|
|
|
When I was in Philadelphia in April, filming a video for SNY, a little boy in a Phillies jersey approached the camera and with a small voice, wide eyes and a big heart, enthusiastically said, “The Phillies lost last night, but they’re gonna win today.”
He smiled, believing what he said, and walked away.
I miss being that innocent and positive, especially when it comes to the way I watch baseball.
Now that I work so close to the game, it 
is very hard not to get caught up in the business of MLB. It’s hard to ignore who did what, why they did it, who should pitch, who shouldn’t, how much is a player is being paid, who can be traded, whose job is on the line, who should be fired, and who should be traded, demoted and promoted.
In the end, baseball is sustained by hope and the idea that tomorrow is a brand new day. And so, though it isn’t easy, I try my hardest to be that little boy.
In the end, despite any creative ways I may feel the team can improve, I want Willie Randolph, Carlos Delgado, Aaron Heilman, Carlos Beltran, and every one else on this team’s roster, to rise up, fight to the finish and have the last laugh.
In fact, in some ways, seeing this team two games under .500 – with it’s back against the wall – clicks with me more as a fan, because I have always been one to embrace the underdog.
I want the Mets to push through this adversity and win, which would be dramatic, compelling and a lot of fun to watch, because, to me, that – not firings, trades and money – is what baseball has always been about.
BRAVO MATT. i really agree with this. I wish all the negative can get back that hope like we had in 06 and the begining of 07.
Except the Mets cant embrace the ‘underdog role’ as he says at all. We have a 140 million dollar payroll, tons of marquee players, and a lot of expectations coming into the year. This isnt the 07-08 Giants. We are the laughing stock of the league right now, and its sickening.
Don’t post often anymore, but I think those that are calling for a decision are right, one way or the other.
I was one who called for Willie’s head after the Collapse. I still think that would have been the right move, as I noted that there needed to be a fresh start or there would be carry over into this year. Obviously there has.
It’s not that Willie is a bad guy, a bad manager, etc. The first point itsn’t debatable, he’s a great person from all accounts. The second is more debatable, but not the issue anymore. The fact is the attitute on the Mets is waiting to find a way to lose, and surprised when they actually pull one out. The “feel” of the team is exactly what it was at the end of last year. That’s why change is needed.
My feeling is that they should really mix it up. Let Randolph go now, win or lose (allowing a manger to keep or lose his job based on the next day’s results is the worst way to run a team), and bring in Wally Backman. Let a young, hungry guy with standing on winning, grit, and managerial skill see what he can do with this group. He’ll work for nothing, and if things don’t work out, can easily be cast aside for another choice (say a Bobby V).
If they’re not going to fire him now, they should simply come out and say “he’s our manager for the rest of this season, whether we win the world championship or lose 100 games–it’s up to the players to decide which, because we feel Randolph has been doing his job.” Turn the challenge to the players and stop the whining and backstabbing.
If Randolph keeps his job, fine. I’m prepared for this team to lose 90 games because I think they’ll pretty much quit on him, as they pretty much already have. Maybe they’ll surprise, but I’ve suffered through bad years before–not fun–but not unexpected from my Mutts.
I’d rather go the fresh blood route and see if this team can find its spark again, but it is time to make this decision and make it final–not just until the All Star Break, but until the end of 2008.
Good post Matt, and I couldn’t agree more. I love watching my 4 year old nephew get into every game just to watch it. He is becoming a baseball fan first, and Mets fan second. As he says with innocence “If the Mets hit a home run, they will win.” Ah, to be young again! HA….LETS GO METS!
I have been reading this blog for about 2 years now; and I’m finally compelled to share my thoughts.
What Matt is trying to imply here is that Baseball (which the Mets just a part of) is about REDEMPTION! Over the long haul we must remind ourselves that this sport brings joy, excitement and above all unexpected results to all of us. Win or lose, we fans must understand that the Major Leagues is the highest level of the game and that only 1200 can reach it, much less excel or thrive in it. So look at the game as 4 quarters or look at it as pre-All Start and post-AllStar but remember what our Manager hints at: it’s a grind. It’s physical but it’s extremely mental; the game within the game is exhausting for fans, not to mention the players.
So I have a small request which as a die hard Mets Fan since the early ’70s and who survived the late ’70s, I feel I have every right to put forward and earned through the ups and downs of our Amazins’: Give our guys the benefit of the doubt!
Get behind them even if we are down 10-1; even if Heilman is on the mound (can’t believe I just said that!). But most of all show Willie our love; he is human and will make mistakes. But he’s a winner stuck with the cards he’s been dealt.
Remember: It’s a game of redemption. We the fans (and the media especially) must give them some room to re-gel and they understand that need to win us back.
Seeing Delgado take the extra base and slide is inspirational; seeing Shoenweis well received at Shea reminds me of how this game can turn around from one season to the next; and seeing Reyes and Wright so young reminds me that we should lower our expectations just a tad and consider our future as very rosy. And in that future where younger talent would be available, Willie as manager would be my choice.
Totally agree Matt.
While I would like to say “trade all these bums!”
I still have that side of me that just roots for my team, regardless.
anyway. Lets Go Mets!
And what a story that would be. For this team, and all that it has been through since last September, to rise above it all and win would go down as one of the most dramatic seasons in Mets history.
Alas…
I’m getting the feeling this is the Cubs’ year. Maybe its sentimental, maybe its caving into the popular pick, but 100 years??
I felt that way very strongly about my favorite team before the free agent era. Now mostly I’m rooting for laundry and millionaires, and I can’t return to that innocence without alcohol, drugs, a time machine or a lobotomy.
I agree completely. I certainly hope that this team will turn around and that they can in with what’s already in place with maybe a few changes. I think Willie is a great guy and it’s troubling to see him struggle. I hope for his sake he can turn it around as I feel like his days are numbered with this club.
Willie Must Stay! Firing Willie mid season would be a mistake. We don’t need an interim hack!
I just saw a transaction listing showing the Mets have picked up Trot Nixon for future considerations. Seems like a no brainer – low risk move. If it doesn’t work it’s not a repeated attempt to resurrect a 42 yr old. Going the way of senior citizens is just a lightning rod for criticism since it has failed the team for 2(+) yrs.
Did I miss this transaction being reported here ?
Yes.
Re: Matt’s post, there are aspects of childhood that we all miss, but you can’t willfully stupefy yourself to make baseball more enjoyable. Of course we all want these guys to succeed, and of course when they take the field, regardless of how we feel about Randolph, Delgado, etc., we want them to win. That’s why we’re reading the blog (most of us, anyway.)
That said, however, even though we have absolutely zero control over what goes on, and in the grand scheme, none of this matters a lick compared to other things going on in the world, our lives, etc., we can’t just turn off the adult (or young adult) in ourselves. There’s an instinct to look ahead, predict, and fix. Sure, some of it is just loudmouths and blowhards thrilled to make insults or childish cracks, but when the team is legitimately bad, constructive criticism (and yeah, there’s a fine line) is a part of the fan experience. I think that’s just the way it is.
All I care about is for this team give me a reason not to hate them. If they could play well enough, given the talent they have, to play good enough so I don’t hate them I’d be happy. I’m usually not negative but I feel like I drank the kool-aid with the 7 of 9 and now its back.
After the loss in Santana’s game, I swore I wouldnt watch another game until something changes. I didnt watch last night but heard they won.
MATT: IF YOURE LISTENING, TELL THE BRASS TO GIVE US A REASON TO BACK THEM AND NOT HATE THEM ANYMORE.
There no reason to hate them period!! if your a real met fan and have been through all the ups and downs. You should root and cheer no matter what there playing like or what your expectations where for the year.
I couldn’t agree more.
Everyone who says they’re not ‘happy’ watching these guys anymore is only kidding themselves.
Winning = happiness.
Losing = fake contrived happiness.
This is all well and great but they can’t loose any more games in the standing to the Phillies. If this team is 8 to 10 games back,its time. We can’t have these stops and starts. They have to play inspired for the right reasons. Not because they believe Willie is about to lose his job.
As Met fans we still gotta believe. GO METS!!!
I want this team to succed as much as anyone, but lets face facts there just not as good as we all thought they where. I just hope omar doesnt do anything stupid like trading what few prospects we do have left for a quick fix. I for one would like to see maybe we influx some of these young kids from the minors into our lineup and see if thats the shot in the arm we need. Its time for a change but i dont think willy is the one that needs to be changed i think some of the players need to go with there attitude. I also think the player that said willie has to go gets sent packing before willie does
Re: the previous, commentless post, I’m not criticizing the T-shirts, which I think are a nice idea, but why not give one to every player? Just seems interesting to me, is all. . . . Probably something mundane, like he only had ten. Or, he was trying to tell the stars that this was on them, etc. But (and granted, I have no experience with this kind of thing,) the “select group” thing is weird.
I love Seaver’s foxhole analogy. My take is each teams character is different; some you can motivate with “rah-rah” speeches; others thrive on controversy; others play hard on and off the field; and then there is our laid back team of veteran professionals. I thought that what this team needed the other night, hung over Willies office was a banner with “Ya Gotta Believe” but then how many of these players will buy into that (maybe Wright or Maine). But what the t-shirts are about is a Willies way of calling out who he sees as the leaders on the field: a bullpen guy (Wagner), a bench guy (Marlon), a power hitter (Beltran), an infield captain (Delgado), a media facilitator (Wright) and a rotation guy (Santana/Pedro). I hope this works and I think we should start paying more attention to body language than box scores. Sure wish SNY had more camera angles!
LETS GO METS!!!!
Hmm . . . no Schneider, no Reyes. I’m guessing this is more of the rigidly hierarchcal clubhouse dynamic that Willie is famous for, and that hasn’t helped. Veterans first. Always. What won’t know is if these are the recognized leaders, or players Willie wants to kick in the ass to become leaders.
There goes Matt giving me hope again :) where would we be without you? :P
To get to 90 wins, this team which has been below .500 for more than a year has to go 58-38 the rest of the way. 20 games over .500
I don’t know why so many of you want to keep punishing yourselves. It’s just not going to happen. And the fans who understand that will be able to enjoy the rest of the season a lot more than the fans who don’t. I’m gonna have fun for the rest of the year going to Shea and watching my team do whatever they do. I don’t care if they don’t win because I’ve watched them not win for decades now. In September I will be able to keep things in perspective while I enjoy living in a great city and going to games that most of you won’t even be watching anymore.
Oh, I forgot. They won yesterday. We’re not supposed to be realistic the day after they win.
Teams do play .600 ball, you know. I seriously doubt this team will, but why is it at all inconsistent with watching and enjoying to hope that they win a lot of games? If you take the worst 70 or so games from a lot of .600 teams, I’m willing to bet there’s roughly .500 ball in there. Suppose the Mets invert last season? They’d be in the playoff race. We can enjoy each individual game without getting our undergarments in a bunch wondering about the postseason, and there’s no reason to forcibly pound postseason dreams out of our minds, either. It’s just baseball.
Ultimately, it is just baseball. If I don’t think they’re going to make it, and they do, I still get to celebrate. But if they don’t, I won’t be crushed.
Exact-actly.
And I’m not completely giving up hope. My view that they cannot make the playoffs is based on this team in it’s current build. It also has nothing to do with the manager. If they can cut some dead weight and find a few parts that can really help, then they certainly can play .600. But that’s not going to be easy to do. I hope they are spending more time trying to fix the roster than figure out whether or not they have the right manager.
I think all sports fans are entitled to their own methods of fandom. If you use the ‘realist’ method, more power to you. Different strokes for different folks.
That’s true. Maybe I was a little bit harsh with what I said. I’m just thinking that this roster in it’s current state is going to break a lot of hearts.
AlreadyMissShea, believe me I wish I had a large cache of facts with which to rebut your ‘heartbreak’ suggestion. I am realistic enough to know that I don’t. I do have a small pile of “if this, then…” though.
The one thing I can say about them making it to the playoffs is this. If it’s going to happen; keep the manager, try to lose some of the players who are not going to contribute to getting the job done, and hope that suitable replacements can be found. That’s the one thing that stops me from REALLY throwing in the towel. If they fire Willie now and believe that will fix things, this team is going to do worse.
Please do not fire Willie Randolph. Start addressing the 25 man roster. Maybe there will still be hope.
Didn’t think I was ever going to say that. Willie has to stay. There’s nobody right now that I would trust to do better with this team.
Matt, I sometimes wonder how you get yourself to write some of this garbage. How can you refer to the Mets as the “underdog.” What has made this season the most disappointing is the fact that they were anything but the “underdog” going into the season. The fact that you have refered to them as such means the season has been a total disaster.
they now are the underdog, Philly is the new favorite
For better or worse, people have written them off. If they fight back into contention, it’s a nice story. Pressure alone makes them sympathetic. They’re standing on the precipice, now.
maybe if we close our eyes and clap our little red shoes together this team will win the NL East :) c’mon keep hope alive…let’s not quit on our team, remember how the Phillies were in this same position last year at this time? Did their fans give up on them? Did they?
I think the fans did give up, actually, then pretended they didn’t.
I feel like the main difference is that their fans were never really there in the first place. They started to show up when the team started winning, and it gave people the impression that the fans were really standing by their team. Really a lot of them just showed up to watch a local team win.
That’s probably true of a lot of them. Philly fans tend to stand by the Eagles and Flyers (those that care about hockey, that is), but they’ll glom onto any other local winner, from St. Joe’s to “Smarty Jones.” The Phillies really don’t seem to have much in the way of a devoted core. The stadium is one big frat hangout these days — like a mini-Boston.
all right i was making sure that they weren’t there >.> anyways, I still standby the NY Mets…i try to give up but i can’t. i always come back the next day and tune in with new hopes. Let’s Go Mets!
Actually, Phillies fans did show up last year, and they show up even when the Phillies aren’t doing good. Remember when Shea was half empty those first two games against the Marlins last year. The Phillies have been the number two team in Philly for the last couple of years, unlike the Mets who are the number 8 team in New York.
. . . which is still better than being the number 1 team in Philly.
As much as this is played out, I feel like it should be brought up again. This is about HUNGER. Thats it. When this team truly wants it, they come out and play great baseball. When this team is on the ropes they come out and give an inspired effort. Where Randolph losses this club is all the games in between. This team needs a leader to pick them up everyday at this point. It wouldn’t of been like this, if it hadn’t been for the Collapse but Randolph allowed that to take place and is now reaping all the benefits from losing 7 games with 17 to play. (nice run on sentence)
Thats it in a nut shell, They need to want it every day. Randolph doesn’t have and they need someone who does.
this team is joyless and impossible to root enthusiastically for. trot nixon will not change this.
On the other hand, in twelve years that little boy with a small voice, wide eyes and a big heart will grow into an obnoxious drunken Philly fan hitting you over the head with a beer can while spouting obscenities. As sad as this may seem, it’s pretty much his destiny…. For now, though, we can enjoy his innocence and exuberance.
:)
:(
:P
;)
having fun?
Trot Nixon + The Mustache + Bill R. = World Series
the Phillies offense is as relentless as the Mets was in 2006.
already up 17-3 in the 8th inning last night they make two of the Cardinals regular relievers throw a combined 30 pitches. Most teams would be happy to get the game overwith and roll again tomorrow. But the Phillies keep taking pitches and working the count. Now they can pound the Cards bullpen Sat and Sunday too…
I’m not a New Yorker, but I am a Mets fan. I’ve been a Mets fan all my life (at least since I was 6 years old), I’ve been through good times, and bad times. The bad times, have been bad, and the good times have been good.
Realistically, I still consider this to be good times.
Reyes and Wright.
Carlos Beltran.
Johan Santana.
Pedro Martinez.
John Maine.
Church and now Nixon.
F-Mart in the Minors.
This is baseball, this is a game.
I love this game.
The reason I hate the Yankees, and Yankee fans, the reason I hate the Braves, and Braves fans, is their sense of entitlement.
They think they’re owed a title every year.
I’m grateful that that’s not the Mets.
I’m grateful that, although they certainly keep trying to do so, the Yankees can’t buy a title every year.
I’m grateful that the Braves streak was broken.
The Mets are my team, they are who I watch, they are who I root for. When Reyes is slumping, I root for him anyway. When Beltran is slumping, I root for him anyway.
All this talk on this site, all these Mets fans feeling entitled, is kinda sad. Root for your team, discuss the posible moves. Consider firing managers, and consider the trades, and consider everything. But try to feel less entitled to everything.
I don’t think anybody would be on this site if they weren’t cheering for the mets, and i don’t think we feel entitled. We feel teased, tortured and frustrated. I think most of us could get behind this team if some areas of this team were changed up- coaches and players alike. Sometimes its best to cut your losses in some areas where its just not working and simply will not work as is. Identify who those individuals are, do both sides a favor, and find away to cut ties and possibly bring in some prospects. This process has to start now, and it has to start before we start thinking of firing Bill R. We can do that in the offseason, but lets just see what we can do if we start replacing some parts, because that is the real root of the problem right now.
ReyesRock…you are so SPOT ON!!!!
I could not have said it any better.
We are Mets fans…we thrive as underdogs…count us out and we come back because we are Amazins’. No denying our roots or Mets culture; we have our fair share of losing but this is a new era and this has been a train wreck of late. But we are Mets and you can never count us out.
Our leadership wants this for the fans and NYC. We love to bring down the Yankees BECAUSE of their air of superiority. Our fans should never forget where we came from. Read the literature young ones; it’s out there!
Lets Go Mets!!!!
I guess you haven’t noticed but the Mets have been trying to buy a title for some time now…I think its time to give somebody else that grocery list!
the problem with this team is team chemistry. you have the sportsmanly type, the grity type type and the unassummin type all out there and they dont seem to have each others back. they need trot and to have stache back so they will have some in your face types that will bring in some attitude. they need to get a nasty streak again. they need to bust the plate crowdin utleys in on the hands every time, bean his ass or knock him out of the game, eventually he wont be crowdin the plate. it sends a signal to the whole team that they wont be intimidated. they have to be nasty on the bases, quit bein friendly out there. they need to get that chip back on the their shoulder. 2 years ago they were cocky, and that was fun. now they seem to be too professional, and there just isnt any personality to the team. hopefully they can feed off of some intensity that trot and hopefully stache will bring.
Hey stumped1, we need to feed on some W’s.
Quite frankly, that West Coast trip SUCKED. I mean 2-1 three times in a row! Willie needs to add some ground rules on after hour stuff…assuming that is out of control. But once we start a nice W streak (now sustainable with a consistent rotation) the confidence will return. Having grit is INDISPENSABLE: imagine Alou, Church and Nixon available ALL THE TIME?! Should be interesting…
Also, those young guys still need more time and the downside is we rush them too early and their value goes from uncertain to no value. So we must not be too quick or else we lose leverage on future trades.
LGM!
The Mets are not an underdog…they’re an underperforming favorite. Big difference.
LETS GO METS!!
That feeling ended for me in the early 90s with the failure of Greg Jefferies. I never was able to get it back after he bombed so badly……….shame.