(This was written on a Samsung Galaxy S5 Smart Phone via the Memo Pad from 5:16 PM to 6:00 PM and then 6:33 PM to 6:57 PM after the Mets win against Washington on the 3rd game of the season)
PHOTO CREDIT: Mitchell Layton (Getty Images)
Well ladies and gentlemen, less than 24 hours after the debut of the first Smart Phone Rant, I am back and uber excited as I write on Game 3 of the regular season. What an incredible day to be a fan of the Amazin' Metropolitans, right? Harvey Day came and went, but one thing is for absolute sure: the Dark Knight has risen over Gotham City once again!
Not able to watch the rubber match of the Opening series between the Mets and the Nationals, I hooked up my transistor radio and tuned in on my manual dial to 710 AM to hear Josh Lewin and, the voice of the Mets himself, Howie Rose call the game on WOR. I know Leon St. Giovanni wishes it was still crystal clear on WFAN 101.9 FM after being spoiled in 2013, but to me, there is nothing like listening to a baseball game on AM radio. I guess it's personal preference.
Hearing the excitement in so many people's voices for today got me pumped prior to tuning in today. However, when Howie Rose gives a jolt of excitement through your radio airwaves, you know it will be a good day.
When Harvey got a strikeout against the first batter in 593 days in official Major League Baseball action (the victim was Michael Taylor for prosperity's sake), Howie let out a burst of energy through the airwaves and psyched me up for the remaining 3 hours of the ballgame. "He struck him out swinging!" was all I needed.
6 innings of 9 strikeout, 4 hit, 1 walk shutout baseball later, the NL was put on notice: Harvey's back, pissed off, and ready to roll. There is no way that you can't say that the Mets are a team to look out for, especially after the great job of the pitching and the small ball mentality they've impressed with.
Remember yesterday with my small rant of the purity of the game, particularly in the National League? The Mets are doing it with small ball mentality. Only one extra base hit and no home runs throughout the entire series basically play into that philosophy. They are capitalizing on mistakes and making opponents pay (Ian Desmond's 3 errors through 3 games ring a bell?) Combined with solid pitching, I think that the Mets are for real. I really do.
Not able to watch the rubber match of the Opening series between the Mets and the Nationals, I hooked up my transistor radio and tuned in on my manual dial to 710 AM to hear Josh Lewin and, the voice of the Mets himself, Howie Rose call the game on WOR. I know Leon St. Giovanni wishes it was still crystal clear on WFAN 101.9 FM after being spoiled in 2013, but to me, there is nothing like listening to a baseball game on AM radio. I guess it's personal preference.
Hearing the excitement in so many people's voices for today got me pumped prior to tuning in today. However, when Howie Rose gives a jolt of excitement through your radio airwaves, you know it will be a good day.
When Harvey got a strikeout against the first batter in 593 days in official Major League Baseball action (the victim was Michael Taylor for prosperity's sake), Howie let out a burst of energy through the airwaves and psyched me up for the remaining 3 hours of the ballgame. "He struck him out swinging!" was all I needed.
6 innings of 9 strikeout, 4 hit, 1 walk shutout baseball later, the NL was put on notice: Harvey's back, pissed off, and ready to roll. There is no way that you can't say that the Mets are a team to look out for, especially after the great job of the pitching and the small ball mentality they've impressed with.
Remember yesterday with my small rant of the purity of the game, particularly in the National League? The Mets are doing it with small ball mentality. Only one extra base hit and no home runs throughout the entire series basically play into that philosophy. They are capitalizing on mistakes and making opponents pay (Ian Desmond's 3 errors through 3 games ring a bell?) Combined with solid pitching, I think that the Mets are for real. I really do.
PHOTO CREDIT: Scott Cunningham (Getty Images North America)
I do have to put Curtis Granderson at the forefront though. Although he only got one hit, the Grandy Man walked four times and influenced a few runs over Games 1 and 3. Game 2 was struggle, but Granderson might end up being a good leadoff hitter for a little while. Getting on base is all you need, and that's good enough for me.
Although I have not seen footage back yet from today's game (hopefully SNY has an encore around 7 tonight), Howie and Josh seems very concerned about Wilmer Flores' arm at shortstop. I know from the first two games, it seemed as if Flores wasn't throwing as hard as he should. If that's the case, I wouldn't hesitate by throwing Ruben Tejada into that role again. But that's just me.
Man, listening to the game on the radio today got me extremely excited for the next series in Atlanta. I hope the Mets continue this swag they're showing and pull off a few more victories together. A hot start to the season is what I'm hoping for.
Tomorrow night, the bulldog-like intensity of Jonathon Niese takes the mound. Go Niese Go!
Jon Harder
Jon@TheJonHarder.com
Although I have not seen footage back yet from today's game (hopefully SNY has an encore around 7 tonight), Howie and Josh seems very concerned about Wilmer Flores' arm at shortstop. I know from the first two games, it seemed as if Flores wasn't throwing as hard as he should. If that's the case, I wouldn't hesitate by throwing Ruben Tejada into that role again. But that's just me.
Man, listening to the game on the radio today got me extremely excited for the next series in Atlanta. I hope the Mets continue this swag they're showing and pull off a few more victories together. A hot start to the season is what I'm hoping for.
Tomorrow night, the bulldog-like intensity of Jonathon Niese takes the mound. Go Niese Go!
Jon Harder
Jon@TheJonHarder.com
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