As the weekend ended and the new week began, I started putting pen to paper (yes, SOME of us still use that antiquated way of doing things) to share some thoughts about the excellent team that makes up the Mets front office, besides Brodie.
As I was writing, the world of baseball tipped over on its side a bit, as the punishment came down for the Astros (NOT harsh enough, in my opinion), resulting in the suspensions, then terminations of their GM and manager; the Red Sox manager, one Alex Cora, was also let go as a preemptive strike knowing that they, too, are about to face major penalties due to their own cheating scandal (their SECOND, I might add).
Last, and certainly NOT least for Mets fans, one Carlos Beltran, the team's newly minted manager, that same guy I wrote so glowingly about last week, was the ONLY player cited in MLB's 9-page report on Houston's disciplinary report, and someone about whom we will all continue to speculate upon as we learn whether or not the team is going to let him go or keep him. Right now, their silence is deafening...
As I was writing, the world of baseball tipped over on its side a bit, as the punishment came down for the Astros (NOT harsh enough, in my opinion), resulting in the suspensions, then terminations of their GM and manager; the Red Sox manager, one Alex Cora, was also let go as a preemptive strike knowing that they, too, are about to face major penalties due to their own cheating scandal (their SECOND, I might add).
Last, and certainly NOT least for Mets fans, one Carlos Beltran, the team's newly minted manager, that same guy I wrote so glowingly about last week, was the ONLY player cited in MLB's 9-page report on Houston's disciplinary report, and someone about whom we will all continue to speculate upon as we learn whether or not the team is going to let him go or keep him. Right now, their silence is deafening...
At this point, I'd rather refrain from writing any further about the Mets' front office until we see just how this is all going to play out. What I AM willing to write about is cheating & baseball.
Let's face it- this game that we love, adore, cherish, has been populated by cheaters for as long as the game has been played. There are cheaters in the Hall of Fame; there are cheaters who have played the game, managed the game, umpired the game, you name it - none of us know who they are/were or how many, just as we will never know who really used steroids, how many, for how long and to what effect? And it doesn't matter- at this point, merely a week after advocating for and being grateful for the Mets hiring Beltran, I have to say that the fact that Beltran, in conjunction with whomever originated this scheme, or fleshed it out, no matter, need to be expelled from the game.
It's a different story when using technology to cheat versus being very good at stealing signs or knowing a pitcher's tell from simply observing them on the field. None of it is right, but in this case there ARE levels of wrong, and using technology with the specific intent of cheating is as low as it gets in this game. Wait - strike that - throwing games for a bet is by FAR as low as it gets...this, however, comes a close second.
Let's face it- this game that we love, adore, cherish, has been populated by cheaters for as long as the game has been played. There are cheaters in the Hall of Fame; there are cheaters who have played the game, managed the game, umpired the game, you name it - none of us know who they are/were or how many, just as we will never know who really used steroids, how many, for how long and to what effect? And it doesn't matter- at this point, merely a week after advocating for and being grateful for the Mets hiring Beltran, I have to say that the fact that Beltran, in conjunction with whomever originated this scheme, or fleshed it out, no matter, need to be expelled from the game.
It's a different story when using technology to cheat versus being very good at stealing signs or knowing a pitcher's tell from simply observing them on the field. None of it is right, but in this case there ARE levels of wrong, and using technology with the specific intent of cheating is as low as it gets in this game. Wait - strike that - throwing games for a bet is by FAR as low as it gets...this, however, comes a close second.
What next? Well, now, we wait and see just what today, tomorrow, this week will bring us...as the joy I felt in seeing one of our best players take over the helm of this ball-club has all but drained away...let's hope the Mets chances of contending this year haven't drained away, too...
One last thing - in case you don't think this scandal is all that bad, let's look at something my buddy Jonathan pointed out over the weekend. Joe Girardi was the Yankees' manager in 2017, the year the Astros won the World Series. They beat the Yankees in the play-offs to get there; by cheating, the Astros potentially cost Girardi another World Series, one that, if he had won, would have made it nearly impossible to be fired by their GM Brian Cashman.
More importantly, IF the Yankees HAD won that World Series, Girardi would have been on the same Hall of Fame path that Bruce Bochy is now on. He would have 2 titles on his resume as a manager, and possibly the Yanks of 2019, who also lost in the play-offs to Houston, might have won then, too, resulting in a third title and a sure-fire path to the Hall. Now, the chances of Girardi getting there are slim and none...thank you, Houston, we DO, indeed, have a problem...
More importantly, IF the Yankees HAD won that World Series, Girardi would have been on the same Hall of Fame path that Bruce Bochy is now on. He would have 2 titles on his resume as a manager, and possibly the Yanks of 2019, who also lost in the play-offs to Houston, might have won then, too, resulting in a third title and a sure-fire path to the Hall. Now, the chances of Girardi getting there are slim and none...thank you, Houston, we DO, indeed, have a problem...
Okay- one MORE one last thing- the best move this off-season for the Mets was just made- by the TWINS!!! In 2019, Josh Donaldson, then the Braves third baseman, hit 9 homers versus the boys from Flushing, with 16 RBI's and crazy on-base and slugging percentages.
Not having to face him anymore, and having him not only out of their division but also out of their LEAGUE was a huge win for this team in a week where we didn't seem to win a thing...
Not having to face him anymore, and having him not only out of their division but also out of their LEAGUE was a huge win for this team in a week where we didn't seem to win a thing...
Some clubs care about winning and seek to improve their team. Others don't.
ReplyDeleteWill the Cheater be an ex-Met today? Stay tuned.
ReplyDeleteGood that Donaldson went elsewhere.
Time to improve more, as Reese says.
I am looking forward to David's book on baseball cheating. I hope he can keep it under 1200 pages.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that the moral indignation is fueled by the tool of espionage, not the act itself. "Stealing signs" (or for that HAVING signs--i.e. secret communication) is part of the folklore, but using a national broadcast witnessed by millions is dastardly. I see tablets in the dugouts & on the NFL benches all the time. What for? Information of course, so why not require all such retrieval be left to the meat memory between the ears? Otherwise it's cheating?
How about upping the offensive communication technology; Secret Service earpieces to communicate clandestinely. No signs to intercept visually (I note that pitchers talk into their gloves & offensive coordinators cover their mouths with plasticized...um...cheat sheets.) Of course bugging the other guys' COMLINK would be cheating.
Look at all this mass hysteria, lynch mobs and pitch forks coming for Beltran from the media. Thats what happens in NY especially in a slow news cycle for the team. Personally I would rather the Mets make a statement of their support for Beltran and he makes some comments, takes some questions and we move on. In a few weeks the news cycle will move onto the next controversy and it will be largely forgotten. Of course the media wants him fired because they get to write more stories about both that and the next managerial search. Pitchers and catchers report in a few weeks, personally I don't see how firing Beltran improves the team, it just causes more controversy and a scramble for the remnants of remaining managerial candidates.
ReplyDeleteWell said Dallas. The Wilpon Mets have not once handled controversy well. Brodie hasn't been able to handle it yet either.
ReplyDeleteIf the Mets keep Beltran, the gaggle will eat him alive daily.
ReplyDeleteBy the way... question... if you single and steal second, is that runner stealing signs from the opposing catcher thought to be okay?
I totally disagree Mack, the gaggle will eat the situation alive until its addressed. Once its addressed who is going to keep asking him questions about a scandal from 3 years ago during games against the Nats or whoever else they are playing? Maybe it pops up briefly again in Spring Training but like all news cycles they will move on. It seems like a much bigger deal now because nothing else is happening in MLB right now except them doling out punishment to the Stros and talking about the Sox. There is nothing else for the writers to talk about except maybe Donaldson going to the Twins. Beltran is the lone connection to the Mets so it is something for them to jump on and write about and ask questions of. They have (the media) in a way created this controversy. If Beltran was managing for Minnesota or something instead I bet it would be but a blip on the radar.
ReplyDeleteTom/Mack--I have to say. I hope the "gaggle" will hound and berate JD Davis and Marisnic as much as they would Beltran as you say. They were as involved as him, that whole team was equally complicit. We should cut them right? Seems like the right thing to do. Just to be consistant.
ReplyDeleteMac, I doubt it will go further than it has with the Astros and their Alumni.
ReplyDeleteAnd the way JD Davis DIDN'T hit while with the Astros, it seems clear no one was helping him.
I think how much or how little they hit plays little into this. Beltran didn't hit exactly hit very well for the Stros in the regular or postseason. I'm pretty disappointed by all of this. Just goes to show that the media can control the narrative and majorly influence the moves the Wilpons make. Realistically this wasn't going to impact their season IMO. I think they will be more impacted by trying to scramble for a new manager with 3 weeks before Spring Training.
ReplyDeletetom--i was joking, I don't want them to release either player. Im just pointing out the poor logic on Mets part. But his BA has nothing to do with it. He was probably banging the trash can more often than not.
ReplyDeleteMac, gotcha. Met fans have banned their heads against the wall a lot over the years.
ReplyDelete