Note: Ya Gotta Believe, in Yourself
Last night had a totally different feeling compared to any other game this season – and it wasn’t just the final result. It was entire game, start to finish.
Endy Chavez, who hit a game-tying, solo home run in the ninth to send the game to extra innings, told reporters after the game:
“The ambiance over here is changing, it’s more positive. I know we have good talent down here and we just have to work hard and show it on the field.”
Since the first pitch on Tuesday night, and continued through last night, this team has a had an extra bounce in its step, and the crowd at Shea Stadium has started to feed off of it as well.
I’ve heard from lots of people who attended both last night’s game and the night before, and they all are saying the same thing: the team looked pumped, the crowd was alive and the energy was back.
Jose Reyes, who also hit a home run last night, speaking to reporters after the game, said:
“It is big, because we win the series too. To come through like that, to win that game, it’s huge for us. Tomorrow, we come with a different energy to the game…Hopefully we can continue to play like this against the Dodgers.”
What’s more, the team is smiling, joking around, laughing and looking more confident.
For instance, in his post-game discussion with reporters at his locker, Jose Reyes looked over his shoulder to find 
Ramon Castro holding an SNY microphone like a reporter. Seamlessly, a reporter asked, “So, how did Ramon Castro do tonight,” to which Reyes responded, “Good, he did good,” while laughing.
It’s nice to finally relax, exhale, laugh, have a little fun and not think about ‘drama’ for at least one night.
David Wright, on the win, talking after the win:
“It was a phenomenal job of being resilient, and answering every time they scored a run or made a big pitch we matched it. That’s the way you get that confidence back and get that swagger back…These are types of games that can jump start you, that can get you going. It spring boards you in to tomorrow…I’m extremely proud of the way we battled, never rolled over, never died.”
Billy Wagner, talking to reporters after the win:
“I mean, there was a different feeling about how we were playing. The whole game, even when we were down, we were like, you know, there’s a different
feeling here. And you can tell, guys were doing a lot of things, you were getting a lot of aggressive play.”
In other words, for the first time all season, it sounds to me like this team is starting to believe in themselves. Baseball is so much about confidence. Their problem so far, while somewhat structural, has mostly been about confidence, playing tight, worried, under pressure, and so on. Last night, they looked free, confident and determined, and that simple emotional switch could end up being the most significant difference going forward.
