“Besides, we have a Panamanian (injured Ruben Tejada) there, but yeah, it’s still New York”. Need proof? For more than two decades Mets fans held the Major League Baseball attendance record before ceding it the Yankees in 1999. Indeed, the Mets even adopted the baseball Giants’ old stylized “NY” logo. In addition, they’ve appeared in four World Series – more than any other expansion team. “In that time, I’ve had to live through and endure not one, but five world championships by the Yankees – one at the expense of my beloved Mets”. His home run was the first tying shot in the ninth inning or later of a World Series game since Scott Brosius connected for the New York Yankees against Arizona in 2001.
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The retired closer, at the World Series to present current Yankees closer Andrew Miller with the AL Reliever of the Year Award, made it clear that his allegiances in this World Series reside with the Mets.
Familia was a huge reason the Mets won their first pennant in 15 years, coming through in several pressure-packed situations this postseason. The Red Sox were poised to win the game and the series when the Mets rallied to tie the game. The Mets won the next game, and the rest is history. When that happens, the question will be asked, ‘How is he going to come back? “It’s different”, Rivera said. A good deal of the franchise’s charm is due to its perennial underdog status, but that doesn’t really apply this year.
Familia had been unscored upon in 9²/₃ innings in his first playoff appearances through the first two rounds then got the final out of the eighth inning against Kansas City on Tuesday night in a World Series debut that could make one think of Rivera’s postseason dominance. Although it didn’t cost them a run, it did give the Royals their best chance to score when the game was only 2-0.
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The catchy “Let’s Go, Mets” chant is rarely heard this late in October.
