Dwight Hood - LFGM. The Ode to Brody Van “What’s His Name”.

I remember he was kind of “dropped” upon us, like the unexpected release of the album with the alternate “outtakes”. We didn’t really know what to expect. The player agent turned general manager. 

I also recall that Sandy Alderson wrote some kind of book about how he “turned around the Mets” after the surprise 2015 World Series run. “Turned around” the Mets? 

Let me stick to topic. Suffice to say, the “fanatic” in me is always has limited expectations of my team and their front office. I remember being enamored with Frank Cashen in the 80’s. He was able to pry Keith Hernandez from the Cardinals for Neil Allen and some guy named Rick. 

We got Gary Carter from the Expos for Hubie Brooks, a pitcher named Floyd that roomed with Dwight Gooden in AAA ball, and some other players I think. It seemed he was able to add the right free agents like Ray Knight and bring in the right youth at the right time like Lenny, “Doc”, and “Straw”. We won in 1986. 

Then it seemed he let Knight go, and began to slowly dismantle the behemoth. I remember Greg Jeffries and one of my 80’s heroes Roger McDowell, know a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, brawling on the I think the final day of play at Shea one season in the late 80’s. 

Yes. The end to one of the summers of my discontent. I became disillusioned with Cashen, as my dreams of another “chip” faded away with Carter to LA, Straw to LA, Mookie to Toronto, and Keith to Baltimore. 

Then there was Steve Phillips. I remember he did some “alterations” to the coaching staff in 1999, and we made a run all the way to the NLCS, only to have Kenny Rogers walk in the winning run against the Braves. 

Then there was Omar Minaya. He brought in one blockbuster free agent after another. Santana, Delgado, Beltran, Greene, Wagner. This to go with the core of Reyes and Wright. 2006 was supposed to be the start of another dynasty. Then the Wainwright hook to Beltran in the NCLS, followed by collapses in September in 2007 and 2008. 

I’m used to disappointment and have sought to lower my expectations. So, when Brody Van “What’s His Name” began the season basically stating that we were the team to beat in the NL East, I honestly paid little attention. I thought deGrom would never get signed to a long term deal. I thought we were fleeced by Seattle to take on the Cano contract. 

Relievers are so unpredictable and never seem to consistently produce, so I was concerned that we were taking on the long-term contract of an aging PED offender, along with a young reliever. I did like the Jed Lowrie signing, but so far he has not been “sighted”, apparently sidelined by significant recurrent physical ailments that preclude him from engaging in baseball activities.

Prior to July 23^rd, the Mets were tied for the 2^nd worse record in National League, and 7 games out of playoff contention. 

The media and the fan base alike derided our neophyte GM. Where is Jed Lowrie? Cano is old, can’s even run out a grounder to 1^st, and is not hitting. Diaz is no closer. Our hopes were blasted out of the building with each late-inning homer and blown save Diaz surrendered.

Then it happened. We watched our hopes sour with our “Polar Bear’s” monstrous HR derby blasts. Lugo solidified the bullpen. Thor, Wheeler, and Matz became collectively more consistent to match deGrom. Frazier, Cano, Davis, Rosario, and Alonso backed McNeil’s clutch consistency at the plate. 

The Mets started winning. 14 of 16. Up to .5 game out of the 2^nd Wild Card. Then came the chants and slogans. “Ya Gotta Believe”. “LGM”. Then “LFGM,”, as we sneered in collective defiance to our crosstown rivals, asking coyly, “What do you think the F means?”

The pundits say it is octogenarian Phil Regan that has breathed life into the pitching staff. It could be Chili Davis, the formed Met killer, who injected a more aggressive hitting approach. The pundits point to the “Youth Movement”, headed by All-Stars McNeil and Alonso, buttressed by the resurgence of Davis. 

I haven’t heard anyone yet give any credit to Brody Van “What’s His Name”. Brody Van Wagenan. He held the course at the trade deadline. We kept Diaz, Wheeler, and Thor, and added pitching in Strohman, Matz’s Long Island childhood buddy. 

Did he have anything to do with this? This push to the postseason? The new Mets Magic? How long will this last? I’m not sure. But, I’m just going to enjoy it as long as I can. 

Thanks Brody. I appreciate it.