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Fighting to the end

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Mike Jenkens

As of two weeks ago, the professional baseball season ended for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Diamondbacks were out of the playoffs (thanks to Tony Womack) and the rest of the teams I really did not care about. But, being a baseball fan in general, I tuned into some of the games of the League Championship Series between the Mets and Braves.

This was a series for the ages. These two teams hate each other as much as India hates Pakistan. It also didn't help that some of the Braves players popped off before the series about New York in general and the Mets fans. This just brought more passion and fire from the Mets.

The Mets had been on life support for the last two weeks of the regular season. They had fallen two games behind Cincinnati with three games left to play. They caught the Reds after the Reds choked, and then defeated them in a one game playoff when Al Leiter threw a two-hitter. They won a trip to the playoffs and a series with Western Division champion, Arizona.

After pounding Randy Johnson in game one and splitting the first two games, the Mets won both games in New York and advanced to the LCS.

The thing about this team, though, was that a different person was winning games for them every night. Edgardo Alfonso owned the Diamondbacks, hitting three home runs in the series. Ricky Henderson should have been arrested for grand theft for how many bases he stole all series, Rick Reed outpitched Omar Daal in New York in game three and reserve catcher Todd Pratt put on the finishing touch with a 10th inning blast that sent the Diamondbacks home in game four. This team had a special aura about it.

As they entered the series with the Braves, the Mets were banged up. Superstar Mike Piazza had a bum thumb, which prevented him from playing his best. Ricky Henderson was sick, and Rickey can't do anything in his cleats unless he's healthy. All of the pitcher's arms were tired. But still, the Mets played like true champions.

After losing the first three games to the Braves, many critics wrote the Mets off. But like their team motto - Why not here, why not now - the Mets fought back like a prize-fighter. They were resilient, a team that would not crumble in the face of adversity. They won game four and survived another day. Game five was a fifteen-inning marathon, with almost all of the Mets pitchers throwing in that game. With Robin Ventura's bases loaded home run/single in the fifteenth scoring Roger Cedeno, the Mets lived to see yet another day. Game six looked like disaster for the Mets. They gave up five runs in the first. Al Leiter did not even get an out before he was pulled. But they fought back. Three runs in the sixth and four in the seventh, the capper being a Mike Piazza two run homer that tied the score at seven. The Mets took a 9-8 lead, but gave it right back. Then in the 10th, the Braves loaded the bases, and it was up to Kenny Rogers to get two outs to keep the ventilator running. He walked Andruw Jones on a full count to give the Braves the victory and the series.

I dislike the Mets for beating the Diamondbacks, but I have nothing but respect for Bobby Valentine and his squad. They did everything they could possibly do to keep this Cinderella streak intact. They fought like caged dogs to the bitter end. It would have been fun to see a subway series, but that will have to wait.

Good season New York, I hope you go win-less all next year.