Reveling in the Mets' Misery

by David S. Cohen on Jun 16, 2009 4:36 PM EDT Comment 29 comments

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

As a diehard Phillies fan, I hate the Mets. When I taught my then-two-year old to say "Boo John McCain" last year, I simultaneously taught him to say "Boo Mets." Hating the Mets is that important in my household. I can't assume anything about the political part of that, but I can safely assume that if you're a fan of this blog, you probably share with me this feeling toward the Mets.

And if you're an avowed Mets hater like me, then this past week has been wonderful.

Now let's get one thing straight. I don't wish any serious life troubles on anyone connected with the Mets as individual people. I don't wish them serious illness, family tragedy, debilitating poverty, or any other horrible thing that makes people live unhappy lives. I just want their baseball fortunes to be miserable, which is exactly what's happened recently.

Do we need a re-cap? Sure, why not?

Tuesday, June 9: Even though they beat the Phillies, their ace, Johan Santana, gives up 4 home runs and gets into an argument with the manager over pulling him from the game.

Wednesday, June 10: The Mets strand 16 runners, letting the Phillies tie the game up in the 7th after leading for the entire game until then. They have a chance in the 10th, but Jayson Werth makes a game-saving amazing catch. Then, in the top of the 11th, Chase Utley hits a home run that ultimately is the game-winner.

Thursday, June 11: Again leading for the entire game until the seventh, the Mets allow the Phillies to tie it up at 3, and the game goes extra innings again. Again, Bobby Parnell, the losing pitcher from Wednesday, has trouble in extra innings, giving up two baserunners. Ken Takahashi comes in to relieve him and gets Ryan Howard out on strikes. But Raul Ibanez follows with a three run home run, giving the Phillies a 6-3 win in 10 innings.

Friday, June 12: This one's the best (although it's close with Sunday's game). Luis Castillo will forever hear taunts when trying to catch a pop-up. With Francisco Rodriguez on the mound, saves are automatic these days. But not apparently when an easy pop-up is hit to second with two men on. One dropped ball and two runs later, the Mets have their most embarrassing loss in a long time. Play Luis Castillo off, Keyboard Cat.

Saturday, June 13: A win! Nothing too interesting or terrible for the Mets here. Just your standard win against the Yankees by a guy who hasn't won in the majors in three years.

Sunday, June 14: Johan Santana on the mound against the Yankees. After Friday night, this is the get-even game the Mets are hoping for. Whoops! Doesn't happen. Instead, the Yankees win 15-0. Santana gives up 9 earned runs in 3 innings. Amazingly, no home runs or RBI for Mark Teixeira or Alex Rodriguez. Instead, everyone else on the Yankees pummels the Mets, in their second-worst shutout loss ever.

So much Met misery in six games -- what fun for a diehard Phillies fan!

Of course, if you're looking for a little bit of humanity/humility in this post, it's this: despite the Mets terrible woes, they lost only one game on the Phillies, starting this stretch 3 games behind the Phils and finishing it 4. Too bad the Phillies couldn't capitalize more.

0 recs | Comment 29 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Well at least now we’ll know whose fault it is :)

I too hate the mets, and the knicks, and the giants, though in my household yankee hate is required as well and there’s at least one red sox fan (the cats and dog haven’t decided yet) – so it was a werid weekend – but fortunatley with no indemand this year no need to fight

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 16, 2009 4:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I feel like someday the Mets are going to make us pay for all of our shaudenfreude; I’m just hoping it’s not this year. I was actually embarassed for Castillo and he seemed so genuinely hurt in his postgame interview it almost dampened my joy.

Almost.

by doubleh on Jun 16, 2009 4:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

As much as I did enjoy it, I also hear you on this. I would have been full of glee if it had been somebody evil like Wright or Reyes, but Castillo is just a guy.

by taco pal on Jun 16, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When he puts on the uniform – he’s not a guy – he’s a met – it’s a team game – all mets are evil

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 16, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True, true. Thanks for smacking some sense into me.

by taco pal on Jun 16, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

To me it’s only shaudenfreude if we sucked, but seeing as we need them to lose to stay in 1st, it’s pretty legit.

by SJPhillyVT on Jun 16, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As I understand it – schadenfreude is taking joy in the misery of others – regardless of your situation

Here’s a tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9B-ZoS0wvU

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 16, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do not click link if you are easily offended or don’t want to ruin your memories of gary coleman

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 16, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand I’m just saying that’s the way I see it.

by SJPhillyVT on Jun 16, 2009 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok – so there’s the actual definition

and then you choose to interpret it some other way?

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 16, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I will point out that I hate the braves just as much – all that ‘americas team’ crap when they were on TBS – they just kind of suck though

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 16, 2009 5:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I still hate the Braves more. Maybe when Larry Jones Jr retires, this will change, and my Mets antipathy over the last two years has gone from nil to a lot. But our 14-4 against Atlanta last year was second only to the WFC in terms of satisfaction.

by dajafi on Jun 18, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As long as they continue to start Francoeur I can’t hate em that much – it’s just too laughable how badly they messed that whole thing up for years

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 18, 2009 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In all seriousness, my feelings toward the Mets have always been motivated by their fans more than their players. I’ve hated a few Met players over the years, most notably Gary Carter, but there were also Mets that I didn’t mind. I enjoyed watching Dwight Gooden pitch, for instance, and I never really hated Keith Hernandez either. But their one constant through all the years is their fan base, which seems to me to be unique in its level of horribly annoying people, and yes I think they are worse than Phillies fans by a very wide margin. Add in the fact that they come in droves into our ballpark for the express purpose of antagonizing us and acting like jackasses. It’s their pain that I revel in the most, not their players’.

by taco pal on Jun 16, 2009 5:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree with this. It really wasn’t until the current crop of Mets players came up/in — Wright, Reyes, and Beltran in particular, and now K-Rod — that I had any enmity Mets players.

My grandmother lives in Queens and my father was born and raised there (neither are Mets fans thankfully) so I have spent a lot of time in the borough, and I can attest to everything you say about Mets fans. They are the ones I enjoy seeing suffer.

by FuquaManuel on Jun 16, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

couldn’t agree more. mets’ fans have no class. but neither do the mets. dancing around, gloating, boasting with nothing to back it up. led by the biggest jackass in the game – jose reyes. and it’s not a new york thing, either. i don’t necessarily mind the yankees. and i don’t mind the red sox. what’s not to like: talented and the play the game the “right” way – blue collar, no gloating and dancing around. it’s their fans, like the mets’ fans, that i really despise.

by sonofjake on Jun 16, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I must say – after watching kevin james stiff a rather fetching bar maid on a football sunday and with a woman WAY out his league looks wise – i had emnity towards him – so him being a mets fan helps

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 16, 2009 5:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He’s a big jerk, huh? He’s certainly not very funny—at least in his stand up act.

by doubleh on Jun 16, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, he big timed the bar, and the waitress, and seriously, the asian girl with him (my weakness) was so far out of his league it was like he was in little league again and the kid on the end of the bench who only got to hit when the game was decided cause ‘everybody plays’

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 16, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why do we keep hearing about superstars/unbelievably rich people always trying to get out of paying bills? Guy should have been buying rounds of drinks for the entire bar just to say thank you for whatever deal he signed with the devil for his success.

by doubleh on Jun 16, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nah, I don’t care that he wasn’t buying drinks for everyone – but he did stiff the waitress on the tip – which i find ridicllous – my boss did that once – like a 200 dollar dinner and left not even 10% tip.

I think he came in for attention – i don’t know if you recall – but he was hosting an awards show – i thik people choice awards – on CBS and the commercial came on A LOT during the game – and – well – i don’t think he got the attention he was expecting

Damn i miss that hawaiian bread french toast

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 16, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mets

You are tempting the Baseball gods, gloating in the downfall of your enemy

by ridingrav on Jun 16, 2009 6:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What’s it called when you gloat towards your enemy but come in second place 2 years in a row?

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 16, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Poetic justice.

The Sports Wilderness - Sports With An Enemies List!

by WanderingMoses on Jun 16, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lived in North Jersey through the 80’s where most of the people I knew were Yankees fans who ‘all of a sudden’ became Mets fans during their little 3 year run (‘86-’88), and that was the beginning of my hatred of all things Mets.

I was at the Vet in ‘86 when the Phillies denied the Mets the opportunity to clinch the division and Met fans ripped seats out and caused general mayhem. Ever since that incident I bristle at all ’Philly fans are the worst’ stories and internet memes.

The Sports Wilderness - Sports With An Enemies List!

by WanderingMoses on Jun 16, 2009 6:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Me too

I was at game 2 (Saturday night) of that three game series. For a Phillies team going nowhere, that three game sweep that season was the equivalent of winning the World Series. And the Mets fans were brutally horrible that weekend, for sure. There were several fights right near our seats, and we were in the first level third base area. Not normally an area known for fights.

by David S. Cohen on Jun 16, 2009 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs