3
2012
MMO Fan Shot: 5 Truths for Mets Fans in 2012
An article by 
As we get ready to begin the 2012 season, there is a lot of negativity surrounding the Mets. Some of it is warranted, but some of it is the product of misconceptions and misrepresentations. I think a lot of it comes from living in the bubble of being fans of one particular team, so everything gets judged with the limited scope of only seeing that team. I’d like to take a crack at setting the record straight in a few areas. Then, hopefully, we can have some productive discussion.
Some people are saying they are a 100 loss team and comparing them to the 1962 squad. Those are people with either short memories or simply not aware of just how bad a team has to be to reach those marks. The Mets aren’t even the worst in the National League, never mind all of baseball, which is pretty much what 100+ losses means.
What people need to realize is…
1. The 2012 Mets Don’t Suck
No, really. They aren’t that bad. In reality, they are pretty middle of the road. Talent wise, anyway. There is a notable difference between being awful and being mediocre. The biggest problem for the Mets is that they are an average team in a really good division (on paper).
Just because they are expected to finish last in a tough division doesn’t make them terrible. Put them in any other division except the AL East and they would probably finish 3rd or better with an above .500 record. They might even be able to win the NL West. There are plenty of teams significantly worse than the Mets. The Cubs, Astros, Padres, Dodgers and Pirates are all a lot worse than the Mets and that is just in the National League. The Mets could also hang tight with the Diamondbacks, Giants, Rockies, Reds and maybe even the Brewers and Cardinals (if things break right, anyway).
So, even if they aren’t a very good team, that doesn’t make them a very bad team. It just so happens that they directly compete with 4 other teams that on paper are measurably better. Even then, I wouldn’t be shocked to see at least one of those teams take the Mets preordained spot in the NL East cellar.
One reason the Mets might be able to sneak past one of those teams is…
2. The Mets Pitching Staff (Including Mike Pelfrey) Doesn’t Suck
A lot of people are down on the the pitching staff, but that is mostly due to what we saw from the other 4 NL East teams. In reality, all 5 Mets starters could pitch on good teams. Even Mike Pelfrey.
Don’t believe me? Have you seen some of the pitchers being signed a week prior to the season? The Yankees coaxed soon to be 40 year old Andy Petitte out of retirement because they don’t trust their rotation. The Braves, with their vaunted rotation of young studs, still saw it necessary to give 37 year old Livan Hernandez a spot on their team, even after the lowly Astros released him. The Indians are picking up $5 million of Derek Lowe’s salary. The Rockies recently not only signed 49 year old Jamie Moyer, they even made him their #2 starter.
A lot of playoff contenders are scrambling to fill out their rotations. The Mets problem isn’t that they have bad starters. They just don’t have any really good ones. No #1 or #2 guys. Much like the whole team, they are average starters. The are back of the rotation guys. 3,4,5 type pitchers that can look really good on occasion and get bombed on others.
That includes Big Pelf. I know he has had a rough Spring Training, but he always does. And if you look at him over the years, his hit, walk, and strikeout rates all stay about the same. His Home Run rates fluctuate, so that is the main area of concern. But, when you take away all the hype that surrounded him, all the inflated expectations and all the nonsense and see him as a #4 or #5 guy, you’d see he’s fairly average.
Of course, one thing that is going to be a huge boon for this average pitching staff is…
3. The Offense Will Score a Lot of Runs
Even with the loss of Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran, this team is in a position to light up the scoreboard. If they stay relatively healthy, the middle of the order will have 3 potential 30 HR hitters in Ike Davis, Lucas Duda and David Wright. And believe it or not, Mets fans, Jason Bay reportedly was that type of hitter a long time ago in stadiums far far away. Murphy will be a solid #2 hitter and if the 2010 Andres Torres shows up and stays healthy (until Kirk Nieuwenhuis arrives), there will be plenty of RBI opportunities for the power hitters.
If Ruben Tejada proves last year was no fluke and Josh Thole remembers what he did in 2010, this is going to be a solid line up top to bottom with no easy outs and a lot of ways to wreak havoc.
Remember, this team was in the top half of runs scored with Reyes missing a lot of the second half and being hurt when he did play. They also missed Davis for almost the whole year and Wright for a good chunk of it. A full year of them plus Duda should more than offset the loss of Beltran.
Also, off the bench, Scott Hairston and Justin Turner both proved themselves to be good pinch hitters that can come up big.
Another thing we need to accept as Mets fans is…
4. Fred Wilpon is Not the Worst Owner in Sports
I don’t like a lot of things he has done. His arrogance and cronyism have gotten in the way of a lot of potential success for this franchise. It came to a point where I was part of the chorus of fans at Citi Field chanting “We Want Cuban” at the end of the 2009 and 2010 seasons. But, now that I’ve had a chance to get past the emotion and look at the big picture, I realize, he really isn’t that bad.
He’s not even the worst owner in the division. Jeffrey Loria, the owner of the Marlins, is a real life Rachel Phelps. The Braves owner, Liberty Media Group, is a corporation that sees the Braves as a marketing tool and asset. They have no intention of putting real money into the team to make them true contenders or even retain most of their own stars.
Fred Wilpon is also not the worst owner in this town. Personally, I’m glad the Dolans are too busy crashing the Knicks to pay any attention to the Rangers. And ask an Islander fan how he or she feels about Charles Wang.
You can look around sports and see what horrible owners really look like. Owners who abuse and disregard their players and fans, swindle their cities and hold them hostage. We’ve got owners that move their teams in the dead of night to get cushy stadium deals. Corporations that just don’t give a damn if the team ever wins, so long as in “synergizes their brand awareness” or whatever the buzz words are.
When Citi Field was being built, Fred Wilpon worked out a reasonable repayment plan for the various loans and such he took out. He didn’t have friends in the mayor’s office undervalue the land to lessen the property tax. He didn’t destroy public parks while insisting on keeping the old stadium up. Say what you will about how the stadium itself turned out, the deal was relatively tax payer friendly, unlike the scams that went down in the Bronx and Miami.
Keep in mind, crazy old guys make the best baseball owners, and Fred Wilpon is one of the last of those. I think he does truly want to make the Mets a successful franchise, he just went about it the wrong way. Hopefully, the experience with Irving Picard and almost having the franchise go bankrupt will teach him some humility and to let his baseball people make the baseball decisions. Then, we’re going to be in for one hell of a ride.
One last thing Mets fans and a lot of New Yorkers need to realize
5. Shake Shack is Ridiculously Overrated
I just do not get the hype about this place. Are hamburgers and milkshakes in one place really that mind blowing? Just because you saw something on TV or in a movie does not make it great. The burgers are only OK and they don’t even offer bacon as a topping. Seriously, how can you be a legitimate burger joint and not have bacon? Considering how long that line is and how much that stuff costs, Shake Shack is really disappointing.
So, I hope this helped to improve some outlooks on the upcoming season. It is not going to be an easy season, but it won’t be a terrible one either. While we may not have to worry about reserving tickets for October already, we’ll have the opportunity to see some good baseball at a good price. You can even look at this as a time for the real fans. A chance to earn your stripes. Our crucible. Let’s separate the wheat from the chaff and find out who really deserves to be called a Mets fan.
But, if you’re still one of those pessimists that is determined to be down about the team and won’t make the trip to Flushing to see them live, all I can say is…
Fine, more beer for me.
This Fan Shot was submitted by MMO reader, Donal Murphy. Have something you want to say about the Mets? Share your opinions with over ten-thousand Mets fans who read this site daily. Send your Fan Shot to GetMetsmerized@aol.com. Or ask about being a regular contributor, and share your opinions with an engaging community that loves to debate.
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I agree. I just took a look at the braves potential 25 man roster for opening day and they are not a good looking team, at least on paper. Their prized pitching prospects were awful this spring and one of them is guaranteed the 5th spot.
Sorry, Shake Shack is delicious. While bacon is obviously awesome, plenty of things are awesome without it too. Shake Shack is one of them. Quality meat, good construction, solid fresh bread. good sauce. win all around.
That said, swing by one of the UWS or UES locations in Manhattan and get something else at Citi Field. Like the Buffalo Dog at Box Frites.
Also, Mets are full of baseball players.
Shake Shack is definitely not worth it. It’s very tasty, but not worth the price and the innings you miss waiting on line for it.
Get there early and all is well in the world.
I have no experience with #5, so can’t comment there.
1-4, I agree with. I have said all along that this is a (mid-pack/average/.500ish) team (pick one). And true that the potential (and I am not buying into all the hype) in the division makes it look worse.
Hell, even last year, with a ton going wrong, masive injuries, a fire sale, runaway phils, etc. the team still won what, 77 games? Or just a few under .500? And they played close to that in the last part of the season, with Reyes MIA, and after beltran and KRod were gone.
I just don’t see how they got worse than that, and with nominal health, not better.
No, I am not predicting 92 wins and in the post season, but I would be less surprised by that than I would be if the team finished in the mid-60s!
I just don’t understand how you can say that Fred Wipon is not the worst or one of the worst owners in baseball because to my way of thinking he most certainly is. He completely demoralized Jose Reyes and David Wright with his stupid comments regarding the renegotiating of their contracts.
And you know what Reyes and Wright were thinking? Did they confide in you?
One (allegedly) drunk comment is nowhere near what some other owners have pulled.
Donald Sterling is not just a terrible owner, but a lousy human being as well. I already pointed out Loria, Liberty Media, Wang, and the Dolans. Up until last week, we could have thrown in Frank McCourt as well. There are owners who systematically and deliberately screw over their fans.
don’t forget, Saint George of the Bronx wasn’t very highly regarded for a while, either. When his suspension was announced in 1990 over the PA at Yankee Stadium, the crowd stood up and cheered.
The fact is, Wilpon has let his ego and over developed loyalty get in the way, but there was never any malice. He’s tried to do right by the city and Mets fans, even if manages to foul it up more times than not. He’s never theatened to move the team or scammed the taxpayers out of a billion dollars.
Even at the height of their fued, when Doubleday was accused of making anti-semitic remarks about Selig becoming commissioner, Wilpon stood up for him.
Dude, no! The Shake Shack… It’s like a cardinal sin, you can’t throw it under the bus! That being said, Xtreem is right above. Food’s good but the prices suck and the lines are insane. Blah. Citi Field is a nice experience overall.
Now, on to the important parts, you’re pretty much on target, Donal. I expect us to have a high octane offense – not the best but definitely nowhere near the worst. Ike, Duda, Wright should all contribute effectively.
Pitching staff will get by. Santana, if he gives us twenty five starts with the quality it -looks- like he can, that’ll be spectacular. Dickey’s effective, Niese should improve, Gee and Pelfrey…you could do worse. I do like Gee alot, too.
All in all, I think we’ll finish with about… 75-84 wins. And that’s because I’m an optimist with this team… I have to, or i’ll give myself more stress related health issues.
I will just take a wait and see attitude for I’m still demoralized from the day the Mets under Sandy started going for bargain basement rejects and reclamation projects.
Since the core of young kids that had us all buzzing till the team was dismantled, I do have hope. Yes, they did it without Ike’s bat so that and the shorter fences holds promise of enough runs scored. It’s the defense and especially the change at shortstop that has me more worried.
At the home opener last year saw Jose make an unbelievable stop on a scorching grounder headed up the middle for a run scoring base hit and turned it into a double play. Even though Tejada is a good fielder, Jose’s outstanding glove and throwing arm are going to be missed tremendously when it comes to games saved in the won-lost record.
The other concern is having a deep bullpen. Sandy helped improve a pen he broke apart but it’s thin.
And finally, we have no bench strength.
And Fred and Jeff are not good owners for reasons that have nothing pertaining to the team on the field but with the fans – they took what was the fun many of us had going to a Met game at Shea and turned it into spending a day at a park built for elitists.
“I just do not get the hype about this place. Are hamburgers and milkshakes in one place really that mind blowing? ”
Spoken like a guy who’s never eaten at Shake Shack.
Hitman,
As you probably figured out, it’s another way of making money for over-priced food. I understand it has also become a hangout for younger fans less interested in the game than they are socializing. I know when we were walking through it during the seventh inning because we had to leave early, it was mobbed with young kids just standing there and talking away without even showing interest in the game itself.
That’s what I think the Wilpons had in mind. During the early part of 2009 SNY was heavily promoting the fact that fans could now get out of their seats during the game and walk around and take in all the ammenties – as if the ball game was secondary. Yes, they could still see the action while walking around, however, the restaurants and shopping outlets were those that were being promoted.
Joey, I hear you loud and clear. Been to CitiField 3 times and each time I tried to go to Shakeshack to see what all the fuss was about I ended up retreating back to my seats where I could easily feast on Nathan’s dogs and the pretzels outside are always good. The place was mobbed with a very young crowd, nobody looking at the game and all busy playing with their phones and drinking beers. Some even bring iPads to the game so I guess they came to read a book or something. Very, very different now, times have changed.
Hi William,
Funny but I recall we got to our seats about 25 minutes before game time and not a single vendor came by until the second or third inning or there abouts. It was almost as if they wanted us to get out of our seats to get something to eat.
Anyway, they started coming around with Franks, Soda, Ice Cream after that – a small box of “itsy bitsys” – tiny ice cream nuggets – came out for six dollars – today I got two half-liter boxes of Bryers for a dollar less.
And when somebody gave us last minute tickets for last season’s home opener in the champions section, it was very cold so we went back into the lounge in the sixth inning (cold was OK for me but not for the Mrs.) the lounge was quite filled but most were either at the bar, sitting down in seats talking or watching the Masters on TV. Few were watching the game on the few monitors that were turned to it or sitting by the seats that let us see about 60 percent of the field. Was a social event for the rich as well.
I’ve eaten at the one in Madison Square Park. It wasn’t awful, but there are so many better places in town.
exaclty burgers are awesome, shakes are good and the best part about going is that the staff there are awesome compared to any other mets spot in citifield i give them props! LETS GO METS!
I wish I could have a response as to your Shakeshack review, but unfortunately I’m 0-for-3 at trying to get a burger there, and I do enjoy a good think, juicy burger. Maybe in 2012.
Can’t comment on Shake Shack burgers as I’ve never had one but…..don’t ruin my burger with bacon. In fact, don’t put anything on it other than mustard – not even cheese. An elite burger doesn’t need it.
Teams can lose with good talent but they can’t win without it.
This team will not replicate the1962 season as we’ve got some talent. I won’t be surprised if we finish last buy how many games we win is anyone’s guess right now. I think there’s enough talent for a solid. 500 club if all breaks right.
I’m looking forward to the start of the season.
I agree with MMO that the Mets won’t be terrible. And it’s possible that not that much has to go right for the Mets to be pretty good. If Duda and Davis play full seasons like their partial seasons last year, we replace Reyes and Beltran’s numbers. If Wright returns to 2010 form the offense is even better. If Santana gives us a 2010-type season, replacing Capuano in the rotation, that’s a big plus. And if Pelfrey or Gee or Niese–just one–improves over 2011, we’ve got a decent rotation. Just those changes could produce 85 wins, maybe a few more. Not likely, I know, but you’re allowed to be optimistic on opening day. It’s almost required.