It’s time once again for the Mets Police annual tradition of the Top New York Mets Turkeys of all-time. This is weird to do this year since I am on such a great high, but since it’s Turkey Time Of Year, I might as well continue the tradition. It’s also a rare opportunity for me to reuse old material.
Let’s start with our newest addition. One would think that it would be nearly impossible for a 1986 Met to add himself to this list, but this nominee tried so hard. No matter what, one could always count on Lenny Dykstra to be caught up in something you’d rather not be caught up in.
Were we to make a list of Mets players to invite to Opening Day, he’d probably come in second last, beat only by our next turkey.
This man could not help the team on the mound. He would not help the team or himself by agreeing to go the minors to try to get better. This turkey ate a roster spot for half a season and in blowouts where Jerry Manuel used me for three innings before even looking at #46 .
He has more money than all of us combined, but you know him, you love him…
There is another new nominee for 2011. I think the less time wasted on this man the better…but the Turkey list would be incomplete without…
In no particular order, here are some of the great Mets Turkeys of the past…
2/3rds of Generation K: I think it was best put by a friend of mine (whose brain I picked for this article) who said “Pulsipher, Isringhuasen and The Other Guy.” Yep, these three pitchers were going to dominate the 1990s. Izzy had a decent career somewhere else, Pulse was a mess, and you’re still trying to remember the other guy’s name. In the past the entire Generation made the list…but for 2011 we have our first UnTurkey – Jason Isringhausen, welcome home and thanks for a great season. You’re off the list. The rest of you – well at least you dressed nicely.
Kaz Matsui: The Yankees have a Matsui, we should get one too! This was the height of the Japanese obsession where the Mets would sign Shinjo and “The Japanese Greg Maddux” rather than get the real guys.
Speaking of the Japanese Greg Maddux, I always enjoy this quote:
“Satoru really throws four pitches,” Mets assistant general manager Omar Minaya said. “He has a fastball, curve, change and cutter and has command of all of them. Satoru is an experienced pitcher who will be able to help our staff in a variety of different ways.”
Bobby Bonilla. We’ve covered this many times. Great with Bonds, horrible with Mets. One of the most hated Mets of all time, so what do the Mets do? They bring him back for a second time so we can boo him more. He didn’t make it to the final game at Shea.
Now, Bobby is back on the payroll. There’s only 24 and a half years to go. How old will you be then? On the other hand, 1986 seems like yesterday so maybe it will go by fast.
Joe Foy. You don’t know who he is. He’s the Bobby Bonilla of 1970. You kids won’t believe it now but the Mets could never find a good third-baseman, so they traded for one. He hit .236. The player they gave up was Amos Otis who played until 1984 and went to the playoffs numerous times for the Royals. Foy was done after 1971.
Roberto Alomar. At one point he was a lock for the Hall of Fame. It was plausible that he was going to be the greatest second baseman of all-time. He hit .336 with 20 and 100 in the pre-steroids 2001. In 2002 he joins the Mets and .266 with 11 home runs. Robby fell so far he wond up on the Long Island Ducks before making the Hall of Fame.
We’re just getting started…more turkeys tomorrow
Any more suggestions? Hit me: [email protected]
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