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During last night’s broadcast on SNY, Keith Hernandez hesitated when asked which team’s hat he would wear if accepted in to the Hall of Fame.
Initially he said he didn’t expect to ever be in the Hall of Game, but Gary Cohen pressed the issue, so Hernandez 
answered, ‘The Mets,’ because blue is his favorite color…
…as i said last night, you’re calling Mets games, keith, in front of Mets fans, who you know are in love with you, so just say Mets, especially knowing that a) you are not getting in to the Hall, which is a shame, frankly, and b) if you do, you have no say about your hat anyway…
In a post to Mets Today, Joe Janish lists 10 better reasons why Hernandez should have immediately chose the Mets.
Speaking on SNY, check out Mets Walk-offs for an answer to Ron Darling’s question about the biggest complete game shutout in Shea Stadium history.
Meanwhile, at Mets Geek, Chris McCown takes a look at players cut by the Mets after spring training.
In the New York Sun, Tim Marchman explains why the Mets will be fine without Pedro Martinez.
Speaking of Martinez, at Mets Fever, Ed Ryan considers who the Mets should acquire in the wake of Martinez’s injury, which assumes that a acquisition must be made.
I appreciate Keiths honesty there, rather than pandering to whichever set of fans happen to be present at the time. You could also tell he hasnt given that too much thought, and he is well aware that he isnt getting in.
…as i said last night, dude, you’re calling Mets games, in front of Mets fans, who you know are in love with you, so just say Mets, especially knowing that a) you are not getting in to the Hall, which is a shame, frankly, and b) if you do, you have no say in the matter…
This paints a completely inaccurate picture of how the conversation went. The first thing Keith said was that he didn’t think he was getting in, and he reiterated that a couple of times. The next thing he did was to say that he didn’t think he had the choice anyway, and he asked Gary to confirm that, which Gary did. The whole “Mets because blue is my favorite color” scenario was just for laughs at the end of what was an honest answer to a tough question for Keith.
I’m glad he was honest about how it would be a tough choice for him. Sure, why don’t we just bring another yes-man on board and make the telecast like the Yankees or any number of other homer-happy idiot announcing tandems. Get real Cerrone. Dude.
Well said. We don’t all have to agree with everything Matt says on here. 99% of the time he does a great job which is about 90% more than any other source for sports news.
Anyway, that is what I love about Keith. He doesn’t pull any punches. He is honest, says whats on his mind, criticizes and praises the Mets without regard for the fact that he is an employee. Keith can do no wrong in my book.
Of course, it’d help if the Mets did something to sway Cooperstown’s thinking (and maybe Keith’s a little bit) on the offchance he did make it by doing something like, oh, I don’t know…
RETIRE #17
Yes, retire #17
I’m with Nate… I appreciate the honesty. I mean we all love him for being a Met and now for continuing to be a part of the organization, but in reality he spent the better part of his career, with the Cards. The point is I appreciate his candor and not pandering me that he is Blue-and-Orange through and through when he has two teams he truly identifies with.
I completely agree. As much as I don’t want to admit it, its selfish for us to think that, just because Mets fans are in love with him, he should pick the Mets. I thought it was almost an unfairly difficult question to ask him, considering the situation. He obviously has strong feelings about both teams and its wrong for anyone to suggest he should choose one over the other. I think that, on the contrary, I’m glad he wouldn’t just say what he thinks we wanted to hear. Thats what makes that group so good at what they do.
All you guys just took the words right out of my mouth… Very well put.
Agreed – it’s just too bad Keith doesn’t remember how horribly he was booed in St. Louis after taking part in the 1985 drug trials. Or how Herzog ran him out of town and actually tried to punish him by accepting a lesser return to send him to the worst team in the league.
I agree well put.
This shouldn’t be an issue though. He was put in a tough spot; between two teams he spent half his career with. It was a dumb question to let through the phone lines in the first place.
I’m actually surprised to see that everyone responding is in agreement on this. I fully expected at least one response somewhere along the lines of, ‘F@#k Keith! Let him do Cardinal broadcasts if he loves them so much!’
Couldn’t agree more, and quite frankly, I’m disappointed in that fan for putting him in that spot while live on the air.
First off, ya know he aint making it to the Hall. It blows, but he’s not. Second, how do you (as a baseball fan) not know that the HOF has been making those decisions for years now? I think that’s been well documented at this point. Anyone who is a true baseball fan should know this, especially with all the talks Mets fans have been having over the last few years regarding which hat Piazza will be wearing when he is inducted.
Anyway I’m also glad Keith did not immediately pander to Mets fans by dismissing the Cardinal organization. How could he? Not only did he enjoy his best statistical years while with them, but he also won a World Series with them as well.
Not an easy choice. Especially when some d-bag fan springs it on you at random right in the middle of a game.
Whomever thought of this awful call-in promo needs to be hit by a bus… now!
do not be shocked that considering the nature of the events of the last fifteen years of baseball that the living Hall of Famers harken back to select players like a Hernandez once he has passed by his writers ballot days.
Not saying it is a lock, but it would not surprise me in the least to see living hall of famers select some forgotten cohorts from the 70s and 80s, hopefully they will take care of Gil first though.
Didn’t Keith last year, or the year before, wear a blue blazer with an orange shirt to a “Cardinals Greats Tribute” at St Louis before a Mets/Cards game? I think we know the answer to the question based on that…
He sure did. At first, he wondered wether he could pull it off, but then he thought to himself, “I’m Keith Hernandez.”
That was a good call in question and I’m glad that Gary pressed the issue. Why should Keith say he should go in as a Met? We wouldn’t be able to handle it if he said the Cardinals?? I have a ton of respect for what Keith did as a Cardinal, co-MVP, WS ring. It would make a lot of sense if he went in as a Cardinal, more years, better #’s.
Everyone who is upset that Keith didnt automatically say the Mets is missing a key point. One of the reasons that we love Keith in the booth so much is because he’s always honest.
the Cards traded him to a last place team because Whitey was worried about his drug habits.
This after he lead them to their first championship in 15 years.
For a closer who’d lost his confidence and a surfer dude.
He redeemed himself in New York, playing a crucial leadership role on a team that became a contender within one year, a champion two years after that, and remained a winning team throughout his time there.
And the fans adored him.
And now he works for them.
He is in their broadcast booth.
They pay his salary.
And this was ON A METS BROADCAST!
And he…hesitated????
Geez.
But I forgive you Keith,
and it’s an injustice that you’re not in the Hall to begin with.
Even if you can’t bring yourself to say that the Mets are your true love.
Absolutely right. He’s got no “edit” button, and it’s even fun to listen to him think out loud. I know a certain type of fan that wishes that the SNY guys were a little more, oh I don’t know? Elegant? Restrained? Ick. After all, there are two Ivy League guys in the booth, and they’re constantly egging Keith on, and letting him pull them to The Dark Side. ;) Even if I’m upset with the Mets, I just love this broadcast team.
Spot on. Try being stuck with the Marlins or Nats announcers on the Extra Innings feed. The SNY booth is the best in baseball. It’s better to have honesty than to have blantant homers/cheerleaders.
Its a moot point
But if Hernandez would ever get in thru the Veterans committee, the Hall of Fame Senior Executives and Head Writers make the decision of what uniform a player wears.
That changed when the Feuhrer Steinbrenner was offering players (Catfish, Dave Winfield) 7 figures to go in Hall with their bust showing the Yankee Uniform. I believe San Diego went thru the same thing with Winfield and Garvey (they tried to pay them off to wear Pods duds on their HOF busts)
I was there last night at pro player. Ollie has avery nasty slider!