I realize that lately whenever I watch a Mets game, particularly if it’s a close one, I wonder how they’re going to blow it. Not if. How. And it’s occurred to me that they’re playing like a team with the exact same mindset.
An inning-ending double play ball comes to you. If you’re a really confident fielder, you don’t even think about what to do; muscle memory just takes over. If you’re a confident fielder, you think, “Oh good, inning-ending double play” and set it into motion. But if you’re a team that’s afraid of losing, then you think, “Please don’t let me make a bad throw.” And you picture yourself making a bad throw, because it’s like saying, “Don’t think about pink elephants.” And since that image is in your mind, your body responds to it, and you make a bad throw.
Or you go up to bat thinking, “Don’t let me hit INTO a double play,” and guess what.
I’m not one of these guys who screams for the manager to be fired just because the team isn’t getting the job done, but isn’t it a huge part of his job to make sure their heads are in the right place, instead of…y’know…up their ášš?
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Now if you replace the word “lately” with the phrase “within living memory” you’d know the joy of being a Cubs fan.
Funny. For a moment you were talking about the Brewers.
I watched the Mets game last night. It was great!
Welcome to the world of the pre-2004 Red Sox fan.
… Yeah, ’cause that’s really changed all that much since. Especially this year.
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One of my favorite sayings about the Sox is “Never underestimate their ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.”
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9th inning, up by 5 runs? I’m still worried.
I once read a screenplay that had two great quotes about the Red Sox. For some reason they stuck with me, even though I don’t even follow baseball:
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“It’s not just that they lose, it’s that they always find the most interesting way to lose.”
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and
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“The Red Sox are winning!”
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“Of course they’re winning. They’re always winning. Until they lose.”
Hi Davild, been reading Fallen Angel Omnibus TP#0 and it’s been really good.
Like the Dark Knight Undercover appearance in #2 and am now reading Little Better than a Beast.
Any plans to do Fallen Angel now that the x-over with Angel is done?
I was at Citi Field for the 14-1 debacle last Sunday, Peter. I know exactly how you feel.
I understand what you are saying. And I know you did say “It SEEMS”. It’s just that you really can’t know for sure what is going on in people’s heads or hearts.
actually you said “they’re playing LIKE”, but why split hairs. lol
Ask the Mrs. about what it was like being a Braves fan prior to 1990.
Or a Maple Leafs fan in Toronto since 1967, if you don’t mind crossing sports boundaries.
Maybe you should try watching Yankees games, instead. I hear they’re a good team.
Sadly that is the exact same mindset I have when I’m watching a Detroit Tigers game. When I had doubts that something was wrong with me and why I’m so skeptical about ‘my team’, my mindset was validated during their Championship run a few years ago and is still consistent every season with the crack Napoleon like strategy of Leyland.