10 Days ago I wrote this article: Getting Past Your Past
The premise of the article was what would it take to get fans to move on from 2007-2009. “2010 is a new season that has already been a roller coaster ride. “ Now we are currently trying to match the season’s best winning streak with a losing streak. Last night in the midst of everything going wrong again you had flashbacks of last year when right after a freak play Niese comes up lame and has a hamstring injury. These are the times that try Mets fans souls. I want to forget about the last 3 years. In fact I say that I have every chance I get. However, it appears I have not forgotten but forgiven. I have moved on but that does not mean that the past will not haunt me each time something like this happens.
As a Mets fans we will always remember every heartbreak. It’s just you hope for some incredible moment for you to hang on too. 1986 gave us something to hold on to for more than a decade. 2000 gave us something to hang on to for a while and even 2006 gave us something to hang on to in the depths of a collapse. What we need now is hope. Not an 8 game winning streak but something we can latch on to and say dammit things are bad but we are the Mets. In some ways that is starting with the development of guys like Davis and Mejia in other ways its hard to have hope because the Mets seem to be willing to trot out what doesn’t work in guys like GMJR and Jerry and the boys.
So today with Omar making an unscheduled trip “for support”, isn’t it time that the Mets gave us a little more to hold on to? A thought in the back of our mind that they are getting this right and just hold on? Come on Mets do the right thing.
By the way for humor purposes I will re-post the list developed by two of our great readers:
Two of our valued readers, njstuckintx and stickguy have provided Mets fans the very 12 step process need to get you past your past.
- Sit back, have a beer and relax.
- Consider getting laid, that makes everything better.
- Realize this is a game to be enjoyed and if you aren’t enjoying it, consider other activities.
- Even the hated Yankees do not win every game, every series, every post season. To think all games are to be won it ludacrisp, as Iron Mike would say
- Stop listening to Mike Fatty or Big Head Kay. Just stop. Pod cast the Schmooz or just loop the “Meet the Mets†song over and over.
- Go have a game of Catch with your kid/brother/sister/buddy and realize why you love the game again.
- Get baseball package, watch just games involving the Pirates, Astros, Nats, Orioles… You’ll appreciate what you have.
- Watch your DVD collection of the 1986 playoffs, and remember what can happen, and what keeps you coming back.
- Go play with your dog. That cures all emotional ills. If you don’t have one, go get one from the shelter. Actually, get 2, they have plenty.
- Get out your Jerry Voodoo doll and stick pins in it. Always good for hours of good, clean fun.
- Be glad you don’t actually have to work for a living, so that you have time to hang out here most of the day.
- Be glad you were not cursed to have become a soulless Yankee fan.
- (A baker’s dozen). Go back to 1, and have more beers. Hey, can’t hurt!
50 comments
Kingman 26
5/17/2010-8:46am at 8:46 am (UTC -4)
Watch games involving the Nats and feel good about what we have??
Hmmmm……
njstuckintx
5/17/2010-8:54am at 8:54 am (UTC -4)
That was in reference to the announcers, not the product on the field, unfortunately.
Kingman 26
5/17/2010-10:17am at 10:17 am (UTC -4)
Ahhh, thanks; makes a lot more sense!
njstuckintx
5/17/2010-8:53am at 8:53 am (UTC -4)
Great readers? I’ll give stick the benefit of the doubt on that one, but everytime someone’s put great and me in the same sentence it usually preceded the sentence “now, how much would you like to donate?”. As for this list, some are accomplished, others…
1. Sit back, have a beer and relax. – Done, several times.
2. Consider getting laid, that makes everything better. – Considered and accomplished, several times. Kid’s on the way!
3. Realize this is a game to be enjoyed and if you aren’t enjoying it, consider other activities. – Getting tough to do when it’s the simple fundy’s that are getting screwed up.
4. Even the hated Yankees do not win every game, every series, every post season. To think all games are to be won it ludacrisp, as Iron Mike would say. – But the Yanks do when every now and again. And at their worst, they’d probably take 1 from the Fish. 1!!!
5. Stop listening to Mike Fatty or Big Head Kay. Just stop. Pod cast the Schmooz or just loop the “Meet the Mets†song over and over. – Done
6. Go have a game of Catch with your kid/brother/sister/buddy and realize why you love the game again. – Had to get this one in early, as it’s getting to Africa Hot down here already.
7. Get baseball package, watch just games involving the Pirates, Astros, Nats, Orioles… You’ll appreciate what you have. – Had to listen to the Fish announcers. Not as bad as the Nats, but my goodness gracious (thanks Suzy!) are they no where near GKR’s level.
8. Watch your DVD collection of the 1986 playoffs, and remember what can happen, and what keeps you coming back. – Not yet. Probably will happen at 3AM with some ice cream and whiskey as I drown the sorrows thinking of the good old days.
9. Go play with your dog. That cures all emotional ills. If you don’t have one, go get one from the shelter. Actually, get 2, they have plenty. – 1/2 credit. Played with some cats.
10. Get out your Jerry Voodoo doll and stick pins in it. Always good for hours of good, clean fun. – I’m not sure I’ll have time to get a jerry voodoo doll before he’s outta here.
11. Be glad you don’t actually have to work for a living, so that you have time to hang out here most of the day. – Uncheck, unfortunatley.
12. Be glad you were not cursed to have become a soulless Yankee fan. – Amen
(A baker’s dozen). Go back to 1, and have more beers. Hey, can’t hurt! – Done, several times, yet again.
ceetar
5/17/2010-9:06am at 9:06 am (UTC -4)
“2. Consider getting laid, that makes everything better. – Considered and accomplished, several times. Kid’s on the way!
”
Err..I don’t think that’s a good way to relax. I hear kids are tiring.
metsfan4decades
5/17/2010-9:13am at 9:13 am (UTC -4)
#2 – Congrats!
And Ceetars right – kids an drive you to drink. So see #1.
njstuckintx
5/17/2010-9:16am at 9:16 am (UTC -4)
and #13!
metsfan4decades
5/17/2010-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
#3 is the biggy for me. If you’re taking every loss personally and are so angry at all things Mets it keeps you awake at night, probably time to take up knitting instead – or do more of #1.
#9: I’m always asking my dog Sophie – ‘Did you see that? What the heck are they doing’???? Sophie just looks at me with those big brown eyes as if to say ‘dude, you really need to get a life’.
Being part of a fan of any team is taking the good with the bad. Just wish there wasn’t so much of the bad lately…..
ceetar
5/17/2010-9:34am at 9:34 am (UTC -4)
In May and June last year I remember thinking, at least they’re exposing their faults early this season, providing time to fix them. Of course, everyone got injured and it was unfixable, but so far this year it’s not really injuries. Therefore I do have hope still that they can correct this.
darknova306
5/17/2010-9:48am at 9:48 am (UTC -4)
I’m a professional at #1. Thanks, Mets.
ceetar
5/17/2010-9:48am at 9:48 am (UTC -4)
We all get the irony in the title right?
njstuckintx
5/17/2010-10:07am at 10:07 am (UTC -4)
irony can be pretty ironic sometimes.
saltygary
5/17/2010-9:54am at 9:54 am (UTC -4)
From Buster Olney on Bullpen:
The Nationals reached out for a Band-Aid on Sunday, calling up their best young reliever in Drew Storen. The move is partly because the Nats think they can contend this year, but partly because they are bleeding in the bullpen. Only three teams have had to generate more innings out of their bullpen so far this year than the Nationals. The 10 teams that have had generated the most relief innings in 2010:
1. Mets:139.2
2. Pirates:138.23.
3. Tigers:132
4. Nationals:129.1
5. Dodgers:126.1
6. Brewers:123.2
7. Rangers:123.2
8. Athletics:121.0
9. Rockies:119.0
10. Padres:118.2
These numbers have different meanings for different teams.
For the Mets, they are devastating, a sign of real trouble ahead; the Mets’ bullpen has done terrific work overall, generating a 2.84 ERA. But Fernando Nieve is currently on track to throw in 98 games, which is like a marathoner sprinting full-speed in the first two miles of the 26.2-mile course; the signs of erosion in his performance already have been there. Similarly, Pedro Feliciano is on track to pitch in 90 games. And for the Mets, there are no signs that this ugly situation is going to get better, because Oliver Perez — whose inability to pitch even halfway into games was killing the bullpen — has been demoted to the bullpen, John Maine has been a complete enigma, and Jon Niese just got hurt.
njstuckintx
5/17/2010-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, your last sentence summed up a great deal. I’m guessing Gee, Misch, Stoner, etc. will all be making appearances in the future.
Hey, Tim Redding got released… I KID!
stickguy
5/17/2010-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)
actualy, redding got picked up by the stankees.
Not sure what it means, but quite a few of the 2009 Met rejects were scooped up by Philly and the yankers.
ALthough I believe Philly just DFA’s Wilson Vladez since Rollins is coming back.
dirtysanchez
5/17/2010-10:15am at 10:15 am (UTC -4)
Exactly. Burning out the bullpen may not always manifest itself on the radar gun but guys may not be as sharp as they used to be. Where ollie was doing the most damage is the bullpen but unfortunately john and niese had early nights as well. Frankly, Jerry should have left them out there, pitch count be dammed and let them eat innings for the sake of eating innings. As we all joked around in the dugout but is looking like more of a reality now, the bullpen will be spent by ASB. Welcome to 2008 all over again…
stickguy
5/17/2010-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
well, for the mets, it is also skewed by the 20(?) inning game. Back that out, and they are probably about tied for 4th with the Nats.
and yes, I am grasping at straws.
I am also not that worried about buring out a few BP arms, as long as they are guys that are not starts, and that can be replaced by someo f the other arms in the minors.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/17/2010-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
I still don’t understand how Omar is asking Ollie to make his own personnel decision.
Gonna be a long season… might as well enjoy the nice weather and get out on Sat & Sun afternoons.
dirtysanchez
5/17/2010-10:12am at 10:12 am (UTC -4)
well..he kinda has to. Under contract, based off his years of mlb “service”, ollie has to agree to go to the minors no matter how much the mets want him to go.
njstuckintx
5/17/2010-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)
I think I figured out how to get this fixed. Break Ollie. Permantly DL him so Insurance picks up the tab. Keep him in the starting rotation and pitch him 150+ pitches per outing, regardless of the score of the game, until his arm literally falls off. Embarass him so bad he DL’s himself with post traumatic stress disorder or something similar. what’d you think?
stickguy
5/17/2010-10:19am at 10:19 am (UTC -4)
I think the houston heat is already getting to you.
But I can appreciate the idea…
njstuckintx
5/17/2010-10:22am at 10:22 am (UTC -4)
It is. That and it’s a slow monday. Doing what I can to throw something out there for the masses and lower the collective IQ as a result. Mission accomplished all around!
udontmesswthejohan
5/17/2010-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
Right. Omar’s hands are tied. Honestly though Ollie needs to take one for the team and do the right thing. This guy has been frustrating as hell to watch pitch over the last two years, but I’ve always given him the benefit of the doubt that he was trying to work things out for the betterment of the team, but by refusing an assignment he is showing us that not only is he no longer an effective pitcher, but he’s also a selfish one.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/17/2010-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)
What I meant was Omar should say, “Ollie, you have 2 choices. You either accept going to the minors and get things straightened out and come back up for another chance. OR you are released. Which is it?” Not “Ollie, do you want to go down to the minors or go to the BP?”
I mean his salary is a sunk cost. Whichever ways you use Ollie, you have to pay him $12M. So do you want to stink up your team and pay $12M OR give your team a chance and pay $12M?
The Mets clearly see that there are some value left in Ollie and he can give you a positive return on the investment. But I disagree. His value to the team is below zero. As a result of carrying him on the team, your team will have more chance of losing. How can the Mets FO not see this?
stickguy
5/17/2010-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
“The Mets clearly see that there are some value left in Ollie and he can give you a positive return on the investment.”
that is the key line. For one thing, they are woefully short of SP right now, and have to do everything they can to get use out of what they do have. So, first they are going to try and work out the kinks, whether in the pen or eventually the minors, to see if they can get some more use out of him.
ceetar
5/17/2010-11:22am at 11:22 am (UTC -4)
There is a lot of value left in Ollie, it’s tapping into it that’s proved problematic. On one hand, sure he should’ve gotten it through his head, and if it’s not working in the majors, accept the demotion temporarily. Two consistent quality starts in Buffalo would probably get him recalled…
He did completely change his pitching mechanics this Spring, and I wonder if he just doesn’t feel comfortable with it.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/17/2010-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
changing mechanics and working on throwing strikes this Spring is backfiring on the Mets.
ALL of the Mets rotation has velocity issues. It looks like Johan, Pelf, Niese have good enough stuff to get by throwing 2-3 mph slower. But it completely ruined Ollie and Maine.
Ollie’s FB avg velocity
’08 91.2
’09 90.0
’10 88.1
Maine’s FB avg velocity
’08 92.1
’09 91.3
’10 88.9
Pelf
’08 92.7
’09 92.6
’10 91.4
Johan
’08 91.2
’09 90.5
’10 89.3
KRod
’08 91.9
’09 92.7
’10 91.0
Do these numbers have any meaning to them? Maybe and maybe not. But the disturbing thing is that a lot of the pitching staff have lower FB velocity this season. What is Warthen doing?
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/17/2010-11:25am at 11:25 am (UTC -4)
But how is going to BP solve the problem? I would think the best way to work out the kinks is to go down to the minors where there is no pressure and work on his mechanics and confidence.
And if Ollie refuses, then too bad. Cut him. Right now he does not deserve a spot.
$12M is gone either ways.
ceetar
5/17/2010-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
Because you don’t just cut pitchers. It’s certainly not a given that Perez will never ever be able to pitch at the major league level again. But yes, putting him in the bullpen is stupid, but that’s an internal problem and already systematic with roster construction. Maybe they’re looking to pitch him in the next blow out, hoping he takes a foul ball in the leg, or flinches once, and they’ll run out with the trainer, pronounce him hurt, and DL him. who knows.
Whatever you/they think of Ollie, they need to be working to make him successful, not trying to figure out how to hide him.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/17/2010-11:46am at 11:46 am (UTC -4)
But when do you cut ties with the loss? How do you know if he’ll ever come back? How much do you have to put up with this crap?
This is an organizational decision that Omar & Co need to make RIGHT NOW. My point is when you are making decisions, they cannot factor in the $$ Ollie is making because it’s already out the door. No matter what happens, the $12M/year is gone. So at this point, what makes the team better? To have him in the BP or not have him on your 25-man roster?
ceetar
5/17/2010-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
What makes the team better..who knows. Depends if they can fix him or not. And if they can’t, you have to get rid of Warthen at the same time.
I understand the money’s gone, but it’s not about the money, it’s about the ability and the available replacements.
they do need to address it RIGHT NOW, and the bullpen is a stupid stupid move.
I don’t think 7-8 starts or whatever it’s been is enough to say he’ll never be back. (I’m ignoring ’09 because he was injured the entire time)
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/17/2010-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
I think you and I are getting to the same conclusion.
moving Ollie to the BP is stupid.
I guess my point was to cut him if he doesn’t accept the minor league assignment, and you are saying you’d rather keep him in the BP (or preferably on DL) than to cut him.
ceetar
5/17/2010-1:30pm at 1:30 pm (UTC -4)
We’re getting the same conclusion about how the Mets have handled him right now, just different in terms of how to deal with it. You’re caught up in him being useless, but in 8 starts, I’m not willing to eat $20million dollars and sign a crap replacement that will be worse. I want the Mets to figure out a plan, and a course of action. No professional, healthy, pitcher should be beyond repair with what Perez can do, even now.
metsfan4decades
5/17/2010-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
Well, it would be closer to 24Mil than 12Mil.
stickguy
5/17/2010-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
Like I said last night, this team just seems to absolutely be fighting itself, and making things way more difficult than they should be. And that, to me, is a much bigger indictment of the manager and coaches than just losing some games.
So, right now is actually a perfect time to clean out Jerry and the gang. The play certainly doesn’t support keeping them. nor do the numbers. and there is still 3/4 of a season left, meaning plenty of times for a new voice to calm things down and straighten the team out, and get them in the playoff hunt.
After 1/4 of 2010, with a full team other than Beltran, the team is in disarray, with bad loses mounting, along with the litany of odd moves. Basically, he is not showing that he is a decent manager, and he isn’t showing that he is a leader that will straighten out the team.
so, he got his one more chance, and it isn’t working. Given that there is plenty of season left to right the ship, and you got the Yankees and Phils coming up (you really want this circus hanging over the mets at home for that homestand?), and right now is absolutely the perfect time for the FO to take decisive action and make the change
udontmesswthejohan
5/17/2010-10:32am at 10:32 am (UTC -4)
Watching this team is like watching HBO’s terrific series “The Pacific” on a constant loop. You start out thinking that it’s going to be enjoyable and then you just end up really depressed and shell shocked once it’s over.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/17/2010-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
Yeah especially when your team is getting your teeth pulled out by the opposing teams after you are dead.
udontmesswthejohan
5/17/2010-11:33am at 11:33 am (UTC -4)
Oh man, that was terrible. Telling you, that show is tough to watch.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/17/2010-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
Which one?
stickguy
5/17/2010-10:35am at 10:35 am (UTC -4)
a nice IMO piecve indicting Jerry and hi sband of merry men. The more I see of this team (1/4 way into the season), after watching them from 2008 on, the more I think they are way overdue for cleaning out th ewhole lot and starting fresh. Even if that means calling up the AAA staff!
http://nybaseballdigest.com/?p=24696
GravediggerHebner
5/17/2010-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
Obviously all the players are not the same but let’s look at the Rick Down era compared to the HoJo era. HoJo took over 7/13/07
2005 Mets NL ranks (Down)
7th in R
8th in TB
10th in OPS
2006 Mets NL ranks (Down)
3rd in R
3rd in TB
4th in OPS
2007 Mets pre-All Star NL ranks (Down)
10th in R
9th in TB
7th in OPS
2007 Mets post-All Star NL ranks (HoJo)
3rd in R
5th in TB
4th in OPS
2008 Mets NL ranks (HoJo)
2nd in R
6th in TB
4th in OPS
2009 seems irrelevant I’m not going to bother
2010 Mets NL ranks so far (HoJo)
10th in R
12th in TB
13th in OPS
These ranks are all out of 16. What I see in a very general sense is the offense under Down was mediocre (2005), got really good (2006), then mediocre (1st half 2007) resulting in his replacement.
Under HoJo the offense was really good (2nd half 2007), stayed really good (2008), and is now mediocre.
I won’t pretend to know what it means. I can’t say that changing the hitting coach is a bad idea. But mid-season coaching changes, like mid-season managerial changes, are generally performed with a handicap (small field to chose from) and are band-aids, not cures. If they fire HoJo I won’t cry, but I won’t expect his replacement to be around for long.
metsfan4decades
5/17/2010-12:19pm at 12:19 pm (UTC -4)
This current opinion from MC over on his blog:
‘And that’s the thing, I’m just so tired of the roller coaster, the ups, the downs, going from last place to first place and back to last place all in the span of two weeks. What’s worse, I’m tired of writing about being tired of the roller coaster, as I swear I have started at least 10 posts just like this over the last three seasons.
The instability, the constant back and forth, it’s grinding me down, and if the team is a total roller coaster, it’s understandable that I would be an emotional roller coaster – one week talking World Series, the next week talking about firing people.’
Wouldn’t it be true this could be said for the fans of any team that believes they’re in contention for post season? Which right now would have to be the good majority of them. Very few times are fans lucky enough to have a good feeling their team is going to the post season early on – ala the Mets in 2006.
I’ve heard similar comments expressed by many of the fans on the Red Sox, Angels, Braves and believe it or not, Phillies blogs, just to name a few.
Kingman 26
5/17/2010-12:32pm at 12:32 pm (UTC -4)
Funny, to me it is the opposite—seems like NOTHING has changed since the end of 2008.
This year, every word out of Omar, Jerry, Wright, etc’s mouths is the same old crap—”We are making progress” “When we start hitting” “When Beltran comes back” “When Jose’s healthy” blah blah blah blah BLAH.
Same nonsense. Same injuries which do not heal and which recur. Same incredibly sloppy little league play in the field and on the basepaths. Same mediocrity from Maine, Ollie, Francoeur, and the garbage bench.
Same mediocre play, same excuses.
To me, it is the sameness which is horrifying me and chasing me away.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/17/2010-12:43pm at 12:43 pm (UTC -4)
Maybe it’s time for the fans to lower our expectations. Maybe this team is just not that good. Maybe Wright and Reyes are a notch below what we think they are. Maybe the core is not THAT good.
Sure they had one hot streak, but even the bad teams will go thru hot streaks. But I think the hot streak upped our expectations and we had briefly hoped that this team can do more than what they are capable of doing.
Maybe this team is really a 4th place team like every so-called experts have predicted.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/17/2010-12:45pm at 12:45 pm (UTC -4)
For that I am still a fan and will continue to watch/root for team.
metsfan4decades
5/17/2010-12:50pm at 12:50 pm (UTC -4)
Thing is hindsight is always 20/20.
We all knew the SP was a ? going into the season. Omar decided to roll the dice with what he had either b/c he couldn’t make the deals he wanted to and/or those out there he didn’t deem were worth it. A healthy Maine and Perez each have won 15 games for the Mets in the not to distant past. It was a gamble, for sure. One that isn’t working out.
These points could be debated from both ends one end, and have been.
You have Reyes and Wright who have put up very good numbers and been healthy prior to 2009. I can understand the reasoning expecting the same in 2010. Same with Bay, who did it last year.
Added to the BP were some very nice pieces that had the BP not been overworked thus far this year, would probably be one of the best in baseball right now.
Injuries are a part of baseball and trying to predict which ones once healed won’t cause a problem again is anyone’s guess. Some of the injuries to this team are not to older players either – i.e Reyes and Niese.
So much has gone wrong for so long it’s hard to lay blame at just one person’s feet right now. I’d like to, but I think it’s a combo of some poor contracts, poor decisions, mediocre coaching, players not producing – the list goes on and on.
udontmesswthejohan
5/17/2010-12:36pm at 12:36 pm (UTC -4)
The difference is that those teams, and their fans, didn’t have to endure two, back to back, late season collapses. To lose the way the Mets did and not regain their mojo to this day is what is so frustrating.
prismo
5/17/2010-2:44pm at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
Frenchy out of the lineup again today.
ceetar
5/17/2010-3:01pm at 3:01 pm (UTC -4)
Matthews isn’t.
It’s alright that he’s hitting 3-17 against Lowe. or that he sucks.
Pagan is hitting well, no reason to start him obviously.
prismo
5/17/2010-3:05pm at 3:05 pm (UTC -4)
No argument here Ceetar…