Life has not been normal for anyone. Most of us have been quarantined for 75 days, and, even if we’ve been lucky enough not to get sick or lose a loved one or our job, it’s been a trying time.
We’re working from home (if at all), kids are home schooling, we miss friends and family, and we all need a haircut. We miss restaurants, movies, concerts, and malls (well, not me, but some people). And lest you try to to take your mind off of the fact that we’re living through a pandemic for even a moment, there are reminders everywhere. “Closed” signs on everything from shops and restaurants to parks, bowling alleys and roller rinks. So, we stay home and stick to TV.
Only THERE’S NO SPORTS. Unless you count The Last Dance and grainy classic re-runs of 80’s Mets and 90’s Knicks games. Those were fun for a while, as was Netflix and Amazon Prime and whatever other streaming service you have. Forget network TV. Every commercial, whether for insurance or canned soup, has to pander to us about “these uncertain times.” Besides, the major networks are not showing any sports. Not even golf or tennis. This is really not normal. And the main thing that reminds me of this, is that there are no Mets games.
My life without the Mets doesn’t seem right. I’ve been through the ’81 and ’94 strikes and 9/11, but this is different. This is not short-lived, there are no scabs, and uncertainty about the season is frustrating. No matter what’s gone on in my life, the Mets have always been a constant. Saddened by a death in the family? At least there’s a Mets game to watch. Disheartened by a job loss? Injured in a car accident? At least I’ve got the box scores and the radio commentary to distract me. Now? Nothing. No pre-game. No post-game. No next game.
The weather may be warming, but summer is one big cloud of uncertainty. Will the beaches be open? Will summer vacations happen? Will my son play baseball? Will my daughter go to camp? All I want to know is, when can I turn on the TV and hear Gary, Keith, and Ron?
Will we get to find out if this 2020 Mets team is as good as we predicted? What kind of manager will Luis Rojas make? Surely, we’ll all be picking apart his in-game decisions on these pages soon. Will we get to see a healthy Yoenis Cespedes in the middle of this lineup? Can Jacob deGrom, Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil be that good again? Will we get the chance to redeem ourselves against the Nats and Braves? Will I get to go to Citi Field at all this year?
I love TV shows and movies. The good comedies make me laugh out loud and the action and thriller flicks keep me on the edge of my seat, but nothing makes me jump up and yell at the TV like the Mets. And that’s when I’ll know things are back to normal. #LFGM.
I hear you. Baseball without fans will be weird, but it needs to come back once it’s safe. If they blow the whole season over money they will kill the sport.
Will the virus be “cured” to a sufficient level for the game to resume this year? Doesn’t seem like it.
The other day I was reading another (lesser) Mets blog where the writer suggested that the stolen base should be banned for this season. This seemed pretty ridiculous until I read his rationale, and he did have a point about runners coming into repeated close contact with fielders, especially at 1st base. Even without stolen base, how will this close contact be better controlled?
No high-fives, no hugs and no make-out sessions in the dugout…
What to do?
Jose, your guess is as good as mine. At a minimum, all players will be tested regularly, there will be no fans, and group togetherness will be avoided, so they’ll need to be cautious about dugout, bullpen and locker room usage. There will also be bans on spitting, tobacco and sunflower seeds. In any at bat you have 3 people crowded together, but I don’t think that’s the biggest concern. As BK pointed out, I just hope MLB doesn’t screw this up. There’s a good chance they’ll be competing for TV viewers with the NBA playoffs at some point.
BK – Completely agree. This is a reckoning for baseball. The slow pace of games and the 9pm playoff games out east make it hard enough to get kids excited. Doesn’t help that baseball’s biggest star doesn’t embrace the spotlight. The NBA has LeBron and Steph and KD following a long line of marketable ambassadors from Dr. J, Magic and Larry, MJ, Kobe, et al. Baseball had Babe Ruth, the original superstar, then Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle. Griffey came close but only played in secondary markets. Bonds, Clemens, A-Rod, et al, were all cheaters. I don’t believe Jeter had the transcendent appeal Yankee fans think. Nor does Aaron Judge. Today most of the stars are reluctant, unlikable, or don’t speak English. Wouldn’t it be something if Pete Alonso could step into that void? He has the personality for it.
Personally, I am missing the team a little less than I would have, if Noah had not gone in for TJ surgery. That was already a severe loss before the season had even begun.