What we witnessed on Tuesday night was a baseball rarity.
Let me explain:
On 7 occasions prior to Tuesday, Larry Jones has come to the plate with the circumstances as follows
* Mets beating Braves
* 2 outs in the 9th inning
* If the Mets get Larry Jones out, the game is over.
Of those 7 instances prior to Tuesday, you know how many times the Mets got Larry Jones out?
One!
It didn't matter if Larry was a rookie or a grizzled vet; if the Braves were down one run, or down 10 runs. The bottom line is that Larry almost never ends games at the plate (though he did end one game on the bases, but I don't remember it, so it's almost as if it didn't happen).
In potential ninth-inning "Get Larry out and the game is over" scenarios, Larry reached base on 6 out of 7 occasions (including one intentional walk).
That's ridiculous.
That's even better than noting that entering Tuesday, Larry's career "ninth-inning batting average" against the Mets was .380.
That's why Tuesday's ending, while very, very, very painful to endure, was also quite pleasurable. Although I'd still like to have seen Ryan Church use two hands to make that catch.
True Metrys know...The only other instance of Larry Jones batting as the last out of a Mets win was April 10, 2005, better known as Willie Randolph's first win as Mets manager (the game John Smoltz struck out 15, but lost to Pedro Martinez).
PS: Tip of the cap to Deadspin for pointing out this link in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune...the story of a walk-off lost due to an illegal high-five (I kid you not!)
http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/44324977.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUss
Let me explain:
On 7 occasions prior to Tuesday, Larry Jones has come to the plate with the circumstances as follows
* Mets beating Braves
* 2 outs in the 9th inning
* If the Mets get Larry Jones out, the game is over.
Of those 7 instances prior to Tuesday, you know how many times the Mets got Larry Jones out?
One!
It didn't matter if Larry was a rookie or a grizzled vet; if the Braves were down one run, or down 10 runs. The bottom line is that Larry almost never ends games at the plate (though he did end one game on the bases, but I don't remember it, so it's almost as if it didn't happen).
In potential ninth-inning "Get Larry out and the game is over" scenarios, Larry reached base on 6 out of 7 occasions (including one intentional walk).
That's ridiculous.
That's even better than noting that entering Tuesday, Larry's career "ninth-inning batting average" against the Mets was .380.
That's why Tuesday's ending, while very, very, very painful to endure, was also quite pleasurable. Although I'd still like to have seen Ryan Church use two hands to make that catch.
True Metrys know...The only other instance of Larry Jones batting as the last out of a Mets win was April 10, 2005, better known as Willie Randolph's first win as Mets manager (the game John Smoltz struck out 15, but lost to Pedro Martinez).
PS: Tip of the cap to Deadspin for pointing out this link in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune...the story of a walk-off lost due to an illegal high-five (I kid you not!)
http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/44324977.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUss
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