No Way in Hell

I almost don't have to say anything else.

Update: 6/23

But let's add some numbers. On June 1, 2012, Johan Santana threw a no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals. Yes, there have been other no-hitters this year. A couple of perfect games. But this was the first ever no-hitter pitched by a New York Mets pitcher. In the 50th Season of the franchise's existence, in the 8020th regular season game. This year the Mets are wearing a patch in memory of Gary Carter with his #8. The Mets scored 8 runs on 8 hits. Johan Santana threw a total of 134 pitches (add those digits and you get 8), and struck out 8 hitters. Lucas Duda hit his 8th home run of the season.  It was Santana's battery mate, catcher Josh Thole's, first game back after missing several weeks with a concussion. Was Kid Carter watching over the Mets that day? I like to think so.

The next day, with the elation of the previous night's historic event still in the air, R.A. Dickey followed  up by pitching a complete game shutout against those same Cardinals (the defending World Champs no less) for his 8th win to beat league leading 8 game winner Laynce Lynn. More 8s!

Some more on R.A. Dickey... His next start against the NL East first place Washington Nationals, R.A. pitched into the 8th inning, giving up no runs and striking out 8 for the win. His next start against the Tampa Bay Rays, R.A. pitched a 1-hitter, 8 more scoreless innings, only giving up 1 unearned run in the 9th. In this start he set the new Mets team record for consecutive innings without giving up a run with 32 2/3 innings. In the following start against the Baltimore Orioles, R.A. pitched a second consecutive 1-hitter, another complete game shutout for his league leading 11th win.  Tack on 9 more scoreless for R.A. 

Baseball players and fans alike are a superstitious and number loving bunch.  The internet has been filled with chatter over R.A. Dickey's numbers, as well as his great underdog story, as detailed in his best selling memoir. There's talk of R.A. possibly getting tapped to start the All-Star Game for the National League next month. A 37 year old journeyman knuckleballer. Santana's No-Hitter, R.A. Dickey's whole year so far, and the Mets are hanging in there in second place in the N.L. East when all the analysts were picking them last before the season began. The Mets have lost some tough series, notably getting swept by the 5th place Astros, and more recently and frustratingly, the Yankees and the Reds. But they've bounced back with sweeps of Tampa Bay and Baltimore. So far this weekend they have split the first two games of the year's final subway series at home versus the Yanks.  But all in all they are exceeding expectations, despite the continued distressing injuries (Jason Bay crashed into the left field wall again last weekend and has another concussion). Things are mostly looking up this summer in Queens. 

#LGM