It’s not very often that a late night Post-Game show on a Sunday has any significance. Tonight was an exception.
Following the Mets loss to the Phillies on Sunday night, SNY analyst, Bobby Ojeda unloaded on the Mets for their inexcusable play this season during Lincoln Mercury’s Post Game Live.
Unlike many sports shows on TV today, there was no yelling or screaming or obscenities. Instead, Ojeda in a calm demeanor proceed to voice his displeasure with the Mets for a number of their shortcomings this season.
He acknowledged that the team’s large number of injuries resulted in a lost season, however he maintained that the injuries were no excuse for the crucial mental mistakes players such as, Angel Pagan and Daniel Murphy have been making.
He went on to say that while covering the team in Port St. Lucie, Florida back in Spring Training, he ‘saw a lot of players having fun, and not stressing the fundamentals of the game’.
This news is not earth shattering, by any means, to anyone who follows the Mets closely, especially when you consider Jerry Manuel’s laid back attitude. However, it was nice to hear this coming from an ex-player and a respected member of the media.
Ojeda also went onto discuss that the mental mistakes that have plagued the Mets this season could very well carry over into next year and cause the Mets to miss the playoffs once again. He suggests that the Mets get ‘serious’ in Spring Training and show that they are fired up to try to capture the World Series.
Unfortunately, I, personally, think the members of the team have a long way to go in this area. As The Star Ledger’s Brian Costa tweeted earlier , in between yesterday’s doubleheader, numerous Mets players surrounded a television. Rather than watching game tape to prepare for the game against Pedro Martinez, they were tuned into Fox’s telecast of the New York Giants football game.
What is the end result you ask? The Mets get shut out by their former ace.
Once, again I understand these games don’t mean much in the grand scheme of things, however the Mets have fans who are still paying top dollar to see their games. I find it very disheartening that there is so little effort being put into these last few weeks of the season.
Anyways, if there is one reason to watch the last remaining three weeks of the season, it is Bobby Ojeda’s stellar work on both the Pre- and Post-Game shows.
Despite this being his first year broadcasting on SNY, Ojeda comes off as a seasoned TV veteran and doesn’t sugar coat what can sometimes be a harsh reality. Kudos to Bobby Ojeda.
