Mets fans have a knack for making everything sound worse than it is. It’s not totally our fault, as the New York media likes to drive home negativity to stir up “hits.” And it’s not totally unfounded as the team has seen several embarrassing moments over the past several years, including two heartbreaking playoff misses in 2007 and 2008. But when you put things into perspective, we’re pretty lucky to be fans of this team. I used Baseball Reference to compile a very long list of teams who have it worse (some are borderline) than the Mets.
Cleveland Indians – haven’t been to the World Series since 1997, haven’t won since 1948
Toronto Blue Jays – haven’t made the playoffs since they won the World Series in 1993
Baltimore Orioles – haven’t made the playoffs since 1997, haven’t made the World Series since they won it in 1983
Minnesota Twins – although they have been a frequent playoff team since 2002, they haven’t made the World Series since they won it in 1991
Detroit Tigers – have made the playoffs (WS) only once since 1987 (in 2006) and haven’t won the World Series since 1984
Kansas City Royals – haven’t made the playoffs since they won the World Series in 1985
Texas Rangers – have never won the World Series since their inception (as the Washington Senators) in 1961
Seattle Mariners – haven’t made the playoffs since 2001, have never made it to the World Series (created 1977)
Washington Nationals – have made the playoffs once in their history, but as the Montreal Expos (in 1981)
Cincinnati Reds – have made the playoffs once since 1995 (2010)
Milwaukee Brewers – have made the playoffs once since they lost the World Series in 1982, organization has never won the World Series (created 1969)
Houston Astros – have never won a World Series (created 1962)
Chicago Cubs – haven’t won a World Series since 1908
Pittsburgh Pirates – haven’t made the playoffs since 1992, haven’t won a World Series since 1979, haven’t had a regular season winning record since 1992
San Diego Padres – have never won the World Series (created in 1969)
Colorado Rockies – have never won the World Series (created in 1993)
Yes, that’s half the league. We should consider ourselves lucky that we made the playoffs (one game from the WS) in 2006, made the World Series in 2000, and almost made it in both 2007 and 2008! We, as Mets fans, often like to make it out as if we root for one of the worst teams in the majors, but that’s not at all true. We have owners willing to spend a lot of money on their ball-club and a lot of exciting talent on the team, whether you think they’ll compete in 2011 or not. Now, this isn’t to say we’re not allowed to complain about bad moves, or root for change, but just keep things in perspective!
And the last thing I ever like hearing about is “well we spend so much, we should be an elite team!” How do you think that makes fans of these 15 teams feel? Do you think they believe the Mets are entitled (as we often to) to frequently reach the playoffs? If we put ourselves in another fan’s shoes, we’ll realize that Mets fans have it pretty good. I’m glad to root for a team that truly attempts to improve year after year, even if these attempts have been faulty of late.
Happy Festivus and Let’s Go Mets!
16 comments
Mr North Jersey
12/23/2010-4:32pm at 4:32 pm (UTC -4)
stickguy
12/23/2010-4:46pm at 4:46 pm (UTC -4)
I agree.
many of these teams fans would make a deal with the devil to be playing game 162 with a shot at making the playoffs. Yeah, ’07 and ’08 finished bad, but they were still good years up until the end (particularly 2007).
perceptions and fortunes can change quickly in sports. From early 2006 to late 2007, the MEts were considered (by the same people that like to poke fun now) as the best team in the NL, and I don’t think there was even much debate about it.
no, that does not mean much now, just speaking to Prismo’s point about keeping things in perspective.
hazmet
12/23/2010-4:47pm at 4:47 pm (UTC -4)
This post has a very high “Strength to Weight Ratio…”
Love the rotary dial TV in this image. Brings back memories of when me and my siblings were kids and we had to serve as the remote control.
stickguy
12/23/2010-4:50pm at 4:50 pm (UTC -4)
was that when your Dad would smack you in the head to indicate it was time to change the channel?
Didn’t we just watch one station all night, since everyone was too lazy to get up to change the dial? Of course, pre-cable, there were only about 5 that came in anyway, so not much incentive!
wannybackstra
12/23/2010-4:52pm at 4:52 pm (UTC -4)
How many of these teams consistently have a player payroll in the top 3 in its league?
And does that make it better or worse for Mets fans?
stickguy
12/23/2010-5:03pm at 5:03 pm (UTC -4)
I think the payroll gets raised as an issue too often, but that is a matter of personal opinion.
Not sure about top 3 (and keep in mind, there is usually a NY premium, so like park factors, payroll probably has to be adjusted before comparing!), but off the top of my head, these teams are or have often been big spenders:
Seattle
Cubs (certainly as big spenders as the mets)
Orioles (at times, usually bad times)
Toronto
Tigers (top 3)
rangers (A Rod days)
Astros
The Giants before 2010 would have been on this list.
anyway, in the last 12 years, the Mets have been in the playoffs 3 times (using my advanced math skills, that is 25%, which is better than average). And fell 1 agonizing game short 2 more times.
so that is 5/12 years that they were serious playoff contenders, so as prismo said, we have not been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years with no Matza.
saltygary
12/23/2010-5:38pm at 5:38 pm (UTC -4)
If all things were equal then every team would take a turn winning the series and the minimum each team would have to wait is 31 years and it would be very boring. It’s been a tough ten years but it will make the eventual win that much sweeter.
saltygary
12/23/2010-5:40pm at 5:40 pm (UTC -4)
Also I am very thankful for this community. I hope everyone has a great holiday and enjoys the time with their family and friends. We will need each others support more then ever next year. So lets remember this post and enjoy the Alderson train.
metsfan4decades
12/24/2010-8:38am at 8:38 am (UTC -4)
Same here and happy holidays to you and yours, salty!
kingman 26
12/23/2010-9:26pm at 9:26 pm (UTC -4)
Well, nice sentiment but can the Mets really look down on the Indians, Astros, Rangers, Twins, and Mariners over the last 15 years?
Or even the Rockies? Cubs? Padres?
Not really. Especially when payroll is taken into account.
I love the team, but the last ten years have definitely put us among the lesser teams overall.
If we had a 40 mil payroll it would be different.
gategem
12/24/2010-12:08am at 12:08 am (UTC -4)
As usual your analysis is on the mark.
When we talk payroll we also have to take into account the potential resources as well as the actual payroll. Most of these teams don’t have the potential to earn at the Mets level even if they build a strong ballclub. We have to look no further than Tampa Bay to see what a potentially limited revenue stream yields even with a strong ball club.
BTW among themselves Yankees fans bring up their payroll whenever the club does not appear in or win a WS. It’s an issue over there as well as with Mets fans.
Happy Holidays to everyone at TRMB.
gategem
12/24/2010-12:09am at 12:09 am (UTC -4)
LOL Make that The Real Dirty Mets Blog.
metsfan4decades
12/24/2010-8:49am at 8:49 am (UTC -4)
I don’t know if entitlement is the case with most Met fans. I’ll reserve that for Yankee fans.
I’ve been a Met fan for a long, long time. My feeling is this past decade or so, it’s not so much we feel we’re ‘entitled’, but rather just that we expected to get to post season and going in we usually saw no reason why we wouldn’t make post season. After the past couple of years though, even that sentiment has been lowered a peg or two….or more.
I guess in order to get to entitlement, we have to claim about 20 something rings under our belt, like that team cross town. Then again, in 2008 when the Yankees missed post season for the first time since ’93, Jeter was quoted as saying something like: ‘It’s not supposed to be like this. We’re not suppose to be going home, we’re suppose to be getting ready for post season’. I guess with players having attitudes like that, it’s a no wonder that fan base follows suit.
Either way, I’m glad I’m not a Yankee fan. I’m a life long Met fan and wouldn’t have it any other way.
Dang though….would be nice if they’d win another championship soon. I’m not getting any younger.
gategem
12/24/2010-6:45pm at 6:45 pm (UTC -4)
“Dang though….would be nice if they’d win another championship soon. I’m not getting any younger.”
As the oldest one here (and facing serious health issues to boot) your statement rang true to me. However, the advanced age has one major advantage. I was able to experience the 1969 season.
Here’s hoping that you and your family enjoy a very Merry Christmas.
metsfan4decades
12/24/2010-9:48am at 9:48 am (UTC -4)
Last night’s interview on SNY’s Hot Stove with RA Dickey is deserving of it’s own post:
http://www.metsblog.com/2010/12/24/r-a-dickey-with-kevin-burkhardt-part-two/#disqus_thread
Find me one Met fan who could possibly take exception to anything RA has to say here.
I think Dickey should hold motivational meetings weekly for the team. From my perspective on listening to him, he doesn’t just spit out the platitudes or required ra-ra for the fans – he actually believes in what he’s saying here.
Makes me want to believe….
Dirtysanchez
12/24/2010-9:56am at 9:56 am (UTC -4)
Nice positivity prismo…now your fired lol j/k