A Season for the Ages

Congratulations are in order to the Kansas City Royals for their victory in capturing the 2015 World Series in five games over my New York Mets. They have shown that sometimes good hitting can beat good pitching, if it is timely and consistent.

But, I believe that congratulations are in order to the New York Mets, as well, because they truly gave not only the Royals a run for their money, but against ALL odds, they far and away ran roughshod over the entire National League, when none of the prognosticators, including me, gave them a chance on July 30.

The importance of that date is significant because on that afternoon, in what was supposed to be huge win against the Padres, after the dramatic Wilmer Flores non-trade debacle, the Mets managed to blow this win in a rain-soaked afternoon game which they led 7-1, and lost finally 8-7. At 7:30 that evening, after several rain delays, their record stood at 52 and 50, with the then-first place Washington Nationals looming for a weekend series.

At that point, I can assure you that I was happy my Mets were two games over .500, considering the mediocre manner in which they played up to that point. The pitching wasn't the problem, but rather, it was the lack of run support by a team who did not know how to put it away.

Then, magically, with minutes left before the trade deadline, the Mets announced a trade which would change their fortunes and turn their entire season around for good. They picked up Yoenis Cespedes for not very much, and while he didn't arrive until that day's game was over, the excitement felt by the fans and team alike seemed to re-energize the faithful, and the players, to begin a run of 38 wins and only 22 losses to capture the Eastern Division flag for the first time since 2006.

My friends can tell you that I kept saying that it was good enough, that my season was complete because they were going to the playoffs. I was happy with that. And anything else was a bonus.

The Mets overcame two difficult opponents in the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs.  In those two series, the adage of good pitching will always beat good hitting proved true. By beating those teams, we captured the National League pennant for the first time since 2000. That was 15 long, painful years ago.

Ultimately, at least to this Mets fan, I can assure you that on July 30, I had no false vision or even hope that my boys would still be playing baseball over three months later at 12:15 in the morning on November 2. It was just not even a wish or fantasy that rain-soaked summer evening.

So, yes, thank you, Sandy Alderson and Terry Collins, for giving us a chance to dream and see that dream become a reality. Thank you, Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and the rest of the pitchers for proving you were as good or better than we could imagine. Thank you, Yoenis Cespedes and Juan Uribe, and the rest of the newcomers for bringing your leadership and winning ways to a team which needed a direction. Thank you, Captain David Wright, Daniel Murphy, Lucas Duda and the rest of the team for sticking it out, playing your best over the last several years, knowing your efforts were appreciated and not in vain.

I have been Orange and Blue since '62 and I am proud of my New York Mets for giving us a season which ranks up there with 1969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 1999, 2000 and 2006, our best seasons in our 54 season history. It was one for the ages.

Thank you to the New York Mets for going up against the best in the American League and know that as this year's champs proved, YOU CAN AND WILL COME BACK NEXT YEAR TO WIN IT ALL! LET'S GO METS!