The Mets Must Be Talking To Themselves Again!!

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The African Queen and I couldn't stop laughing. We just knew the very moment Willie Harris saved the day with a tremendous game ending diving catch this afternoon against The New York Mets--the Boys Of Summer wouldn't miss a beat. Sure enough, Charlie Slowes & Dave Jageler bellowed out in unison on WFED: "The Mets Must Hate Willie Harris!!"

Yes, Willie Harris had done it again!! With "Cardiac" Capps himself in a huge jam with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 9th protecting a one run lead--New York's Rod Barajas smashed a sinking liner to left field--a sure game tying--possible game winning hit. Fortunately, Our Number 22 had other ideas. With the Citi Field crowd roaring and sensing victory, Willie Harris swiftly moved in on the fast sinking liner--to his right--and dove FACE FIRST into the grassy outfield in Queens. As the baseball was a fraction of an inch of touching the ground--Willie extended his left hand, his glove hand, and SNARED the baseball for The Defensive Play Of This Year--so far. One of the better game saving catches anyone might witness all season long.

"HE MADE THE CATCH!! HE MADE THE CATCH!!" shouted Charlie Slowes "Another Curly 'W' is in the books!!" And really, what a catch it was. Our Washington Nationals were seconds away from as demoralizing of an early season defeat as there can be. John Lannan had battled from the start on the mound and after handing the ball over to Tyler Clippard for three fabulous innings of relief--was in the position for a win. All of which would have been lost thanks to one swing of a New York Mets Player's Bat.

In the record books, Matt Capps received the official save this afternoon. But everyone who watched or listened knows that Willie Harris SAVE THE DAY!!

What A Catch!!

Final Score from Citi Field where into the spirit of the play, Dave Jageler repeated in the post game: "The Mets Must Really, Really, Really Hate Willie Harris!!" after replaying Charlie Slowes' final call of the game: Our Washington Nationals 4 and The New York Mets 3. Washington needed this victory. They needed a starter to get through five innings. They needed some solid relief work to distance the game. But when all was said and done-- Curly "W" Number Two of 2010 wasn't finished until they got the needed defensive gem.

As The African Queen stated as we chuckled over the irony of Willie's fantastic catch: "The Mets Must Be Talking To Themselves Again!! The commercial lives on!!"

All thanks to Willie Harris and The Boys Of Summer--who never miss a beat.

Game Notes & Highlights

When the going got tough for John Lannan, he pitched as well as could be expected. On the ropes with a bases loaded, no out situation in bottom of the 3rd when Ian Desmond made another error on a routine ground ball--Our Number 31 proceeded to get Jeff Francoeur to hit a swinging bunt three inches in front of the plate where Pudge Rodriguez pounced on it, touched home and threw Francoeur out at 1st base. A twin killing that was followed by Lannan forcing Gary Matthews, Jr. to tap right back to him for an easy final out.

When Adam Dunn booted a routine grounder hit to him by New York's Pitcher Oliver Perez at 1st Base in the bottom of 4th and then Lannan plunked Jose Reyes with two outs, John again settled down to retire Alex Cora on a routine ground ball slapped to Desmond at short. When The Mets were threatening to push Lannan right to the clubhouse after plating Jason Bay on a single by Fernando Tatis putting Francoeur on third with two outs in the 5th--The Lanky Lefthander struck out Henry Blanco to walk to the dugout with the lead after five.

John Lannan wasn't dominate in any sense today--but he battled with the game on line and thanks to Tyler Clippard and Willie Harris--received his first personal victory of the season.

"No Nonsense" Tyler Clippard pitched three game distancing relief innings. He was dominant, must like last season during an appearance at PNC Park. When Clippard is on--he is unhittable. Today during his three innings on the mound, seven New York Mets struckout. Number 36 wearing those great goggles had baffled Major League hitters yet again. Really, Tyler Clippard was terrific. In fact, had a such a good day--he even singled leading off the top of the 7th for Washington's first hit by a pitcher this season.

Capps again struggled to close out his second save. Matt's allowing of two walks and one single in the final frame nearly put Washington in the loss column this afternoon. And most likely would have--if not for Willie Harris' Game Saving Catch.

Another Willy personally accounted for all of Washington's runs this afternoon. Willy Taveras tripled home Josh Willingham and Pudge Rodriguez in the top of the 2nd, then followed that up with a two-run rbi single scoring Dunn and Desmond in the 4th. Starting in rightfield for the very first time this season, Taveras came to the plate in the 6th with the opportunity to knock in two additional runs. The Mets' Japanese Import--Ryota Igarashi--struck him out.

Oddly enough, Willie Harris originally entered the game today to replace Ryan Zimmerman at 3rd base. The Z-Man now day-to-day with a tight left hamstring. Our Manager Jim Riggleman later moved Harris to leftfield as a defensive substitution for Josh Willingham. Score one for Our Manager today on a wise late game move.

Finally, when The Mets are playing at home, they need to stick with their vintage style Royal Blue Pinstripe, Script Mets with Orange Trim jerseys. That uniform is classic and looks so much better than that black alternate jersey and matching black cap they wore last night. The black just doesn't work for them with those team colors.

Harris Commercial Courtesy Of MASN
Lannan Leaning Over Recovering Baseball--Al Bello--Getty Images
All Other In Game Photos--Frank Franklin II--AP