Opinion: The Turning Point
When John Maine plunked Felipe Lopez with the first pitch of the game last night (in response to the Nationals’ bush-league cheering of the night before), a message was sent: don’t mess with the Mets.
As Regis Courtemanche stated earlier today, the timing was right and the action appropriate. Further, Maine’s pitch that “slipped” established solidarity — an “I got your back” mentality that all championship teams exhibit.
For too long, fans and pundits have criticized the Mets for being lifeless, unmotivated, and uncaring. Manager Willie Randolph has been targeted as responsible for the team’s supposed apathy. However, a pitcher does not knock down a batter in defense of a demoted teammate unless there is team unity and a bit of “fire in the belly”.
If the Mets go on a roll, we may look back at this incident as the spark, and a turning point in the season.
