Now when I was a kid and there was no internet, no looking up and checking on everything instantaneously, I used to love when Feb./March rolled around and the baseball preview magazines came out. For one thing they used to actually focus on the game itself, whereas now 90% of them seem to be about fantasy baseball, which has zero appeal to me whatsoever.
Back then the thrill used to be seeing if someone predicted the Torre/Bamberger/Howard Mets to finish maybe 4th in the then-6-team NL East. Now of course the Mets are perennial contenders, have been for most of the past decade despite only one trip to the Series. But it still irks me that year in, year out, doesn't matter what happened last season or who's on this year's Mets, Phillies or Braves, the "experts" never predict the Mets to win. And it's not just because of late-season chokes--this predates all that. Remember last spring how many "experts" still wanted to call it for the Braves??? Despite Glavine being another year older and Hampton being Hampton and all their other problems. We saw where that got them.
The Mets lost a close division in the last week. Again. But they also made significant improvements to the bullen, the kind that can add 8-10 wins onto a team that coughed up as many leads as the '08 Mets did while losing no one of any consequence. Our only significant loss will be if Delgado has too big a drop-off from his MVP run kind of #'s he was putting up midseason.
But do we get any credit? No. About the best the "experts" give us is the WC and every single one of them then calls for the Mets to lose the NLDS. I don't know why I care, I just do. Yet if the Mets win the division, pennant, Series, all we'll hear is we were supposed to, we were predicted. Can't win.
Pre-Season Pundits
I think what aggravates me a little more is when the Mets do have a nice season, get to the playoffs and still get trashed. I remember in 2000 when Jim Rome (blowhard that he is) said on his radio show right at the beginning of the playoffs that the Mets were going nowhere. And of course, they made it to the series that year. I think something like that sticks in my craw a little more.
I also like the feeling of the Mets being talked up before the season, if only because it gets me into a real positive mood for the beginning of the new season. I'm feeling good about 2009. We've got a new stadium, a new closer and the core of our team from last year. There are a few question marks (fifth started anyone?) for sure. I don't expect to get too much love outside some of the commentary on SNY.
Unfortunately the Mets have developed a rep over the last couple of years as talented but unable to close the season out properly. It's up to this team to bring it home strong in September so that the pundits will have to eat their words.
Need a BIG right-handed bat
Need a BIG right-handed bat at some point in the season.....
agree to all
Barring a major injury--and I know we shouldn't--but I think we're in good shape now and late in the season. Yeah the 5th starter is a bit of an issue, but it's March and let's face it, you don't really need a 5th until late May, early June at the earliest. And what team does have a solid 5th in place anyway? if there is one, they can turn around, have an injury and lo and behold (sorry, channeling Murph*) 5th becomes 4th.
*Never forget the time I was listening to Bob Murphy call a game and he was describing some acrobatic attempt by a fielder at making a catch, but he either lost the ball when he hit the ground or ran into the wall or fence...turned into "...and lo and behold the pearl popped out of his mitt..." I don't know where he pulled those things out of....
some respect at last
http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1153868/index.htm
Magazines
It's nice to be picked to win in SI but the Mets need to do it on the field. In truth I like being the underdog that surprises people rather than the front runner who everyone is looking to beat. Of course I won't mind being the front runner next season after the Mets take it all in 2009.
remember '86
I was in college in Vermont in 86 when we won it and I remember buying all the papers in town (New York AND Boston) and the day after the Mets won the Series they already weren't the favorites for 87 and this was going to go wrong and they need to fix that, etc. With being picked first by some at least comes confidence for the Mets and that shouldn't hurt.
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