Where were these New York Mets all season?
The suddenly surging New York Mets pounded baseball’s best team, the Atlanta Braves 10-4 on Monday night, behind home runs from Francisco Lindor, D.J. Stewart, and Rafael Ortega.
The Mets have now won five of their last six games, and — believe it or not — find themselves just 6.5 games out of the last wild card slot.
New York’s sudden turnaround comes weeks after the team was gutted at the trade deadline, which was followed by rumors of clubhouse turmoil between now ex-Mets Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.
Now the Mets are playing their most inspired ball since they enjoyed a six-game winning streak prior to the All-Star Break in early July.
“The guys are getting comfortable with each other,” Stewart said. “The clubhouse is upbeat. You’re seeing the results on the field.”
That’s a quote nobody heard months ago from anyone in Mets orange and blue.
Keeping Score!
Stewart and fellow journeyman Rafael Ortega cracked a pair of home runs in the top of the second to put the Mets up 3-0.
Hey Mr. DJ! @GOOODJ8 pic.twitter.com/lGGuD8GtWv
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 21, 2023
With the Amazin’s trailing 4-3 in the fifth inning, Jeff McNeil tied the game on a single; Pete Alonso put the Mets in front with a base hit to left, and Daniel Voglebach — who has been swinging a hot bat lately — singled to right, scoring McNeil to put the Mets up 6-4.
A 9-pitch at-bat for Daniel Vogelbach and he gets the Mets' 4th straight hit of the inning to make it 6-4! pic.twitter.com/siHYzHRIVp
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 22, 2023
An inning later, Francisco Lindor crushed a three-run homer to left-center to give the Mets a dominating 10-4 advantage.
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 22, 2023
Can the Mets keep this going?
It’s hard to imagine the Mets getting themselves back into the mix anytime soon, even if they are playing better.
The Schedule won’t allow it. The Mets have two more in Atlanta followed by a two-week stretch against the powers of the AL West in the Angels, Texas Rangers, and Seattle Mariners). The season ends against wild-card contenders Philadelphia and Miami.
Is Your Teen 'Road Ready?'
Passengers
In a study evaluated by the NHTSA, teen drivers were two-and-a-half times more likely to engage in risky behaviors when driving with just one teenage peer vs driving alone. From there the risk of a fatal crash goes up in direct relation to the number of teenagers in the car. This is the reason each state restricts the number and type of passengers a beginner driver is allowed to carry; stick to these laws no matter how long -or short – the trip is. Set driving ground rules with your teen and explain the consequences for breaking them; put it in writing and enforce it!Buckle up – it’s not only the law in every state, it’s lifesaving advice.
51% of the teen drivers who died in 2021 were unbuckled. Sadly, passengers follow their example; when a teen driver involved in a fatal accident wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, nine out of ten passengers who died were also unbuckled. This lesson has to start when they are very young; teach your kids to buckle up as soon as they graduate from a car seat. The NHTSA lists distraction, comfort and a false sense of safety as the main reasons kids ride beltless. A child distracted by games or snacking may just forget to buckle, so keep reminding them. Uncomfortable seatbelts may be an indication your child isn’t ready to leave their booster seat. Many kids – and adults – think they don’t need a belt on a short trip or at reduced speeds, but in fact, most fatal crashes happen within 25 miles of home and at speeds of less than 40 miles per hour. Their most important advice, buckle up yourself. When parents and caregivers fail to fasten their belt, children are less likely to wear theirs.Drowsy Driving
Studying, part-time jobs and extracurricular activities can impact your kid’s bedtime routine. A sleep deprived teen driver is an impaired teen driver. Drowsiness affects alertness, reaction time and judgement. Drivers 17-23 years old, those who sleep less than six hours a night, who drive on rural roads or who drive after midnight are at the highest risk of an accident. Make sure your teen gets a good night’s sleep, monitor their driving after dark and pay attention to your state’s restrictions for nighttime driving.Distracted Driving
An inexperienced teen can’t afford any distractions. According to the NHTSA, dialing a phone increases a teen’s risk of crashing by six! Texting increases the risk 23 times over. It’s not just smart devices causing distractions. Loud music can prevent a driver from hearing an approaching emergency vehicle or another driver’s warning horn. A teen late for school may try to make up time by fixing their hair, downing a breakfast sandwich or cup of coffee or applying lipstick while driving. Anything that takes their focus off the road – and that includes hands-free devices – reduces their ability to react to a sudden stop in front of them, a pothole or a patch of ice. Teach by example, make driving your number one priority when behind the wheel.Hands on the Wheel
A tire blows out, a car drifts into their lane, a child or pet runs in front of the car or they hit black ice. All of these road emergencies require quick reactions and total control of the vehicle. Today driving instructors recommend holding the steering wheel at the 9-o-clock and 3-o-clock position — opposite sides of the wheel halfway up. This hand position allows good control over the wheel while reducing the risk of injury from the airbag in a crash. A bonus to proper placement, hands that are on the wheel aren’t texting, eating or applying make-up!Shoes Make a Difference
Believe it or not footwear is the cause of around 16,000 crashes each year! (NHTSA) Drivers of all ages should be aware of ‘pedal error’ – a high heel caught under the brake or accelerator, a slippery dress shoe sole sliding off the clutch or a chunky wedge catching both pedals at once. Flip Flops are hard to keep on while walking, image one falling off between the pedals at 60 miles per hour? Go shoeless? Sweaty feet can slide off as well and, if you are involved in an accident, shoes protect your feet from glass and debris when you get out to inspect the damage. Thin soled shoes are the best choice for driving, keep a pair in the car to slip on before starting up.Keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road - your kids are watching you.
Driving this lesson home, the best thing you can do as a parent is to be a good role model. Set an example for them and practice safe driving by wearing that seat belt, putting down the phone, being courteous to other drivers and obeying all the laws.
