You Owe Me Three Bucks

By Tom "Mr. Star" Starita
Posted Thursday, June 7, 2007

For the record this is the third version of this week’s column. Whenever someone asks me what this week’s column is about I tell them I won’t know till I’m on the Ferry. For whatever reason the entire column manifests itself while on the Staten Island Ferry during the ride home. If something happens during the game I might tweak it but basically what I’m writing on my legal pad at 6:15 pm is what you’re reading Thursday morning.

Well after going from generic Phillies bashing column to a column about winning despite not playing your best, we have reached Plan C at 10:16pm.

Plain and simple, this is reality right now:

An entire outfield hurt – with Beltran at 80%
A hurt second baseman
A struggling lineup
And Uncle Sandy

All adds up to a three game losing streak.....

The first one of the year.....

I’m sorry, I cannot be one of those doom and gloom Mets fans. Even if Cole Hamels completes the sweep tomorrow and the Braves cut the lead to 2.5 games AND the Phillies get it down to 5, I still won’t be doom and gloom.

Why?

Four reasons:

The first is Willie Randolph. The man has seen too much to panic, and why would he? It’s not like we’ve fallen to third place, five games out. His job right now is to navigate these choppy waters until we get into calmer seas. After watching him manage both the game and his players for two plus years, I’m confident in his abilities.

The second is Omar Minaya. Again, another man who has seen too much to panic, but he is also the kind of general manager not afraid to make a move if a good opportunity became available.

The third is our starting pitching. If the pitching were getting shelled every night, then I’d be concerned. After all, most experts thought the starting pitching staff to be our weak point - the potential reason why we wouldn’t repeat as division champions. But Glavine, Duque, Maine, Perez and Sosa have been even more than this wide eyed optimistic Mets fan thought they would be.

The final reason is the collective men in the clubhouse. Delgado, Lo Duca, Beltran, Reyes, Wright – for the first time in two years, they are being challenged. The lineup has been missing the sixth through eighth place hitters for almost a month now. The men labeled the "A Minus Group" by Willie have been forced to play an everyday role, exposing even Endy Chavez. Yet despite the adversity and hard luck, this is the first three game losing streak of the season.

In a sentence I never thought I’d type, fortunately Shawn Green comes off the disabled list soon, as does Jose Valentin. Once they come back, the lineup returns to the American League style we have grown accustomed to. It’s amazing the kind of advantage you have when you don’t have automatic outs in the last three spots of the lineup. At the same time, this stretch of games has been invaluable to Carlos Gomez, who will only benefit from the experience.

The bottom line is this. After Uncle Sandy gave up the three run homer, and Rich texted me saying, “you owe me three bucks,” Mike called me up and put everything in perspective,

“If the low point this year is a three game losing streak in June sign me up."

Finally, there are going to be Mets fans and media types who are going to try and convince you that the season turned on the Chavez double play. Pay no attention to them. Instead, focus on facts. For example, how the Phillies went to Atlanta and swept them before sinking back under 500 during their home stand. How the Atlanta Braves bullpen is springing leaks and Chipper Jones might be out for a long time. Pitching wins out, it always does, and we have the horses for the long haul. And remember my favorite quote of the year so far:

"Hold on until the cavalry arrives." -- Pedro Martinez, to a teammate.

While Tom might be a wide eyed optimist to some, take into consideration his being a Knicks and Islanders fan. It’s not like he’s the Little Orphan Annie of the sports world. If you want to tell him how you agree the sun will come out tomorrow, or you’re a Phillies fan with a rare opportunity to gloat feel free to type away at MrStarita@yahoo.com or discuss the column in the forums below.

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