Mets Lifer Book Review

I had the pleasure of getting an advanced copy of Richard Grossinger's new book, The New York Mets: Ethnography, Myth, and Subtext. Grossinger's book is really unlike any baseball book I've read.

If Larry King, George Costanza and Peter Gammons were hardcore Mets fans and teamed up to write a book, this would be their end product. The New York Mets is filled with passion for both the Mets as a team and baseball in its purest form while being totally frank and sarcastic about the struggles and sacrifices that are made by lifelong Mets fans (a.k.a. Mets Lifers). The book opens with a fantastic foreword by Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post and an opening chapter that explains what attracts us a Mets Lifers to the Mets when there are so many that cheer for the empire that is the New York Yankees.

The book starts with Endy Chavez's miracle catch in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS and then reflects back at the ebb and flow of excitement and disappointment that has shaped Mets history. Although I don't always agree with Grossinger's outlook on aspects of baseball and Mets history, I love his passion for the Mets, his enormous hatred for Steve Phillips, and the fact that he, like me, was heart broken when the Mets traded Melvin Mora.

From an insider's look at Terry Leach (who was one of my favorite pitchers to imitate in Little League) to detailing every single boneheaded move the Mets have made, Grossinger has written a book that a Mets Lifer would enjoy.

Click here for more on the book and to order from Amazon.com.

Dark Day for Mets Fans

This is a dark day, my fellow Mets Lifers. An embarrassing and disgraceful day. I hope you have hope because I've just about lost mine. On to Atlanta. Heaven help us.

Who was that playing left field last night?

Did you see that? Some guy I've never seen before was playing left field for the Mets last night against the Yankees.

What's that?

THAT was Carlos Gomez? No way.

Carlos Gomez finally played one solid all-round game for the Mets. He looked like a young Vince Coleman out there. Making a great catch in the field to turn it into a huge double play. He bunted a couple of times, stole a few bases, and scored what turned out to be the winning run of the game.

I can see Gomez being a Vince Coleman type player for the Mets, but Mets fans shouldn't get too excited just yet. It will be another year or two until he fully develops. Gomez also look like Reyes did at the plate just 3 years ago. Remember Reyes used to swing at everything and looked like he was trying to hit a grand slam every time up? That's what Gomez is doing now.

The good news is we all see how Reyes matured and developed. I'm excited to see that happen to Gomez.

Just think of the two at the top of the Mets lineup for the next 10 years. Ooh, goosebumps.

Oliver Perez is a Gamer

Oliver Perez is my kind of pitcher. He shows emotion on the mound. He's the first to high five one of his teammates after they make a great play. But best of all he knows which games need to be won.

Let me ask you this. If there was a must-win game this year, who would you want on the mound? I've lost all confidenc in Glavine's ability to win in the clutch. You could argue El Duque, but I would want Oliver Perez.

Look at who has pitched when the Mets beat the Braves. 2 of our pitiful 3 wins against the Braves are thanks to Oliver Perez. He's pitched well against the Yankees, and to shutout the streaking Yankees while going up against the Rocker, Roger Clemens, proves he has mental toughness to handle these situations. The most encouraging thing was when he was walking batters he was missing low in the zone which prevented him from getting lit up for home runs. Thank you Rick Peterson.

Sure he will give up 8 runs in 3 innings during one of his starts this year, but after last year's Game 7 of the NLCS and what I've seen this year Oliver Perez is in my mind the right pitcher for big games.

P.S. He does have a knack for getting some unbelievable plays out of his outfielders (i.e. Gomez, Endy, etc.)

The Pros Need to Grow Up.

As you probably know from last night's game, Brad Penny got aggravated with Shawn Green last night as he claims Green was stealing signs when he was on second base a few innings earlier.

Couple this with the moaning and groaning about A-Rod yelling "Ha!" in the Toronto's 3rd baseman's ear while running to third base, and we are seeing an awful lot of whining from these pros.

These are classic school yard techniques. Just because you're in the pros you think you're above them? What's the matter? You can't catch a pop fly because someone is yelling? Grow up, this isn't golf.

And as far as stealing signs is concerned, if it's that upsetting just throw a fastball high & tight the next time the guy comes up. Don't be a baby and whine about it after you just struck him out. Shouldn't that be enough vengeance.

If guys and girls on my company's softball team can deal with heckling during a rec league softball game, I think you millionaires can deal with some playground tricks.

By the way, major props to Shawn Green for stealing signs last night. At least he was making an effort to help turn the Mets bats around.

The Mets are LOST

Somewhere last week the Mets found their way onto Oceanic flight 815 and have ended up on the island from LOST. Nothing is right. Adversaries seem unsurmountable. The players are disoriented.

Something is not right with the Mets. It's like this team was transplanted back to the lineup from 1992.

The sad part is help is not on the horizon. The Yanks, Twins, & A's await us. So as we journey through this uncertainty that is the Mets season so far, I thought it only fitting that we look at how our cast of characters would translate onto LOST.

David Wright is Jack Shepherd: The only person with anything going for them is David Wright. He's our leader. We need him to guide us. But he's got to get some help from somewhere.

Julio Franco is Hurley: Hurley is the character everyone likes because they feel sorry for him. He's nice to have around, but doesn't really add anything. Sounds a lot like Julio. Instead of a weight problem, Julio has an age problem and it's almost as noticeable as Hurley's waistline. Sorry Hurley/Franco. It's time to go.

Paul Lo Duca is Sawyer: The resident bad boy is willing to stand up for himself and his teammates, but every now and then shows a sensitive side. Like Sawyer, I think Lo Duca needs strangle somebody to get his issues worked out, but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

Carlos Gomez is Jin: Jin is the only non-English speaking person on the island and is constantly lost with what's going on around him. That's pretty much what Gomez looks like at the plate, although I'm confident even Jin could draw a walk before Gomez.

NL East are The Others: That's a no brainer. Every time we think we've got them out of the way, they pop up to show us they're still around.

Alou is Walt: What happened to Walt? Why does he only pop up every once in a while? What's wrong with Alou? Is he can show up one day looking 10 years older?

Willie Randolph is John Locke: Willie is constantly struggling to find out what to do with this lineup just like Locke is constantly struggling to find the meaning of the island. Willie will try anything. He'll even bat Shawn Green 2nd! He'll bring up Ricky Ledee! These are desperate times. Willie needs to go kill a boar with his bare hands or something to get this team motivated.

Take a day off and let's bring our bats with us to the Bronx!