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Oct. 17, 2000 By Ian Browne SportsLine.com Staff Writer |
NEW YORK -- Forget about a scenic subway ride. The New York Mets, throttling with momentum, have taken an express train to their first World Series in 14 years.
Now, they are in the rare position of waiting for the Yankees to catch up.
Tuesday night in the Bronx, the Yankees will have a chance to punch their ticket to the first Subway World Series since 1956. But it's hard to imagine the defending world champions can go into the Fall Classic -- assuming the Mariners don't pull off a minor miracle and win the last two -- feeling more confident than these Mets.
Why did the Cardinals -- who looked beaten from the minute they took the field and then proceeded to play a dreadful game -- even bother showing up for Monday's Game 5 of the National League Championship Series?
It was Mets 7, Cardinals 0 in a game -- and for that matter a series -- that never seemed to have a second of doubt.
As has been the case in all but one game in the series, the Mets jumped on the Cardinals starting pitcher. This time it was Pat Hentgen, who hadn't pitched in more than two weeks. It didn't seem to matter who the Cardinals threw in this game, unless Bob Gibson came out of retirement.
The Mets were just on one of those rolls that wasn't going to be stopped by a Cardinals team that had seen its pitching staff ravaged by injuries and inconsistency at the worst possible time.
And at the best time, the Mets are playing their best baseball of the season. There is lots of joy in Metsville as the Flushing Nine is executing flawlessly in all facets.
It seemed like a pompous New York thing the way everyone has been touting the Subway Series for days, not even allowing a chance the Mets could lose this series.
But the way the Mets have played, you can understand the confidence their fans have.
That confidence first started to build two days before last Christmas, when general manager Steve Phillips did some last-minute shopping and brought home a gift-wrapped ace named Mike Hampton in a steal of a trade with the Astros.
Hampton was going to be the ingredient that would get the Mets -- who finished two victories shy of the World Series last year -- that extra push.
So it was fitting that on this night, it was Hampton pitching a marvelous game to get the Mets to the World Series. And now it feels like Christmas again to any New York baseball fan.
Hampton might be a short-timer here, as he's a free agent at the end of the year and is known to prefer warm-weather cities.
But he assured Monday that his impact in Met-land will be lasting. He pitched a complete game, three-hit shutout and didn't allow a run in 16 innings in the series. Hampton earned MVP honors.
"He was fabulous, he was extremely competitive," said Mets manager Bobby Valentine. "He did everything that anyone could hope for him to do, and I guess it was the biggest game of his life and mine."
"At the end of last season," said Phillips, "we knew that we needed someone in our rotation who could match up with the other team's best pitcher in a short series. We knew Mike could match up with anyone."
On Sunday, the tightly wound lefty talked about going out and pitching the game of his life. Considering the stakes, he was a man of his word.
"I really didn't see it as bold," said Hampton. "I really felt that. I usually don't say things unless I feel them. This team needed a big game."
And in the biggest game -- at least the biggest game until Saturday's Game 1 of the World Series -- Hampton delivered.
His surging offense took care of him with three runs in the first, and Hampton did the rest.
When Todd Zeile salted this one away for the Mets, lacing a three-run double in the bottom of the fourth to make it 6-0, Shea Stadium was shaking. It felt like the entire city was shaking.
The anticipation has been building for days, and now the Mets have lived up to their half of the bargain.
"I'm rooting for the Yankees (to win the ALCS)," said Zeile. "I don't see any reason to pull punches at this point. I'd love to see a Subway series."
This team, which went into the playoffs as the NL wild card, has peaked at precisely the right time. Since losing Game 1 of the Division Series to the Giants, the Mets have won seven of their past eight games.
They have an electrifying new leadoff hitter in rookie Timo Perez, whom the Mets plucked out of obscurity in Japan and were able to ease into the starting lineup when Derek Bell was hurt in the Division Series. They have two stars in Mike Piazza and Edgardo Alfonzo, who are both ridiculously hot. And they have a bunch of grinders like Benny Agbayani, Robin Ventura, Zeile and Mike Bordick.
So when did the Mets officially make the transformation from contending team to pennant-caliber team?
"It started with about five games left in the season," said Hampton.
"Then we beat two very good teams here in the Giants and Cardinals. So I think we're very confident in our ability."
The Mets are playing with that unmistakable championship air.
They are pitching brilliantly at the start and in relief. They are pounding the ball on offense. They are making all the plays on defense. They are, in essence, going about their business in the same manner the Yankees have the last few years.
Now there is nothing left to do but wait for the Yankees.
NLCS MVP Mike Hampton exults in joy as he is hoisted by teammates after winning Game 5.(AP)
| R E L A T E D L I N K S |
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GameCenter Mets' magic continues as Hampton throws gem Notes: Zeile enjoys beating former team Hampton named NLCS MVP after notching second win First-inning troubles dogged Cardinals throughout NLCS Benches clear in eighth after Payton beaned Piazza pays off on Mets' investment Audio: Mike Hampton says he focused on every pitch Audio: Hampton says he is happy to get the big win Audio: Hampton says the Mets earned it Audio: Hampton says he was confident he would pitch well Audio: Hampton says the Mets will enjoy this win Speak out: Have your say in the Mets Team Club! |
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