Meeting Keith Hernandez

The other week I had the opportunity to meet the player I most tried to emulate as a baseball player, Keith Hernandez. It's not a wild tail of chasing him down or bumping into him unexpectedly, but it was still a pretty cool encounter from my perspective.

I was boarding a flight to San Francisco on the day before the All Star game when I look behind me in line and see Keith Hernandez. I was traveling with some other people and one of my travel partners turned to me and giddily asked, "Is that Keith Hernandez?" I confirmed his suspicion and took my seat in the first row of coach, while Keith rightfully sat in first class.

I wasn't about to cross the dreaded first class curtain to go talk to him during the flight. That'd be a little too creepy. Plus he was sitting by the window so I'd have to talk over the person sitting on the aisle. I was hoping that I'd be able to catch him as we exited the plane and just say hello, but when the flight landed Keith was long gone before it was my row's turn to exit.

I thought I'd lost my chance. So I headed towards the baggage claim and was trying to determine which of the dozen baggage claims would have my bag when I turned around and saw Keith sitting and just checking his BlackBerry. I went up to him fully expecting to be ignored or brushed off for bothering my childhood hero, but I had to do it anyway.

I simply went up to him and said "Mr. Hernandez, just wanted to let you know that you're the reason I played first base growing up. I'm a huge fan and love what you, Gary and Ron do on the broadcast." I extended my hand and Keith did something unexpected. He smiled, shook my hand and responded, "Why thank you for very much for saying so. I appreciate it."

I wished him well on his trip and we exchanged cordial goodbyes. Keith was very accommodating to this fanboy and it's not every day you get to meet one of your favorite baseball players of all time. As I shared this story with others, everyone asked me why I didn't share my blog with him or get a picture to post on Mets Lifer. Maybe I should have, but it was cool just the same.


And I'm happy I didn't make a fool of myself. I should have worn my Mets retired #17 t-shirt though...

Bernie Carbo Ordered a Hit on Keith Hernandez

When a hitman is the voice of reason, you know you've got serious problems. But that pretty much sums up the life of Bernie Carbo who in an interview with ESPN's "Outside the Lines" revealed that he asked a hitman to go break Keith Hernandez' arms.

The cause for this reaction was the fact that Keith Hernandez outed Carbo as being the man who introduced him to cocaine dealer when he was testifying in a Pittsburgh court. Carbo asked a hitman friend to go brake his arms to which the hitman replied he'd have to wait two or three years to do it because everyone would realize that Carbo was the one behind the hit.

Some 25 years later, Carbo wants to apologize to Hernandez for this ill-will that has been pent up between them. If I was Hernandez, I'd send a fruit basket to Carbo's hitman buddy for talking some sense into him.

For full details on the Carbo interview, click here.

Custom Mets Shirts

As Black Friday approaches and the dreaded holiday shopping season officially kicks into gear, I figured I would do a little shameless promotion of my new site, ThePrintmen.com. While Dave has been singlehandedly keeping our site alive with his typically witty posts, I have been hibernating in a cave thinking about the glory days of our futile, yet, beloved Mets franchise. Of course, Game 6 1986 is probably the greatest victory in Mets history, certainly the most improbable. But there was another Game 6 from that remarkable season and it is arguably the single best post season game ever played. So, in honor of those classic games, I have taken a stab at designing a couple of shirts that you may (or may not) like.

There’s also been a lot of talk over the years about whether the Mets should retire the numbers of Keith Hernandez and Mike Piazza. I am one of those fans who feel they absolutely should, and since this organization fails miserably when it comes to honoring their past, I decided to create shirts to honor their “retired” numbers.

To check out the shirts, go to ThePrintmen.com.

I'm Done With Fernando Tatis

The Comeback Player of the Year can go back to where he came from. I'm done with Fernando Tatis.

The great story of last season, a guy I referred to in 2008 as Mr. Clutch, is now absolutely dreadful. He's an automatic double play if there's a runner on first and one out. He's only starting because Delgado is hurt. He's batting under .200 over the past month with runners in scoring position.

Honestly I'd rather see Jeremy Reed get more playing time than Tatis.

During Friday night's game, Keith Hernandez noted that Tatis' swing is different this year than last year. He's not holding his bat up straight, but rather pointing it more towards the dugout than perpendicular to the ground (that's right McCarver PER-PIN-DIC-ULAR, not parallel you moron) like he was last year. This causing his bat to be slower to get through the hitting zone and why he's having trouble catching up to fastballs.

Two notes here. First, why are we paying HoJo to be the hitting coach if Hernandez is seeing these issues from the broadcast booth and no one is telling Tatis? Second...ok there is no second, it's the same as the first, why isn't anyone telling this to Tatis and making this adjustment?

It's worth a try because Tatis is quickly becoming a liability at the plate.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know Jerry Manuel says he's the best defensive first baseman on the roster, but Murphy looks fairly comfortable over there. The fact that Tatis is righthanded may be the only thing keeping him alive.

Time is ticking Mr. Tatis. Fix that bat position in your stance. Go talk to Keith Hernandez before you hit into yet another double play.

Keith Hernandez Lego Figure

Can you say "coolest Lego ever?" PlanetoftheGeeks.com has put together a Lego Keith Hernandez. Photos and details available at PlanetoftheGeeks.com.

Mom, dad, honey, kids? If you're reading this, father's day is just around the corner.

Happy Birthday, Keith Hernandez

Today marks Keith Hernandez's 55th birthday. Hernandez was the reason I wanted to play first base in little league and I told my parents I needed flip down glasses and a first baseman's glove just like Keith's.

After leaving the Mets, his appearance on Seinfeld made him more of a national pop icon than his Just for Men commercials, but I think it's safe to say that every Mets Lifer is pleased to have Keith in the broadcast booth and be involved in the Mets organization.

Happy Birthday Keith. Here's to hoping the Mets can pick up a player/leader like you in this offseason.

Be Thankful for Our Broadcasters

I know that we rip on the snooze quality of Wayne Hagin's WFAN broadcasts, but honestly we have some of the best broadcasting teams working for the Mets. Over the weekend I was down at the Jersey shore and listened to parts of the Mets games via XM radio which forces you to listen to the home team's broadcast.

The Reds radio announcers are possibly some of the worst in the business. First off they alternate between two one man teams. So there's no banter, no commentary, just one guy making the calls. There were at least a dozen times I thought XM lost its signal on because there was nothing but dead air coming through the speakers for 30 seconds at a time. All this on top of the fact that you couldn't tell if a guy just hit a home run or into fielder's choice because the inflexion in the announcer's voice was the same for 9 straight painful innings.

Now Hagin is easily the weaker broadcaster on the radio, but the Reds guys make Hagin look like the Vin Scully of radio.

Of course, our SNY team of Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling are a Mets Lifer's dream broadcasting team, but even industry people applaud the way they call a game. Their unbiased and unabased in their commentary and that's what makes them great.

Even Kevin Burkhardt is a great asset to the SNY team. For a young sideline reporter he asks tough questions in the post game interviews and does a great job in the mid-game cutaway segments. Newsday is even following around Kevin to do special piece on him in the upcoming weeks. In fact today our own Kevin Burkhardt speaking at a local sports broadcasting camp run by Bruce Beck and Ian Eagle, talking to kids about the in's and out's of broadcasting. Who knows maybe he's even speaking to one of his future replacements?

So don't take what we have for granted. We easily have the best broadcasting team in New York and I'm sure we outshine much of the other MLB teams as well. Enjoy what we have while it lasts.

And if you're in Cincinnati, don't operate heavy machinery and listen to the Reds game.

Sad Realizations from a West Coast Road Trip

1. I hate West Coast road trips, and so do the Mets
2. Every Mets Lifer knows that Pedro Feliciano should only pitch to left-handed batters, but Willie Randolph doesn't
3. Carlos Delgado can hit in San Diego, but can't hit anywhere else
4. David Wright is struggling
5. Adrian Gonzalez has 17 home runs on June 8, but Carlos Beltran won't have 17 home runs on September 8.
6. I found myself coveting Brian Giles because he has a .414 OBP and no one on the Mets is even close to that
7. Fernando Tatis needs to follow in the footsteps of Nelson Figeroa
8. Pedro Martinez WAS a hall of fame pitcher, but is no longer
9. Oliver Perez needs a psychiatrist
10. The Mets will never have a run like the Phillies are on
11. Willie Randolph is the only person that doesn't know about Billy Wagner's horrible track record when he pitches in the 8th (anyone remember his performance against the Phillies last September?)
12. This team will finish the season 2 games over .500
13. While the Mets can't beat the worst teams in the West, the Phillies are sweeping the Braves in Mylanta.
14. The Mets don't have an All Star player this year.
15. This team is playing tired and it doesn't get easier against the Diamondbacks with Owens, Webb & Haren pitching
16. The Mets left 20+ runners on base against the Padres
17. 90% of the times a Mets batter gets a 3-0 count, the count ends up going to 3-2
18. A two out hit with runners in scoring position is as rare as a $2 gallon of gas
19. I learned more about Keith Hernandez's childhood this week than I ever thought I would
20. And the worst realization is the Phillies are hands down the best team in the NL

Props to Kevin Burkhardt

We all talk about how fortunate are we to have Gary Cohen, Darling and Hernandez doing the games every night but I have to acknowledge the great job that Kevin Burkhardt does on SNY night in, night out. He's insightful, honest, articulate, does fantastic in-game reporting, and best of all, the guy asks a lot of tough questions when he's covering this team pre and post game. He asked good questions at Monday's silly press conference and last night was asking Johan Santana point blank questions about Willie, about being the stopper, and whether or not he's actually brought his best game yet to the National League. Also, before the game last night, while a guest on Loud Mouths, Burkhardt spoke candidly about this team not hitting, about how guys need to step up and start performing the way they're supposed to. While not groundbreaking news here, it is certainly refreshing to get this kind of honesty. I'm not sure how all of you feel, but I for one, think he does a great job and I enjoy his commentary on this team.

By the way, Keith Hernandez said he really enjoyed being so close to the field last night, getting a different perspective, while broadcasting from behind home plate. He said he felt like playing again...or maybe...managing? I dunno...but Freddie and Jeff should find out.

Hernandez the Next Manager of the Mets?

Mike Francessa just said on his show that he asked Keith Hernandez point blank last week at Yankees Stadium if he was offered the Mets job would he take it, and Hernandez said, "Yes." 

I don't know about you, but I would love to see Keith take over this club. You know he'd light a fire under this club and that's exactly what they need. 

Wilpons, Omar, if you're reading this (and I know you are), call Hernandez. Make the fans happy. 

Vote for Keith Hernandez's Mustache

Newsday is having a showdown to determine the greatest mustache in New York sports history. The final showdown is between Don Mattingly & Keith Hernandez.

If you ask me, it's not even a contest. Hernandez wins in a landslide.

So go help Keith's cause and visit Newsday to vote for Keith Hernandez.