The Phillies can’t lose, the Braves are beating up the Mets, the Yankees are a shoe in for the playoffs and I’m watching meaningless baseball, again because again, the Mets have been eliminated. It came as no surprise, waiting for the Mets to be eliminated was like waiting for your Discovery Credit Card bill in the mail. This season can’t end soon enough and lets face it, it’s been brutal-utterly brutal. But I’m searching for something amidst different emotions of anguish, despair and I found it in a small 4 letter word-hope. It’s all I got. We’re all disappointed-Santana’s injury is a killer, the only good hit Bay had all year was the one to his head out in LA, K-Rod’s arrest, Mejia getting hurt, the Oliver Perez, Castillo mess, the Offense, the offense, the offense and did I mention the offense?
But unlike last year, I have a different feeling of hope. Hope for a future beyond free agent signings and hot stove banter. I have hope for the future Mets. The rookies that appeared this year that were a nice addition and in a way, kept the team just a little exciting to watch. It was real nice to see Ike Davis at First everyday. I like the way he plays and I love his attitude toward the game. Now I know why everyone in the league wanted Josh Thole- he’s definitely a keeper. I still consider Jon Niese a rookie, even though he played last year. Rubin Tejada couldn’t hit to save his life but at times showed some real range at second base. Lucas Duda showed us some power and of course what we saw on Saturday- Luis Hernandez hitting a home run on a broken foot. You can’t forget our Diamonds in the Rough Players like Dickey and Pagan-just where would be the Mets without them? It was even good to see Pelfrey lose and find himself again.
I’ve been listening and watching about how Jerry and the coaching staff will probably get their walking papers and how Omar will get bumped into another facet of the organization. So maybe with a better GM, a tougher manager and little more flexibility in the payroll, this team might have a chance for next year….maybe. I could see it, I hope ownership does too. They need some changes, there is no doubt about it but with this new blood, there can be a silver lining, even though it is stained with a losing season.
So I’ll watch the Phillies…again, and the Yankees….again, and cheer for as hard as I can for the Tampa Rays to win it all.
So maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel-and it’s not a train.
Maybe.
Just as a side note, it has been exactly one year since I put up my first post here at Real Dirty and let me say that nothing has given me more of a thrill than to be a part of this family of great writers and great readers. Thank you from the bottom of my blue and orange heart.
25 comments
njstuckintx
9/20/2010-10:14am at 10:14 am (UTC -4)
Talk about a post overload!
And there is always hope. The offseason brings hope eternal.
stickguy
9/20/2010-10:19am at 10:19 am (UTC -4)
that must have been something they took from the Dodgers along with the Blue. “wait until next year!”
stickguy
9/20/2010-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
3 posts by 10:00 AM? Good times. Over the weekend, I thought this place had gone out of business!
And of course there is hope. THe Mets are still likely to finish with 80 wins, right around .500. Great? No, but far from the dismal/catastrophic/all time worst team level that many fans/bloggers are implying.
Honestly, if you just read posts and comments for an hour, without having any clue what the record is, you would probably guess they were already up to about 95-100 losses, and battling the Pirates for the #1 pick in the draft.
It is very reasonable to think the mets wil lbe competitive for the playoffs next year. Yes, they have some holes (every team does), and it will require a bit of luck and health (as with every team), but it is certainly possible that a team with the amount of (on paper) talent they have could increase the win total by 10% next year, putting them right around 90 wins, so in playoff territory.
Mr North Jersey
9/20/2010-10:28am at 10:28 am (UTC -4)
You are very optimistic.
TRS86
9/20/2010-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
While optimistic he also makes a what could be a realistic judgment. There certainly have been enough games lost due to issues that could be solved this off-season and through a reversal of just bad luck. How many games did Jerry ALONE cost the team? 3-4? How about injuries to Beltran, Reyes and Bay? 5-6? Not hard to come up with 10 more wins.
njstuckintx
9/20/2010-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
I’d say Jerry lost more than that! That (and injuries) said, I do think this team can be much better next year. Sign to SP’s and make my optimism turn to reality please.
Prismo
9/20/2010-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
You can’t assume health or that a manager won’t make ANY mistakes during the season.
How many teams keep all their starters healthy all season long?
And what are the odds that Beltran (if he remains on the Mets), Santana, or someone else won’t get injured next season?
TRS86
9/20/2010-11:32am at 11:32 am (UTC -4)
Not saying that Prismo. That’s why the numbers were not higher. I am saying that based on an average manager Jerry cost us 3-4 games. I am also saying that the amount of time lost by Bay, Reyes and Beltran and their recovery time cost us 5-6 compared to the average year of bumps and bruises.
stickguy
9/20/2010-11:33am at 11:33 am (UTC -4)
I thought thsi was the “make a case” site?
and there aer plenty of others making a case that they Mets can’t win next year. or the year after. and maybe not untill the next millenium. Someone has to present the counterpoint.
TRS86
9/20/2010-11:36am at 11:36 am (UTC -4)
It is trendy to say the Mets are done for 2011 and should just plan for 2012. I for one do not believe that to be the case. While I also don’t think they should go all in for 2011 either.
stickguy
9/20/2010-11:43am at 11:43 am (UTC -4)
Hell, I still say that they could be in the playoffs this year if they had ditched Jerry before the year, bay had not forgotten how to play (and then busted his head) and Reyes had not hurt is side.
Just not going to P.R and the team would have 6-8 more wins right now.
Ceetar
9/20/2010-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
They fired Willie ~200 games after a playoff berth. Manuel will get ~400 of .500 baseball before he’s let go. It’s unbelievable.
2011 will be a positive year.
stickguy
9/20/2010-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve been up, down, trying to get that feeling again…
Mr North Jersey
9/20/2010-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
“Someone has to present the counterpoint.”
True stick and your points are always welcome.
metsfan4decades
9/20/2010-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
And I’ve enjoyed reading your posts, Gonzo. Keep ‘em coming!
This really was a disappointing season. We didn’t get rid of that black cloud of injuries after ’09 like we all hoped we would. Started off with Beltran and Santana was the final blow. Good thing we weren’t heading to the post season without Johan….
I’m torn right now concerning 2011. Still lots to do, not the least of which is a new GM and coaching staff. I’m thinking the only acquisitions we’ll be getting with be some pitching. That means we go with rookies at 2nd base, maybe RF (if Beltran is traded and Pagan takes over) 4th OF, middle IF and possibly back up catcher. Not to mention a few BP arms.
Teams rarely make it to post season with a large influx of rookies. I’m willing to reserve judgment though until ST and we actually see what this team will look like.
Mr North Jersey
9/20/2010-11:17am at 11:17 am (UTC -4)
“Still lots to do, not the least of which is a new GM and coaching staff.”
Finding out who will be the GM of the 2011 Mets is indeed top priority.
Every decision made will be based on who will be the GM.
Let’s hope whomever it is can finally build a winning team.
TRS86
9/20/2010-11:35am at 11:35 am (UTC -4)
While true there are holes some of them are natural holes that every team experiences. The starting pitching to me is the major concern. If they get 2 SP (one mid-rotation and one guy to compete with Gee) I think we can compete.
njstuckintx
9/20/2010-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
I agree on the SP. Definitely need 2 SPs. Even if Gee puts on the big boy pants and pitches well, you know his innings are going to be limited, so you’ll need another starter regardless.
stickguy
9/20/2010-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
not sure about Gees innings next year. He is already over 180 this year, and is still in the rotation. So 200 next year is reasonable.
Just please, forget that Mejia exists too. Send him to the MiL camp in ST, and don’t let him even look at the ML side of the complex.
njstuckintx
9/20/2010-11:45am at 11:45 am (UTC -4)
Good Point. Although if Santana’s Pec. Muscle didn’t fall off, they would have shut Gee down.
stickguy
9/20/2010-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
they can still shut him down. Just need to FREE OLLIE!
metsfan4decades
9/20/2010-11:47am at 11:47 am (UTC -4)
Agreed whole 100% on Mejia.
stickguy
9/20/2010-11:39am at 11:39 am (UTC -4)
found an interesting item in the sunday paper (philly version). THey did a piece on the phils having maxed out revenues (although I suppose they can just start jacking up ticket prices).
anyway, TV ratings for them are already as high as they can be, and the article discussed starting a RSN (regional sports network, like SNY or YES). For many reasons (Comcast being the biggest!), it will not happen with them.
But the intersting part was $. WHile they did not give an estimate of PHils TV revenue, it pales in comparison.
The good part (for us?): they cited a report from 2009 that the Yankees YES network brought in 417mill. ANd NESN 163mill.
SNY? $339 million. Double the red sox (shocking to me) and almost as much as the Yankees.
might have to hold off on the fundraiser for the Mets and wilpons after all. And maybe having people stay home to watch on TV is not hurting them too much after all!
TRS86
9/20/2010-12:02pm at 12:02 pm (UTC -4)
Yup, decreased ticket sales = increased SNY viewership. Easy to figure out.
Ceetar
9/20/2010-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
and nothing is going to solve the issue besides winning. get to summer time in/near first place and look good. people will come.