The New York Mets scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning on Sunday afternoon to come back and beat the Chicago Cubs. The game ended on a three-run walk-off home run from center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who was greeted at home plate like a conquering hero by his teammates. This did not please Bob Costas.
The win was only the Mets’ 25th of the year and they remain 13.5 games out of first place in the NL East. The Cubs are 15 games out of first place in the NL Central, so it’s not like New York had just defeated a powerhouse. That’s why Costas ripped the Mets during the US Open broadcast when recapping the game.
“The Mets with four in the bottom of the ninth to win it, 4-3, and a team 14 games under .500 celebrates as if it just won the seventh game of the World Series,” Costas said. “Another indication of the ongoing decline of western civilization.”
Let’s not get overly dramatic, Bob. Costas has been known to give a moving eulogy and entertain us by rapping Ludacris lyrics, but that comment seemed a bit much. Teams are always going to celebrate walk-off wins no matter what their division standing is, let alone a comeback that took four runs in the bottom of the ninth. I don’t think it has anything to do with western civilization.
H/T Amazin’ Avenue
