This Crow Tastes Like Crow

[TransMonk]

There has never been a Mets team that has exceeded expectations and surprised me more than this team.

I'm sorry for not believing in Terry Collins. I have often thought and said around here that he was a "placeholder" manager in place to get young players through the post-Madoff era. While I still think that could have been the thinking back in 2011, Terry has done a great job of keeping the team as competitive as the talent would allow and has really grown as a manager over the past few years along with the team. While I don't always agree with him move for move, everything he has touched in the postseason has turned to gold and it's hard for me not to trust him now. I hope he stays with the club for a few more years.

I'm sorry for not believing in Sandy Alderson. I've been on board with Alderson's plan during the rebuild...in fact I welcomed it as necessary even during the lean years. But, I did not think he would be able to make the moves in July that would make the Mets strong WS contenders without giving up big pieces to get it done. I was wrong. I am not disappointed with any deal he made and admire that he did not get fleeced on the return.

I'm sorry for writing the Mets off in May. And June. And July. I was pretty content to have this year be the last year of the rebuild and my expectations were set as such. When the injuries mounted and the offense became non-existent, I was ready to look to 2016. Luckily, the Mets did not share my opinion and kept their eyes on this year. I was even sqeamish when Game 5 of the NLDS came around. I should have known better.

I'm ready to give in to this team. I now think that they CAN win the whole damn thing. I am now just believing in the amazing and miraculous things that this team can and will do.

I love that they have proved me wrong.

[Guest themetfairy]

I thought that this would be a good year. I had no idea that it would be such a great one.

Ya Gotta Believe!

[dinosaur jesus]

I was wrong about Curtis Granderson last year, so I'll have a little bite of that crow. Tastes like chicken to me.

[Lefty Specialist]

I was a doubter, too. I didn't think they'd do what it took at the deadline. I saw so many games in May, June and July that they gave away with that putrid offense. I was willing to write this off as another rebuilding year, getting the pitchers some experience, with 2016 as the year they would go for it. And as of July 25th, that's kind of the way it was looking.

Trading for Cespedes floored me. And even picking a player like him up, there was no right to expect that he'd hit 17 home runs in 129 at-bats. That kind of stuff just doesn't happen.

But the mere act of picking up Yoenis perked up the team and the fan base. For the first time I felt, "Hey, they're actually serious". And taking apart the Nationals that first weekend in August energized us and demoralized them. They just assumed they'd be able to turn it on, but instead they just sputtered as the Mets roared past them. Just the fact that they DID roar past is something none of us had seen. Remember, this was a team that had NEVER won the division after having a lead and then giving it away. (Granted, small sample size- they'd only won the division 5 times before this year).

But even after all that, I'd have been content if they'd won the NLDS and lost the NLCS. Now, however, they're in the Big Show. Kill, Kill, Kill.

[Guest d'Kong76]

This crow needs some hot sauce. *caw caw*

[Lefty Specialist]

d'Kong76 wrote: This crow needs some hot sauce. *caw caw*

With an iconic wooden cap.

[G-Fafif]

I thought Granderson was a waste of resources. He's a bargain.

I thought Collins was a caretaker in over his head. He's a leader of men.

I thought Colon was taking starts better given to younger pitchers. He's a stabilizing force.

I thought Murphy couldn't do anything right. He can't do anything wrong.

I thought 2015 might be somewhat better than 2014. It's proving better than almost everything.

Met-a culpa. And happily so.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

In a fit of frustration earlier this year I advocated trading Syndergaard for Chase Utley.

Other than that I was totally on everything.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Wow, that would have been something! Utley would have had to break his own teammate's leg!

[G-Fafif]

Would having Utley kill the "they're all so likable" narrative or would we admire his never-say-die fighting spirit?

The latter, I assume.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

This was when I was mad at Muffy back in April and determined to solve the Wright dilemma quickly. I also offered to sweeten the pot with Pawlecki.

[Centerfield]

I started the thread "Curtis Granderson Sucks".

[Guest El Segundo Escupidor]

Wanted Duda benched during the NLDS/CS.

Thought Grandy was a worse signing than Luis Castillo.

Also, thought Lagares was Endy Chavez Mk II and wanted him off the PS roster (I mostly blame the drummer of Def Leppard for this one).

[Benjamin Grimm]

I seem to recall Endy Chavez making a key contribution or two in the 2006 postseason.

[batmagadanleadoff]

I never ever said or wrote a single bad thing about Sandy Alderson. But I'll have some of that crow for thinking that Granderson was not too far from done.

[Guest El Segundo Escupidor]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I seem to recall Endy Chavez making a key contribution or two in the 2006 postseason.

His goodwill from Game 7 was erased the following inning by grounding out with the bases loaded in one horrific AB.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I can't agree with that.

[Guest El Segundo Escupidor]

*shrugs*

If Beltran made that catch i guarantee you he would not have been vilified for his AB the way he was. But nobody remembers Endy's AB (against an ailing Jeff Suppan) because of what he did the inning before. What Endy giveth, Endy taketh away.

[MFS62]

I was a member of the "It took the reliever 8 pitches to get three outs. Why can't he go another inning" club that criticized Terry's systematic bullpen usage. I also disliked his resting the regulars in games down the stretch and not go for home field advantage over L.A.

I'll eat some crow, but please pluck out all the pinfeathers first.

Later

[Gwreck]

El Segundo Escupidor wrote: His goodwill from Game 7 was erased the following inning by grounding out with the bases loaded in one horrific AB.

Chavez hit a fly ball to center to end the 6th. It was Valentin that struck out with the bases loaded and only one out.
Chavez also singled in the 9th to put the tying run on base.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

El Segundo Escupidor wrote: *shrugs* If Beltran made that catch i guarantee you he would not have been vilified for his AB the way he was. But nobody remembers Endy's AB (against an ailing Jeff Suppan) because of what he did the inning before. What Endy giveth, Endy taketh away.

My unsung goat in that game was Valentin. He whiffed with one out and a guy on third I'm pretty sure.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Crow drumsticks are delish, but you have to eat like two
hundred of them and then you're hungry in an hour.

[Guest El Segundo Escupidor]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: My unsung goat in that game was Valentin. He whiffed with one out and a guy on third I'm pretty sure.

Yeah, him too.

And he his bat went cold as soon as he clinched the playoff berth.

[Centerfield]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: El Segundo Escupidor wrote: *shrugs* If Beltran made that catch i guarantee you he would not have been vilified for his AB the way he was. But nobody remembers Endy's AB (against an ailing Jeff Suppan) because of what he did the inning before. What Endy giveth, Endy taketh away. My unsung goat in that game was Valentin. He whiffed with one out and a guy on third I'm pretty sure.

Exactamundo.

If Valentin gives the Mets the lead there we win that game.

Far too much is made of the Beltran at-bat. That was the game right there.

[Guest El Segundo Escupidor]

Centerfield wrote: Far too much is made of the Beltran at-bat. That was the game right there.

Beltran had the misfortune of receiving three unhittable pitches from a future 2-time CYA runner-up. Fastball inside corner, curve inside corner, curve from hell. There wasn't a hitter in the league who would have put the ball in play from those pitches.

My issue with Endy (like Valentin) is that he was blackhole during the entire playoffs. And saving two runs does not make up for it anyway. Ironically enough, it was the Cardinal 6-7 hitters who killed us in that series (as well the Human Rain Delay)

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Centerfield wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: El Segundo Escupidor wrote: *shrugs* If Beltran made that catch i guarantee you he would not have been vilified for his AB the way he was. But nobody remembers Endy's AB (against an ailing Jeff Suppan) because of what he did the inning before. What Endy giveth, Endy taketh away. My unsung goat in that game was Valentin. He whiffed with one out and a guy on third I'm pretty sure. Exactamundo. If Valentin gives the Mets the lead there we win that game. Far too much is made of the Beltran at-bat. That was the game right there.

Valentin whiffed with the bases LOADED in the sixth. But he DID get the bottom-of-the-ninth rally started, IIRC.

Cliff's K in the ninth-- two on, no out-- was the dagger, really.

[Guest El Segundo Escupidor]

Gwreck wrote: Chavez also singled in the 9th to put the tying run on base.

Valentin also singled in the 9th, ftr.

[Centerfield]

Getting back to the original topic:

Terry Collins
No crow for me here. I have always liked Collins. I have never understood the sentiment that he is just a placeholder. And I certainly didn't understand the clamoring for Wally Backman. The only mistake I can remember Collins making was failing to throw a fit in Game 2 of the NLDS. I love that he was out there arguing the ivy play. Hopefully he's learned his lesson. Maybe I like him because I'm comparing him to Willie and Jerry before him? And Art Fucking Howe? I don't know, but I like Collins. I get a pass here.

Sandy Alderson
Big heaping pile of crow for me on this one. I was ecstatic when they hired Sandy. I was so frustrated that we had Minaya, a really nice guy and an excellent scout, but a guy who seemed not all that bright. It felt like we were being run by a C student. When Sandy came, I was thrilled that we finally had the smartest guy in the room. But last winter left me disappointed. We had built to that point and had a chance to go for it, and Alderson played it like Safe Sandy Small Balls. The offense sucked and I had little faith Sandy could fix it. But then in July, Sandy went big. He turned into Spectacular Sandy Big Balls. Plus that story about Jeff Wilpon saying "Go for it". Wow. There isn't enough crow to be eaten here.

The Mets of May and June
No crow to be eaten here. The Mets of May and June sucked. If we ran those teams out in August and September, we'd be in full off-season mode.

A few more to round out this list...

Curtis Granderson
Open mouth. Insert crow.

Michael Cuddyer
Still sucks.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I'm sorry, Terry, for not realizing the mensch under the slightly-befuddled, slightly-irascible patina.

And, yeah, since his left-field travails, I've always thought of Murph as Good Bench Guy/Starter on a Bad Team material, even in good years like this one. Looking at that Fangraphs article, and then at actual stat-y evidence of stuff like his shrinking K-rate and changed approach... I kinda want to offer him more than a QO.

[Gwreck]

Centerfield wrote: Sandy Alderson Big heaping pile of crow for me on this one. I was ecstatic when they hired Sandy. I was so frustrated that we had Minaya, a really nice guy and an excellent scout, but a guy who seemed not all that bright. It felt like we were being run by a C student. When Sandy came, I was thrilled that we finally had the smartest guy in the room. But last winter left me disappointed. We had built to that point and had a chance to go for it, and Alderson played it like Safe Sandy Small Balls. The offense sucked and I had little faith Sandy could fix it. But then in July, Sandy went big. He turned into Spectacular Sandy Big Balls. Plus that story about Jeff Wilpon saying "Go for it". Wow. There isn't enough crow to be eaten here.

Very well said. I am happy to take a serving of this crow as well.