Category: mets

Good yet scary stuff from Mets Merized….

We’ve Had Jason Bay Before; His Name Was Kevin McReynolds

You kids don’t remember but we once had this fun homegrown player named Kevin Mitchell.  Kevin was a big solid guy who had no business playing SS but Davey Johnson didn’t give a rats-tail and would stick him there when Sid Fernandez pitched because Sid threw fly balls.   Some days Mitchell would play third, sometimes in the OF.

Mitchell was sent packing because the team felt he was a bad influence on Gooden and Strawberry.   Mitchell wound up winning an MVP and we know how the other two turned out.

Anyway…the player in return was Kevin McReynolds.  I remember at the time thinking the Mets had acquired a good player (even though I was bothered that Mitchell left, I liked our homegrown core).  I hope Bay isn’t McReynolds because Kevin ws one of those stat-accumulators who never really made a difference….and kids, that’s why you’ve probably never heard of him.

Some more shots from the Media Goon.

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Today’s average Mets fan is JMP who comments here on the site somewhat regularly.

When did you become a Mets fan?
1. I really started getting into the Mets in the summer of 1985, during the NL East race with the Cardinals. I remember being at one of the late season losses to the Cards, leaving with a sinking feeling I’ve known all too well in the years since.

Favorite memory?
2. Do I have to pick just one?

I remember getting a call from a friend who had season tickets the afternoon of September 17, 1986, asking if I wanted to go to the game that night — and coming home with a piece of sod.

I remember staying up late for what seemed like endless games against the Astros in the 1986 NLCS, followed by the despair of the top of the 10th of game 6 of the World Series before the euphoria of the bottom of the 10th.

I remember sitting in the back of the upper deck for game 5 of the 1999 NLCS, barely leaving the edge of my seat throughout extra innings until Ventura hit his grand slam single.

Then again, there are those sentimental moments in the down years when I can understand what my parents and grandparents went through as Brooklyn Dodger fans. The Wilpons may not be aiming for it, but the Mets have become the living embodiment of the old Dodger mantra of “wait ’til next year.”

Worst memory?

3. As good as it is to understand how my parents and grandparents felt as Dodger fans, any time I really end up feeling as they perpetually did is a bad moment. Watching the Mets blow leads at the ends of the 2007 and 2008 seasons ranks right up there.

If you could change one off-field item?


4. I’d get rid of Jeff Wilpon, Omar, and the entire conditioning staff. Between them, they are responsible for almost all of the team’s recent ills, and I do mean ills.

If you owned the team…


5. I wouldn’t be afraid to admit that every so often there will need to be a rebuilding period. It seems that every time the Mets go into decline, it’s marked by major free agent signings and trades, each of which is touted as the way to bring the team back to contention. It never works, but usually drains the farm system enough to further delay real success. Everything flows from having a coherent long term strategy…

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I’m looking back at some of my favorite posts, here’s one that suggests that without Murph there can be no happy recaps.   From 2/24/09 it’s The Curse of Bob Murphy

I was watching highlights of the 2000 World Series last night and a few things came to mind.

1.  I have no attachment to that team or the players on it whatsoever.  I know this is controversial especially for a Mets fan, but that team just lacks something.  It’s hard for me to get excited about Al Leiter and Todd Pratt.  Sorry, that’s how I feel.

2.  It’s funny to hear everyone talk about how historic that World Series will be, and how people will be “talking about this one in 40 years.”  Somehow I don’t think so.  It’s kind of a forgetful one to be honest.  Sort of like the 1973 World Series – you tend to think of the season more than getting beaten by the A’s.

3.  The black uniforms with black hats are so so so horrible.   It looks like a softball team showed up.  What were the Mets thinking?

4.  There’s one significant Met who I think was on steroids.  I floated this once before but I know if I voice the name I will be lynched.  Deep down you know who it is, don’t you?

5.  John Franco.  Why is he in camp?  Is he there to teach K-Rod and Putz how to shut down a team 1-2-3-4-5?  You know, sprinkle in a double and a walk just to keep it interesting?

6.  Bob Murphy.  Wow Murph was good.  I’ve kind of gotten used to Howie (he who sees 40,000 in the stands when there is clearly not) and all the Gary Cohen imitators they have trotted in and out – but Murph was so much better, which leads us to…

THE CURSE OF BOB MURPHY.

With no Murph there can be no happy recaps.   The ending must always be a disaster since Murphy isn’t there to happily recap it.  How could the Mets have gotten into the playoffs on September 28th without Bob to tell us about it.   No, the team is destined to have Howie Rose express disappointment.

How can the Mets solve this?  I don’t have any ideas.   A Murph-bot?   Have the production guys whip up a “The Happy Recap” intro for Mets Extra?  Get rid of Willie?  Oh wait they did that last one – I’m pretty sure that’s what the curse was all along.

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Once again Peter hooks me up…if you click here and look down at the bottom of the page you’ll see three different videos related to the 2010 Mets marketing which has the theme “We believe in 2010.”

A few points:

You have David Wright telling me that “we believe in ORANGE BLUE AND YOU.”



Awesome.  Then let’s wear orange and blue and you’ll get the me part.  “Orange, blue and you” is now in your marketing so let’s keep the black jerseys and especially those hideous blue/black caps in the closet.

“We believe in comebacks.”  Ok, I’ll roll with you.

“We believe in two thousand and ten.”  Pet-peeve of mine, drop the “and” – plus it’s time to say “twenty ten.”  I’m off-topic.

I can’t embed the video.   As I discussed last week, if I were able to embed an MLB.com video, baseball would likely go out of business.  Why would they want to make it easy for me to share a marketing campaign with you……

…and then make you sit through a 30 second ad to see it.   I know we have to monetize everything (and yes I try to make a few bucks here and there on this site…wouldn’t you like to buy some Jets tickets over there on the right?)…but it’s a marketing campaign, don’t you want people to see it?

Is it me, or do they whip out “believe” a little too often, I’d argue that it’s ours but Tug took it with him to Philly.  (Speaking of Tug, come back this afternoon for a look at cool Tug jersey).

Orange, blue and you.   I am sure I will be quoting that about 10,000 times in Twentyten.

In case you’re wondering…here’s some quality yet suspect Wikipedia:

• “Inaugural Season at Citi Field” (2009)
• “Last Season at Shea” (2008)
• “Your Season Has Come.”(2007)
• “The Team. The Time. The Mets.” (2006)
• “Next Year is Now” (2005)
• “The New Mets” (2005)
• “Catch the Energy” (2004)
• “Always Believe” (2002)
• “Amazin’ Again” (2000)
• “Are You Ready? New Year, New Team, New Magic” (1999)
• “Show Up At Shea!” (1998)
• “Believe in the ’98 Mets!” (1998)
• “Generation K” (1995)
• “Hardball Is Back!” (1992)
• “Excellence. Again And Again” (1989)
• “Lets Go for it Again” (1988)
• “Lets Do it Again” (1987)
• “Baseball Like it Oughta Be” (1986)
• “Catch the Rising Stars” (1985)
• “There’s No Power Shortage Here” (1983)
• “The Magic is Back” (1980)
• “You Gotta Believe!” (1973)
• “Meet the Mets.” (1962)

Again, click here to get closer to the video – hunt for the needle in the haystack (bottom right), then sit through an ad, then buy tickets.

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