Getting right to it: No.
If you haven’t yet, read Andy Martino’s column in the News in which he states:
This is where some folks will loudly disagree, but it is clear that a certain segment of the fan base and media is less patient with Latin American players than with white players
I can’t argue with the general “certain segment” because even if it’s .00001% of the fanbase then yeah a “certain segment” acts that way. As a general indictment of the fanbase, no way.
I find that Mets fans like gritty players who play better than those of us in the uppers perceive their god given abilities to be. Sometimes that’s Wally Backman, sometimes it’s a 35 year old knuckler from nowhere. Scrappy shortstop at Seaver’s side: loved. The Chose One Rookie that came up for coffee in 1987 and for the 1988 playoff run – not loved.
Mets fans love home grown stars who play well, whether they are shortstops, third basemen, pitchers who make the Hall of Fame, pitchers who don’t make the Hall of Fame partially because of cocaine, right fielders who leave us for another woman (Los Angeles) and pitchers who try to save a season on three days rest. We love them all.
Mets fans get mad at folks who come to town to play left field and go from 52 home runs in 1977 to 13 home runs in 1982. They get mad at left fielders who go from 36 to 6.
They get mad at beloved managers who kill of a dynasty that never-was in 1991 and they get mad at managers who kill off a dynasty that never was in 2007 and 2008.
You come over from the Cardinals and teach us how to win, we love you. You come over from Pittsburgh and stink up the joint we boo.
You drop a pop-up against the New York Yankees in the middle of all this recent angst, yeah you’re gonna get booed. You make a leaping catch over the left field wall you are loved.
Martino:
Now, a lot of this involves performance, too. Angel Pagan, for example, is no longer called “dumb” in part because he is playing well. Perez is hated—why? Because he lost his fastball? Because he took the money that the Mets were waving in his face? Because he exercised a collectively-bargained right to refuse a minor league assignment?
Exactly. Pagan is playing better. Ollie’s refusal to go down is seen as hurting the team. One member of my staff worked all Labor Day weekend on an unexpected project and we respect him for it. Our other coworker who never seems to be around? Not respected. It’s a team.
Definitely read Martino’s piece.
People seem to like Santana and Reyes. They don’t seem too crazy about Jason Bay.
Oliver disliked because his last name is Perez? Please.
I welcome intelligent comments and even guest posts.
Back in an hour with part 3.