When the news broke at around 7:30 last night the first thing that came to my mind after the news of the Cubs signing Ben Zobrist was those infamous words uttered by Tom Glavine after what is now known to everyone as the “Implosion of ’07”
I am not devastated – but disappointed”
Did I think that Zobrist would have made a solid pickup if the Mets signed him ? Yes but in my opinion the Mets still would have needed to import a big bat to shore up the offense that will certainly take a big hit with the departures of both Murphy and Cespedes. In my honest opinion I still doubt we will see Murphy returning next season. I just don’t see the Mets front office going back to Murph after they pretty much intimated to everyone and their grandmothers for the last few seasons that they had no intentions on keeping him after his contract expired. Hell they almost didn’t even tender him a qualifying offer !!! I have always liked Murph and his hard nosed approach to the game and his performance during the first two rounds of the playoffs were historic, but once again I don’t think he is the Mets plan B.
In my opinion I think the Mets should give Herrera the reins at second base. Who knows maybe he lives up to the hype – it’s the chance that I am willing to take – but the front office needs to bring in that big bat to shore up the outfield whether it’s bringing back Cespedes or taking a chance on Alex Gordon. But most likely we will get a Span or a Parra.
The thing that really has irked me about the events of last night is that I believe that I saw this coming. There is an old saying “Loose Lips Sink Ships” and I feel that this applies here. I prefer it when the front office doesn’t telegraph their moves which gets the fan base all amped up just too see it blow up in their faces which instills mistrust among the fans in which conspiracy theories and bad jokes are made at our team’s expense.
When I was about 6 or 7 years old my parents promised me the Millennium Falcon as a present for my birthday. I bragged to all my friends that I was getting it and how it was going to be awesome to have them come over to pay with it. Long story short – I didn’t get the Falcon because it was out of stock… and I looked like a liar or a idiot to my friends…
I guess the same thing applies for the Mets right now.
And with that said….. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes:
Reserve outfielder from ’76-’76, Del Unser is 71 today (1944).
Middle reliever from ’74-’75, Jerry Cram turns ’68 (1947).
Starting pitcher from the ’77 team, Doc Medich is 67 (1948).
Outfielder from ’74-’79, Bruce Boisclair is 63 (1952).
Mets Centerfielder from the ’89 season, Juan Samuel is 55 (1960). Samuel was involved in one of the worst trades in Mets history when the Mets acquired him from the Phillies for Lenny Dykstra and Roger McDowell.
Middle reliever from the ’96 season, Mark Fyrie turns 46 (1969).
Back up outfielder from the ’02 season, Tony Tarasco is 45 (1970).
Reserve outfielder from ’02-’03, Jeff Duncan is 37 (1978)
Reserve outfielder from the ’12 season, Fred Lewis is 35 (1980).
Other transactions of note includes:
The New York Mets released First baseman ( and “69 World Series M.V.P), Donn Clendenon on December 9, 1971.
The New York Mets traded outfielder, Leon Brown and reserve first baseman, Brock Pemberton to the St. Louis Cardinals for minor league first baseman, Ed Kurpiel on December 9, 1976.
The New York Mets traded reserve infielder, Roy Staiger to the New York Yankees for reserve infielder, Sergio Ferrer on December 9, 1977.
The New York Mets traded middle reliever, Blaine Beatty to the Montreal Expos for reserve outfielder, Jeff Barry on December 9, 1991.
The Montreal Expos drafted middle reliever, Guillermo Mota from the Mets on December 9, 1996.
The Colorado Rockies signed starting pitcher, Mike Hampton of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 9, 2000.And a million jokes about the Colorado public school system was born.
The New York Mets signed free agent utility man/pinch hitting specialist, Julio Franco of the Atlanta Braves on December 9, 2005.
The New York Mets released reserve infielder, Andy Green on December 9, 2009.
The Mets drafted second baseman Brad Emaus from the Toronto Blue Jays on December 9, 2010. This was Sandy Alderson’s first attempt to shore up second base. We know how that turned out.
The Mets drafted middle reliever (and native New Yorker) Pedro Beato from the Baltimore Orioles on December 9, 2010.
The Washington Nationals drafted middle reliever, Elvin Ramirez from the Mets on December 9, 2010.
The New York Mets signed free agent middle reliever, Garrett Olson of the Pittsburgh Pirates on December 9, 2011.
The New York Mets signed free agent left fielder, Curtis Granderson of the New York Yankees on December 9, 2013. So far this has been a pretty decent signing.
Mo Vaughn’s has an appetite for destruction !!!