Cutnpaste: - Ed Kranepool, Lance Johnson, Angel Pagan, K-Rod, and Ron Darling

Ed Kranepool:

Like Mets fans, Kranepool said he only watches the team if they are winning.”I only watch a good product,” Kranepool said. “If they are winning, I will watch, and if not, I turn the station and root for someone else.”I am a Met true and true. I am the only guy who played his whole career with the Mets, Ive got the longest time, longevity-wise … but I still want to see a good ball club.” - metspolice.  



Lance Johnson:

In 1996, an otherwise terrible Mets team had three players have MVP-type seasons: the aforementioned Gilkey, Todd Hundley, and Lance Johnson. The strength of the outfielders’ years have propelled them onto this list. (Remember, we’re looking for the most valuable Mets, and not the best loved, so the duo’s relatively short Mets’ careers fail to significantly hurt them. Though, of course, they didn’t get very high on this list anyway.) Gilkey’s ’96 season was better, but Johnson’s was one of the stranger seasons in baseball history. - patrickfloodblog  



Angel Pagan:

But there is danger in dealing him, as well. The Mets -- hope as they might -- don't know for sure how well Carlos Beltran's knees will hold up over a full season. To trade Pagan would be to dispose of their insurance at an important position; Nieuwenhuis, Duda and Martinez may all have offensive talent, but none is a proven hitter at the big league level. More importantly, only Nieuwenhuis is a natural center fielder. If the Mets can convince themselves that he's their center fielder of the future, then Pagan may become more expendable. In the meantime, he remains a valuable source of insurance at the position - link  


K-Rod:

Realistically, the Mets won’t exactly be blowing people out of the water this year. Therefore, it’s very important that when they have a lead late in the game, they shut the door. That starts and ends with K-Rod. He drives everyone crazy with his propensity of making things extremely stressful- all the time. But more often than not, he goes for the kill right as the other team is about to pounce. The Mets could use a career year from K-Rod in 2011, because good teams win close games, and for the Mets to win close games, they are going to need K-Rod. If Rodriguez is going out there and blowing one out of every three or four save opportunities, the Mets are going to be in for an even longer year than everyone is anticipating.



Ron Darling:

Won 99 games which is fourth in team history. Always seemed to battle himself ala John Maine. Came up small in both Game 7 opportunities (‘86 World Series, 88′ NLCS), but if it weren’t for his pitching the Mets wouldn’t have played in either one. He was good for 15 wins, 3.50 ERA, and 220 innings. Some may called that an “ace” by today’s standards. - NYBD