10
2011
‘Never Say Die’ Mets Are Most Exciting Team in Last 10 Years
An article by Former Writers
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Ninety-nine percent of the things I write on this website will be from the unbiased, subjective perspective of Jason Pafundi, journalist. But the following is written by Jason Pafundi, the lifelong Mets fan.
Like NBC’s Thursday night lineup of the ‘90s anchored by Seinfeld and Friends, New York Mets games have become ‘Must See TV’. You have to watch until the end, because you don’t want to miss something amazing and unexpected. With all due respect to the 2006 NL East champion Mets, this year’s team is the most exciting Mets team of the last 10 years.
As a Mets fan since birth (my dad grew up in Corona, a stone’s throw from Shea Stadium), I’ve had the highs of winning the World Series in 1986, pouring a bucket of ice water over my head after Robin Ventura’s ‘grand slam single’ in 1999, the Benny Agbayani walk-off in the 13th against the Giants in the 2000 NLDS, Mike Piazza’s homer against the Braves in September 2001 and Endy Chavez making the best catch in franchise history in Game 7 of the NLCS in 2006. I’ve also had the lows of losing to the Dodgers in 1988, the dreadful years of Carlos Baerga and Co. during the mid 90s, the Kenny Rogers walk-off walk in 1999, nerdy Jose Vizcaino winning the World Series for the Yankees in 2000, Carlos Beltran watching a called third strike in 2006, and of course, the collapses of 2007 and 2008.
Very rarely do Mets fans begin a season with such low expectations, but that is the way this season started. No Johan Santana, an unknown in the ‘back from surgery’ Carlos Beltran and the ‘back from anger management’ Francisco Rodriguez. As the season went on and the injuries started to mount, first David Wright and then Ike Davis, expectations were even lower. “Heck, as long as the Mets don’t lose 100 games, I’ll be happy” was something I said to friends.
Well, fast-forward to the middle of August. Beltran and Rodriguez have been traded, free-agent-to-be Jose Reyes is back on the disabled list with a hamstring injury, nobody really knows what is actually wrong with Davis’ ankle, Santana has finally started pitching in the minors, and low and behold, the Mets are above .500 and playing an exciting, edge-of-your-seat brand of baseball nobody could have seen coming.
What makes this so much better is that since I don’t expect much from this team, when they play games like the last two come-from-behind wins against the, albeit lowly, San Diego Padres, it makes it that much sweeter. Years ago, when future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine laid an egg against the Marlins, I was upset and stunned and frustrated. Or when Beltran would make an out in a big spot or Pedro Martinez would get hurt or Carlos Delgado would hit into a double play or Billy Wagner would blow a save. These guys were stars, guys who had huge contracts and to go with it, huge expectations.
But if Lucas Duda strikes out with two runners on base, I don’t get frustrated, and you know why? Because I didn’t expect Duda to ever be at the plate with two runners on base in mid August. If Willie Harris dives for a ball in right field and doesn’t make the catch, I don’t get mad. I applaud the effort and realize that I never thought Harris would be starting in right field for the Mets in August.
Having no expectations makes games like these last two against the Padres so much more exciting. Mike Baxter (who?) with a double, Ronny Paulino with a sacrifice fly, Jason Pridie with a single, Justin Turner with a single and then Duda with a walk-off base hit off Padres closer Heath Bell. Contributions from Scott Hairston, Harris, Ruben Tejada, and heck, even Jason Bay now and then. These were games I expected the Mets to lose, but actually, since these are the new Mets, the ‘never say die’ Mets, maybe my expectations need to change.
Terry Collins and Sandy Alderson, in less than a season, have totally changed the culture around this team. Losing under Jerry Manuel was almost considered okay, whereas Collins understands that the team will lose some games, but he isn’t okay with it. The team plays hard for all nine innings, they never give up, and they fight until the final out. If the Mets are losing by three in the seventh inning, I cannot change the channel, because I now know that the game isn’t over. Perhaps Duda has some magic in his bat, or Tejada, or Turner, or Hairston.
As a fan, the way this Mets team plays is something to be proud of and something to admire. It makes games in August and September, games that have little meaning in the standings, fun and exciting to watch. They play as though they have nothing to lose. And really, they don’t. Well, maybe just some games that I expected them to lose anyway.
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @JASONPAFUNDI
About the Author: Former Writers
21 Comments + Add Comment
NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 25 | 18 | .581 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 21 | .523 | 2.5 |
| Phillies | 21 | 23 | .477 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 17 | 24 | .415 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 12 | 32 | .273 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/19/2013
Recent Comments
- Al: on Mets Sign RHP David Aardsma To Minors Deal: Rangers DFA Derek Low lets sign him
- Tommy: on Reds vs Mets: Marcum Takes The Hill, Ankiel Batting Second, Duda Cleanup: The only reason why they are both...
- Coach Mike: on Reds vs Mets: Marcum Takes The Hill, Ankiel Batting Second, Duda Cleanup: Big start for Marcum. If he can...
- Tommy: on Reds vs Mets: Marcum Takes The Hill, Ankiel Batting Second, Duda Cleanup: I agree! Drives me up a...
- Jimmy Pernil: on Sacking Terry Collins Now Would Be Unfair: Rosario's father had a connect at the...
MMO Mets Chat
Need Tickets To The Mets Game?
Check Out These Great MLB Links!
Photographs From Gordon Donovan
5365 Fans Follow Us On Twitter!
1269 Fans Like Us On Facebook!
2341 Fans Read Our Feed!
1702 Fans Subscribe via Daily Email!
Right On, Brother Jason!
Whoever thought .500 would be this tantalizing?
I have got to stop abandoning them when they lose the lead–I confess.
Knowing that they are giving it all they’ve got is a seachange from recent years, even if results aren’t monumentally different.
Gotta give these kids a break.
Hey Jason – I think I’ve missed your previous posts, but I never officially welcomed you to the fold so..uh, welcome (lol). Now that I’ve got that covered few things – (sorry if this sounds too grammar policey) but “exciting” not “exiting”
. Secondly, I have to disagree with the premise that this is the most exciting team in past decade, and that there is a culture change immediately, if that was what you were suggesting. There is just too much to quantify with the first statement, but this is so subjective anyway, there have been fun moments like 2005 and 2006 as you suggest. I mean, 2011 is certainly more fun than say 2007 (the way it ended) and 2009. But you’re free to your opinion of course 
.
I guess the best part as you suggest is that if they are .500 or marginally better, especially being hit with the loss of Reyes twice, losing their best bat in Murphy and trading Beltran/Krod among others, it may help set the tone for future years to play to the very end. I like that about the team.
Lastly, it will take years for the culture to change – there is several years of abuse in the Mets organization not just in previous regime but even dating back to the likes of Steve Phillips. There has been no direction, so hopefully Alderson is setting the trend there. As for Collins, I like him a lot, and feel like he is a good fit for the team construct right now. He’s been able to maximize the talent he has and concentrates on that, which is a good thing for sure, since Manuel couldn’t seem to do so in 2009 and 2010. I still think there are a bunch of scaredy cats on the team though, and that might have to do with some of the players being too “nice.” I’d like to see Collins toughening them up a bit.
Thanks for the welcome…the reason I think this is the most exciting team is because of the low expectations…if you would’ve said that a team that started Justin Turner, Ronny Paulino, Lucas Duda, and Ruben Tejada for more than their fair share of games would be hovering around .500 in August, you’d would’ve been accused of using drugs.
I agree, there were plenty of exciting moments in 2005 and 2006, but those moments were expected. The Mets were expected to be contenders, 90-win teams with a chance to go to the World Series. When something is expected, it isn’t as exciting, to me at least, when it actually occurs.
As far as the culture changing, the stink of the previous regimes lingers more in the minds of the fans than the players. Collins and his staff have gotten these guys to play hard, something that Manuel wasn’t able to do. They’ve played to the maximum of their ability, which is all you can ask for. And you are right, there was no direction, but so far, it seems as though Sandy has a plan, which is more than we could say about Omar and Stevie.
My only problem is, and I didn’t want to change the tenor of the post by mentioning it, is that as fun and exciting and hard-working as this team is, it in no way, shape or form, can compete with the Phillies this season or next season. And ultimately being able to win a championship is the goal. So what is the front office going to do about being able to not only be hard-working and exciting, but also be competitive enough to challenge for a World Series.
this year no, they aren’t catching the phils. But, too early to give up on next year. Team fortunes can swing quickly in that time. A couple key injuries, a guy or 2 suddenly acting their age, and the worm can turn.
Jessep, maybe it’s just me, but when I expect my team to do well, it’s not as exciting when they do as when a team I didn’t expect much from goes out there and wins a bunch of games.
Granted, both scenarios are very exciting, I mean, obviously winning 100 games and going to the World Series is an exciting season, but there is just something about this team that I’ve really taken to and find their style of play and over-achievement refreshing in a sports world filled with usually high and unrealistic expectations.
Jason – No it’s probably not just you. I think I predicted 81 wins at the start of the year but to be fair and honest, if you showed me this roster on opening day there would be no shot I’d say 81 wins.
As silly as it sounds if the Mets were say 62-54 like the Cardinals and remained a .534 winning team, missed the playoffs by 6 or 7 games, I’d say that would be more exciting than the .500 or .504 Mets.
I think it’s mostly about consistency with regards to excitement.
i like the 69 and the 86 teams the most.. i love every mets team after that the same, they didn’t win..
Alex…were you around for 1969?
yes..
Gotcha. I was curious, you seemed to represent as someone from my generation, but I get what you were trying to say
Also, I think there may have been a couple of catches in the 1969 WS that can beat out Endy for the title of “best catch”.
to some degree, an over the fence catch on a high fly like that, while impressive to see, is not that hard if the guy has plenty of time to drift back and get set before jumping up. Much harder if they are on the run with their back to the plate!
best catch ever made, EVER, by a met in any situation was endy chavez!!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrQiOsdRlAY
Some of us old timers may say this one was pretty darn good too!!!
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=13062803
Gotta disagree, any, because he wasn’t really drifting back. It wasn’t a moonball that he had plenty of time to get under. He had to perfectly time the jump, he was well over the wall, and it turned into an inning-ending double play.
This is the most exciting Mets team in 10 years? Ohhhhh boy.
If you want to say this is the best ball they’ve played since 2009 than yes I’d agree. But 10 years? No.
The writer can say and feel whatever they like, it’s not really up for debate. It’s an opinion, I know if people don’t bow down to yours they are called names and talked about in the shout box by a bunch of 3rd graders, but nonetheless they are still entitled to that opinion even if it differs.
Cool post man.
However, I can’t say that this year’s team is the most exciting in the past 10 years. This team has been really fun to watch at times, especially recently where they refuse to quit even though every thing is against them.
I have to go with 2006 being the most exciting. We won 97 games that year, tied with the Yankees, and we were a few great Heilman pitches away from going to the World Series. Of course, Heilman being Heilman, we didn’t… I also think we had 11 or 12 walk-off wins that year which was amazing to watch. Winning the division by 12 games was also a treat.
The playoffs for this year’s team is a long, long shot. But I still can’t totally rule it out based on the way we play. But it makes me very excited for the 2012 team, the most excited I’ve been for the team in a while.
Welcome to MMO!
My quick take, I really (and I mean really) like watching this team when things are going right. But when things go bad, they are almost unwatchable. I love the idea they have players nobody expects to contribute performing quite well but I’d have to say I liked the 2005 team better, obviously the 2006 and the 2007 until August 31st.
At the end of the day, an exciting team to me is one that plays hard but also wins more than they lose.
I don’t discredit this team, they are a fine group to watch but at the end of the day I think we’d all find a consistent winner to be more exciting
That’s the thing. The 2006 team was supposed to win upwards of 90-95 games. They just did what we expected them to do, and for me, overachieving like this current team is is more exciting for me than watching a team simply live up to their expectations.
Last year on this date, I believe the Mets record was 56 – 56…today the Mets are 58 – 58. That excitement certainly hasn’t changed the results at all or the attendance numbers much.