A Lousy Season Filled With Highlights

Well, here we are. The final day of the 2012 season. Despite a horrendous second half of the season, there were still a number of highlights.

I can't wait for game 162 to finally end this afternoon so we can all be put out of our misery, but let's not ignore the fact that there were some great moments this season.

First off, remember when the Mets were in first place (or at least tied for first place)?

Sure it was April 5, and it was only after one game, but they were in first at one point. They went on to be 46-40 going into the All-Star break. This team had us thinking, "Could this be it? Is this a winning team?!" What a tease...

Despite coming back down to earth in the second half (hitting just .246), David Wright had a stellar first half. Wright was hitting .351 in the first half, and his defense improved immensely this season (He can finally throw to first base!).  

Speaking of Wright, he is now the franchise leader in hits, passing Ed Kranepool. In just 1,255 games with the Mets, Wright managed to compile 1,419 hits. 

June 1, 2012. What Met fan will forget that date. It's the day Johan Santana threw the first no-hitter in franchise history. It only took 8,020 games to get it done, but finally, fans can say the team has a no-hitter, and for the first time, they weren't the ones being no-hit. Sure it was due to a blown call, but let's not nit-pick.

There was the call-up of Matt Harvey. In 10 starts with the Mets, Harvey was 3-5 with a 2.73 ERA. In 59.1 innings of work, he allowed just 42 hits and had 70 strike outs. He was shut down early due to an innings limit, but we were given a taste as to what the future holds for the Mets rotation in 2013.

While we're on the subject of the 2013 rotation, I'd like to see Jon Niese next season. This has been a great season for Niese, and one that I feel has been largely overshadowed. He has quietly gone about his business this season, earning a 13-9 record and a 3.40 ERA. 

Ike Davis provides one of the few positives from the second half of the season. After barely hitting over .100 in the first half, and facing rumors that he may be sent to the minors, Davis fought his way out of a disgusting slump to hit 31 home runs and get his average up to .225. The average still isn't where he or anyone else wants it to be, but who would have ever thought he would hit 31 homers this season.

Finally, I saved the best for last. Robert Allen Dickey. The man, the myth, the legend. R.A. Dickey has been the greatest story for the Mets this season, if not in all of major league baseball. 

The 37-year-old knuckleballer began his year by climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro for charity, wrote a New York Times bestseller, appeared in his first All-Star game, won 20 games and is a candidate for the Cy Young award. Oh, and did I forget to mention that he has done all of this with a torn abdominal muscle since April. Not too shabby, Mr. Dickey. 

So, you see, it wasn't all horrible. 

Below is a video of the Mets thanking fans for sticking with them throughout the 2012 season.

R.A. Dickey Deserves Cy Young

R.A. Dickey deserves the Cy Young award, and no, I'm not just saying that because I'm a Mets fan.

Dickey notched is 20th win of the season on Thursday afternoon before a packed Citi Field.

By now, we all know the story. Dickey was the first to be cut during spring training back in 2009. Now, he is without a doubt the ace of the Mets pitching staff and appears to be on his way to winning the Cy Young award.

According to ESPN's MLB Cy Young predictor for 2012, Dickey leads the pack.

Now, obviously this is just a prediction, and is not something that is set in stone.

As important as it was for Dickey to win his 20th game, it was more for the fans than it was to help boost his Cy Young chances (Although it certainly didn't hurt).

Wins are not the major deciding factor in choosing the award recipient these days. That became clear when Felix Hernandez won the award in 2010 with a 13-12 record.

Since wins appear to be taking a back seat to some other statistics, here are some more Dickey stats for you:

Wins: 2nd

ERA: 2nd (2.69)

Innings Pitched: 1st (227.7)

Strikeouts: 1st (222)

Complete Games: 1st (5)

Shutouts: 1st (3)

There have been the same old boring arguments floating around that Dickey may be undeserving. After all, he's a 37-year-old who throws an unconventional pitch...the knuckleball.

It leaves batters standing in the batters box with confused looks on their faces. When done correctly, it can be such an unpredictable pitch that some claim it's unfair.

Well, life's not fair. Deal with it. 

The knuckleball is a legitimate pitch. So to the league-leading 903 batters Dickey has faced this season who complain, I say this: Don't be bitter because you can't handle the pitch. As long as it floats over the plate, you have a chance, just like with any other pitch coming your way. 

Dickey rightfully earned every win he has (and he probably deserves more wins), as well as every other stat he owns this season.

He would be the first knuckleball pitcher to win the award. 

I've heard some say that knuckleballers are a dying breed. I disagree. With the year Dickey has had, I would bet that it would be a little difficult to try and find a baseball player or even a fan who hasn't tried to throw the pitch at least once. 

I tried to. It didn't go so well, but I still tried.  

If anything, Dickey has introduced a whole new generation of ballplayers to the pitch. 

The Cy Young award would top off what is arguably Dickey's best year in professional baseball.

Collins Apologizes After Implying Team Quit

After last night's bludgeoning, Terry Collins essentially called out his team by implying that they had quit.

Today, Collins decided to apologize for his comments. Apparently they're not quitters. They're all winners...

According to ESPN New York, Collins said:

"I don't want to ever challenge anybody's integrity," the manager said with a day to reflect. "That's wrong. My players are professionals. They didn't get here without being guys that played their hearts out all the time. Sometimes you say, 'What can I say that maybe will make them mad enough to say, 'You know, I'll show that little [jerk].'' That was maybe the way I tried to approach it last night. And I don't ever do that. So it might have been the wrong way..."

Collins tried to light a fire under this team and it turns out, he hurt some feelings in the clubhouse.

"Didn't sit well in that clubhouse." You know what doesn't sit well? Watching this poor excuse of a team go out day after day and find new, embarrassing ways to lose.

I watched the post-game last night and with the exception of Jeremy Hefner ( He appeared to be on the verge of tears), there wasn't a single interview that I watched and then thought to myself, "Wow, they really do care. They are just struggling terribly."

Ike Davis sounded as if he had better things to do than talk to the media (clubbin'?), and David Wright looked like the media was keeping him from getting to whatever he had planned for after the game.

Let's see...the media has just informed you that your manager basically called you quitters and you stand there and continue to look as disinterested as possible. Awesome.

At this point, Collins' future with the team is looking shakier than ever. But let's be honest, after last night, he's probably praying he gets fired. 

My Take On The Ike Situation

So an anonymous source suggested that the Mets may be looking to trade Ike Davis this winter if the right offer were to come along.

The reasoning for this, according to ESPN New York's Adam Rubin, is the following: "The Mets are disappointed in Davis' unwillingness to make changes based on coaching advice. Although he is personable and by no means a troublemaker, they also worry -- fairly or unfairly -- he is out too late after games, and that could influence other young players."

I have two issues with this and none of them have anything to do with Davis actually being traded. At this point, I think it's safe to say that nobody on this team is safe from being shipped off, Ike included.

My issues are with the reasoning for a trade.

One: This potential trade could be done in order to bring in help in other areas and allow for Lucas Duda to play his natural position...1st base.

Now, I wouldn't call myself an expert on such things, but when making a trade, isn't the goal to replace the traded player with someone equally as skilled at the same position (or gasp! possibly even better???).

Two: Whoever this source is, it appears their goal (or at least one of their goals) is to do a little damage to Davis' reputation. Davis is out too late after games? Who cares? Just like anyone else who has a job, as long as you show up when you are expected to and can do your job successfully, why should it matter what I do after work?

Ike told the Daily News, "I have never missed a game or not been ready to work because of anything to do with staying up too late...I show up every day. I play hard. It's unfair to me, and it doesn't make sense."

Ike's numbers in the first half were nauseating, but he has proven that he can turn things around and has had a very nice second half.

Who knows, maybe one day something just clicked with Ike and he was able to find his way at the plate again. I'm willing to bet, however, that that wasn't what happened. I'm going to go ahead and guess that he worked for it.

I've written in the past that I think Ike's attitude leaves a lot to be desired, but suggesting that he's not putting in the effort, or (out of the blue) labeling him as a partier, I wouldn't say that's fair.

As for influencing younger players...give me a break. This is a Major League Baseball team, not a daycare center. If younger players are that impressionable, perhaps this anonymous source should be looking into the character of those players.

Mets And Las Vegas 51's Sign Player Development Contract

The Mets announced this evening that they have signed a player development contract with the Las Vegas 51's. Here's the press release.

FLUSHING, N.Y., September 17, 2012 – The New York Mets today announced they have signed a two-year player development contract with the Las Vegas 51s, which will be the club’s new Triple-A affiliate.  The 51s play in the Pacific Coast League and have Cashman Field as their home stadium.  

"We are excited about our new partnership with the Las Vegas 51s and the city of Las Vegas, one which values equally player development, winning and community involvement," said Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson.

 “We are familiar with many of the front office personnel with the Mets,” said 51s Executive Director Don Logan. “I’ve known Sandy Alderson for 20 years to go along with J.P. Ricciardi, Paul DePodesta, Dick Scott and Terry Collins.  These individuals are all very familiar with Las Vegas from the time they spent here with other organizations. We are excited to welcome the Mets as our new Triple-A affiliate.”

The Las Vegas franchise, most recently associated with the Toronto Blue Jays, has topped 300,000 in attendance for all its 30 seasons (1983-2012).   The team has been affiliated with the Blue Jays (2009-2012), Dodgers (2001-2008) and Padres (1983-2000).

Yes, this is inconvenient, but it is what it is. With the Mets having played the way they have the last few years, and the fact that this is the team's third (fourth? I lost track...) triple-A affiliate in the last few years, let's be happy anybody wanted to house this team.

Besides, if faced with the decision of going to check out the Mets' triple-A team, where would you rather go, Vegas or Buffalo?

Pictures From Mets vs. Braves 9.9.12

Farewell, Chipper Jones

I learned early on in life that there are only three certainties in life: death, taxes, and Chipper Jones will kill the Mets.

Jones is making his final appearance as a player in New York this afternoon before continuing his farewell tour.

There is not a doubt in my mind that Jones was just a straight up awesome baseball player. Unfortunately, as a Mets fan, every memory I have of him makes me cringe.

So just how good was Jones against the Mets? He's hit .314 with 49 homes runs and 158 runs batted in during his long career.

When you look up his stats, he's actually beat up on the Phillies just a tad more than the Mets, but nobody cares about Philly.

The numbers don't lie. The guy was good and he's most likely going to be heading to Cooperstown in a few years. 

This may sound weird, but I'll actually miss Jones when he's gone. I've never known a single Braves team that Jones hasn't been a part of. Don't worry, I'll quickly get over it.

Despite the fact that he had his way with the Mets, treating them as his own personal punching bag, he is one of the last connections to what I consider to be one of the best rivalries in the NL East, and to some of my favorite years since I became a fan. 

While I hated the Braves, I always respected them. Let's face it, they were a good team who dominated the NL East for 14 consecutive years. 

Then came that sweet, sweet day back in 2006 (Ah, finally some good memories of a winning Mets team).

But I digress. This post isn't supposed to be about the Mets. It's about Chipper, or as we love to call him, Larry.

Jones and Mets fans have had a love-hate relationship going on for many years now. He's the player we've always loved to hate, and we've been the fan base that he's loved to rile up.

He always knew how to push our buttons, but was never disrespectful about it. 

I mean, the guy named his kid Shea for crying out loud.

Chipper's been quiet so far in this series. He's gone 0-7 at the plate in the first two games, but he still has nine more innings today to do something awful to the Mets.

So on this Sunday afternoon, if you're at the game, take a moment to recognize Jones for the great player he was. Then for old times sake, follow that with a "LAAARRRRRY" chant.