-oh,” [...]