Comments on: The $140 Million Underdogs

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:02:49 +0000

This current lineup for the Mets reminds me of the late 70s/early 80s lineups – basically a lineup with no power, not much speed, and just average batting averages. Can this team stay close in the race for the division? Or are we more likely (like those aforementioned Met teams) to lose 10 in a row?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:52:04 +0000

Do the Phillies' struggles this June remind anyone else of the Mets' version in 2007?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:50:14 +0000

Good point, Dana.
And don't forget, when the “Big Boys” do come back in August/September, they'll be fresher mentally, not having gone through the mid-summer grind.
I hope…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:49:38 +0000

Hi Jason,
Of course, who says the Mets are dead? When announced Beltran also going to DL my first thought was “Ya Gotta Believe”.
And I still do. While it might lack power, there is still a core of players in that lineup that can hit – Cora, Murphy, Wright, Sheffield/Tatis, Church, Schneider/Santos, Martinez, Castillo – and hold down the fort somewhat (if our pitching and defense come through) until we regroup.
Except for Beltran, I thought the most devasating injury was Putz. Our bullpen is suffering, not from inability, but from over-use. If Santana, Pelfrey (who is strugling), Hernandez and Maine (who should be back soon) can go a little longer, the pen will be less taxed until J.J. (and maybe Wanger?) are back in August. Maine and Beltran should be back sooner. Reyes, another month?
Yes, lots of “ifs” but the Phillies stumbling has kept us within shouting distance of first and nobody else seems to be running away with the wild card. Who knows, those replacements are obviously super-psyched at the opportunity to play everyday and with the adreneline going might make significant contributions at least in the short term.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:09:15 +0000

This is a great post, Jason, and I agree with you 100%. If it wasn't for the underdogs and miracle myth, which I admit is sometimes obscenely outdated and irrelevant, I would walk away from all of this. Somehow the complete decimation of the team by injury has brought us back in time. And I'm loving it. Perversely. I am so excited about the possibility that this season could mean something of its own. This doesn't just have to be the season when the team that fell flat on its face finally finally gets it done. It could and should be the season when the irregulars held the fort against the odds and against the naysayers, so that the expensive guys who couldn't get it done before can come through and do it in August and September, inspired by the way the secondary players have redefined the franchise, returning it to its roots.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:47:01 +0000

I don't know where/when it started, but I hate it. I hate the sourpusses (which is why I write an Optimistic Mets Fan blog..) I hate the expectation that we're going to lose and the odd success is just to keep us from being completely Cubiserable.
To me, we're the 'favorite' franchise. the Yankees are second. the Mets outdrew them in '62 even! a soon to be World Series champ!
I think some fans just don't know what they want.
I also contend that we're not underdogs now. We're still better than they are. It's a fine distinction. It's not that we want to root for the underdog, it's that after years of expecting disaster and getting success occasionally, some fans don't understand how to root for super stars. (And in the back of our heads, some probably are probably just bracing for the letdown when David Wright gets traded or becomes a coke-head) We don't know how to root for a batting leader. We don't know how to root for a guy that could very well throw the first Mets no-hitter. (although I think we're making progress with him) We don't know how to go out there and know our guys are better than the opposition, and cheer. It seems half of us are pumping up the Phillies because we just don't believe the Mets can be that good.
“Look! Howard! He's a monster! Utley has that 'grit' stuff! They're awesome! That means the Mets are the underdog!”
bah humbug. Beltran says he expects the Mets to be in first when he returns. Good. Let's get it done. Stop with the naysaying. Some tout Wright's Ks as why he's going to fall off his pace. I say he's going to fall off the K pace and continue to bash the ball. (Also, with Beltran out he'll start approaching a ridiculous OBP.)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:32:26 +0000

I think it actually goes back to Soscia…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:17:36 +0000

Well said regarding the true character of the Mets franchise. Our traditional role has been lost in the past few years. I would argue it dates back to the 2000 World Series. That's when many Mets fans, myself included, went from happy-go-lucky to sourpusses.