Reese Kaplan -- All Time Mets Fan Hate Team

Many people inevitably get into a debate over a few adult beverages over a team’s All Time Great roster.  In the case of the Mets is it Mike Piazza or Gary Carter?  Keith Hernandez or John Olerud?  Edgardo Alfonzo or Daniel Murphy?

When I pondered the many free agents available this off-season the name Oliver Perez caused an involuntary shudder given the vitriol with which most Mets fans felt about the challenging left hander.  It got me to thinking what other players were the object of the fans’ wrath.  Towards that end I set about to create an All Time Mets Fan Hate List.  Let’s see how you feel about the options I’ve included.

First Base

While Lucas Duda and Dave Kingman had their rabid fans and detractors, the one name that came to mind as a player who in his short Mets career made me feel ashamed of his antics was the ultimate hot dog, Willie Montanez.  If he’d applied more effort to improving his game rather than being a flashy showman, then perhaps he would have lasted longer in a Mets uniform.

Second Base

This particular position has had a large number of unpopular players, some with the fans and some with his teammates.  In the former you have the pair brought over from Cleveland, Carlos Baerga and Robbie Alomar, both of whom were major busts in New York after being All Stars prior their arrival.  In the latter category you had both Jeff Kent and Greg Jefferies who never seemed to fit into the clubhouse and were prematurely ushered out of town to the detriment of the franchise.

Shortstop

To me the primary villain in this scenario would be the Mets last high-dollar foray into the foreign market – Kazuo Matsui.  With a reputation of being a sure thing, he actually forced highly popular Jose Reyes off his natural shortstop position over to second base.  He never amounted to much with the Mets and probably explains the xenophobia they have when it comes to foreign free agents.

Third Base

Two players became hated not as much for what they failed to produce on the field but for what they cost the Mets to acquire.  Jim Fregosi was a former All Star at the end of his career and for many years the hot corner was a revolving door for the Mets.  The price was, of course, Nolan Ryan.  Then there was the Kansas City Royals which sent Amos Otis to help the Royals win pennants.  The Mets acquired the immortal Joe Foy.  Ugh!  Given Ryan's Hall of Fame career that followed, I have to go with Fregosi.

Catcher

Here I don’t clearly remember anyone generating particular hostility among the fans, though for sure there were way too many games given to inferior players like Josh Thole, Junior Ortiz, Omir Santos, Anthony Recker and Kelly Stinnett.  However, I think the mantle of wrath has to go to current Mets starting catcher Travis d’Arnaud who seems to generate an inordinate amount of negative commentary among the fans.

Left Field

Jason Bay.  Enough said.  (Honorable mention, John Mayberry, Jr.)

Center Field

The two center field options that spring to mind are recent Sandy Alderson failed roster decisions.  Rick Ankiel and Alejandro de Aza both were cringe-worthy every time you saw their names in the lineup.

Right Field

Speedy Roger Cedeno was a great mystery every time a ball was hit in his direction.  Former Braves top prospect Jeff Francoeur was pretty much a waste of roster space during this Mets tenure.   The very talented but drug-using Ellis Valentine was a consideration.  Still, I think the poster child for anger management, Carl Everett, may indeed take the starting role here.

Starting Pitcher

The aforementioned Oliver Perez that inspired this column would easily be the first candidate to consider here.  Others like Mike Pelfrey and Steve Trachsel could initiate a Tourette’s-like reaction when they entered a game, but Perez easily edges them out. 

Relief Pitcher

Here there are several candidates.  Armando Benitez’ penchant for failing in key moments that overshadowed his positive contributions at other times.  The other anger management candidate, K-Rod, belongs on the list of candidates.  Short termer Mel Rojas is another one people loved to hate, but again there’s one guy who seemingly has this category all sewn up – sidearmer Doug Sisk.

Manager

Now this one is a bit tougher.  Obviously Terry Collins is a candidate but he still has some supporters who think he and not Yoenis Cespedes, Addison Reed and Tyler Clippard got the Mets to the World Series.  He is the losingest manager in team history, so that’s a tough record to beat.  However, the oft-repeated catchphrase of our winner, Art Howe, made me personally want to punch the television every time he uttered, “We battled.”  Given that Collins was on the payroll when the team twice went to the post season doesn’t obliterate his overall record of mediocrity, but Howe accomplished pretty much nothing.  After two losing season he was terminated.  He gets the nod. 

Who do you feel belongs in the starting role on this particular All Time Mets team?