Sometimes I feel like I've lost my innocence when it comes to sports. As a child I don't think the outcome of the game was ever more important than the game itself (with the exception of any and all Knicks playoff games). In most of my early memories of going to Mets or Knicks games with my father I can't remember who won. I had little concept of what the game I went to meant in the grand scheme of a larger season or a period in a franchises' history. I'm nostalgic for a time where I could go to a game and not have my day utterly ruined if the home team lost.

On a similar note, it occurred to me today that I pretty much know for a fact that the Mets will not win the world series this year. With the exception of three or four teams a season doesn't every fan somewhere inside k

Continue reading "The Phallacy of Victory"

On today's Mets broadcast Gary Cohen talked about the bullpen being the Mets only major weakness. While it's somewhat reassuring to consider that the Mets are second in the league in runs scored and when healthy have the deepest starting pitching, it's still frightening to consider how much damage the team's relievers coud do in a pennant race. Off the top of my head I can think of one great example of a team winning with only a dominant bullpen--the '02 Angels who prayed every night that the starter could make it to the 6th inning. On the other hand, everyone remembers that the '01 Diamondbacks won the title that year on the backs of Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling--two starting pictchers. One of the keys to Arizona's run was Johnson'd shut down performance out of the pen--something Bob Brenly didn't trust his normal corps of relievers to do. Remember Byun Hyung Kim? My point exactly.

Continue reading "Bad Bullpen = No Title?"