Death is always interesting. Most people go into some form of protective shock when someone close to them pass. They get through the burial process and don’t drop their guard until a short period later, when they finally let their emotions out regarding the loss.
A baseball team goes through various streaks and lulls and you can usually group a bunch of years together as an “era”. The Yankees have had a bunch of great eras, but anyone that was around in the 1980s remember a different Yankee lull.
Okay… don’t look this up.
The Mets have played baseball for 50 years. We all know they have won the World Series two times.
Question: How many years did the Mets make the playoffs?
Seven times, which includes the two World Series wins.
The Mets did not play a single playoff game in 43 of their existing 50 years.
What about since 1986?
25 seasons… no World Series win… only one WS appearance, three more playoff seasons.
Big market team… maybe.
Successful baseball franchise… I think not.
Oh, there are worse teams. The Washington Nationals have only played in one playoff series. Ever.
I point all this out because I spend most of my time reading professional Met followers as well as basic Met fans. The pro write about the Mets in between competing for one liners, and tell us that the Mets suck. The fans, God love them, spend every off-season saying next year is going to be the big one, and we love our boys, etc. etc. You would think they were waiting by the dock as their son came home from war.
The fact is the pros have this right. The Mets do suck, and have sucked since their inception. The aberration was 1969 and 1986. The norm is what went on last year.
Want more?
- In 50 years, the Mets have won five pennants.
- In 50 years, the Met finished the season at least 20 games back, 23 times.
- In 50 years, the Mets have won 100+ games a season three times.
- In 50 years, the Mets have lost 100+ games a season six times. 90+ games 19 times.
Here’s some more facts to chew on as this week continues:
- The December 2011 Mets will not sign a blue chip free agent this off-season.
- The 2012 Mets payroll will be less than $100mil.
- The 2012 Mets will not make the playoffs.
- The 2012 Mets will lose a lot of money.
- The 2013 Mets payroll will be less than $85mil.
- The 2013 Mets will also not make the playoffs.
- And the 2013 Mets will lose much more money.
Should you stop writing about them? Hell no, especially if you’re paid to do it.
Should you stop rooting for them? Hell no, again.
But I just wanted to create the proper timeline for a Met era that just doesn’t seem to have an ending.
This is depressing, but will make it that much sweeter when the Mets finally do right the ship and win it all
ReplyDeleteYet, the Mets have appeared in twice as many World Series as the two Chicago teams, also big market, have since WW II combined. The Chicago teams get away with it because the team across town usually sucks as much your team does. The Mets are not afforded that luxury and get kill for it. Doesn't excuse their history but it does elevate it in the media.
ReplyDeletethe mets payroll will be smaller in both seasons. however, in 2013 it will be because big payrolls will be coming off the books ( pelfrey, pagan, BAY) and will hopefully be replaced with better younger talent from the farm. agree with everything else you said. just something to keep in mind. hopefully that young talent will provide more hope than the current roster deadweights do. bottom line, higher payroll doesn't necessarily equal a better team. although maybe im just one of those die hard hopefuls that you mentioned earlier in the article. lol
ReplyDeletenot sure whatever happened to my username in the above comment.
ReplyDeleteThe 2014 mets, should have a rotation of Harvey, a wheeler, Familia, niese, and dickey(if the sign him)...I'll take my chances. As for this year end next...I'll cheer when they win, I'll be mad when they lose, but either way I'll be back the next day watching.
ReplyDeleteIf the 2013 payroll is below $85M that means they traded Wright or managed to jettison Bay or Santana?
ReplyDeleteLooks like Pelfrey and Pagan will be offered arbitration this year. Hopefully in 2013 there will be younger, better, cheaper players to fill those spots. Would not be good if we went into 2013 offering arbitration again because they suck, but they're the best we can afford.
Thanks for the memories. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhen I hear folks wax indignant over the Jackie Robinson Rotunda displacing Met Greats, a litany such as this comes to mind. Such a sense of history-in-context we fans have.
Maybe someday The Robinson-Nimmo Rotunda will be a historically fitting tribute to the faithful; alas I won’t be around to see it.