Rich Coutinho over at ESPN said the following:
Mets Showing Heart Amid All Of The Injuries
May 27, 2009, 7:13 AM
Flushing, New York– It is so often the case in sports that you really do not learn anything about yourself when things are rolling but when adversity hits, you get a real good glimpse of how sturdy you really are. These days, the Mets have taken plenty of hits with the team’s medical staff working overtime but the Amazins have stood tall and that is a very good sign for Met fans.
No team in baseball has had more injuries than the Mets but yet they stand at a very respectable 25-20 and sit a mere 1/2 game behind the first place Phils. They have done this with a laundry list of players on the disabled list including Oliver Perez, Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes, Ryan Church, and Alex Cora. In all fairness, they have at times looked shoddy and weak defensively but there is a bounce back in this Met team that I did not see in the past two seasons and that has been great to witness.
It is hard to think where the Mets would be if Livan Hernandez and Gary Sheffield were not picked up off the scrap heap. Shef has provided a deadly righthanded power bat and all Livan has done is win 4 of 5 decisions. But there is also an inner toughness that is hard to describe that I see in this team. It is the “It Factor” that winning teams possess and the Mets have it.
The question remains can the Mets hold down the fort until the injured players return? That remains to be seen but I am certain that the 2009 Met cast of characters is very equipped to handle any adversity that comes along in a way they were not able to do a year ago. And that could make for a dramatic and fun summer in Queens.
Finally are others starting to take notice? This team is missing a lot of pieces right now but heart is NOT one of them. This team has had it’s heart ripped out for really 3 straight years and continues to come back for more. In fact they are a lot like us. As Mets fans we have been through a lot in the last 3+ years and so have the players. Every morning they both read about how the Mets are weak, heartless, and have no grit. Every after noon the talk shows go right back into the trade the core and how un-clutch their players are. Yet every year they keep coming back for more. Yet what the drive-bys do not see is how much heart and fight this team and fan-base DOES have. Last year this team came back from what seemed insurmountable injuries and a huge hole that was dug under Mr. Randolph. So much heart, drive and compassion that even with injuries and a AAA bullpen they took the lead in the division away from the future World Champion Phillies.  Yet all that is remembered is how all of that fight took it’s toll and how the Mets could not hold on to that lead. Thus again they became known not for their fight but for their flight.
What will this season’s story be? Will it be a story of heart, strength, redemption and TRUE GRIT or will it be another story weak, gutless, heartless, lackadaisical chokers?
40 comments
kingman26
5/27/2009-8:43am at 8:43 am (UTC -4)
TRS, thanks for this fantastic post!
I must say, since I have been liberated from the parade of childish negativity on the other site, and as I rarely listen to WFAN, I am not hearing nearly as much of the nonsense as usual. But you put it SO well in your response above.
This team is full of heart, and not to mention Beltran, who has been playing like an MVP even with his injury.
We have so much grit and heart that Omar could probably just trade some of it for a good starter or first baseman.
trs86
5/27/2009-8:47am at 8:47 am (UTC -4)
Thanks Kingman, it’s nice to be able to come here, write this post and not have 50 comments on how I was as a kool aid drinker and then another 50 post develop of us going back and forth trying to defend our team.
kingman26
5/27/2009-9:06am at 9:06 am (UTC -4)
TRS, you are so right. As I said, when I went to the other place when the comments were on for about an hour, and saw the same childish nonsense about how Omar is an idiot for not having 12 major-league shortstops ready to go in case of injury, I laughed, and realized even more how great this new site is, and what a pleasure it is to be in a community of reasonable and true fans. Not to mention the more insightful posts by you guys, the better graphics, etc.
And I did try to contact Rusty through MySpace, so hopefully we will see him here too.
dirtysanchez
5/27/2009-8:55am at 8:55 am (UTC -4)
great post real. I was thinking of writing something like this. We should all be so very proud of this team. Nobody has more injuries than us and we still find a way to win. Granted our wins have come via the giants and nats but part of being a great team comes from beating the teams your supposed to beat. Oh i forgot we took 2-3 from boston and thats no push over team…It is simply amazin what these guys have done and i hope we hear the end of this whole heart/grit/edge debate..cause these guys are full of it. Im so proud of these guys for real…Just think of it this way
reyes=rollins
beltran=ibanez
delgado=howard
church=werth
ollie=blanton
schnider=ruiz
imagine if the phillies lost all those people….do you think they could make it…do you think they would still be “the fighting phills” if all their fighters are on the DL?
Guys we have 49.95 milion dollars on the DL(and 18.5(beltran) that is day to day)..that means currently…the phills have a higher payroll than us
Phillies- $113,004,046
Mets- $ 99,423,987
and we are only .5 games back
LGM!
trs86
5/27/2009-8:58am at 8:58 am (UTC -4)
I don’t care about the payroll but when you put it in terms of players it is amazing to see. Not to mention that you still have 10 million sitting on the DL in Wagner who would you even compare that to on the Philles? Romero?
There's Always '10
5/27/2009-9:00am at 9:00 am (UTC -4)
Also, is the $1MM per season over the next 20 years for Bobby Bo figured into your calculation?
trs86
5/27/2009-9:01am at 9:01 am (UTC -4)
I don’t know about Bobby Bo but we are still paying Show and Willie.
dirtysanchez
5/27/2009-9:02am at 9:02 am (UTC -4)
ah right i didnt caluclate that in.
There's Always '10
5/27/2009-9:05am at 9:05 am (UTC -4)
Sorry, I was off. As per ESPN.com:
Bobby Bonilla, New York Mets
The Mets are still paying for the mistake of signing Bobby Bonilla in 1992 … and they will be for a long time. Bonilla struck a deal with the team in 2000 in which it purchased an annuity rather than pay him the remaining $5.9 million of deferred money that he was owed. So every July 1 from 2011 to 2035, Bonilla will receive $1.19 million, with the total payments adding up to nearly $30 million.
dirtysanchez
5/27/2009-9:09am at 9:09 am (UTC -4)
sweet deal for bobby bo lol
There's Always '10
5/27/2009-9:10am at 9:10 am (UTC -4)
Kidding me? I wish I could go upto my employer and without saying a word, they asked me: “How would you like to make your salary for the next 25 yrs – and do nothing to earn it?”
trs86
5/27/2009-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
# 2009 payroll obligations for former players:
* $1,600,000 (Scott Schoeneweis)
* $1,150,000 (Marlon Anderson)
* $ 276,639 (Duaner Sanchez)
There's Always '10
5/27/2009-9:21am at 9:21 am (UTC -4)
Wow. Duaner was on his way to a big payday before he got into that cab, huh?
dirtysanchez
5/27/2009-9:03am at 9:03 am (UTC -4)
i dont care about the payroll either but alot of people do and make it seem like we are supposed to win because we are #2 in payroll. So for all of those we are currently like 8th in payroll right now will all the money on the DL.
There's Always '10
5/27/2009-8:59am at 8:59 am (UTC -4)
The reality is, the Phillies payroll is right there with us, even when we have a full squad. It’s $140-something million to $130-something million. I don’t think payroll is a factor between these two teams. It’s good for the rivalry though. Excited to see these two teams battle it out for free agents and playoff positioning now and in the future.
There's Always '10
5/27/2009-9:02am at 9:02 am (UTC -4)
It’s a good thing the comments section on the other site is turned off. It’ll give all those people who were calling for Sheff to be cut after 20 at bats to change their tune. Those are the same people that were calling for Delgado to be released after 200 at bats last year.
As a side note. Went to Fenway this past weekend. Saw the Saturday night game from the right field bleachers. Ball was clearly a home run from my vantage point. Glad they got it right. It was seriously 40% Mets fans.
CaseStreet
5/27/2009-9:15am at 9:15 am (UTC -4)
I think that’s incredible. Didn’t think there would be so many Mets fans. Hopefully, we’ll all be able to go to Fenway to see the Mets beat the Red Sox in the World Series.
joer
5/27/2009-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
It’s great Sheff is working out but many intelligent Met fans thought Sheff was a bad mood. At the time chemistry was a concern and most thought his bat had left. Early on it looked like Church was the number 1 guy negatively impacted. Has he been a great sign by Omar?? Yes, of course. He’s playing great and way above expectations. But there is nothing wrong with the fans who didnt want him anywhere near this team and nothing wrong with the ppl who welcomed him aboard. It was probably 50/50 and it was a smaert gamble by Omar. It was an interesting debate. Delgado wasnt in a little slump. A 36 year old who was almost in a year and a half slump and most EVERYONE thought his time was up. He wasnt cathing up to fastballs that were 88 mph usually a sign.q He proved us wrong but again nothing wrong with fans who wanted him gone. Also the fans that didnt want him back this year arent wrong either they may actually be proven correct. If he doesnt come back strong, which is alot to expect from him after surgery at his age, the year was a waste from him. Anyway Go Sheffield!! Go Delgado in a couple of months!! Lets Go Mets!
There's Always '10
5/27/2009-9:52am at 9:52 am (UTC -4)
I see your point about Sheff and Delgado. But with Sheff, people were saying after 20 at bats that he needed to go. 1/2 of those at bats were pinch hitting, nonetheless.
Delgado on the other hand was a year and a half slump. Most Mets fans had it in for Delgado before he even started slumping though. They didn’t like being shunned by him to go to Florida, then the smack he talked when he got down there. People also need to realize that just because someone is in the starting lineup, doesn’t mean their bat speed isn’t impacted by wrist surgery one offseason followed by a broken hand on the last day of the next season. I think that had as much to do with Delgado’s problems as anything.
When he comes back from this hip surgery and goes 0 for his first 10, watch Mets fans call for him to be benched. I’m surprised they aren’t already calling for F-Mart to go back to AAA.
joer
5/27/2009-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
Haha very true. I agree sometimes I want to fight Met Fans but then I take a deep breath and realize not all of them watch or even know what is going on game to game. A great example is when they BOOED Parnell the other night. It made we sick to my stomach!! A guy who has been an unbelievable surprise and has played GREAT for us! Ugh its horrible. But I take a breath and realize these idiots just see a guy giving up runs and walks late in the game from the bullpen and think about the last 2 years not realizing what Parnell has meant to us this year!
trs86
5/27/2009-9:03am at 9:03 am (UTC -4)
Guys, I think I have already said this but I am loving this Mets Sportsypder. I get more information and much quicker than I ever did on the ole blog. Not to mention that I get to read a variety of opinions instead of Cerrone’s knee jerk comment seeking reactions.
dirtysanchez
5/27/2009-9:04am at 9:04 am (UTC -4)
lol yea that is awsome…are we on it real?
There's Always '10
5/27/2009-9:09am at 9:09 am (UTC -4)
My favorite part about this site is seeing where the most recent comments are going to. For example, on the old site, you could be on a thread that was dying. On this one, you can always see if people have left you and moved onto a new post. You can run, but you can’t hite.
dirtysanchez
5/27/2009-9:10am at 9:10 am (UTC -4)
TOTALLY AGREE! i cant tell you how many times i have used that to see where the traffic is going…
There's Always '10
5/27/2009-9:11am at 9:11 am (UTC -4)
Funny how New Yorkers can’t ever avoid traffic. Using this tool, we can! Who needs GPS with realtime weather and traffic? Who needs 1010?
CaseStreet
5/27/2009-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
I wonder if there’s a way to expand the recent comments to 10. Five can go quickly with two people replying to each other.
There's Always '10
5/27/2009-9:20am at 9:20 am (UTC -4)
Two people aren’t supposed to reply to each other. This is a blog, not a forum! Dammit people.
trs86
5/27/2009-9:24am at 9:24 am (UTC -4)
But in any CASE, nice pun huh?, they are now set to 10.
CaseStreet
5/27/2009-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
whoa, I’m not used to this kind of quick response. A girl can get used to this kind of attention.
metsfan4decades
5/27/2009-9:30am at 9:30 am (UTC -4)
LOL.
metsfan4decades
5/27/2009-9:13am at 9:13 am (UTC -4)
Love this post. I was getting so tired of the continuing no heart, not grit, too soft ridiculous posts. This team might not be overly vocal, pom-pom waving type players but they’re proving they’ve got what it takes – with their pitching and with their bats.
If the pitching stays healthy this should be a very fun summer – for several reasons. Not to mention one of which is I don’t have to weed through 100 posts daily of ‘Fire Jerry’, ‘Fire Omar’, ‘Fire the team’ ridiculous type comments.
There's Always '10
5/27/2009-9:14am at 9:14 am (UTC -4)
Couldn’t agree more. Then, when they do a little pom-pom waving, they get criticized for it. Best thing they ever did was take the NY Post out of the clubhouse.
CaseStreet
5/27/2009-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
+1
joer
5/27/2009-9:35am at 9:35 am (UTC -4)
How about the fan that caught Sheffield’s HR!!!
He looked like he found the Holy Grail!! Unbelievable it was great. I usually rewind my DVR to watch the homerun again but this time it was to see the fan praying to God like he was just cured of cancer!
joer
5/27/2009-9:43am at 9:43 am (UTC -4)
I hate to be a party pooper and that girl from SNL Debbie Downer, I think she’s called, but yes we had a nice 5 and 5 roadtrip. In SF Beltran and Wright were on Mars. We got swept in LA and thanks to a miracle from Omir we won 2 of 3. Could have easily lost 2 of 3. I know we didnt and the “W” is all that counts but lets take a deep breath. Lets see how this next 2 weeks go. Yes so far we took 2 of 3 from the Nats and we are playing lesser competition i.e, Nats again, Fla, Pirates but we have a ton of issues. We can easily start looking bad again and we can even lose these series. We are still putting sub par players out in the field. Not being negative but lets see what happens and stay level. I’m hoping for .500 ball until we get semi-healthy. I really think that is realistic.
trs86
5/27/2009-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
Wins and loses aside, I am saying the junk about heart and grit need to be put to rest.
mrose
5/27/2009-9:49am at 9:49 am (UTC -4)
agreed 100%, i’m sick of grit and heart
joer
5/27/2009-10:03am at 10:03 am (UTC -4)
Agree!! Whether its positive for us because we win a few games or negative for us like if we make a few errors one game. We have players who can get it done! No more heart and grit talk unless Beltran runs through the centerfield wall and gets up with wood in his head!
There's Always '10
5/27/2009-9:48am at 9:48 am (UTC -4)
16-8 so far, in a month that many of us would have signed up for .500.
joer
5/27/2009-10:04am at 10:04 am (UTC -4)
Agreed.