For the final first round match-up, the 2/7 competition features the 1999 Mets beating the Reds in a winner take all game vs. a very memorable moment in the 1969 Mets season.
I remember that if I didn’t pitch well, we were flying to LaGuardia and not to Phoenix,” said Al Leiter, who pitched a two-hitter against the Reds that sent the Mets up against the Diamondbacks in the Division Series. “During my warm-ups, the stadium [Cinergy Field] was already full, and every one of the Cincinnati fans knew what was at stake. I had experienced a couple of World Series before that. I know it creates great television and drama. Somebody is going to be all teary-eyed, and someone is going to be jumping around like a 12-year-old.”
“What I learned about it was that we had just won 96 games, and that wasn’t good enough,” said Reds first baseman Sean Casey, now with the Tigers. “A hundred and sixty-two games and it felt like you shouldn’t have even played them. It came down to one night. For the Mets, it was exciting. For us, it was heartbreaking. To have all the marbles riding on that one game and lose after having won all those games, it was a heart-breaking loss. It made for a long offseason.”— MLB.com
VS.
Throughout the Summer of `69, Chicago Cubs third baseman Ron Santo celebrated each victory by clicking his heels in the air.
He clicked them often as the Cubs built a seemingly insurmountable 10-game lead by Aug. 13. However, he wouldn’t be clicking them on this day, although superstition would be the headliner.
That lead was cut to a half-game on this date as Tom Seaver, backed by homers from Donn Clendenon and Art Shamsky, beat Ferguson Jenkins and the Cubs, 7-1, in what will forever be known as “The Black Cat Game.’’
While the Cubs were batting, a black cat walked behind the on-deck circle where Santo was standing.
“(The cat) kept walking around their on-deck circle,’’ said Ed Kranepool in a phone interview. “The crowd kept yelling and cheering, and the cat just stayed there.’’
No, the cat wasn’t planned.
“We had a lot of cats (at Shea) because we had a lot of rats there,’’ Kranepool said.
From Aug. 14, the Mets sizzled at 39-11 while the Cubs went 21-29 during that stretch, including 8-17 in September. The Mets were 23-7 in September.—John Delcos New York Times Report
VS.
Cast your votes below!
108 comments
Prismo
3/21/2013-10:19am at 10:19 am (UTC -4)
I voted for the one I was alive during…
Stick
3/21/2013-10:39am at 10:39 am (UTC -4)
doesn’t narrow it down for some of us unfortunately….
Prismo
3/21/2013-10:51am at 10:51 am (UTC -4)
If it makes you feel better in 60 years you’ll all be dead and some young whippersnapper will tell me how he doesn’t remember the famous Justin Turner World Series winning grand slam walk-off of 2015.
Stick
3/21/2013-10:59am at 10:59 am (UTC -4)
drugs are bad man. you should know that by now.
srt
3/21/2013-11:17am at 11:17 am (UTC -4)
hahaha
Stick
3/21/2013-12:51pm at 12:51 pm (UTC -4)
Hey MF, I was poking around some sites, and are you actually enjoying having a “debate” with a seemingly psychotic, racist, hatemonger? Why would you lower yourself to giving them the time of day?
Real, i think he just likes to argue (poke the bears).
I guess you will see (if the boss catches up to the discussion) if calling someone a nazi gets you the old heave ho!
TRS86
3/21/2013-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t know what happened to Maniac. You used to be able to have a discussion with him. Although we rarely agreed. It’s like his body and fingers have been possessed by his hatred for Alderson.
Stick
3/21/2013-1:02pm at 1:02 pm (UTC -4)
I used to think that some of them just had a thing about Sandy from some traditional vs. saber (moneyball) perspective. Philisophical difference if you will.
but it seems pretty clear now that that gang is solely focused on ethnicity in all this. Not old school vs. new school, performance, character, or team results. Just demographics.
and to me, that is truly sad. Even if there are people floating around still that want the whole team to be white bread (and I don’t know of any), they are no better being on the other side of the aisle.
also ruins any site that condones that type of behavior and commentary. Way over the top.
TRS86
3/21/2013-1:08pm at 1:08 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, if this continues I will stay away as well. Hard to believe huh? I hope Joe recognizes that a lot of people will be turned off by the race crap.
SaltyGary
3/21/2013-1:11pm at 1:11 pm (UTC -4)
It wouldn’t be so bad if you didn’t reply to all of their comments. Every day you stir the pot, just ignore, everyone will be tankful for it.
TRS86
3/21/2013-1:17pm at 1:17 pm (UTC -4)
Nah, not everyone. Of course you could ignore my responses to their responses and then I would be thankful for it?
SaltyGary
3/21/2013-1:22pm at 1:22 pm (UTC -4)
You should ask I wouldn’t be surprised if people lump you with them. Just because you have a different opinion, your presence is very mush the same.
and I do ignore. Anything Alex v You or Metsie v anbody, I move along. The problem is it takes away from the article written and just flames the place up.
TX
3/21/2013-1:27pm at 1:27 pm (UTC -4)
I ignore Alex, Maniac, Metsie and Joey D.
SaltyGary
3/21/2013-1:34pm at 1:34 pm (UTC -4)
TX I will add a appendix. If it’s more than a paragraph I ignore Joey D as well.
I do like Joey as long as it’s not the current state of the team. IT’s cool to talk to him about Polo Ground days, he has a lot to offer from a historical perspective.
TX
3/21/2013-1:47pm at 1:47 pm (UTC -4)
As soon as I see a “Hi whomever”, by brain shuts down. And it’s 9/10 times about 70 paragraphs long. Metsie’s are about 140 paragraphs long, and its usually just obtuse rants for ranting sake. i see those names and it’s like a magical veil falls across the spots where their post should be. I see nothing, so just skip on down to the next one.
Prismo
3/21/2013-2:02pm at 2:02 pm (UTC -4)
“Yeah, if this continues I will stay away as well.” -TRS, March 21, 2013
Damn that’s a worse bet to take than the Mets winning the wild card!
TRS86
3/21/2013-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
Prismo, believe it or not Joe rarely lets it turn into race wars like some are attempting today.
Prismo
3/21/2013-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
Race wars, gender wars, “real fan” wars, blog wars, troll wars, Sandy wars, Wright wars.
There’s ALWAYS a war going on over there.
Stick
3/21/2013-3:18pm at 3:18 pm (UTC -4)
Geez, sorry I started a digression here. And I forgot the obligatory warning to Nova to not read here…
Oh, I prefer Texas Car wars. quite the funny show. If you like cars.
srt
3/21/2013-7:55pm at 7:55 pm (UTC -4)
‘I don’t know what happened to Maniac. You used to be able to have a discussion with him. Although we rarely agreed. It’s like his body and fingers have been possessed by his hatred for Alderson.’
This.
And my fault stick….I made the mistake of responding back to something he wrote. I should have just stayed out of that whole race discussion. It’s just ludicrous…much like that Andy Martino article a couple of years ago was.
srt
3/21/2013-7:58pm at 7:58 pm (UTC -4)
‘I ignore Alex, Maniac, Metsie and Joey D.’
I ignore some of Metsie and Joey D’s comments as well. I’m just to lazy to weed through all of it. I need the cliffs notes. LOL.
darknova306
3/22/2013-12:02am at 12:02 am (UTC -4)
“And I forgot the obligatory warning to Nova to not read here…”
Didn’t take long for me to realize. You folks need a better outlet than talking to people you know are going to treat you like crap.
It is 100% acceptable to read MMO’s articles without going into the comment section where you know you’re guaranteed to be treated like garbage. You know what you’ll get over there. If you keep going back anyway, then complaining about it, I have no sympathy. You know better. Just stop.
Prismo
3/22/2013-8:58am at 8:58 am (UTC -4)
Nova is 100% spot on here.
srt
3/22/2013-9:28am at 9:28 am (UTC -4)
Truthfully, the comment section at MMO doesn’t much bother me at all. I ignore those I want to and converse with those I do. Takes much more than some random internet bullies to get me bent out of shape.
I have to ask…if it doesn’t bother those like myself that participate over there, why does it seem to bother some of you who don’t participate?
Prismo
3/22/2013-9:42am at 9:42 am (UTC -4)
I guess it’s not really the convos that take place on MMO that are bothersome, but when people come to the RDM comment section to whine about it. Sometimes it’s amusing, but I always think “is this really necessary?”
greggofboken
3/22/2013-10:03am at 10:03 am (UTC -4)
I am a newcomer here. I don’t spend appreciable time on either MMO or Metsblog. I find them both wanting. I greatly enjoy the dialogue and thoughtfulness here.
There does seem to be a fixation, though — whether it’s pro or con — with those other sites, some of which have booted some of you, some of which others have happily left behind. It is odd to read about it here on such a regular basis. A bit like hearing folks go on about old flames.
The place you have collectively created and engage in is just fine, thanks. Why ruminate or trash talk about the other venues at all. You’re not there, you’re here, no?
Just my two cents…..it’s not a bother. But it is odd.
srt
3/22/2013-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
Fair enough, Prismo.
Although I rarely, if ever will start a conversation here about the posters on MMO. I have joined in though if someone else mentions it.
srt
3/22/2013-10:12am at 10:12 am (UTC -4)
Same with your comment, Gregg – fair enough.
Although I still don’t understand why it bothers some – but maybe that’s just me.
MB’s authors and posters are often mentioned here much in the same light and I don’t recall anyone taking an exception to that.
darknova306
3/22/2013-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
My thoughts are pretty much what Prismo and Gregg posted, but somehow my irritation about it gets really high sometimes. That’s my problem, not yours. I apologize for sometimes getting really worked up over it and spouting off in hostile sounding ways. There’s no reason for that, and it’s inexcusable.
So, hopefully this will be my last post on this particular subject. I’ll do my best to just pass over these threads and leave you folks to your peaceful discussions. Cheers!
Stick
3/22/2013-11:17am at 11:17 am (UTC -4)
Nova, i will help you out. I have a few sites that I like to read every day (not having a life of any kind), and MMO was one of them. Just happens that some of my well regarded internet peeps participate there.
but after being personally insulted by the cavemen, and having every interesting discussion disintegrate into a racist hate fest (and with the owner seemingly turning a blind eye to let that crowd set the tone and run the show), it is no longer worth the time. Can’t post in the comments, and that is 95% of the fun of any site.
So, Joe will lose another (IMHO) rational, intelligent participant in his community, joining many of you in that boat. So for those of you that want to stay, enjoy playing with the Omar mafia.
srt
3/22/2013-11:21am at 11:21 am (UTC -4)
Omar mafia – hahahaha
Stick
3/22/2013-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
seems appropriate. when they stopped beating around the bush and pretending, and flat out came out to say all the bashing and attacks was an ethnic war, time to just move on to some place with rational people that actually want to talk about the team and focus on the future!
TRS86
3/22/2013-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, I guess you are right. But I certainly can’t go back to MB and AA has never done it for me. I love commenting here but we need writers. Besides, we all know how each other feel so there’s only so much debating we can do.
Stick
3/22/2013-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
true. Now, based on what I saw yesterday, Alex and Maniac both went well over the death sentance line (multiple times), and a few of those other dudes that keep changing their names most likely did too, so if the counter does not budge from 10, you know where the allegiences lie, so don’t expect it to get any better!
just continue to have fun baiting and instigating the arseholes, not that it takes much effort to do that.
TRS86
3/22/2013-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
I know you are right Stick and yesterday left me jaded as well. I am trying to just talk to SRT and other civil minded people today and just see how it goes.
If only we could get the quality of articles pumped out here that they do and our comment section would take off again.
Authors needed!!!!
TX
3/21/2013-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
my grandma is 98 and going strong. I hope to do the same. so in 60 years, lets see who’s still pushing around a walker.
Mike Bee
3/21/2013-9:47pm at 9:47 pm (UTC -4)
I voted for the one I was sober during.
srt
3/21/2013-10:33am at 10:33 am (UTC -4)
This is a tough one to me.
Both exciting games, both the results we wanted.
In the end, I went with the black cat victory over the Cubs, for a few reasons:
- I was a young Met fan and that whole stretch run was magical.
- It lead to a WS championship for the Miracle Mets, our first ever.
- The Cubs were the ‘team to beat’, the team we had to climb over to get to post season, and it looked impossible come August. Impossible wasn’t a word in that Met team’s vocabulary. I loved every minute of it.
srt
3/21/2013-10:35am at 10:35 am (UTC -4)
OT:
http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2013/3/19/4117534/2013-team-preview-new-york-mets
2013 Team Preview: New York Mets
‘Bold Prediction: The team starts off hot, Wheeler and d’Arnaud join them mid-season and catch fire, and the team pushes itself into the playoff race. A swift move for an outfielder coupled with some Orioles-luck, and the Mets end up in the Wild Card play-in game.’
************************************************
Now that’s what I’m talking about!
Stick
3/21/2013-10:41am at 10:41 am (UTC -4)
could happen. Health (whoops, too late) and guys playing up to expectation of course are key.,
will be truly interesting if they can do this year what they did last, and hit July actually in a playoff spot. If that happens, what does Sandy do with his budget in reserve?
If they sit with their sphincters clenched again, the whole damned FO should be fired on the spot. maybe leave Ricco to do paperwork.
greggofboken
3/21/2013-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)
How does a team they feel likely to be in the 70-80 win range end up in the Wild Card play-in game?
srt
3/21/2013-11:17am at 11:17 am (UTC -4)
I took that Bold Prediction to mean Best Case Scenario.
darknova306
3/21/2013-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
LOL! Is that in the realm of possibility? Yes. Is that even close to a rational expectation? HAHAHAHAHA!!! …no.
gategem
3/22/2013-1:00am at 1:00 am (UTC -4)
That author should realize that ingesting bath salts is not good for you.
darknova306
3/22/2013-1:18am at 1:18 am (UTC -4)
You mean you’ve never eaten someone’s face and then written an article about how the Mets are the best? Man, you’ve never lived!
Stick
3/21/2013-10:42am at 10:42 am (UTC -4)
this was an interesting matchup. different eras, but both deserving.
darknova306
3/21/2013-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
This was tough. I wasn’t alive for the black cat game, but the whole narrative around it and the rest of that season is really fun.
Gotta go with my emotional connection to game 163, though. I remember watching and just being so excited. As soon as the Mets had the lead, I knew they were going to make the playoffs for the first time since I became a fan. That was magic for me.
Stick
3/21/2013-3:19pm at 3:19 pm (UTC -4)
this is the first bracket that doesn’t look to be a blowout. Will be interesting to see how it finishes.
Stick
3/21/2013-3:26pm at 3:26 pm (UTC -4)
on another topic (hopefully a non-controversial one!) the other day I saw a discussion on a thread someplace (AA most likely) about Backman, and his rep as a loose cannon.
the fun part, one of the guys chatting was the dude that made the “playing for peanuts” series. So if anyone knew the real wally, it was him.
in a nutshell, he said that 99% of the time Wally was calm and collected. He only went off IIRC 3 times on the umps, and each one was when they deserved it (protecting the players, who really appreciated it!). So a calculated “show” for a specific purpose.
he also on yelled at the team (something like that) maybe 2 times, again when they needed to hear it for effect. so again, a calculated show.
I just found it an interesting perspective, since you often hear about how Wally is some kind of erratic lunatic, always ready to blow for no reason. And based on the perspective of a guy that followed him around for a season, he isn’t.
oh, the other interesting comment? Wally was exactly the same with or without the cameras. so it was not a put-on show.
TX
3/21/2013-3:50pm at 3:50 pm (UTC -4)
I want wally more than twee-full. that’s for sure.
Stick
3/21/2013-3:53pm at 3:53 pm (UTC -4)
I wanted Hurdle. Since that option is gone, I will take another smart former catcher please.
I can live without both of the platoon boys. Teufel seems like any random dud MiL lifer manager, and Wally could be good or bad, but I am already tired of the endless discussion. So you just know the noise up front (and the wally temper watch) will get real old real fast.
Just go out of the “family” and find someone that seems like a sharp brain and a serious manager to build with. Not nostalgia, and not a sideshow.
srt
3/21/2013-8:00pm at 8:00 pm (UTC -4)
Not a doubt in my mind that Wally is not just pandering for the cameras.
I’m just not sure he’s what the Wilpons have in mind for the SA heir apparent.
Stick
3/21/2013-8:15pm at 8:15 pm (UTC -4)
I really hate the Wilpons and the way they run this organization. I am so ready for a new ownership situation, and at this point, I don’t even care what it is.
srt
3/21/2013-8:31pm at 8:31 pm (UTC -4)
You now I’m right there with you on that sentiment.
My fondest wish? Once Jeffy inherits he sells.
Fred will never sell.
darknova306
3/22/2013-12:13am at 12:13 am (UTC -4)
Selling the team guarantees nothing.
Stick
3/22/2013-12:22am at 12:22 am (UTC -4)
no, but I am willing to take the chance that it ends up being an improvement.
and if nothing else, at least it will be a period of positiviality.
darknova306
3/22/2013-12:31am at 12:31 am (UTC -4)
The years that Kong was coining the word “positiviality”, the team turned out to be a giant gagging joke.
Stickguy
3/22/2013-9:42am at 9:42 am (UTC -4)
even you have to admit the odds are well in favor of it being a good thing. And during the honeymoon period, a shatload better than beating all the current dead horses.
darknova306
3/22/2013-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
I’d put the odds at around 50-50 on that, which is a huge improvement in my mindset over the past 4-5 years.
SaltyGary
3/21/2013-3:31pm at 3:31 pm (UTC -4)
Ba Ba Booey from the Stern show just tweeted out a Mets article from the Onion. Very depressing:
http://www.theonion.com/articles/father-and-son-take-incredibly-sad-annual-trip-to,31688/?ref=auto
Stick
3/21/2013-3:50pm at 3:50 pm (UTC -4)
don’t take it personally, but I refuse to look at anything that has to do with or came from that strange dude.
SaltyGary
3/21/2013-4:03pm at 4:03 pm (UTC -4)
but it’s from “The Onion”…
Stick
3/21/2013-4:29pm at 4:29 pm (UTC -4)
well, in that case, drop everything and click on the link!
Stick
3/21/2013-4:36pm at 4:36 pm (UTC -4)
another random thought.
outside of the world of the Mets, the most possible fun in baseball this year will be seeing what happens if the Phils or Yanks stumble out of the gate. 2 old teams with shakey foundations and massive payrolls. And very nervous and/or disgruntled (yet massively self entitled) fanbases.
most teams, if they start slow, fans either expect it (because the team sucks) or don’t panic (because it is a long season after all). But with a few, the fans start much closer to the edge of the cliff!
and man, it would be a nice bonus to the season to see them both start jumpin.
HobokenMetsFan
3/21/2013-5:52pm at 5:52 pm (UTC -4)
Im looking forward to that as well as taking a rooting interest in a few other team situations across baseball (LAD, LAA, OAK, TOR, BAL, etc etc) this season. The espn alerts app on my phone is going to go nuts this season.
The Mets upcoming developmental 2013 withstanding, the rest of baseball has a lot of compelling situations across the whole league.
HobokenMetsFan
3/21/2013-5:54pm at 5:54 pm (UTC -4)
Man…talk about a swing and a miss. That first post was terribly written, ignore it and read this one instead…..please?
I’m looking forward to that, as well as taking a rooting interest in a few other team situations across baseball (LAD, LAA, OAK, TOR, BAL, etc etc) this season. The espn alerts app on my phone is going to go nuts this year.
The Mets upcoming developmental 2013 withstanding, the rest of baseball has a lot of compelling story lines across the whole league.
Stickguy
3/21/2013-6:27pm at 6:27 pm (UTC -4)
agreed on the story lines. I know that we (as most likely do fans of other teams) tend to get tunnel vision looking at our own situation, but there are some other situations of interest.
Look at the Jeter situation. Unless I just missed it, that seems to be getting very little play, considering it is possible that he could effectively be done now. Ditto for Halladay.
what the Dodgers and Toronto do after their respective sprees will be fun to see.
the whole interleague, every day schedule, I think will be a nightmare and lead to NL DH, but no one seems to care.
srt
3/21/2013-8:09pm at 8:09 pm (UTC -4)
Just say no to the DH!
I’m with you on hopefully enjoying the Yanks and Phillies stumbling out of the gate and never recovering.
And I still say the Steinbrenner boys are lowering that payroll to stay under the luxury tax b/c they’re getting ready to sell.
Dodgers will be interesting to follow for me, just in regards to all that money they did spend and how that works out for them.
Stick
3/21/2013-8:18pm at 8:18 pm (UTC -4)
I still contend that with the new schedule set up, they have to finally standardize the leagues. And I really don’t expect the DH to go away, so that only leaves one option!
as to the Yanks, I know you have been saying this, and I am cool with that. But I recall seeing someone recently on AA that seemed real confident in what they were saying contend that George had it set up to make it really hard for the heirs to sell off the team. No clue about validity or details of course. But, still likely they could cash out and clear a whole wad of cash.
srt
3/21/2013-8:35pm at 8:35 pm (UTC -4)
On the DH…yes, I know. And you’re not the only one predicting that.
I just hate the idea all together.
I actually saw two articles in the past month (can’t remember where or by who) that were speculating as well if the Steinbrenner’s are positioning to sell in the near future.
I could very well be wrong. Just having a hard time believing Cashman did so little over the off season to add depth to that team, especially the SP. I just assumed he was put on a ‘budget’ and they’re keeping it a secret.
According to one article I read, they said if the Yankees miss the playoffs in 2013 and they don’t spend money in the off season to make sure they get back there, then that’s just another sign they’re getting ready to sell.
Because something about the Steinbrenner’s and being cost conscious does not compute.
Or maybe….it’s just no George’s Yankees anymore.
darknova306
3/21/2013-11:46pm at 11:46 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve also come to accept that the DH will eventually be universal in baseball. That’ll be the biggest challenge to my love of the game until they sell out like the other sports and let half the teams into the playoffs. I might just quit baseball when that inevitably happens.
DH is for people that hate baseball and strategy.
srt
3/21/2013-8:12pm at 8:12 pm (UTC -4)
Just catching up from this morning….
No post up about our new Captain?
So what do you all think?
Didn’t matter much to me but I’m fine with it. Everyone knows and considers this his team anyway. Naming him the captain – and w/o that cheesy ‘C’ on his uniform (thank you), is just a formality anyway – IMO.
Stick
3/21/2013-8:19pm at 8:19 pm (UTC -4)
not at all surprised, but I still think a captain in MLB is silly, and that this really isn’t the right time for the Mets to do it. But of course, it had to be him if anyone!
glad to see he is not planning to wear a C though.
Hazmet
3/21/2013-8:24pm at 8:24 pm (UTC -4)
It’s only the right time so spin doesn’t all of a sudden think he should be the Captain…..
In a moment of boredom I thought that earlier this week. I don’t mind cockiness, I just wish it was quieter and after an athlete actually accomplishes something.
srt
3/21/2013-8:38pm at 8:38 pm (UTC -4)
Many are comparing Spin to Reyes.
I just don’t agree.
Reyes was/is obviously a spark plug who wear’s his emotions on his sleeve. I can’t accuse him of being cocky or over estimating himself.
Spin, on the other hand, does come off a bit on the cocky side. And as you said, no problem if you’ve already shown you’ve actually got something to be cocky about. It’s a fine line between confidence (take Harvey, for instance) and cockiness.
darknova306
3/22/2013-12:36am at 12:36 am (UTC -4)
Reyes is overrated by lots of Mets fans, and Spin is overrated by lots of Mets fans. That’s a pretty solid similarity to me!
Stick
3/22/2013-11:27am at 11:27 am (UTC -4)
I can’t really decide how to think about Reyes now that he has been gone for a while. i do think there were fans that seriously overrated him (he never was a super star, and was terrible in big spots) but there are other fans that don’t give him near enough credit.
Me? I think he was an above average overall player that did not come close to fulfilling his talent overall. And for blocks of time missed too much of it due to injury.
2011 was IMO the tease that looked like he was finally going to do it, then he broke down.
what will he do ongoing? If he stays healthy like last year, would not surprise me at all to see him put up a few really big years with the blue jays.
if nothing else, would be nice to have him on the mets still! SRT and i both said that signing him up to a reasonable (fair for both sides) deal should have been Job 1 when saidy was hired.
TRS86
3/22/2013-11:36am at 11:36 am (UTC -4)
I still think that the Mets didn’t play it as poorly as people suggest. I think that it would have been very risky for the Mets to offer Reyes a big contract before 2011 and most likely after that season Reyes wouldn’t have even been interested.
I also think that if the Mets believed the chances of signing Reyes to a reasonable deal after 2011 were 0% they would have traded him. I believe that the fact that he was injured at the time most likely decreased his value below the draft picks obtained + the chance of re-signing him+ the money in tickets watching him chase the batting title.
I also think the Mets had the best shot of re-signing him and their offer was more than fair until Loria, who blew up the entire market, went off the reservation and offered him a ridiculous contract.
Oh well, wish him well but don’t really care one way or another at this point.
TX
3/22/2013-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
To me, he was an above average player who’s flashy antics made him loveable to Met fans (increasing the perceived worth vs. the actual). I dislike the antics in general, and if he was a Marlin (oh wait!), I’d dislike it when he played against “my” team.
Is he better than what we have currently? Yes, and that’s why I miss him being on this team. HOF player? no.
TRS86
3/22/2013-11:45am at 11:45 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, if Tim Raines isn’t in then Reyes stands absolutely no chance whatsoever.
TRS86
3/22/2013-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
Raines might be one of the most underrated players off all-time:
.294 .385 .425 .810 over 23 years with
2600+ hits, 430 2B, 113 3B, 170 HR, almost 1000 RBI from the leadoff spot, 1500+ runs, 808 SB with only 146 CS.
The guy was a true stud.
Stick
3/22/2013-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
no way wright or Jose are HOF, and I doubt beltran either.
unless, they stay healthy and productive deep into their 30s. You have to put up Pujols #s to be able to tail off at 32 and still get in. Too much is based on accumulation stats.
look at chipper. pretty sure by 29/30 he was not that different that Rolen (or wright) overall, but he seemed to get better (or not fade ) through 35ish, then had another 5 medium years to pad the accumulations.
If wright wants in, he probably needs to repeat 2012 (hopefully more even though!) thru 34 (5 full seasons) at say .300/.380/.500 with 20-25 HRs, 100-120 RBIs, and maybe another GG. If he does that, then he will certainly be at least on the bubble.
Jose? 5 years better than what he has done without getting hurt (pretty much turn into Barry larkin, the raw talent is probably there). Which I highly doubt he does.
Stick
3/22/2013-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
for the HOF, I actually like to look at averages more than totals. Some guys just manage to last a long time, effectively getting rewarded for staying healthy. I guess you can call them accumulators.
dwight Gooden in his brief dominating period was a whole lot more impressive than a guy that pitched 23 years and got to 300 wins, as a durable yet never top of the league type pitcher.
Call it the Ralph Kiner syndrome. Huge #s over a 10 year period, but not a long enough career to really stand out on the lifetime leader boards.
TX
3/22/2013-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
If Wright puts up those numbers, he’s a shoe in for the HOF. Maybe not 1st ballot, but he’ll get in.
I’d say if he puts up .290, with 20 HR and 9-ish RBI, he’s on the bubble.
TRS86
3/22/2013-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
Wright still has a chance but he has to basically double his current stats and keep that .300 BA.
Beltran, I think he only needs about 2-3 more real productive seasons.
TX
3/22/2013-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
90-ish.
TRS86
3/22/2013-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
Problem is Stick that HOF do look at compilations a lot.
TX
3/22/2013-12:18pm at 12:18 pm (UTC -4)
Stick, I agree. I think the durability thing gets overplayed too much. I don’t think Sutton or Blylevin or even Morris should be in the HOF. If you are brilliant for a 5 year stretch, you should get a consideration. I guess you’d call that the Koufax theory?
TRS86
3/22/2013-12:50pm at 12:50 pm (UTC -4)
To me Burt and Morris are two different examples. Sutton on the other hand even if it is compilation if you are a pitcher and get 300 wins you are in.
greggofboken
3/22/2013-12:52pm at 12:52 pm (UTC -4)
Wright still seems to have a shot, using the barometers on Baseball Reference. Bill James’ Hall of Fame Monitor has him at a 75 (w/a likely Hall of Famer equalling 100). On their Hall of Fame Standards test (with 50 being a possible HOF member and 100 as a lock) he comes in at 37. His comp players at age 29 include George Brett, and Yaz (already in) as well as Chipper (who will get in). I think he has an extremely solid chance here.
TRS86
3/22/2013-12:53pm at 12:53 pm (UTC -4)
By the way have you really checked out Sutton’s stats? I think some of him think of him differently because we saw him pitch when he was 90.
For a ten year stretch he had:
2.89 ERA, with a 1.082 WHIP, 111 complete games, and went 164-102.
He was pretty damn good.
TRS86
3/22/2013-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
Gregg I agree but that is also assuming he can continue to pump out 2012 seasons for a while.
As I mentioned I found it interesting that Bowden said he was a future HOF. I think Bowden either has or might have had a vote?
darknova306
3/21/2013-11:52pm at 11:52 pm (UTC -4)
Naming a player “Captain” is a pathetic attempt by a worthless franchise to keep their idiot causal fans coming back. It’s just a silly esoteric narrative that has nothing to do with anything of value. Captain of a sub-.500 team? Bravo! *slow clap* Gimme a damn break.
Stick
3/22/2013-12:21am at 12:21 am (UTC -4)
well. If they actually are thinking about it as meaning more than a sop to the fans, you would think they are looking toward it as a longer term deal, when they become more than a 4th place team.
darknova306
3/22/2013-12:34am at 12:34 am (UTC -4)
They’re trying to maximize their ticket sales in an ASG year. Plain and simple. Naming an official captain is completely irrelevant and nonsense unless you’re a child who prefers the silly esoteric narratives to actual winning.
Prismo
3/22/2013-9:01am at 9:01 am (UTC -4)
I think it’s “cool” and probably well deserved. I’m a big Wright fan and he’s obviously the Captain whether officially or not.
But it doesn’t really matter. Does anyone care about the captain of a ~74 win team?
I don’t buy it was for ticket sales, because I honestly don’t think it’ll sell any tickets. I think it was done mostly with good intentions.
Stickguy
3/22/2013-9:41am at 9:41 am (UTC -4)
I think the Mets organization (the Wilpon’s real legacy) has often had good intentions. As they proceeded to shoot themselves in the (our) foot.
srt
3/21/2013-10:36pm at 10:36 pm (UTC -4)
Really interesting read over on MLBTR on Ike Davis and ‘Why I Chose My Agency’.
Doesn’t come across as greedy at all and seems to really like his agent.
Stick
3/21/2013-10:46pm at 10:46 pm (UTC -4)
better hope Real built a tie breaker into this.
TRS86
3/22/2013-10:58am at 10:58 am (UTC -4)
Well right now it’s 8-7 so hopefully it stays one up or down through the weekend.
TX
3/22/2013-10:06am at 10:06 am (UTC -4)
So, in the RDM fantasy league, only 5 of 10 teams checked off their keepers… should be an interesting draft.
SaltyGary
3/22/2013-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
I KNOW! How many damn times did I remind people?
TX
3/22/2013-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
i looked to see where I would be drafting and then looked at the available players and the top 2 were Fielder and Cano and I was like Seriously??? Then I figured it out. Honestly, the teams that didn’t protect will just be picking the ones that they would have protected before everyone else starts drafting, so it’s moot, really. Wish I could have protected 4, as i had the unenviable task of letting Kimbrel go.
TRS86
3/22/2013-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
Oh well, I guess I didn’t pay attention that you had to re-select them. No biggie.
darknova306
3/22/2013-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
Those emails went to the wrong account! I never got them
I’ll be gearing up for the Craft Brewers Conference during that draft, so we’ll see just how badly I drunk draft this year.
SaltyGary
3/22/2013-11:01am at 11:01 am (UTC -4)
I had the reminders in the RDM posts as well, I tried my best to get the word out.
darknova306
3/22/2013-11:35am at 11:35 am (UTC -4)
Ah, oh well. Doesn’t really hurt that much.
SaltyGary
3/22/2013-10:46am at 10:46 am (UTC -4)
Technically 3 teams didn’t because 2 people dropped out.