I could Google the name of the General Manager (GM) who
served the Mets during the 1977 season. I was 7 years old at the time. I did
not even know what a GM was, nor did I know the individual’s function, nor did
I care. All I can remember was my incredulous parents. “THE METS TRADED TOM
SEAVER!” That was their exclamation that morning. Shock. Disbelief.
Resignation. What were the Mets going to do? Who could do such a thing?
Fast-forward to the early 1980s. There was a guy in a bow
tie that used to stand at a podium when the “new Mets” came. He got these guys
named Hernandez, Carter. Well…you know the rest.
I began to understand the role of the GM after that. I was
in my teens. I thought I had some knowledge about who should be on the Mets. I
mean, why couldn’t we get Rick Sutcliff. Maybe Pete Rose? Harold Baines? Andre
Dawson AND Tim Raines? Rickey Henderson? Ron Guidry AND Dennis Eckersley? Why
not? I mean, couldn’t we just ASK them to come, and write them a check for
their services?
Alas, the teenage mind. Suffice to say, my “baseball” mind
is probably not much different as I leave my 40s in the rear view and enter my
5th decade. I want ALL the top players for MY team. After all, there
is no monetary expense too great, no draft pick that can’t be traded. I mean,
MY team should have transitioned immediately from Beltran, Delgado, Santana.
Martinez, Glavine and the like to Trout, Bellinger, Harper, Kershaw, Altuve,
AND…well...you get the picture.
I tell you, I’m not delusional. It can be done. All the superstars
at my disposal. Under team control for perpetuity. I can be the Ultimate GM!
I really enjoy virtual, fantasy “baseball” games. They are
the grand alternative for a severely myopic teenager who could throw a ball,
but could not see the ball to hit it. I could never make it on a baseball
diamond as a player, but I can sit at my electronic device, and DREAM about
acquiring the “ultimate” team of prospects with a world of potential to
compliment my proven veterans.
But wait. I have only won a single fantasy league. And that
was a football league with minimal participation. I’ve never won a virtual
baseball league is my 5 years of “competition.”
I attribute this to bad luck. After all, I did draft the
ultimate team. They just did not perform. Just like the Mets of 1987, 1988,
2006, 2007, 2008…Wow. That’s depressing. Or is it actually validating? Of
course. I can’t blame Duquette, Minaya, Phillips. Of even the guy that helped
deal Seaver. Whoever he was. After all, the Reds had GREAT prospects in Norman and
Henderson, and great pitchers such as Zachry. Was that his name? That slender
guy with the beard? Anyway, maybe they just didn’t perform to potential? Who
can blame the GM? He wasn’t on the field. Right?
So, as with every cringe as the camera pans to Cano on the
bench, and with every deluge of tears that accompany a blown Diaz save, let us
tell ourselves that we could have made much better front office decisions as GM
than Brody.
I could have made the Mets great again by making Machado
mine. I meant, “ours”. I could have found the money. And, the right prospects.
Somewhere. Right? Of course, what would I have done with McNeil? Never mind. I
could have worked it out.
With every futile Frazier flail at a low outside slider, let
us tell ourselves that we could have acquired a more productive aging veteran.
I told myself with every Jay Bruce Bomb for that
unmentionable team the south side of the Turnpike that they were not going to
make the playoffs anyway. I hope I’m correct.
I think that I could make the decisions that can make a
winner.
Could you all do the same?
I think the Mack’s Mets Fantasy Baseball league should start
Spring 2020. Any takers?
I criticize the Mets for their decision making. I'd probably do worse. My brother Steve would do better. He'd have gone head to head with the Yanks, full speed ahead.
ReplyDeletePart of the Mets problem has been the fringe guys. JD Davis great, but over the past 2 seasons, how many back up call ups (hitting and pitching) have done poorly. It seems that almost every Yank back player acquisition or call up move (e.g., Voit, Urshela, Ford, Maybin, Tauchman) has gone incredibly well.
That can't all just be dumb luck.
Dwight/Tom -
ReplyDeleteLove JD but he plays defense like a stork.
Last night's omission of Lagares in CF strengthen my theory that middle field defense wins games.
As for having a fantasy league on the site next year, I think it's a great idea, but we would first need to find someone that would oversee it before reaching out to readers/writers to participate
It can be hosted on a format like ESPN. We could have weekly team reports on the site.
DeleteI did fantasy baseball for many years but not in the past 5 or so...been without fantasy football the past two and it's been a bit weird. I'm up for participating.
ReplyDeleteFyi, when Ed Charles was a Mets scout he wanted to draft a young pitcher in the first round that Ed had wined and dined and was confident he could sign. The Mets "cross-checker" at the time nixed the idea. The Pitcher? Rick Sutcliff.
ReplyDeleteYes gents. I love fantasy sports. I'm not particularly good at predicting winners, but I enjoy the trades and looking for gems in the waiver wire. I like the ESPN platform. It would also provide fodder for posts.
ReplyDeleteTom, The Yankees did made good moves, but aside from Severino, they have not been able to develop elite starting pitchers from their farm system. As for playing GM I suggested during this past Winter that the Mets trade Thor for Sanchez which would have worked in the Mets favor.
ReplyDelete