The Perfect Storm

by boomer61 on Oct 22, 2009 7:10 AM EDT

2009 will go down as the year of the Perfect Storm for the Mets. Not only does the team endure incredible injuries to it's core players. Not only does the season end with their being closer to last place than first. Not only do the prospects for a competitive run in 2010 looked strained, but now the Mets are faced with the ultimate indignity: it looks like the Yankees and Phillies will be in the World Series.

As a Met fan I could endure any other combination of teams. I could root against any team who played either the Phillies of the Yankees. But now I can't even do that. For the first time in my life I actually am apathetic about the World Series. It's as though the baseball gods have spit on the Mets grave.

It's going to be a long winter, and Port St. Lucie looks a long way off.

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I'm going to root for the Yankees.

I live in Harrisburg, PA, which is Philly territory. As much as it kills me, I’ll be rooting for the Yankees. I can’t take another year of these smug Philies “Phans.” I want to see CC and A-Rod take the Phils’ NL Championship and shove it down their throats.

by xnumberoneson on Oct 22, 2009 8:06 AM EDT reply actions

I feel like Job.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Oct 22, 2009 8:18 AM EDT reply actions

Job made out well in the end. There’s always hope.

by boomer61 on Oct 22, 2009 12:13 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Y'know we're due for a severe meteor shower.

Beer is good! And stuff!

by R_Adragna on Oct 22, 2009 9:34 AM EDT reply actions

Woo!

Bring on the Y-P Extinction Event!

by Eric Simon on Oct 22, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions

A different take on this....

While I hate the fact that it will be a Phillies-Yankees series, I will say this about the Phillies:

This is their third straight year in the post season. At a minimum, that says to me that they are a good team. The fact that they are the Mets’ “enemy” (something created by fans and media), only helps to embarrass the ownership and management group that runs the Mets, so if that gets the GM and co. fired sooner, or the ’pons suddenly decide that losing + Madoff is too much to handle and sell the team, then so much the better.

Last, being a NL person, I will continue to root against the AL in WS. There was only one way I would have gone for the AL, and that was if the Angels were in the WS, because of what happened with Adenhart.

by fxcarden on Oct 22, 2009 10:56 AM EDT reply actions

You’re a better man than me. I never detested the Marlins. They’re in Miami and can’t draw fans no matter how well they play. But Philadelphia…oh, how I now hate that city.

by boomer61 on Oct 22, 2009 12:15 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Interesting point...

…About a Phillies WS win forcing a shake-up of the Mets front office, although, in practice, I’m not sure that’s how the Wilpons work. It could also push the Mets to make some stupid moves, like trading away a bunch of prospects for short-term gain.

I disagree the Mets-Phils rivalry is a media-created one. They’ve been competing directly with each other for the divsion since 2006. The players on both teams get revved up for the games. Just look at how Rollins trash-talked the Mets at the world series parade last year.

Actually, if anything’s a media-created rivalry, it’s the Mets-Yankees. The 6 games the Mets play the Yankees are a lot less important than the 18 games the Mets play the Phillies, yet it’s the former that gets way more media attention.

by PeterFH on Oct 22, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I didn't mean the competition on the field....

I mean the wars between the fan

by fxcarden on Oct 22, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

I don’t get how it’s “media created.” People in Philadelphia HATE New York, always have and always will. People in New York have long hated other Philly sports teams (especially the Eagles), and in recent years have realized they have a baseball team that’s worth hating, too. They play each other in meaningful games every year.

"[The Giants] beat us down. We were beat by a grown-man team, a team we want to be like one day. They came in here and took it to us. Out-manned us, out-gunned us. ... It wasn't even close." - Raheem Morris, 9/27/09

by cjmulrain on Oct 22, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

NL vs. AL is even more "made up" than Phils-Mets

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Oct 22, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

not really

If anything I think the NL vs AL is a more real rivalry because they’re two distinctly different versions of baseball. I hate the DH and everything it stands for, and therefore I cheer against the AL whenever possible.

by KeithsMoustache on Oct 22, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Well,

I wouldn’t say they’re different versions of baseball. I’d say the NL is baseball and the AL is some deformed hybrid of baseball and bludgeoning whose fans are assholes with no attention span who need every game to be 9-6 to stay interested.

"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."

by Evan_S on Oct 22, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

yes that would be the less diplomatic but far more accurate description of the AL

i despise it, and i hate when they call an AL manager a great manager. They’re essentially on autopilot all game. All they have to do is pitching changes in 99% of games. And the worst part is they throw interleague play records in the NLs face when interleague is badly slanted in favor of the AL in AL stadiums. They have a roster spot dedicated to that extra batter (the DH) who’s usually a 3 or 4 spot caliber hitter, whereas an NL team has to throw a bench player in who’s usually a 7 or 8 spot hitter. Of course they get more production out of a team built to take advantage of an extra spot in the batting order.

by KeithsMoustache on Oct 22, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

the best

is when AL fans say “well, you guys should open the wallets to have a really good bench player.” Umm…no?

by cjmulrain on Oct 22, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I say that to everyone

Whenever the NL and AL play, the pitcher should have to hit, only way to make it fair.

"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."

by Evan_S on Oct 22, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions

i wish they would do that

by KeithsMoustache on Oct 22, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

i found some numbers online for interleague games

Overall: AL 113 – NL 96 – Rain 1
AL Parks: AL 61 – NL 44 – Rain 0
NL Parks: AL 52 – NL 52 – Rain 1

notice in AL parks the AL destroys NL, but in NL parks its fairly even as expected. I think this helps support my statement that in parks with the DH the AL has an advantage

by KeithsMoustache on Oct 22, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah!

I was gonna do that this year but got lazy. I have the records for the first two interleague series. Where did you find that?

"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."

by Evan_S on Oct 22, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't remember the site, didn't take note of it

just found the info and threw it up. I think i might try to do a more detailed analysis of my theory when i get a bit of down time.

by KeithsMoustache on Oct 22, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Isn't that kind of in line with what the difference for home filed advantage would be though?

I don’t like when people say the AL is much better either, but the numbers certainly support their argument.

by JimmyK on Oct 22, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions

This

by fxcarden on Oct 22, 2009 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

i'm an NL fan and i love slugfests

don’t stereotype

"Solo homers usually come with no one on base." -Ralph Kiner

by metsguy234 on Oct 22, 2009 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions

We all like a slugfest every now and then

But I know so many Yankee fans who say they can’t watch NL games because the pitcher is an automatic out and it makes the game boring. The DH is the worst thing to happen th baseball ever. Steroids>>>>>>>DH

"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."

by Evan_S on Oct 22, 2009 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions

On the bright side...

At least they can’t both win.

I mean, they can’t, right?

by JoshNY on Oct 22, 2009 11:26 AM EDT reply actions

called a tie due to both teams being so gritty

by KeithsMoustache on Oct 22, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

I was pretty apathetic in 2003

and 1999. And 1996. It’s not like this is completely unprecedented. I mean, yea, I hate the Phillies more than I hated the Marlins, and even more than I hated the Braves, but not that much more.

by cjmulrain on Oct 22, 2009 11:29 AM EDT reply actions

Ugh... Phillies fan here...

I kinda feel for you guys. After a really bad season for my Eagles a couple years ago, I certainly didn’t have any rooting interest whatsoever in the Giants/Patriots Super Bowl – Hated both of those teams with a passion – Only the Cowboys/Patriots could have been worse.

But this situation really has to be bad for you guys if you really love baseball. I live in North Jersey, and I actually watched more Mets games this year than I did Phillies games, and my goodness… At first it was fun to watch it unravel, but after the string of injuries and just watching the general malaise get worse as the season progressed, I eventually grew a true feeling of empathy, which I wouldn’t have thought possible.

Chin up, fellas. I’m a fan of all the Philly teams, and before last season, we hadn’t won a Championship in ANY of the 4 major sports since 1983 (1986 if you count Villanova basketball). For Christ sakes, we almost had a parade for a horse (Smarty Jones) that was bred just outside Philly, but even he lost the Triple Crown by (squeezing fingers together) this much. If anyone knows what it’s like to witness disappointment on a grand scale, it’s a Philly fan.

But you know what? It only made the parade last year that much sweeter.

Anyway, at least next season can’t possible be any worse. You guys will be back.

by JimmyK on Oct 22, 2009 12:43 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

Well, 2 of my teachers

in 2007 were Philly fans
And after that I can never ever ever root for the Phillies again

"We're investigating the investigative procedure of the investigation of Tony Bernazard"---Omar Minaya (he really didn't say it but he would"

by firejerrynow on Oct 22, 2009 3:45 PM EDT reply actions

Frankly, I'm rooting for Godzilla.

And I don’t mean Matsui.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Oct 22, 2009 10:56 PM EDT reply actions

ABA Baby...ABA

Anyone But Atlanta. Bobby Cox and the rest of those fuks are too smug. Sure they were stompin’ everyone in thier path in the 90’s, and lost thier luster this century/decade, but honestly, as a Met fan, and i can’t believe this is coming from me, I am pulling for the Bankees because atleast it will keep the trophy in NY. Mind you, I live in the Phillies Spring Training home, Clearwater,Fl and attend alot of thier minor league games, especially when Pt. St Lucie is in town, I dont miss those games, I still wear my Mets gear to the game, anyone who doesnt like it can kiss my 100% Sicilian ass.

by BigJohnInFla on Oct 25, 2009 7:46 PM EDT reply actions

Ah, an Italian

It all makes sense now. I love my Italian heritage, I just hate the majority of Italians in this country.

"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."

by Evan_S on Oct 25, 2009 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions

'eeeeeey, fucka you buddy

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Oct 25, 2009 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions

From one wop to another

you understand better than any of these guys what John Franco meant to this team. He was our “Joe D.” Never has there been a true blue & orange then JF. Sure his career didn’t begin in Flushing, and he didn’t hang around as long as I would have liked him to, but what other closer of the Mets was so beloved in that city?

by BigJohnInFla on Oct 25, 2009 11:02 PM EDT reply actions

wrong thread?

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Oct 25, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions

It's official!

Well, the forecasted storm has come. I decided to give it a second thought. Can I find a reason to root for either team? Actually, no. I truly am apathetic. However I am interested in discussing the Mets and the ’10 season.

by boomer61 on Oct 26, 2009 2:45 AM EDT reply actions

OK, I'll make it short.

Mets pursue Lackey and he blows them off to pitch in Texas.

Mets pusue Holliday and he blows them off to play in the Bronx.

Mets settle for Pagan in LF, Muprhy in RF, and try to sell the fans on the improved rotation which will now feature Johan, Marquis, Pelfrey, Perez, and Maine.

They buy out Putz’ option, and replace him spot with some reject FA, while (now healthy) Putz goes on to win the Comeback Player of the year for 2010 closing games for the Braves.

The Mets go on to win 79 games in 2010, at which point Omar declares 2010 a rebuilding year, and an improvement on 2009. Jeff is so pumped he agrees to offer Jerry a 3 year extension.

by fxcarden on Oct 26, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions