In the end, it will be the Mets waving goodbye.
Dear LA Dodgers:
As much as I hate you, I hope you enjoy your three-day trip to our beautiful city, as the NL Championship Series shifted to Citi Field, which started Wednesday night and ends on Friday.
I know New York is not Los Angeles. For one thing, it has suddenly become chilly, which you guys are not used to. Second, you can’t enjoy anonymity like you do at home. Finally, you will hear it from us since we don’t like you. Still, you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the five boroughs of our city. Maybe you can enjoy some fine cuisine, such as pizza or whatever you eat out in SoCal.
No doubt you made yourselves home in Game 3 of the NLCS. You made your presence felt by beating up on our home team, the Mets, 8-0. Your fanbase acted vile and vulgar, as always, when they go to opposing parks and at Dodger Stadium. Hearing “LET’S GO DODGERS!” in the ninth inning piling it on us.
It was oh fer cute (a Minnesota saying) when Kike Hernandez waved goodbye after his two-run home run that gave the Doyers (a cute nickname your fanbase gives you) a 4-0 lead in the sixth inning. Don’t be surprised if your Mr. October gets an excellent taste of chin music next season when you play the Mets in a regular-season game.
I am sure it was a sweet moment when Shohei Ohtani hit a meaningless three-run home run in the eighth inning, giving you an 8-0 lead. I will be impressed when he hits a meaningful home run like Francisco Lindor did (like his leadoff home run in the first inning of Game 2 of the NLCS, setting the tone for a 7-3 victory on Monday afternoon).
I will say this about your plucky $300-million team. You do a great job re-inventing baseball via the bullpen to win every playoff game. It has worked, believe it or not. To throw a fourth shutout in the past five playoff games is no joke. How can I not be impressed when you boast ten starters on the injured list?
Sure, you have advantages and privileges that most other baseball teams don’t have with that payroll when it comes to ad-libbing. Only you can afford to acquire Jack Flaherty and Michael Kopech by the trade deadline, while most teams have to be fiscally responsible in operating their businesses.
But I wouldn’t feel comfortable if I were you for the next two games at Citi Field or the rest of the series, for that matter. The Mets are as good as you, and I can wager to say they are better. This team has been resilient all season. You saw that in Game 2 the other day. The Atlanta Braves found it out in Game 1 of the doubleheader that put the Mets in the playoffs. The Milwaukee Brewers found it out in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card series. The Philadelphia Phillies found it out when the Mets scored five runs in the eighth inning of Game 1 in that series to take a 6-2 victory. Again and again … resiliency.
The Amazins like it when there is a crisis because they know how to bounce back. You can bet our team will stand up to a bully in you. This series is far from over.
You ignore the Mets just like you ignored most of the 31 teams. You act like you are better than everyone, even though you haven’t won a championship in an entire season since 1988. You act like the Yankees when … you are not. You behave like you are entitled.
The Mets are not impressed. The Mets have heart and grit and are likable. They have players who are unafraid of the big moment. That is why we, Mets fans, feel great about our chances.
In the end, the Mets will wave goodbye, putting your arrogance where it belongs—where the sun doesn’t shine.
Truly not yours,
Leslie Monteiro
