Comments on: In Remembrance: The Mets We Lost In 2012

By: gorgeguy

gorgeguy — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:53:19 +0000

His drop-off was precipitous and despite success in ’88, I suspect that the Mets play-off drive-drop was corresponding. He didn’t have the same intensity or maybe necessary effect on teammates after the ’86 season.

From what I remember, analysts would mention how that even though he seemed gregarious to viewers, he was phony and annoying to opponents (and probably wore on teammates too). It didn’t help that his knees were going out quickly as well.

By: DrDooby

DrDooby — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:00:21 +0000

While I loved Carter too and he was the final piece of the puzzle, memory tends to forget that he declined rather quickly and steeply in his early to mid 30s in New York.
He was great in 1985 ( 6.6 “WAR”) and still very good in 1986 (3.3 WAR) – but after that produced a “WAR” of merely 0.4 combined overall from 1987 through 1989, i.e. his final three years as a Met when he was a shell of his former self as a player and got spelled more and more by Barry Lyons and Mackey Sasser.

Meanwhile, the “chicken scrabble of suspects” traded for Carter in the 1984 / 1985 off-season wasn´t all that bad for the Expos – even if the supporting cast wasn´t good enough to compete with the Mets and Cardinals in those years:
Hubie Brooks, the key young player, produced a 2.7 WAR in 1985, peaked in 1986 with a 4.4 WAR and still showed decent production from 1987 through 1989 for the Expos with a combined 3.4 WAR for those three season. Overall, his 10.5 WAR over those five years was actually higher than Carter´s combined 10.3 WAR, believe it or not, though with Knight & later HoJo aboard, he was expendable.

Highly touted RH Floyd Youmans – often compared to Doc Gooden in terms of stuff, age & projection – posted a 1.5 WAR in 1985, then had a fine 1986 breakout season with a 3.4 WAR but broke down physically in 1987 and never recovered to produce a 1.2 WAR over the final three seasons of his career combined.

The other two pieces, C Mike Fitzgerald and OF Herm Winningham indeed were “scrabbles of suspects” with no positive impact in the majors. However, Carter´s main contributions to the Mets came in 1985 and in 1986.

By: Kay

Kay — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 13:55:48 +0000

I remember watching games as a little girl with my Dad and when they would bring in Harry Parker he’d say “Well, there goes the ball game”………yeah, he wasn’t a big fan – lol

By: gorgeguy

gorgeguy — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 13:39:52 +0000

The day the Mets traded for Carter was one of my all-time favorite moves and is the day that this team finally arrived. I still couldn’t believe that he ended up a Met for the chicken scrabble of “suspects” that they gave in return. I can only hope the Mets aren’t on the short-end in much the same way when it comes to the Dickey trade.

Cheers to what he brought to this organization and to someone like him coming in the near future to guide the Mets to glory again.

By: Carl S.

Carl S. — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 04:32:23 +0000

Hi Joe. I really dont care for your harsh criticism of the front office lately. But one of the things that always attracted me to your site was your respect for Mets history and your apparent knowledge of this team from their very foundations. You have writers that are also a joy to read and know their Mets history as you do. It would be great to see you do more posts about your memories of season’s past and players because you are a very good writer. I know you’re frustrated at the current team, but you hammer them almost daily. I hope in 2013 you go back to the writer and Met fan you used to be, always hopeful and with a wonderful knack for inspiring your readers. Please don’t take offense, I’m just a longtime reader and wanted to let you know how I felt. Happy New Year.

By: Metsie

Metsie — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 03:41:02 +0000

This is why they need to bring back old timers night so that the newer generation can be exposed to the old guys who many didn’t even know played for the team.

By: TP

TP — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 03:09:54 +0000

Joe,
Nice tribute… I remember them all. Thanks.
RIP gentlemen.

By: Mookie

Mookie — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 21:25:38 +0000

In the seventies when a highly regarded prospect came up and busted, MLB writers and fans used to say “another Harry Parker”. He was the symbol of players who never met expectations. I have no idea why they singled him out because he wasnt even a high draft pick. I thought it was kind of unfair. If anyone remembers and knows why, please let me know.

By: Lifelongmetsfan

Lifelongmetsfan — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 19:43:12 +0000

Nice! Thank you!

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 18:33:07 +0000

Very nice tribute. Thanks for this and all you do throughout the year.

By: Joey D.

Joey D. — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 18:30:30 +0000

Amen.

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 18:20:57 +0000

Harry is listed there too.

R.I.P. Gary, Eddie and others.

By: Garry Spector

Garry Spector — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 18:08:54 +0000

I believe Harry Parker also died in 2012.

By: Hodges14

Hodges14 — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:59:30 +0000

R.I.P. to all of them.