Disgruntled Mets Fan

It was the bottom of the seventh inning, the Mets were down 4-2, and a fresh off the DL Carlos Beltran came up to bat with two outs and the bases loaded.

The stage was set…

A single would have tied the game, an extra base hit may have given the Mets the lead, and a grand slam would have sent Mets fans into the kind of frenzy they haven’t felt in a long, long time.

Brian Sanches fell behind Beltran 2-0 on two straight fastballs off the plate.  He came back with a third that was fouled back, and was threw one last one right in Beltran’s wheel house that Carlos seemed to turn on sending a long shot down the right field line.

Off the bat, I thought it was a home run.  I thought Carlos did it.  I thought the stadium was going to erupt.  I thought the bench would be filled with smiles all around.

The ball seemed to hang up in the air for an eternity.  As right fielder Cody Ross settled in a few feet from the right field wall, I was sure the ball would land in the Pepsi Porch and the Mets would have their triumphant come back.

Unfortunately, the ball cleared the Subway sign, and fell harmlessly into Ross’ glove for the third out ending the Mets inning, and squashing their last threat at getting back into the game.

This one at bat is a sample sized serving of the Mets franchise as a whole since the end of 2006.  So close to something great happening, but never quite getting there.

You can imagine the same ball being hit off Chase Utley’s bat catching the wind and finding it’s way into the right field bleachers.  I’m sure the wind was blowing against Beltran’s ball last night.

That’s just the way it goes for the Mets.