"Dear Omar, sorry to disturb you but..."
“A year has passed since I wrote my note
But I should have known this right from the start
Only hope can keep me together
Love can mend your life but
Love can break your heart”
- Sting
OK first of all I didn’t write this a year ago, I’m writing it right now. But the rest applies pretty well. As a Met fan, I should’ve known right from the start that, no matter the level of planning, whether Omar Minaya brought back Oliver Perez or brought in Derek Lowe, whether left field was intended for Daniel Murphy or Manny Ramirez, that it would not work out. One can only hope that the team will keep it together. Love of this team could mend my life but much more likely will break my heart. That’s what it’s like being a Met fan. Comedy and Tragedy.
"I'll have the comedy please"
A much greater poet from the British Isles than even Sting (hard to believe I know) put it well over a century before Sting was even born.
“The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men,
Gang aft agley”
‘To A Mouse’ – Robert Burns
I’m told this means essentially that no matter how well you plan ahead things often don’t work out regardless. So that’s hopeful.
Injuries pile on top of bad baserunning on top of poor fielding on top of bizarre managerial decisions on top of failure to execute basic fundamentals in every aspect of the game. Even when fully healthy this team, while good, was not good enough to play half-assed. It certainly can’t afford to do that now.
Pile On
Something isn’t working. Yes, there are 103 games to go. But with each passing game it feels less likely that this current group can compete. Here are some alphabetical cliches the Mets need to hear right now.
- All hands on deck
- Backs against the wall
- Call someone on the carpet
- Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining
- Early bird catches the worm
- Few fries short of a Happy Meal
Omar, I believe that both your’s and Jerry Manuel’s jobs are on the line if this team doesn’t make the post season. You have 103 games left. Don’t blow them. Do what it takes. Do something. And one more letter in my alphabetical cliche list: Git ‘r done.
"Help me Omar Wan Kenobi, you are my only hope"
62 comments
mrose
6/13/2009-1:19pm at 1:19 pm (UTC -4)
lineup for today from hubbach
Luis Castillo 2B
Alex Cora SS
Carlos Beltran CF
David Wright 3B
Gary Sheffield DH
Fernando Tatis 1B
Ryan Church RF
Omir Santos C
Fernando Martinez LF
prismo
6/13/2009-1:24pm at 1:24 pm (UTC -4)
Now I need the Cyanide.
I’m officially on board – FIRE JERRY!
HOW DARE he start Castillo after last night. HOW DARE HE.
dirtysanchez
6/13/2009-1:25pm at 1:25 pm (UTC -4)
so it doesnt linger in his head on the bench. This is not surprising
prismo
6/13/2009-1:27pm at 1:27 pm (UTC -4)
I want it to linger. I want accountability.
dirtysanchez
6/13/2009-1:33pm at 1:33 pm (UTC -4)
i completely agree but since castillo has played most of our games at 2b, we cannot afford to let it linger. He took accountability yesterday by talking to the media after that play….he didnt have to but he did. Im fine with that. I better see THE WHOLE team play EVERYTHING with two hands!!! Take nothing for granted!
darknova306
6/13/2009-1:26pm at 1:26 pm (UTC -4)
Welcome aboard, Prismo; the bar’s to your left. Make yourself at home.
dirtysanchez
6/13/2009-1:31pm at 1:31 pm (UTC -4)
lol Happy Hour starts at 4 ;p
rustyjr
6/13/2009-2:25pm at 2:25 pm (UTC -4)
Any bean dip?
mrose
6/13/2009-1:26pm at 1:26 pm (UTC -4)
i don’t see how he has a choice…
you are playing a team with tons of fire power…. your choices are to start a career minor leaguer or a guy who at least knows how to hit and had some good at bats last night, maybe if Reyes and delgado weren’t out too, cause then he would easily put Cora at 2nd…but he has to play him at SS. Jerry is between a rock and a hard place here
prismo
6/13/2009-1:28pm at 1:28 pm (UTC -4)
It’s a matter of principle to me though. Right now, setting a precedent that if you screw you you’ll be held accountable is more important than one game. Just my opinion.
dirtysanchez
6/13/2009-1:30pm at 1:30 pm (UTC -4)
jerry has no principles….
GravediggerHebner
6/13/2009-1:35pm at 1:35 pm (UTC -4)
I think Gandhi or Dr. King would’ve played Luis today too.
Joe R
6/13/2009-1:38pm at 1:38 pm (UTC -4)
it was a physical error not a mental mistake. he needs to be out there today. Listen you guys no I hate Castillo. I rant on him afetr he goes 4 for 4. i have said over and over that if omar really wanted to change the chemistry he had a great chance to man up admit he made a mistake and eat Castillo’s contract. Bad bad move for the message that would have sent would have been priceless. I cant excuse that move and the Dunn move for that was a no lose sighning. Dunn in the outfield and if our old 1B happened to go down. He did lol. Baseball is so nuts though that if we are down 8 to 6 in the 8th and Luis hits a base clearing triple to win the game he is instatntly forgiven. That prob wont happen because we are the mets and Im afraid that might be the play we hear Gary Cohen talking about in September as the play that started the downward spiral out of contention but hey u never know!
prismo
6/13/2009-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
I disagree, I think it was totally a mental mistake. He pretty much said it himself! Castillo thought it was an “easy catch” so he only used one hand. That’s a bonehead error. You *always* use two hands.
Joe R
6/13/2009-1:48pm at 1:48 pm (UTC -4)
he never said that. 2 hands i agree but i was waiting for m anuel to say that when asked what he will tell castillo and he didnt. a joke. guys i really think the 2 hands idea is gone in baseball. jose will continue to swing his glove to his hip after a catch, beltran will catch the ball on his side etc etc it sucks but i think that is the game today end of story…damn shame
mrose
6/13/2009-1:39pm at 1:39 pm (UTC -4)
yea and trust me, if we were anywhere near full health or playing a worse team, i’m with you..but having castillo in gives us a better chance to win, and right now, we need wins!
gipperpdx
6/13/2009-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
WHY? So we finish 6 out instead of 7? Screw wins – worry about those in 2010 – send the message.
mrose
6/13/2009-3:12pm at 3:12 pm (UTC -4)
alright then, see, I like to keep some hope… sending a message to a guy who i’m sure realizes what he did is not worth throwing away another game
stickguy
6/13/2009-1:28pm at 1:28 pm (UTC -4)
Castillo should be benched by normal standards, but with as much of a mess as this season has ben (inclduing Jerry), pretty much all bets are off now. It’s every man for himself!
That, and since they are playing on the road, Luis will probably get cheered. Not sure he could have gotten away with this if they were playing at Citi.
dirtysanchez
6/13/2009-1:29pm at 1:29 pm (UTC -4)
Thats how they play stick…”every man for themselves”.
dirtysanchez
6/13/2009-1:29pm at 1:29 pm (UTC -4)
Always dependable for a laugh and creativity Mr. Grave lol
Their jobs better be on the line after this season. Granted nobody could predict the problems we face this season but in better hands i believe we could stay afloat. Jerry has got to stop experimenting and play to win games. Why that kid was put in that position with matsui is beyond me. Men on base with Matsui…one HR ties the game and lets face it, your playing in YS. Why not pedro in that spot to preserve the 2 run lead we had at the time? Let the kid have his shot in a lower pressured situation. I love this team and thats the only reason why these losses bother me but i believe we are capable of .500 ball until the ASB. I believe until a certian point….they have to show what they got today…
stickguy
6/13/2009-1:31pm at 1:31 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, if this team misses the post season, almost a sure bet Jerry is gone. Not Omar though (4 year deal anyone?).
Only exception might be if he gets it turned around, and the team rises from the ashes playing smart, hustling, fundemental ball, every day. And he shows some actual strateigic abilities.
OK, make that a 100% chance!
dirtysanchez
6/13/2009-1:33pm at 1:33 pm (UTC -4)
lmaooo
smooth
6/13/2009-1:32pm at 1:32 pm (UTC -4)
Its fair to say Castillo just became the new heilman, fans will never forgive him for last night. I know i never will and i will be sure to BOO him for every at bat in any games i attend at citi this season. The sad part for him is, hes not the type of player that can put up offensive numbers for you to forget about the error. His error last night was more than just an error, that play singlehandedly did damage to the entire team, and fanbase as a whole. Oh yea he also cost krod a save and now he’s unfairly been credited with not only a loss but a blown save. How that is fair i dont get
dirtysanchez
6/13/2009-1:34pm at 1:34 pm (UTC -4)
baseball is the game of life…life isnt fair, baseball isnt fair.
Joe R
6/13/2009-1:44pm at 1:44 pm (UTC -4)
if we are down 8 to 6 today and luis comes up with the bases loaded and hits a base clearing triple to win the game he is instantly forgiven and we are talking about the heart and grit luis has after such a devasting error!! thats baseball.
update: we are the mets and that prob wont happen instead he will prob strikeout with the bases loaded lol…u never know though…stay tuned.
darknova306
6/13/2009-1:49pm at 1:49 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t believe in booing. It obviously got in his head last year, and we NEED him to play well this year. Don’t make things worse for us by booing him mercilessly. You know what, nevermind. The season’s done, so boo away. I need a drink.
Kingman 26
6/13/2009-1:54pm at 1:54 pm (UTC -4)
Deep breaths—Castillo playing gives us a better chance to win than benching him does.
That was maybe the worst regular season loss in Met history, but part of why it is so bad is that we have seen several dropped popups, consistently shoddy fielding, an inexplicable number of baserunning errors, and many questionable pitching change and bunting decisions by Jerry.
Let’s not act as though Castillo’s play—absolutely horrifying and revolting as it was—is the only reason we are where we are.
It is just ANOTHER symtpon of the overall lack of concentration, lack of fundamentals, and lack of 1st class management of this team.
Mr North Jersey
6/13/2009-1:54pm at 1:54 pm (UTC -4)
5 Stages Of Being A Mets Fan. –> http://www.nleastchatter.com/forum/download/file.php?id=58
prismo
6/13/2009-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
*sigh*
smooth
6/13/2009-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
that actually made laugh, thats all you can do is just laugh, because this team is a joke.
prismo
6/13/2009-2:02pm at 2:02 pm (UTC -4)
By the way, I realize I may not be thinking rationally today (which is usually my trademark). Can you blame me though?
Maybe I’ll calm down with a nice win today…
darknova306
6/13/2009-2:15pm at 2:15 pm (UTC -4)
Rationally, last night highlighted exactly what one of this team’s biggest problem has been all year: the defense. 2009 defense is 2008′s bullpen.
mrose
6/13/2009-2:04pm at 2:04 pm (UTC -4)
http://www.nleastchatter.com/forum/download/file.php?id=58
smooth
6/13/2009-2:08pm at 2:08 pm (UTC -4)
Now we have Bruney ripping on Krod
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/2009/06/bruney-rips-k-rod.html
Mr North Jersey
6/13/2009-2:22pm at 2:22 pm (UTC -4)
Asked if there was anything personal between the two, Bruney added: “No. I just don’t like watching the guy pitch. I think it’s embarrassing.”
He is entitled to his opinion but I hope someone follows this up by asking if he is also embarrassed to watch Joba pitch? I want to see him dance a jig round that one.
Kingman 26
6/13/2009-2:28pm at 2:28 pm (UTC -4)
That comment was so idiotic it was almost painful to read….and your point about Joba’s behavior—wihich is backed up by his 9 career wins and memorable postseason meltdown—most eloquently points this out.
metsfan4decades
6/13/2009-2:44pm at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
Yet another player with a big mouth. Classless.
darknova306
6/13/2009-2:47pm at 2:47 pm (UTC -4)
He sounds like a perfect fit for the Phillies. :p
metsfan4decades
6/13/2009-2:49pm at 2:49 pm (UTC -4)
Ha – I was thinking that very same thing….
charlies
6/13/2009-2:22pm at 2:22 pm (UTC -4)
Grave, fantastic post!
My buddy and I were on the phone for the last play last night. He’s as diehard as the rest of us (if not more). We celebrated…until the drop and then yelled in disgust senselessly for a few minutes and then hung up. I haven’t been able to reach him today. I’m concerned. We care that much. Game 59 could put us over the edge. I couldn’t go to bed last night after the game. I had to put on COD4 and start shooting people. It didn’t help. I did eventually go to bed, but couldn’t fall asleep. I’m a mess now.
This is what it means to be a true Met fan.
metsfan4decades
6/13/2009-2:50pm at 2:50 pm (UTC -4)
I often said over the years that you’ve gotta love pain to be a Met fan. They’ll rip your heart out as often as not. ’88 always comes to mind…
gipperpdx
6/13/2009-3:47pm at 3:47 pm (UTC -4)
How can 88 NOT come to mind when our own Stadium is a shrine to the effing Dodgers???
rustyjr
6/13/2009-2:28pm at 2:28 pm (UTC -4)
Grave – don’t forget another hood cliché – the road to he’ll is paved with good intentions
Kingman 26
6/13/2009-2:29pm at 2:29 pm (UTC -4)
Hey buddy, have fun in New Orleans!
As if you wouldn’t!
rustyjr
6/13/2009-3:03pm at 3:03 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks man if we lose today I’ll drink myself into oblivion LOL hey kong gavent seen yer comments on my column – waddaya think?
Kingman 26
6/13/2009-3:24pm at 3:24 pm (UTC -4)
Hey Rusty, just checked it out and left a comment…sorry for being less verbose lately, have been annoyingly busy day and night. Of course, LAST night I had to have been able to stay in and watch the damn game!
Be watching for my weekly opinion tomorrow….
rustyjr
6/13/2009-3:40pm at 3:40 pm (UTC -4)
tell me about it – tomorrows column will come at 3 am since I have a 7 am flight
metsfan4decades
6/13/2009-2:47pm at 2:47 pm (UTC -4)
That’s what I love about this site as compared to the ‘old’….Even when it is all doom and gloom our posters, while being perfectly honest, give you something to chuckle over. Great graphics, Grave.
When does Happy Hour start? I’m still not over that loss yesterday. I don’t know how, as a player, you put that behind you but that’s exactly what they need to do today.
And as much as it pains me to say it, we need Castillo at 2nd to win this thing (unless we’re trading for someone better, which ain’t happening this year) so benching him or booing him over that bonehead non catch serves no purpose.
darknova306
6/13/2009-2:49pm at 2:49 pm (UTC -4)
What we really need is for all of our guys to start playing good fundamental baseball. There’s no excuse for a season of horrid defense. This has gone on far too long at this point.
metsfan4decades
6/13/2009-3:01pm at 3:01 pm (UTC -4)
Exactly. How hard is that????
Something is going on with this team that we’re just not aware of. You don’t have a normally good defensive team playing all this year with these errors and mental mistakes. That’s not a sign of a good, confident, cohesive set of players. Something, somewhere is not right.
darknova306
6/13/2009-3:11pm at 3:11 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, I’ve been at a complete loss on that all year. I can understand the gaffs by Murphy in LF. But all the rest are ridiculous and inexcusable. WTF is going on with these guys? And it was happening just as much, if not more, when we were completely healthy, so injuries aren’t the issue.
Kingman 26
6/13/2009-3:00pm at 3:00 pm (UTC -4)
Happy hour started about 2 seconds after that ball hit thr ground last night!
metsfan4decades
6/13/2009-3:03pm at 3:03 pm (UTC -4)
Ha! Yeah but when you go to sleep for a few hours it all wears off. Gotta start new today. I think I’ll need to be in a ‘mind altering’ state before this game starts, instead of after like last night – LOL.
darknova306
6/13/2009-3:09pm at 3:09 pm (UTC -4)
Good idea. “Pour me two shots of your best whiskey, and keep them coming”.
Kingman 26
6/13/2009-3:20pm at 3:20 pm (UTC -4)
Dark, that is EXACTLY what I told myself after that truly horrifying play last night….and I listened….
Mr North Jersey
6/13/2009-2:50pm at 2:50 pm (UTC -4)
Here is an interesting stat for you this afternoon courtesy of http://sports.yahoo.com
Fernando Tatis and Daniel Murphy at 1st Base so far this year are hitting a combined:
AVG/.225
AB/120
H/27
BB/12
RBI/15
R/11
HR/3
2B/5
3B/0
SB/1
I think we are OK at 1st don’t you?
tkfj
6/13/2009-2:55pm at 2:55 pm (UTC -4)
I went to bed at 2:30, late last night, early this morning. Woke up at noon, and I feel wonderful because there is abaolutely no possible way we could lose in any worse fashion. There is nowhere but up, I will be absolutely thrilled if we lose in a normal baseball manner today, it will be a welcomed change.
mrose
6/13/2009-3:23pm at 3:23 pm (UTC -4)
wow TKFJ, that was somewhat optimistic and i agree
lol
rustyjr
6/13/2009-3:05pm at 3:05 pm (UTC -4)
Can we see if mo vaughn will come out of retirement?!? – he might pull a Sheffield LOL
Kingman 26
6/13/2009-3:25pm at 3:25 pm (UTC -4)
He might pull TWO Sheffields with the shape he is likely in….
rustyjr
6/13/2009-3:42pm at 3:42 pm (UTC -4)
He looked at vary and said mmmmm chef salad