A Heartbreaking Reality for Mets Fans
In a mostly meaningless game in late July, the New York Mets went down 19–0 against the Washington Nationals in the fifth inning. The game devolved into a circus. Mets broadcasters gave up announcing and instead started reminiscing about the team’s 1969 World Series victory and reading aloud from the media guide. Then, in the ninth inning, with the bull pen low on fresh arms, the veteran infielder Jose Reyes stepped up to fulfill his dream of pitching in the major leagues. He proceeded to hit a batter with a 54-mph pitch, allow six additional runs, and draw laughter from both teams.
The game was emblematic of a tragicomic season that’s from the playoff race this week.Since opening day, players have missed time for a litany of health problems long and varied enough to make up a macabre children’s song. , and so on, and on, and on. Derailed by constant injury, the season long ago turned into something of a farce.
