Didn’t like how the World Series turned out? Well, here’s a chance to take the World Series trophy from the Royals… this Sunday night!
How could this happen? You know how the players from opposing teams nowadays love to fraternize before a game, no matter how important the contest. Fun-loving Mets outfielder Yeonis Cespedes hit it off with Royals catcher Salvador Perez so well during the World Series that when Perez stopped in Miami to film a commercial on his way from home in Venezuela to spring training in Arizona, the two hit the town harder than the Royals jump on a fastball. After many cervesas, Perez agreed to put the World Series trophy back in play in their rematch on Opening Night.
Wait, you ask, what are the Mets putting up if they lose? Yeonis agreed to put up his entire 2017 salary of $23.7 million. Perez was not aware that Cespedes can (and likely will) opt out of that contract after this year, leaving the Royals with a whole lot of nothing if the Mets can pull this off. But how can the suits from MLB let this happen? There has never been a World Series rematch on Opening Day (or Night), so this is new territory. And an old man in Quiggleville, PA recently found a copy of the Temple Cup agreement of 1894 that has some bearing on this issue, back when gambling was not limited to Indian-run casinos, state lotteries, and free agency.
By the time the lawyers get it all sorted out, the Mets might just have added a third trophy to the display vase at the Mets Hall of Fame and Museum. The Kansas rubes never saw this coming. They sure can hit, though. And run. And pitch. And celebrate in Flushing.
But after having the whole winter off and no two-inning saves to wear him out, maybe Jeurys Familia will be back to his pre-Series self. And Terry Collins knows to never let Matt Harvey talk him into anything. And Lucas Duda has practiced the throw from first to home 370,000 times (or, in dollars, the amount of money each World Series-winning player got).
Cespedes even convinced Perez to put his World Series MVP on the line. (Perez really was hammied in Miami.) If Cespedes can pull of this trick, he deserves MVP even if he goes 0 for 4 in the game.
What better way to start the 30th anniversary of the 1986 season? Well, maybe pre-ordering this book is a good start.