Optimism Schism

There may be a fan or two out there who thinks this latest 4 game string is a sign of things to come. To those I say, " Too soon friends, too soon." The season is long and the Mets still have glaring weaknesses. Let's wait to see if they can patch up the bullet and consistently rattle off impressive games from the rotation. It's a work in progress for them game in and game out. When they put up a good month they will again be worthy of praise.

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Indentity

I was just thinking about the state of the Mets and asked myself, "Jarod, Why are the Mets performing so poorly?" As an outsider looking in all I can comment on is my perception of the state of the Mets though. From where I sit that perception is not a kind one. While there are times this team looked like they could possibly possess more potential than what the label spewing media perceived them to have, they failed to continue with determination and discount those naysayers. As could be seen in last nights game when Jose Reyes was wrongfully called out on that play at second, he walked back to the dugout without any passion. Then Terry Collins came out and looked like he was trying to get thrown out but backed off and tucked his tail when heading back to the dugout just like Reyes. This same defeatist attitude can be seen in the eyes of most of the team. Where's the fire the 2006 and 2007 teams had? The core offensive players are still mainly the same (Wright, Reyes, Beltran). You would think they would rub off on some of these newly promoted, acquired or signed talents. Yet they lack the identity of the successful Mets. The 1969 team had its miracle team. The 1986 team had an attitude that couldn't be shattered. The 2006 team had a confidence and swagger. This team has nothing like that. Hopefully as the season develops they can mature as a group and redefine the team dynamic under the Alderson/Collins reign.

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Press On, Pelfrey

In an article written by Howard Megdal, Mike Pelfrey has been given credit for being consistent even though fans believe he is anything but that. What Howard certainly knows but excludes from his reporting is that Met fans are the reason he has this dubious characteristic associated with his ability. Sure Pelfrey has not been dominant year in and year out. The problem is we see how electric his stuff can be and we want to see it 99% of the time, no one is perfect which is why I dropped a percentile off. Is it fair? Nope, but then again what fan is completely fair when they are disappointed? Close to none. Sure sometimes we feel empathetic towards a player who has a bad game but when the team, as a whole, performs the way the Mets have the past few years fans lose any empathy that would have been given. It's a sad fact of playing in New York in Queens where perfection, or near perfection, is needed to displace or compete with our biggest out of league rival. So, back to Pelfrey. Hopefully he can dispel any and all criticism about his performance because let's face it, this guy is OUR guy. A Met. Slugging it out every game he is in. Standing up to critics and taking blame for his performances. A player who knows the word TEAM, and all it stands for. I for one am glad I have a chance to root for Big Pelf.


To read the article from Howard Megdal click here (A subscription is needed to view the article in its entirety)

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Here We Go Again...

This time of year brings to mind many memories and exciting feelings for all of us baseball fans. The change in temperatures, returning foliage and the sweet sound of maple or ash connecting with leather. As we in the northeast watch the progress in Florida during February, we can not feel more jealous and anxious of the daily activities and reports viewed on a daily basis. In a short time however baseball will return to many of our daily lives, as if it hasn't already.

Time to renew rivalries with our all of our friends and family who root for the enemies. It's also the time for Mets fans to renew our hope that this team will turn around their ill-fated run of either successful let downs or majorly disappointing season. That's spring! It's a yearly ritual with our Mets. You have to admit that there is part of you, me and all of the Met nation that absolutely loves every heartbreaking moment of it. It may seem self deprecating to go through such let down every year but that's what gives us our strength. So year after year we come back in February to watch what CAN be instead of what is likely to be. For a Met fan ignorance is bliss, especially come spring. It's the dream of better that drives us....

It's Spring Training fans. Wake up!, but let the dreaming continue. Let's Go Mets!

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