Author: Tim Donner

Postcard From St. Lucie: The Mets New Vibe

For those of us who make the annual pilgrimage to Port St. Lucie to welcome the first breath of both baseball and spring, there is something which seems to immediately distinguish spring training 2018 from past years. And it revolves around the new manager. It has always been fascinating to watch just how the succession of Mets’ skippers over the years have conducted these training sessions,...

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Postcard from St. Lucie: Much More Than Tebow Day

Ah, the sights and sounds of spring training. Is there anything appreciably better this side of Heaven? But before getting off into another syrupy recitation of the joys of renewal associated with this special time of year, allow me to share random reflections on the latest installment of my annual two day pilgrimage to Port St. Lucie. It has always seemed that late February is the best time to...

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The Mets’ 2016 Rallying Cry

We all remember or have heard the legend of Ya Gotta Believe. How the 1973 Mets, racked by injuries all season, in last place on August 30, went on a blistering tear in September and broke the tape by the thinnest of margins.  Their 82 wins were tied for the worst ever to qualify for the post-season, and just enough to clinch the NL East one day after the regular season was scheduled to end. So...

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For the Mets, RISP = RIP

The moment came when I knew I had mentally, if unwittingly, written off the 2016 Mets.  On Thursday night, I had a late meeting that kept me out until 10:00 PM.  In such circumstances, I always, and I mean always, check the scoreboard.  But having just witnessed the possible season-defining squandering of the biggest hit of the season, the Yoenis Cespedes home run the night before in the rubber...

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Measuring the Disappointment of the 2016 Mets

There have certainly been many disappointing seasons in the Mets’ 54 year history.  Some that fell below already low expectations, others in which the fresh promise of winter never materialized, and yet others in which they failed to build upon the success of previous seasons. Of course, it’s that last category that marks the 2016 Mets to date. Only once in franchise history has the team...

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