13
2013
The Toughness Factor: Why the Mets Need an Edge
An article by 
Something struck me as odd earlier this spring as I watched SNY’s first broadcast of the season from Tradition Field. Our splendid announcers were interviewing Collin Cowgill and at one point I believe it was Ron Darling asked whether Collin was getting a lot of ribbing about something or other in his background (I think it was about an underperforming college team he was affiliated with – I can’t remember exactly).
The thing I found odd was the awkward pause after the question when Collin looked at the camera like Dirty Harry staring down some “punk,” as if to say “I’m not the sort of guy that gets teased a lot.” What he did say after finally breaking the tension with a smile was “um, no not really, but yeah they’re having an off-year.” Did anyone else catch that?
Then there’s Valdespin, whose had all sorts of fanciful terms describing him, from to “loose wire” to “screw loose” to “plays with a certain flair,” to “brash and inaudible.” After getting plunked in the privates Monday by a Justin Verlander fastball maybe we should call him “Lefty.”
The dude showed up to play second base for a Major League baseball club without a cup … now if that isn’t tough I don’t know what is. When Valdespin was asked where the pitch hit him, Valdespin replied, “in the d–k,” adding that everything is “fine” and he doesn’t expect to miss action
“Everything is good, working good, normally, everything is great,” Valdespin said. What’s really amazing is where he found the time between getting plunked, the visit to the clinic, and being interviewed by the Post, to come to the conclusion that everything is in fact “working fine.”
Now see, that’s the kind of crazy I want on my ball club. What is nevertheless obvious in all of this is the effect he has on opposing pitchers, he is exquisitely annoying with his mannerisms, and that’s not a bad thing if you ask me. Also, you get the sense that he’d be more than willing to scrap if you piss him off enough — unless of course Justin Verlander is on the mound and you’re gunning for a roster spot in spring training and you just got your eggs scrambled by a 94 mile an hour fastball — lets be reasonable — nobody wants to get Robin Ventura’d.
Now there’s this new barrel-chested shifty eyed kid named Travis D’Arnaud. He’s not particularly brash or cocky, but his reputation as a tough guy preceded him to such an extent that Collins felt he had to specifically warn him against outrageous notions such as blocking the plate. Also, you look at Travis, and he looks like a tough guy … didn’t really get that with Josh Thole, Josh talks to deaf puppies … I’d rather have a guy back there who looks like he eats puppies. People talk about how D’Arnaud’s stats are skewed because he played in a hitter’s league but you know what? You can tell a lot about a hitter from the way major league pitchers pitch to him, and all spring left-handers in particular seem to want to part of him.
Who is the toughest guy on the Mets? Well it isn’t David Wright, nothing against the Captain, but David’s just too damned nice. He’s the guy who you can always count on to do the right thing, the sensible thing (his dad was a cop for crying out loud) … David is more likely to try and break up a fight. It sure isn’t Duda, who I could imagine getting punched in the face and responding with “hey? What was that all about?” Now granted Duda is one guy you really wouldn’t want to get angry as he could probably hold his own in single combat against an enraged Yeti, but he also seems like just a really peaceful fellow. No, it’s Ike, and I’ll tell you why. After that high slide into Tejada by Chased Mutley a couple of years back, Ike took a really weird rout to the dugout and he was jawing at Utley the entire time, boy was he fuming. I didn’t know Ike had it in him. Up until then I thought he was just another nice kid.
So when all the crap about Ike keeping late hours came out I was pretty upset, not with the perception that Ike isn’t the goody two-shoes wholesome kid we all thought he was (he isn’t, that much is obvious), but with the realization that someone in ownership or management didn’t like it. But who? And more importantly, why?
I’ve gotten into more arguments with other Mets fans over this issue than any other I can think of. The curse of Mike Piazza, which actually started before Mike was even on the team. See, in 1986 the Mets accumulated a lot of negative Karma because of all the people they punched out. They also won the World Series so the “bad guy” Karma was not exacted through some fitting heartbreaking loss in game 6 of the World Series, nope, the bad guys got away with it. The 2000 World Series rolls around with all this negative Karma still looking for a chance to stab Met fans in the eyeball, and Mike Piazza, gets into this weird confrontation where Clemens throws the barrel of a bat in Mike’s direction.
That was Piazza’s chance to exorcise the bad juju by putting a bully in his place while vanquishing a great and bloated evil, but he didn’t. He should have at least started walking to the mound with the understanding that if no one stopped him he’d proceed to punch Clemens in the face. Nope, Mike more or less trots to first base with this “dude, what is wrong with you?” look on his face. That was the worst thing that could have happened at that moment in time. The best thing would have been if Mike had the presence to realize that getting tossed (even if it meant a one game suspension which I doubt would have happened) would be worth giving your team the galvanizing jolt of courage and resolve that that the moment demanded. I knew then that the Mets were going to lose the series.
So here we are in 2013, and I’m starting to see a bit of an edge on the peripheries of this roster again. Maybe a gag order has been placed on someone in ownership. Maybe the “bad guy” Karma was finally satiated in 2006 when the nice guys lost … but the curse of Mike Piazza won’t officially be put to rest without a least one bench clearing brawl. It says so in the Karma rule book (I looked it up). Even more imperative, however, is that upper management find the doofus wiener who made those comments about Ike and lock him in a basement somewhere under the bowels of City Field for the remainder of the season. Maybe give him use of a flat screen and provide him with lots of snacks and a direct line to the Shake Shack, but under no circumstances should he to be allowed to leave his room or to speak.
Ever since the late 80’s the Wilpons have vigorously implemented this “character” requirement to being a N.Y. Met. I think the reasoning was largely intended as a corrective measure after the late 80′s debacle. It was also grounded in the fact that over in the Bronx, by employing a blueprint similar to Cashen’s, the Yankees secured the dynasty we should have had because they insisted on “+ character “ players. So, Jeff … er, ownership goes above and beyond ownership’s purview, insisting on “character” guys (to a fault) at the expense of that “by any means” edge and grit that almost all successful teams have. Sure maybe I’m overstating toughness, after all this isn’t football and I’m not Howie Long. Maybe in the end it still comes down to talent on the field, but with the exception of some of the more recent Yankee teams, I can’t come up with too many world series winners who didn’t have that “edge.”
One thing that a lot of us might agree on when it comes to this Alderson fellow, is he’s not the nicest guy in the world when it comes to the manner in which he executes his duties … In fact he can be kind of a cold-hearted, wise cracking, box of chocolates sending, disappointed in Santana jerk, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing. If he’s remaking this team in his image my guess is there will be at least a few guys like Cowgill and D’Arnaud and Valdespin who look like they might just have enough crazy in them to stir things up. Guys who might give you that split second after they get dusted where you’re not quite sure what they’re going to do … Who will more or less guarantee some payback if you go into second spikes high. I sure hope so, because if we don’t incorporate that element we’re just going to keep getting run over by the Chase Utley’s of this world. It’s no coincidence that Utley did that to maybe the nicest kid on the team. Nice doesn’t win championships.
About the Author: Matthew Balasis
I’ve been a Met fan since August 1969 when a fire resulted in the Red Cross placing my family on the 6th floor of a building in Willets Point. I could see Shea from our balcony and I knew something big was going on. I followed them through the dark years and the resurgence of the 80’s only (sadly) to miss the fall of 86 because I was in Boot Camp. I've been serving penance ever since in Minnesota where I'm an SLP. I've written a lot about the Mets in an effort to share with my kids (and anyone else who might listen), a sporting tradition that made much of my childhood worthwhile. Follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/MatthewBalasis
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Matt,
Spot on, and I look forward to some spunk on this 2013 squad. Mr. Harvey also strikes me as someone who will have no problem sticking up for a teammate.
You know who else? Dillon Gee, he was the guy who started that big ruckus at AAA a few years back by plunking a couple of hitters after Murphy’s knee got messed up on that high side. He might not look it but Dillon’s a tough nut, must be something about Texas.
Matt,
Yes, Gee as well. He gets overlooked quite a bit, and I’m guilty of that too. He is a guy I would take on my team any day. Not that I’m advocating for brawls or beanings, but every team needs some guys that bring the toughness dynamic in order to maintain proper respect from the opponent. This year’s squad is far from perfect, but as you note they should be improved from the doormat personal of the last few seasons.
Any kid who has the “balls” to play without a cup is tough enough for my team. The Mets have been long rumored to be soft. A few tough guys wouldn’t hurt a team.
Problem is, Mets fans don’t want those kinda players. They want the squeeky clean kind. They don’t want fun or entertaining, or tough or players with swagger, they’d be called disrespectful. cancer, etc…
Mets fans dont wan those kinds of players or the Wilpons dont?
By the way are you a Mets fan?
Most met fans nowadays would gasp in horror if the current roster was anything like the 86 mets they claim to adore.
I grew up watching the mets become the bullies and then become the pansies.
doc gooden said the SAME THING in 1992/1993… a short while later he was off the team
and to me, this ALL started when the Wilpons became 50% owners during the 86 season and had Kevin Mitchell traded for Kevin McReynolds.
That trade to me, more than any other single transaction, has represented the Wilpon era.
Nice talented…clean cut choir boy like Kevin McReynolds….who did not have the guts to play in NY…and really wanted no part of this city..and his rep eventually suffered when his production did.
with varying results, we have seen K-Mac morph into Vince Coleman, Shawn Green, Bobby Bo, Jason Bay, Luis Castillo, Mike Piazza, etc the list goes on and on….
the guys with COJONES…are guys that can scare the opposition…but unfortunately scare the ownership…
and IMO that is more Fred’s doing than Jeff…
Jeff looks like a Type A maniac who was in reality the close confidant of Tony Bernazard ( another Type A maniac )….he probably doesnt like people to challenge HIM
Fred looks like a Type B passive aggressive back-stabber…
Fred will say nice things to your face than talk all kinds of junk behind your back…and doesnt like confrontation AT ALL
Totally agree here. The Wilpons have always been image obsessed … in trying to build their “legacy” their attempts have tended to backfire and they’ve just dug a deeper hole for themselves with the public. They’ve focused WAY too much on character and temperament, meanwhile it’s been one PR nightmare after another with these guys from their business dealings to their debt to their homage to the Dodgers with the new ballpark. Too bad they haven’t figured out that the public will forgive an awful lot if they would only put a winning product on the field. Their biggest PR disaster is and always has been not winning enough.
Doesn’t the term “STUPID” jump out to anyone in regards to not wearing a cup!??
Nah, it’s gritty and tough. Imagine how tough we would consider a football player who forgot his helmet.
That’s the first thing I thought. Tough? no. Gritty? no. Suffering from some sort of Mental Defect? possibly. Stupid? Completely.
Great post Matt. It’s time we get some of that toughness back, it’s been missing for too long.
“Everything is good, working good, normally, everything is great,” Valdespin said. What’s really amazing is where he found the time between getting plunked, the visit to the clinic, and being interviewed by the Post, to come to the conclusion that everything is in fact “working fine.”
Exactly what did the trainers do to check “everything” out?
On second thought, I really do not want to know. But you have to commend those guys…they are hands on.
LOL! TMI
I like Ike, and I’m not saying he’s not “tough”, but I don’t think yelling across the field at Chase Utley once equates to super toughness…it’s rather meaningless. I doubt Utley was scared. Though if you do like yelling as some measure of things, Ike does argue with umps quite a bit so I guess he’s consistent there.
Baseball “brawls” also are pointless most of the time and usually end up with a couple of small shoves and a bunch of guys just standing around
I think it’s less about actually hurting people and more about showing the opposition you will stand up for yourself if “push comes to shove.”
I never wore a cup past high school…I would say the majority of guys don’t wear them aside from catchers.
Excellent article. There is a big difference between the moronic guys like Vince Coleman (and his firecarcker) and guys who play with a chip on their shoulder. Of course, winning seems to override a lot of things. Look at Manny and the Red Sox; Manny being Manny was okay while the victories were coming. After a few not so great years, Manny lost his appeal.
Guys like Valdy, TDA, and even Harvey are great. Clemons might have been an ass but he was a helluva pitcher who took the mound with a chip on his shoulder and dared anyone to knock it off. Pedro was the same way. I see Harvey falling into that mold.
The Mets need some guys with a bit of bravado. Guys like Wright, Niese, and Murphy can make up the bulk of a team but you need a few bad boys (at least on the field).
If this current Met team is going to hopefully forge an identity, I’d just assume it not be ‘an edge’.
I’d rather leave that edge to Jeter and his Ford commercials (and here’s hoping SNY retires those this year).
We need our own type of identity.
It is kinda funny how the narrative changes over the years. A few years ago in posts about the team personality, people would endlessly theorize that they choked down the stretch in ’07-’08 b/c other teams hated them for their “celebration antics” and got more fired up to beat them than they did other teams. Now the new theory is that they lost those years and years since b/c they are nice?
I think it was both in 07/08, I think there were a lot of celebratory antics but the team also just wasn’t very tough. It’s hard to quantify toughness, to some extent it may be playing with a certain reckless abandon and playing hurt, to some degree it may be about carrying yourself with a certain pride, “attitude,” making it clear you’re not going to be intimidated. The opposition will intimidate you every time if you let them. Yes ultimately it’s about the talent, but you have to have some hard-nosed types on your roster if only to level the playing field when things get nasty as invariably they will from time to time.
It’s not so much about garnering whatever benefit showing up the opposition by standing up for yourself might bring, quite the contrary it’s about avoiding the damage of NOT standing up for yourself, of taking it and doing nothing about it — there’s nothing more deflating to a group of men than the perception that they are “cowards.”
Problem is, Mets fans don’t want those kinda players. They want the squeeky clean kind. They don’t want fun or entertaining, or tough or players with swagger, they’d be called disrespectful. cancer, etc…
Alex, I believe you’re a met fan (although sometimes I wonder) but you couldn’t be more off with your comment. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like that type of gritty edgy player. Mets ownership on the other hand wants the squeaky clean. We love those types of players and please don’t bring up Valdy as an example. He hasn’t proven anything yet and clearly is seen as a bit of a problem child by his own coaches. I for one grew to really dislike his bs but as I said I’m willing to give him a chance to prove me wrong Nd I do acknowledge his talent.
We love those types of players ”
Really?? Where are they then? Because last i checked, those players seem to be trash by fans and/or rid of… please take your time and tell me what they’ve done to those “Grity” players we’ve had…
“Gritty” is so subjective but I believe a substantial part of the fanbase still loves them some Mookie and want Wally to be next in line for manager. The problem is that now there is a huge decrepency in who is called “gritty”. Some view Murphy as gritty but then some want him replaced by V-spin who is now being labeled gritty because he is brash and immature and forgot to wear a cup. Some view Kirk as gritty, some view Baxter that way because he crashed into a wall to save our first No Hitter. Some view Johan as gritty, some soft. Some view Cowgill as a guy who has a gritty reputation, some call him a POS. Again, it’s way too subjective and appears more based on facial emotions that we can see more than events that actually occur.
I think you are talking about two different type of players.
Gritty is one might not have the best talent (in fact usually doesnt) but plays with heart. Baxter, Turner, and Tejada fall into that category.
Brash is a guy who plays with a bit of attitude. Certainly those three dont fit into that. Valdy, perhaps Johan, and potentially Cowgill have that.
Brash is the same thing. We only see what we see on the field. We don’t know how cocky a guy is in the dugout or off the field. We don’t even know if that type of player is something that is beneficial to the team.
To me these type labels just get in the way of the real discussion. What we need is more talent.
Who was gotten rid of who was “Brash”?
Reyes? He wasnt brash he was always smiling.
Beltran? He was quiet.
KRod? He is a thug..not brash. Anyone who beats up old people and women ought to have his visa revoked POS!!!
The only one I can remember is Lastings and, as his career turned out, it might have been because he honestly wasnt that good.
Other than that I think you have to go back to Pedro and Sheffield to find anyone who played with some Valdys.
Far as I know we haven’t gotten rid of Johan, yet. Hopefully he pitches lights out and we can get something in return for him too.
Ty Wiggington and Jeff Keppinger are certainly a couple of guys I would have held onto … the organization just doesn’t seem to value those types.
I think at the time I would have still traded Wiggy for Benson and Kepp. Odd that those two were traded for each other. Kepp only played 33 games for us and had an OPS under .700.
Randolph never really gave Kepp a chance, I think he never fit with the sort of athleticism he saw as being necessary for 2B … who knows. Kepp went on to have some pretty darned good seasons. Wiggington to this day is the last Met to bowl over a catcher at home plate … that itself says something about the make-up of the Mets teams of the last 5 – 6 years.
Again, I think I would have still traded Wiggy for Benson and Kepp 9/10 times.
Brash and gritty well I am not against it. However, as noted those are subjective terms. One man’s brash is another’s cancer. I am reminded of Carlos Zambrano and his gritty behavior and how it was instrumental in tearing apart that club house. Yet, without Lenny’s brash play the Mets would not have won in 86. I like a lot of what I see on this team and hope that it can galvanize and turn into wins. Oh and the yeti comment was terrific.
Agreed.
Well…if you can’t be good…might as well be tough.
I think perhaps you underestimate those quiet and NICE guys ability to get tough or be tough….
Harrelson was one of the nicest guys around and he still went at it with Pete Rose…
Beltran you might feel had no fire but even injured he retaliated for the hard slide into Tejada that no one else on the team bothered to do.
I can’t think of a more polite player than Dickey yet he drilled a guy (as best as he could) in retaliation.
So looks and appearances can be decieving can’t they?
It helps when you care about your teammates enough to put yourself out there … you’re right about Beltran though, one of the most under-appreciated players in Met history if you ask me.
I have worked as a bouncer and done bodyguard work for a few bands and celebrities on Movies…
And you know what I learned from that?
The guys you think are tough are NOT the ones to worry about….
It’s that Quiet soft spoken Nice Guy who lets it out all at once in an explosion that happens rarely but when it does it is Nuclear! LOL
Good point, There are several angles to toughness, but to me it is just necessary to be tough enough so the opponent does not take advantage and gain an edge. This can be done quietly, it can be done in a very attention-grabbing manner, it is both mental and physical, and how it is done doesn’t matter to me.
True toughness is about NOT SHOWING Fear….Not how Good you are or quick at showing Violence…
It takes a very tough guy to be a Navy Seal….
But I would guess the guy who works EOD (Bomb Disposal) is actually a bit tougher than those guys!
Both are outright Crazy! LOL
Reminds me of
Piazza >>> Mota, spring training …
remember that one? lol!
“I never use a cup, but I’ve got to because I’m really scared of the ball hitting me in the b—-,” Valdespin said Wednesday, according to the New York Post. “I have to do it now so I never forget.”
LOL, this is a funny read:
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/03/13/very-scared-jordany-valdespin-learns-lesson-vows-to-wear-cup/
i think john buck falls in the catagory on no nonsense guys who will be gritty when needed.he will be a very good player for the mets this year in my opinion.