Mets Follow Don Draper’s Advice

On Sunday the Mets followed one of Don Draper’s (my second “Mad Men” reference in a week. I’m surprised, too!) mantras (no, not to sleep with every woman with a pulse):

“If you don’t like what they’re saying about you, change the conversation.”

The conversation about Sunday’s game was destined to be about that awful play in the fifth inning when the Mets threw the ball around like a bunch of Little Leaguers and gave the Cubs two runs. It was going to be a microcosm of what is wrong with the Mets this season; namely that they are an inept bunch of boobs who do not possess the ability to play the game of baseball.

Instead, Kirk Nieuwenhuis changed the conversation with one swing of the bat, hitting a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to give the Mets a stunning 4-3 victory. That’s all anyone can talk about.

Now, this is likely just a temporary reprieve — one timely win does not make the Mets a good team. But for one day, at least, the Mets usual ineptitude has taken a back seat to their rare heroics.