New York Mets Vs. Philadelphia Phillies: a Week of Being Uncomfortable

Playoff baseball should be exciting. Playoff baseball should be full of drama. Playoff baseball should be a whole range of emotions as I detailed in this post. When the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets play one another in the National League Division series, there is one emotion that I will be experiencing over the week that, dare I say, not many people will have. Actually it’s not an emotion but rather a state of mind.

That word is, “uncomfortable”.

I will be playing the role of Switzerland. I will not be rooting for Caitlyn’s Phillies or Matthew’s Mets. The only definitive thing I can say about this series is that I hope the winner goes to the World Series. Beyond that, it pains me to know that at the end of this round, one of my children will be highly disappointed. One of them will not have the opportunity (again) to see their team win a championship. I have already been told by both of them that if there is any emotion (namely anger) that comes out of them, it is not directed toward the other sibling but rather the team. I am confident (and lucky) in knowing that they will not take their frustrations out on one another. I also know that whoever the winner is, he or she will feel genuine compassion for the loser. And I know that the losing child will eventually come around to rooting for the winning team, even if it takes a game or two to get used to it.

As for my thoughts on the series? This has the makings of going all five games with the winner needing 12 innings in Game 5 to secure the victory. Both teams are very similar. Both lineups are full of players that are (I can’t believe I am using this word) grinders. They battle on every pitch and when the stakes get higher, they fight even harder. The expression, “you have to kill them to beat them” applies to both squads. The Phillies have the higher payroll and more well known players while the Mets have the ultimate family vibe, or as Matthew says, “the power of friendship”. I am prepared for both a long series and a lot of knots. However, my greatest challenge will be how well I can soothe the child whose team comes up short.

Author: Tom Lynch

Family is everything to me. Baseball is a close second. What better way to combine my two favorite passions than to write about them! My three children each have a different baseball team, hence the title, "Three Unassisted". I write about not only my thoughts but also the musings of Ryan (Yankees), Caitlyn (Phillies) and Matthew (Mets). I may have grown up a Yankees fan but since family is greater than ball, I also root for the Phillies and Mets. I love talking about my kids. I love talking about baseball. That lethal combination will keep you coming back for more. Happy reading! View all posts by Tom Lynch