From the Mets Police Archives, December 1971.
Fantastic haul by the Mets here!
In this trade we get rid of that bum Nolan Ryan. He’s already 25, a record of 29 and 38 and we don’t need someone going 10-14 and stinking up the rotation. How much of this guy did we need to see before we realized he isn’t any good?
More importantly, Gil doesn’t have to run the likes of Bob Aspromonte out there at third base for 100+ games. I mean Aspromonte was so bad that I could imagine a hypothetical average minor leaguer coming up and helping the Mets win more games.
FINALLY this team will have an everyday solution at third base, something that has haunted the Mets since 62. At times it seemed like it would be the 21st Century before they figured out third.
I know Fregosi didn’t have the best 1971, but man if he can play like the back of his baseball card and hand in 1970’s .278 22 and 82 this team is stacked.
Right now, I imagine Gil’s starting 5 will be Seaver, Koosman, Gentry, the kid Matlack looked pretty good in his six starts, and I think they see something in McAndrew. Ryan had no place on this team.
’72 is gonna be our year and I’m looking forward to seeing what Gil and the gang have in store, although the Mets are getting a little nutty with $4 box seats, I may have to sit upstairs this season.
