For those of you old enough to remember or having delved into various online resources have watched the old “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” may recall one of their regular bits that premiered in the opening for season two entitled The Flying Fickle Finger of Fate Award. It became a regular recognition of someone or some entity that overtly dropped the ball in some way to circumvent expectations and miss the mark entirely. It became popular and its platform became a regular part of why people tuned in weekly to watch the popular program.
This history lesson came to mind as Spring Training progresses and you find that there are a few folks entering this realm unintentionally, feeling the unexpected wrath of the fans and media for not sticking to the expected script and providing results inconsistent with what folks had come to expect.
While there are numerous folks we can identify who may be this week’s nominee for the dubious mantle place statue, perhaps the most stunning one is the quick condemnation of Mets rookie pitcher Nolan McLean whose late start into the WBC led to a Thursday meltdown against Italy that already has people proclaiming his 2025 major league introduction as newly minted recipients of a modern day Fickle Finger of Fate Award.
We all know how dominant McLean had been in his Mets September trial and then again in his spring training early games before leaving for the WBC. People were practically drooling over the prospect of having him partner up with Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes and others to provide the Mets with a stellar starting rotation for the upcoming season.
Then came the vertigo symptoms that kept him sidelined for awhile until he was deemed healthy enough to proceed to the international tournament with his starting assignment pushed back until the Thursday game against Italy. He started off with striking out the side so all was seemingly right with the world. Until it wasn’t.
Immediately the media types and fans were quick to condemn him for failing to provide Team USA with the type of performance they’d come to expect from the young hurler. Forgotten was the vertigo that had sidelined him and set him back on his normal training and development schedule. It was far easier to condemn him as a one-time flash in the pan that it was to consider that for a variety of reasons sometimes folks simply have a bad day. Hell, in 1969 on Opening Day Tom Seaver gave up 11 runs and failed to complete four innings. Somehow he managed to win 25 that year but folks were similarly up in arms.
Now when poor performance becomes habitual and lasts for longer than what one could term a slump then there is some validity in jumping off the bandwagon. 2025’s unofficial Finger Award winner Mark Vientos would be a good example here. Still, it was a bit unsettling for so many negative comments being trumpeted after a single bad game. Most rational fans understand that it happens to everyone now and then. You need to evaluate the entire performance resume and not obsess over a single start.
15 comments:
Sometimes People are too fast to “point a finger.”
He’s just a kid, a darn good pitcher, & my only gripe is the WBC in general. It screwed up his Spring Training program. Now this is the downside.
WBC: more downside than upside for the MLB team.
I am pointing a finger at the season schedulers. The Mets are supposed to open on March 26. The high temperature for the day for March 26 is projected to be 42°. play ball!
Oddly, on Mark Vientos, in his past spring trainings, he has hit well. Maybe he’ll hit poorly this spring and tear it up during the season. He may just be overthinking things. I still think that if he starts swinging it a lot more first strikes, he will be much better off. But that’s my guess.
Vientos has gone from hitting bad this spring to not hitting at all
I hate sophomore seasons
Reese, it’s nice to know that the patience of the American public in 1969 was the same as it is now. And here I was thinking it got shorter.
RVH, the Japanese are standing up to MLB and their unending quest to squeeze out every dime. The Athletic is reporting that Netflix bought the exclusive rights to broadcast games in Japan. However, as Japanese sporting events are always on free tv, no one bought Netflix! Maybe MLB will get the hint?
Lastly, I’m disappointed that Holmes pulled out of the WBC. Skubal did likewise and if these guys can’t honor their commitment they shouldn’t go. Who is going to pitch now?
Sorry, one more. Vientos is too talented to just dump. Keep him. Make room.
Then play him now. At least DH
Gus, I think the Mets pulled him out because they weren't pitching him at all. He needs to be stretched out for the season, or he won't be ready for the start of the season.
He can't stay there for 2 weeks without pitching. I actually don't blame them.
Split squad today
Both 6pm
Gus, I would send Bryce Montes de Oca to pitch in the WBC. It would be a walk on the wild side.
Tom
You would have Bryce Montes de Oca marry your first born, regardless of sex
Always follow the money always!
Mack, you might have a point there. Who else but Oca in 4.2 career spring innings would allow just one hit, fan 9….but walk 10? He’s hit no batters, though, because no one gets within 3 feet of the plate when he pitches.
Oca was sent down already. His first spring game in February, he fanned the side on 14 pitches, which had to have the Nats hopeful, but then was wild and crazy in his next two outings. The story of his career. He is the Steve Dalkowski of his day.
Back to the award, this was a great piece, Reese! I fondly remember the Laugh-in shows and the finger of fate. You were right on about the criticism of McLean. He didn't have a great start, but at the end of the day, McLean only gave up 3 runs in a game the US scored 6 so let's not blame him for the fall of the American empire. Those same critics were also all over Aaron Judge, who struck out in the last inning as the tying run, yet Judge has been huge throughout the WBC.
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