The Subway Series Brought Back Some Powerful Memories

My heart goes out to America tonight. As a native New Yorker, it’s hard for me to write about the 20th anniversary of 9/11. The Mets and Yankees did a terrific job from the little bits that I saw. Same for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The day hit me hard.

Taijuan Walker gave up five runs, three home runs in one inning, and then retired 13 straight batters, and he got a single and an RBI. He was 0-6 since the All-Star Break. He ended up getting a no-decision, which is tough, but the Mets dropped another one after having a two-run lead because of the way Luis Rojas runs his bullpen.

Seth Lugo pitched the seventh inning. He only threw six pitches, and he didn’t return for the eight. Why? Rojas has lost a lot of games for the Mets this year with questionable decisions like this, but this one may be his worst, and he saved it for a big game on national television.

Trevor May came into the game and ended up giving up three hits and three runs without retiring a batter. The moment was too big for him, and that’s what angers Mets fans. He shouldn’t have been in that spot when you had another pitcher who was cruising and had great stuff on this night.

Javy Baez, who homered earlier took away from that by throwing away a ball that he had no chance of turning a double play on when Aaron Loop came in for May. The eighth run scored, and the Yankees had a one-run lead., The Mets feel-good game turned into yet another draining loss for the players and the fans watching. 

The Phillies won their game moving within 3.5 games of the Braves who lost to the Miami Marlins, and that keeps the Mets 4.5 games back, and while it’s not impossible for them to pull this out, the biggest problem is the manager and getting him to change his ways this late into the season is a gargantuan task. 

The Mets have 20 games left in the season. In a week they’ll be on national television again against the Phillies. They may have to sweep that series, and that’s going to be a daunting task. If the Braves play just over .500, they probably take the division.

Around FPC

Featured: 20 Years On: The Five Options Tagliabue “Anguished Over” Following 9/11 Attacks

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NFL: Quick Hits: 49ers Survive in Detroit

Fantasy Football: Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings

Wrestling: AEW: Why All Out Was Exactly What Pro Wrestling Needed

PODCAST: The Eye Test For Two Ep 71: Remembering 9/11 Part Two – Tiki Barber

The Wild Card Race is Epic

The Cardinals beat the Reds, who are still ½ game behind the San Diego Padres. The Cardinals are starting to make this more interesting and even closer than I imagined a week ago. 

The Dodgers look like a lock. They probably won’t catch the Giants for the West Division Title so just getting in makes them very dangerous. It’s nice to have some pennant race baseball. Baseball needs it. It can use the extra excitement. This season has been a weird one, but if it finishes strong it’s good for NL baseball fans, and the entire sport.