UPDATE 3:04: Sorry I have come to find out that the text was illegible due to technical difficulties I hope you can now read it properly.
Original Post 12:02pm
I was once sent this by a friend I don’t recall if he knew the author personally but it encompasses all the passion for me that is being a Mets Fan so on this Good Friday I want to share it with you.
To Be a MetsFan
Tony Smolenski
I was born into this team, thanks to my grandfather, a hold over from the days of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and my Dad, a Mets fan from day one. I saw my first MLB game at Shea Stadium at the age of six, and also saw my first Mets loss the same day. Wally Backman was my first baseball idol. Mookie showed me miracles were possible. Jessie Orosco afforded me my first taste of Champaign.
I was devastated when Dwight Gooden was first suspended, and doubly so with Strawberry’s antics. I was furious when Dykstra was dealt away.
I wanted my own“Coneheadâ€. I, too, thought Kevin McReynolds was underrated, and was convinced that Gregg Jeffries was bound for the Hall of Fame.
Kirk Gibson brokemy heart.
Frank Viola disappointed me, and Vince Coleman confounded me.
I bought several Paul Wilson rookie cards. Cut class to see Rey Ordonez’s debut, and compared Todd Hundley to Yogi Berra.
I was at Mike Piazza’sfirst home game. I searched for months for a Rick Reed jersey, and thought that the only music for a closer to enter a game to was “Johnny Be Good.”
Bobby Valentine made me smile.
Bobby Jones made me think twice – wait Bobby M. Jones?
Bobby Bonilla made me wince.
I learned to spell ‘Edgardo’, loved it when the “Mojo†was on the rise and broke the lamp in my first apartment during a “grand slam single” celebration.
I’ve cheered Masato Yoshii, Nomo, Komyiama, Tsyoshi Shinjo and Kaz Matsui; rooted for Benny Agbayani, Tyler Yates and Sid Fernandez; second-guessed Bamburger, Green and even Davey Johnson.
I’ve listened to ‘Murph’, Gary Cohen, Gary Thorne, Ralph Kiner, Tim McCarver and – god help me – even Fran Healy.
I’ve been to Irish night and bat day. I own a Homerun Apple Clock, a Piazza pencil holder and a Keith Miller rookie card.
I’ve attended playoff games, tragic doubleheaders against the D-backs and exhibitions against the Orioles.
I’ve seen Juan Samuel flame out, Jeff Kent ask out, and too many players with a man on third and less than two outs pop out.
But through it all I am a Mets fan, win or lose.
Through Seaver for Zachary.
Bentiez facing Jordan.
Mackey Sasser’s double pump while trying to throw out a runner.
Ricky and Bobby playing cards.
Hair cuts in the clubhouse.
Bleach on reporters.
Matsui fielding grounders.
Kenny Rogers missing the strike zone.
No matter what, I am a Mets fan.
So let Kazmir have a great career. Let people all around me declare that the sky is falling, and that “the Mets will never win with Wilpon as the owner”.
Either way, I am a Mets fan.
Today may seem like a low point. The injuries may seem never ending, and the franchise’s future may look bleak at best. But, at 7:10 PM tonight, our New York Mets will be taking the field. And I’ll, of course, be watching.
37 comments
trs86
4/2/2010-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
Nice. Important to remember why we are all here.
Side note looks like we are getting a little love on MLBTR. Only one of the top worst signings of the off-season pertains to the Mets and it was for the least money on the list. Some of the names include guys that Omar was “wrong” for not signing like Marquis.
trs86
4/2/2010-12:38pm at 12:38 pm (UTC -4)
Also, someone explain to me how signing Placebo for that contract he got was not just as bad as the Castillo contract. The guy’s actually older than Castillo was at the time and in a market where Gritty McHudson gets one year for less money. Not to mention he’s changing positions. They have 2 contracts that could come back and bite them in the ass.
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/2/2010-1:20pm at 1:20 pm (UTC -4)
I guess we shall see how Placebo(LOL) pans out at 2B. But I still think Castillo’s contract isn’t as bad as everyone makes out to be.
trs86
4/2/2010-1:47pm at 1:47 pm (UTC -4)
I think I have coined this one
Phillies put Placebo at 3B.
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/2/2010-1:51pm at 1:51 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah I meant to say 3B.
trs86
4/2/2010-2:00pm at 2:00 pm (UTC -4)
I know you did. I still love the name Placebo though. Here comes your “not a real” 3B
metsfan4decades
4/2/2010-12:18pm at 12:18 pm (UTC -4)
Amen. Let the season begin.
Reading the Pelfrey interview Marty Noble has on mets.com
MLB.com: It seems you’re taking a more sophisticated approach. Is that accurate?
Pelfrey: I think everyone would laugh if I said sophisticated. I’m just try to be smarter about it. We talk a lot among ourselves, and [pitching coach Dan Warthen] helps me so much, so now I have a better understanding of how to use the stuff I have. And the stuff is better than it was last year. I expect to be better, to have the kind of year a No. 2 starter should have. Last year, I fell way short of what I expected of myself.
But this year, I’m more prepared than ever before. The ball is jumping out of my hand. I feel like I will pitch like I did in the middle part of 2008. Just put he ball where I want to for seven innings and not even think about it. I pounded that sinker then.
*************************
Sounds like Pelf has a plan and the confidence to go along with it.
trs86
4/2/2010-12:21pm at 12:21 pm (UTC -4)
Right now they are jumping off his hands and the bats. However, I really think Pelfrey has been a victim of two things. Wind and tinkering. I honestly think he will rebound to an ERA in the low 4′s and 200+ innings.
gipperpdx
4/2/2010-12:32pm at 12:32 pm (UTC -4)
Great post. We really are all masochists at heart, aren’t we?
rustyjr
4/2/2010-12:50pm at 12:50 pm (UTC -4)
Truer words have never been spoken and lest we forget tge mets mantra
hope for the best – expect the worst
metsfan4decades
4/2/2010-1:13pm at 1:13 pm (UTC -4)
Would someone please tell me why the Mets flagship station – WFAN, has two contests going today:
1. Win a pair of tickets to the Mets home opener
2. Win a pair of tickets to the Yankees home opener – FRONT ROW tickets.
They go on to apologize that they don’t have front row tickets for the Met winners, just Yankee winners.
What is that all about?
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/2/2010-1:24pm at 1:24 pm (UTC -4)
could it be that there aren’t any front row seats available?
And also “Front Row” is misleading. Front row could be the front row of 1B field level (or Metropolitan club or something like that) OR front row of Promenade level.
metsfan4decades
4/2/2010-1:34pm at 1:34 pm (UTC -4)
I never thought of that – none being available.
Maybe the ones at Yankee stadium are that much more expensive and haven’t sold?
Although I did hear that the Mets have not sold out opening day across the board, which is pretty sad….
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/2/2010-1:42pm at 1:42 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah you can still get those from Mets.com site.
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/2/2010-1:50pm at 1:50 pm (UTC -4)
One interesting thought. I know the season hasn’t even started and we won’t know what the MOP are capable of probably till May. BUT seeing what we’ve seen from this ST, do you think the Mets should have signed Pineiro 2/16-2/18 (he signed with the Angels for 2/16)?
My answer is still no, but it’s getting really close to saying yes…
trs86
4/2/2010-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
Nope.
DNDJohan aka kistics
4/2/2010-2:05pm at 2:05 pm (UTC -4)
How about Sheets for $10M or Penny for $7.5M(Crazy!@!)
steveo
4/2/2010-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
Just returned from 20 days of florida spring training the met pitching I saw wasn’t inspiirng but Ill tell you this even up until tuesday the starters were tinkering I got to sit up close in 3 of the games I was at and heard Warthen calling pitches and marking both velocity and location on charts. One game which was against the cards duncan made the trip and was doing similar charting the only differance was the cardinal pitchers seemed to have more success.I know I am the ultimate pessimist but I’m not buying into the pitching mess yet,except for Ollie he just seemed like he can’t repeat when he is successful.
trs86
4/2/2010-2:22pm at 2:22 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks Steveo. I am sure a lot of this is trying to adjust to a different philosophy of learning what pitches you can though for strikes.
metsfan4decades
4/2/2010-2:36pm at 2:36 pm (UTC -4)
Interesting….thanks for sharing.
I know Pelfrey has been saying he’s tinkering. I think Maine would have looked pretty good for all innings yesterday if he wasn’t sick.
Ollie..well, he’s Ollie. I don’t think we’re ever going to see a consistent Ollie.
metsgirl31
4/2/2010-3:09pm at 3:09 pm (UTC -4)
So glad I can finally read this…been trying all afternoon. Thanks for posting this! No matter what, it is great to be a Met fan.
ceetar
4/2/2010-3:10pm at 3:10 pm (UTC -4)
Yup, can read it now. yah!
Mr North Jersey
4/2/2010-3:12pm at 3:12 pm (UTC -4)
My apologies I had no idea until recently people were having difficulties except for NJstuckintexas which I though was an isolated incident. I am glad you can finally read it.
metsgirl31
4/2/2010-3:15pm at 3:15 pm (UTC -4)
njstuckintx
4/2/2010-3:17pm at 3:17 pm (UTC -4)
I do feel isolated down here some times… especially having to listen to college football nonsense non stop!
njstuckintx
4/2/2010-3:18pm at 3:18 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, and props to you for helping an isolated one out. that 10 minute window was all i needed!
Mr North Jersey
4/2/2010-3:19pm at 3:19 pm (UTC -4)
njstuckintx
4/2/2010-3:26pm at 3:26 pm (UTC -4)
I will say while all the little bits a pieces of what we’ve experienced over the years are never going to get crammed into something less than 1000 words, but no mention of Chipper or Pendleton or Rockin’ ATL Pitching Coaches? ATL is still my favorite team to see the Mets beat. They could be 1-160 and the Mets crush them on the last day of the season to make them 1-161 and it still feels like they slayed the Yanks. Like warm cocoa on a chilly day (or a big swig o’ makers mark), makes me feel all warm inside!
Mr North Jersey
4/2/2010-3:29pm at 3:29 pm (UTC -4)
Your right, no Chipper. I never really though about that till now.
Mr North Jersey
4/2/2010-3:36pm at 3:36 pm (UTC -4)
You know for the life of me I can’t remember who Komyiama is?
ceetar
4/2/2010-3:38pm at 3:38 pm (UTC -4)
wasn’t he the first Mets japanese player?
njstuckintx
4/2/2010-3:40pm at 3:40 pm (UTC -4)
Satoru Komiyama (å°å®®å±± æ‚Ÿ, Komiyama Satoru?), born September 15, 1965, is a professional baseball player from Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan. He currently plays with the Chiba Lotte Marines, and played in the major leagues with the New York Mets in 2002.
25 Games
0 Wins
3 Losses
33 Strikeouts
5.61 ERA
Not quite sure why you cheered for this guy at all.
And I remember him not as well.
Mr North Jersey
4/2/2010-3:43pm at 3:43 pm (UTC -4)
2002 isn’t that long ago either.
Mr North Jersey
4/2/2010-3:39pm at 3:39 pm (UTC -4)
I really have no clue.
ceetar
4/2/2010-4:12pm at 4:12 pm (UTC -4)
hmm, Reyes not officially _on_ the DL yet.
metsfan4decades
4/2/2010-4:57pm at 4:57 pm (UTC -4)
Really? Isn’t that interesting…
ESPN is reporting he’ll start the season on the DL.
Same place I just read where he homered his first at bat today. Gee, did they let him run from home plate around, back to home plate? LOL.
njstuckintx
4/2/2010-5:06pm at 5:06 pm (UTC -4)
Trotting is acceptable. No running.