Some people say pitching is the most important part of the game, others say defense. I think its something far less tangible. I think what really defines a great team is their MoJo. After being 3-hit each of the last two games, and scoring only once going into the 7th last night, the boys were completely deflated and their MoJo meter was redlining.
With the bases loaded for the Padres in the 7th and nobody out, it looked like things were about to go from bad-to-worse. Delgado made a nice play to pluck a foul ball out of the air for the first out, but the next hitter Eric Young smashed a grounder that looked destined to be a two-run single to left to blow the game wide open. Last year, it would have been. David Wright took a few steps to his left, went airborne Graig Nettles-style, and snagged the grounder. Jumping quickly to his feet, he zipped it to Matsui for the force. Brad Johnson was bearing down on Kaz, who is not known for his prowess turning a DP. Int his case though, Matsui channeled Joe Morgan circa 1975, making a spectacular pivot and getting the ball to first for the inning ending DP, taking an elbow to the nuts from Johnson in the process. Somehow, almost magically, we were out of the inning. Duaner Sanchez pumped his fists and ran off the field. To quote the 1986 manta, "The magic was back".
This was apparently the shot in the arm the Mets needed to get the juices going because after being silent for 7 innings, the Met bats returned....with a vengeance. In the 8th, after Xavier Nady doubled and Kaz flew out to left, Julio Franco turned on a Scott Linebrink pitch and became the oldest player in Major League history to go yard. Man I love this guy (in a heterosexual kinda way)! The Double play got the juices going, but the Franco homer REALLY turned things around. They needed a spark and the old man was there to provide it.
After the Franco Dinger, the floodgates opened. When the smoke cleared we were up by 5 instead of down by 1. More importantly, we had our "Don't f-with us" swagger back.
To see just how far the effect of the MoJo reached, the resident bums on the roster seemed rejuvinted and got in on the action. Endy Chavez and Jose Valentin both got hits, Valentin breaking an 0-15 schneid. Even Jorge Julio looked like a new man, striking out 2 in the 9th.
Julio looked like Rick Peterson had a serious sit-down with him. He took 5 mph off his fastball and the location was 500 times better for the adjustment. He also was throwing a nasty slider that twisted viscouly away from the San Diego bats at the moment before contact. This was the Jorge Julio that Omar Minaya traded Benson for. I hope this Julio sticks around for a while and the Julio we met before tonight makes like Elvis and leaves the building.
Lets also take a quick look at the STELLAR Met pitching last night:
Trachsel - 6 innings, 2 runs on 6 hits
Bullpen - 3 innings, 0 runs on 1 hit with 4 strikeouts and 0 walks
Clearly Peterson is doing something VERY right. The staff looks amazing this year.
One last comment....what is with the Giant Padre Mascot waving from behind home to throw off the Met pitchers? Is this kind of distraction legal? It certainly is completely lame from a sportsmanship perspective. This mascot is even lamer than Mr. Met, who at least has the courtesy not to bob his bulbous head back and forth from behind home plate at Shea.
Anyway, back to the positve karma......this could have easily been a dark, dreary Met Friday. We were very close to wearing a 3-game losing streak, punctuated by anemic hitting, around our neck as we continued on this 10 game road trip. Instead, we enter the weekend as invincible bad-asses.
