New York Mets broadcast paid homage to ‘Sopranos’ ending with ill-timed blackout

The New York Mets, barring ripping off an incredible winning streak, are resigned to play spoiler as the MLB postseason takes shape. It’s a disappointing reality considering expectations headed into this year, but the organization deserves some credit in hanging tough and finding a way to compete.

New York put together a 3-2 win in 10 innings over the vaunted Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night, sending the Citi Field crowd home with a smile.

It was a stressful, back-and-forth game for Mets fans. And those watching at home had the added agita of a small technical issue occurring at the worst possible time.

With the score knotted 2-2 in the top of the ninth inning, Milwaukee’s David Hamilton had an opportunity to change the game with the bases loaded and two out. He sent a softish-liner toward the hole between shortstop and third base that appeared like it could be trouble—and then the SNY broadcast faded to black.

This is not what anyone wants. Especially when an exciting shortstop like Francisco Lindor is sailing through the air for a make-or-break play.

When the video was restored everyone could see that Lindor had made the excellent play to preserve a tie game. Without it, the Mets probably stumble to their 73rd loss of the year.

One of the things that I don’t particularly love about the sports media is how these understandable technical blips are treated as big deals and a reason to roast those involved. Producing a ball game is extremely difficult and a million moving parts always allows the possibility that things may not go perfectly. But in this case it’s just a perfect storm in terms of timing.

A fun exercise is to interrogate your own sports-watching life for the moments you missed because the TV went briefly on the fritz. I can think of game-deciding field goals that cut out and grand slams that happened without my involvement.

Who says it’s not hard work to sit passively and watch a game? Something could always go wrong and everyone else may get to enjoy the climax while you’re looking at nothing. The struggle can be real.

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