Wow, what a difference a week makes. It was 7 days ago that the fallout from the aborted trade for Carlos Gomez was sending Mets fans to DEFCON level 1 ( myself included). Also how about the apparent shoddy treatment that Wilmer Flores was subjected to because he was trotted out to play while he along with everyone else ( well except for the manager) thought he was involved in said deal – reducing him to tears.
Around this time last Thursday unconfirmed rumors were circulating that the deal was aborted. However, due not to Carlos Gomez alleged balky hip but because the Mets front office came down with a severe case of cold feet when it came to taking on the bulk of Carlos’ remaining contract. Which resulted in our fan base teetering on the verge of imploding in a way that has possibly never been seen before.
But to add insult to injury later that day the Mets would blow a sure win in the ninth inning when the bullpen melted down, handing a win to the Padres and pushing us to 3 games back of our nemesis Washington Nationals.
Well, the Mets fan base erupted like Mount Vesuvius spewing bile as if it were lava. This was the game that signaled the death knell of the ’15 season. I too, found myself joining the mob mentality – and could you blame us ? For the past 7 or so years the case with both Mets ownership and front office is that perception is the reality . To clarify I mean up to that point with the exception of the acquisitions of Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson the Mets would do just enough to field a team that would be a fringe candidate for the wild card and not go the extra mile to ensure a playoff berth at the very least.
Well everything changed at 3:45 last Friday when it was announced that the Mets were able to pull off one of the biggest deals of the trade deadline, obtaining Yoenis Cespedes from the Tigers for stud prospect Michael Fulmer and minor league pitcher, Luis Cessa. Immediately it felt as a cloud was lifted and sunlight was beaming through.
Most fans felt before this trade that we needed that Keith Hernandez or Donn Clendenon difference making bat. We have that now in Cespedes. Since the trade our team has won six straight – including a total domination of the then first place Nationals. Citi was rocking like I have never seen before. The team was invigorated as well as the fans. Bravado and a sense of confidence has returned to both this team as well as it’s fans.
I have not felt this positive about this team since……. Well 2006.
Boy what a difference a week makes !!!
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes:
A pair of original Mets middle relievers would have celebrated their birthdays today. Clem Labine would have turned 89 (1926) and Herb Moford would have been 87 (1928).
Starting pitcher from ’04-’06, Victor Zambrano is 40 (1975). Victor will always be mentioned along with such names as Joe Foy and Jim Fregosi when Mets fans talk about the worst trades in our teams history.
Current Mets folk hero ( second baseman/shortstop), Wilmer Flores is 24 (1991).
Sadly on this date in 1993 original Mets starting pitcher, Bob “Righty” Miller passed away. He would return to the Mets 11 years later as a reliever before being released by the team in 1974.
Other transactions of note include:
The New York Mets purchased the contract of middle reliever, Ralph Terry from the Kansas City Athletics on August 6, 1966.
The New York Mets traded minor league infielder, Greg Veloz to the Washington Nationals for utility infielder, Anderson Hernandez on August 6, 2009
Mo Vaughn’s favorite Hip Hop act is the Fat Boys !!
