Ernest Dove - Wild Thing (Vic Black), You Make My Heart Sing

  As all Mets fans (impatiently) wait on d'Arnoud's ongoing progress, dream about what the mighty Thor can be, and continue to get excited about what Wheeler is becoming, there was another trade in the past year that is also now getting some more notice and attention in this organization. As Sandy Alderson apparently did his impression of...... well, Sandy Alderson, by being patient and letting things come to him, the Mets almost quietly pulled off what might be one of their best trades in the past decade. Seems like almost yesterday that the Mets, of course out of any playoff contention, ended up shipping Marlon Byrd and John Buck to the Pirates.  In exchange, they ended up with some 19 year old teenager, and a player-to-be-named-later...... who ended up being the one and only Vic Black. 
  As the Mets organization continues to build through their pitching, they took their chances in acquiring a flame thrower, with a tendency for wildness, in the hopes of harnessing his ability.  And, well, look at what we have now.  That teenager Dilson Herrera is now quickly a 20 year old, who simply hasn't stopped hitting, and finds himself helping the Mets AA ball club try and lock down a playoff spot in that league.
  Meanwhile, the flame thrower who, as advertised I guess, came out firing, and often missing, and eventually pitched himself out of the opening day 25 man roster to start 2014.  However it would almost seems to be unheard of at this point already, he somehow managed to work on his control, even while pitching in the Vegas heat, and the hitter friendly PCL. Now, all of a sudden, as if it was out of nowhere, (due to all the craziness and changes made this year to the Mets bullpen), Vic Black is solidifying himself as one of the best in the business.  And he appears to be doing it, one stranded base runner at a time.
  Our very own wild thing is still possibly a bit of a work in progress, which includes a recent walk, during an inning in which he should have already induced a double play ball anyway, but who has time to argue about that Mets defense outside of Lagares, am I right?
  Anyway, by close of business day yesterday, Mr. Black finds himself with a 1.95 ERA.  He is averaging pretty much a K an inning, and he has given up 1........1 homer, in 32+ innings.  In fact, if count his cup of coffee in 2013, that would still give him a grand total of 2 long balls given up, in almost 50 innings. (Rafael Montero, eat your heart out)
  As most writers now begin to rave, argue, write about and discuss what Vic Black's specific role should be in the bullpen, one simply can't argue with the fact that he absolutely deserves an ongoing role in the Mets organization. One that includes coming into games, either with none on and none out, or bases loaded and none out (he's bailed team out in the situation before).
  To be honest, you can count me as one of the annoying guys with a keyboard who complained  about the Mets acquiring a then 25 year old, still minor leaguer, to join a group of 25+ year old AAA to AAAA players that the organization seems to always accumulate.  But I have certainly been shut up.  And I was shut up within his first few batters faced.  There's just something about a dude, throwing the 'heater' and flailing all around the pitching rubber while doing it.
  They always say that bullpen guys need an edge.  Mejia certainly continues to work on his edge (along with his hair and celebration dance). And I believe that Vic Black also comes with his own edge, on the mound, and out of his electric right arm.
  Again, we can argue about his specific role in a given game (especially when Terry Collins is still in charge of in-game management), but I certainly don't really care which inning he pitches.  As long as he pitches.......(although, if I may continue to be annoying with a keyboard for a second, I still argue against Vic pitching more then 1 inning at a time).
  All teams need pitching.  All teams need a solid rotation, and all teams needs more then a few LIVE arms in their pen, to come in and throw 95+ mph, right when opposing batters were getting happy with the given starters slight decrease in velocity after the 5th-6th-7th innings.
  And, I for one am glad that Vic Black is on my favorite team.  Can we argue that he is a better option at closer then Mejia, maybe.  (would probably catch a social media argument about Familia being best of the 3 here as well). But, I believe is also very important, is that I haven't heard anything in the media about Vic complaining about his role, or voices any wishes for changes in game management, or his own expectations of what he prefers his role to be.
  Again, I guess, as in life, timing is everything.  And even though its no longer 1989 (Jesus, the movie came out that long ago?) the Mets have themselves their very own wild thing to call their own (well, as long as he is not THAT wild when Terry Collins eventually trots him back out there with the bases loaded again).
  And so, for the rest of this pending under .500 Mets season, try and continue to enjoy Vic Black at work.  And feel free to sing the Wild thing song while he's doing it.