The Agony of Defeat... Again- Pic of the Day 9/29

For the second straight year, the Mets were eliminated from the playoff race on the last day of the season-- blowing a big lead in the season's final weeks.

Above is a pic from the front page of the Journal News (Westchester NY's largest paper) of me, a lifelong Mets fan, in obvious pain.

It was a bad weekend.

The Sad Saga

I've been asked to stop posting for a while by my employer, but happily, that doesn't mean I have to stop altogether. Because, every year around this time, I'll work in some non-political posts about my favorite team's collapse in the baseball standings. This year is no different, except I'm going to use to words of blogger David Lozo.

His post is decent, but it's the picture at the top that gets me.

The Sad, Sad Saga of Your Average N.Y. Mets Fan

There is nothing funnier yet, at the same time, sadder than a New York Mets fan. It’s like watching a six-car pileup where everyone dies, but everyone is dressed as Star Wars characters, so part of you laughs. But mostly, you feel bad for these desperate fools who have a harder time staying on an even keel than a meth addict.

Ever since the Mets had a seven-game lead with 17 games to play in 2007, I have been conducting a study of the New York Mets fan. I have charted emotions for close to a full year now, and I think it’s time to reveal my findings. What follows is a recounting of the emotional highs and lows of Mets fans for the last 350 days or so.

Sept. 12, 2007: “Dude, we’re seven games up. I can’t wait for the playoffs. We’re going to avenge that loss to the Cardinals and win the World Series. Willie Randolph has been superb and Tom Glavine really should get his option picked up.”

Sept. 30, 2007: “I hope Tom Glavine dies. Clearly he was a double agent for the Braves. Seven runs in an inning? I hate the Mets. We should fire Willie and start fresh.’

Jan. 30, 2008: “We traded for Johan Santana? Noooooo. Get out! That’s awesome! That guarantees us the NL East, and at worst a World Series trip. What a deal! Omar is a genius! Willie’s going to get us there!”

April 29, 2008: “I know Billy Wagner blew the save because of the error, but I don’t trust that guy.”

May 6, 2008: “Why does Carlos Delgado see the field? Can’t that guy retire already?”

May 26, 2008: “Please fire Willie already. This Mike Pelfrey character is a complete bust.”

May 29, 2008: “It’s not like it’s Willie’s fault.”

June 10, 2008: “OK, Willie needs to go.”

June 13, 2008: “Seriously, I hope we get someone for Delgado next season.”

June 16, 2008, 2:30 a.m.: “You know, I think Willie’s got this thing figured out
now.”

June 16, 2008, 3:45 a.m.: “Good riddance. Willie was killing us.”

June 24, 2008: “Jerry Manuel isn’t making things better.”

July 4, 2008: “Johan Santana just is not a big-game pitcher. He can’t finish what he
starts. Such a bum.”

July 6, 2008: “I know we’re 3.5 out with 74 games to go, but this team is done. No chance.”

July 17, 2008: “What a great move by the Mets to put Manuel in charge. I think a World Series is a real possibility now.”

July 19, 2008: “We can’t even beat the Reds. How can we possibly win the division?”

July 20, 2008: “If Wagner is done, we are screwed. That guy is lights out.”

July 25, 2008: “Mike Pelfrey should be getting some consideration for the Cy Young.”

August 3, 2008: “We are so done.”

August 10, 2008: “Mike Pelfrey better not be on the postseason roster.”

August 17, 2008: “If my neighbors think I’m loud now, just wait till they hear me when the Mets are playing in October.”

August 24, 2008: “We’re not going anywhere with this bullpen.”

Sept. 1, 2008: “Carlos Delgado is the NL MVP.”

Sept. 2, 2008: “This Luis Ayala guy is pretty awesome. He can close for us in the playoffs.”

Sept. 5, 2008: “We’re going to choke away the division again.”

Sept. 6, 2008: “I never said they were going to the World Series.”

Sept. 7, 2008, 4:45 p.m.: “We’re so done. Fire everyone.”

Sept. 7, 2008, 11:30 p.m.: “Johan Santana is a big-game pitcher. We’re going all the way.”

Sept. 10, 2008: “Hey, can I take off a few days in October? No one has off the day of Game 7 of the World Series, and I want to make sure I can watch it.”

This morning: “Our bullpen is a nightmare. I hope they miss the playoffs. Just give the division to the Phillies.”

Quote of the Day 3/28: Me Too!

"David Wright. He does everything I like and he's very young."

- The Godfather of baseball statisticians, Bill James, after being asked on 60 Minutes who he would build his dream team around. He picked the Mets 3B without hesitation.

That most American of holidays, Opening Day, is almost upon us. In three days the games count for real, and my beloved Mets open the season against the Marlins in Miami, here's a brief preview of the NL East, courtesy of ESPN's Baseball Tonight and Metsblog.com.

Now back to your regular, political programming.

Picture of the Day 2/20: Spring in the Air

Spring is in the air, and Santana's on the mound. The Mets have opened camp, and I'm thinking that maybe this really is the year.

Either way, there's plenty of hype behind the team as they've already set a record by selling over 2 million tickets faster than they ever have before. Last season, they set a team record with over 3.8 million fans (3rd in the league). With the sport in its heyday, attendance records are pretty much set every year.

Their new ace is also on the cover of Sports Illustrated this week, seen above.

Picture of the Day 2/14: P's & C's

- Oliver Perez, Mike Pelfrey and John Maine of the New York Mets jog during warm-ups in Port St. Lucie, Florida on the first day of Spring Training. Today is the first day pitchers and catchers report to training camps all over Florida and Arizona.

Take a deep breath, the baseball season is almost here.

(Finally) Good Day to be a Mets Fan

Two- time American League Cy Young Award winner, Johan Santana, is on the verge of signing with the good guys- the NY Mets.


It's enough to make a previously resigned fan (me) giddy with anticipation for the 2008 season. Summer evenings, tailgates under the Van Wyck, and "Meet the Mets" blaring from the speakers for a final season at Shea (see below).

Piazza vs. Mota

This is a video I have struggled to find for years. It's one of my favorite Mike Piazza moments. Guillermo Mota had hit Piazza on several occasions over the years. At one point prompting Piazza to grab Mota by the neck as he passed the Mets bullpen, and warn him. The next year, Mota hit Piazza again, and ole' Mike flew off the handle. Below is the video of some of the consequences. After getting kicked out of the game, Piazza still enraged, reportedly went into the visitor's locker room demanding: "Where's Mota?"


In a move that sealed the Mets' fate in 2006 and 2007, the team traded for (and resigned) Mota. After an outstanding 2006 regular season, after which he tested positive for steroids, Mota gave up a deciding gopher ball in the Mets ultimately disappointing playoff run. The next year, Mota, presumably clean, was simply one of the worst pitchers I have ever seen. The Mets traded him last month for a player whom they subsequently released.

It was poetic justice.

Another reason to like Joe

Joe Klein has been one of my favorite political writers since I faked reading Primary Colors in high school and watched the movie instead. (I finally went back and read it for real last summer.) Klein wrote that very compelling book anonymously, and only revealed his identity after the movie's release in 1998.

I also read a lot of his Time Magazine articles for poli- sci classes in college, and his short and sweet Clinton bio The Natural.

So Klein was a favorite of mine based on his talent and style before I read that he is a colossal Mets fan. So you can imagine how I feel about him now. Here Klein pens an article on the Mets collapse entitled: Oh, My Mets!.

And Now I'm Putting it Behind Me...

As pretty much everyone knows, last week the Mets collapsed in historic fashion and missed the playoffs, despite being in first place for almost the entire 162-game season. As not everyone knows, this weekend I went to Chicago and watched the Cubs season end on a losing note for 99th consecutive year. I am a huge Mets fan, and our loss crippled me and my fellow believers.

But now I'm ready to move on.

To that end, Time Magazine has an article entitled "Mental Help for Mets Fans." It's about how to cope with the biggest meltdown in the history of baseball. It's written by Sean Gregory, a lifelong Mets fan, and isn't patronizing. Dr. Richard Lustberg, a psychologist and also a big Mets fan, says "Baseball is being taken away from you. It's difficult to handle, especially when watching Mets games have become part of your routine. There's some reality to it. It's like you've suddenly had an aneurysm.

"I was driving to work today, and I go, 'Aw, s__, the Mets aren't on tonight," says Lustberg. "What am I going to do? I'm annoyed with the team. There has to be a period of withdrawal, and I know it's going to take a little while."

So, this is a good read for fans of the Mets, Cubs, or other choking teams. As this indicates, sometimes fans need a lesson in acceptance.

Also, this SNL skit is pretty good, and puts a fine point on the emotions that accompany that shocking loss.

However, I think most of Mets-nation found comfort in the ugly 3- game sweep suffered by the Phillies (who were the beneficiaries of the Mets' downfall)... and you have to look at the bright side-- at least my second favorite team, "Whoever plays the Yankees," is still going strong.

Go Tribe.

2007 Mets Highlights

Ok this has absolutely nothing to do with politics. But if you're a Mets fan, which I certainly am, you might need a little pick me up today, which I certainly do (and not only because I saw Naiomi Wolf on the Colbert Report last night talking about 10 reasons why our country is at its natural end).

So, I'm violating my own rule by posting something completely apolitical. Well, apolitical except in the following sense: There's nothing more American than the New York Mets.