The New York Mets are worth your time. They’ve got a rich history, by turns tragic and comic and occasionally even triumphant, that’s fun to be a part of. And one year, maybe even a year pretty soon, they’ll add something to the triumphant part of that history. And that’ll definitely be worth your time.
But the 2021 Mets? Not so much.
This year’s team can’t get out of its own way. It can’t beat good teams, as it made abundantly clear last month, but it can’t beat bad ones either. Remember a week ago, when this stretch against the Nats and the Marlins was going to be their springboard back into competition? Well, that stretch is done and they went 4-4. When you go 4-4 against the bottom of your division’s barrel, you’ve shown anyone who’s paying attention exactly what you are.
Meanwhile, look around you. Odds are you aren’t in a gulag. (And if you are, well, good on you for finding one with Internet access.) This is the sweet part of September, when the days are still kind enough for shirt sleeves and some of the nights are starting to turn pleasantly cool. Those are nights for languid dinners and romantic strolls and gentle reminiscing and making big dramatic plans. (Though hey, bring a mask.) Make the most of them, because in a blink of an eye the wind will bite and it’ll be dark early and you’ll want each and every one of those nights back.
My advice? Don’t waste the precious remaining ones on terrible ballclubs that can’t get out of their own way. On misbegotten outfits that can play down to any level of competition. On organizations that have rotted from the top and need pruning. On the 2021 Mets, who don’t deserve your belief or your hope, having rewarded neither.
Another incarnation of the Mets will show up pretty soon. Save your passion for that one, because maybe it will love you back in a way this version can’t.
That’s what I’m doing, or at least the mini-version of it. Tomorrow I’m heading to Rome, which means eight and a half blissfully Met-free days await me. That wasn’t the point of the trip — once upon a time I even cringed when I saw I was missing the Subway Series — but all of a sudden it feels like a Get Out of Jail Free card. In my absence be nice to Greg, whose patience with my vagabond ways has probably never been as sorely tested as it’s about to be. Be nice to each other. And don’t forget to be nice to yourselves. Whether that means more baseball or less of it … well, I suppose that’s up to you.
Could be worse. They could’ve signed Trevor Bauer.
Have a great trip, Jason!
The Mets don’t have to hit, pitch, field, hire a competent or likeable front office, or get out of their own way. They just have to win more games than the Phillies and the Braves. And as irrational as it sounds, it is still possible for the Mets to do that. Rationality has nothing to do with being a Mets fan anyway. Because the Mets are Amazin’. Enjoy your trip.
and yes, this team is pure crap.
the organization still rotting.
pruning sounds too optimistic a fix but i’ll chalk that up
to your getting away from here!
enjoy!
Enjoy your trip Jason. In a week my wife and I fly to see our ex-pat daughter in the UK. Thanks to COVID mismanagement throughout 2020 in both countries, it’ll be the first time we’ve seen her and our son-in-law in nearly 2 years. Going that long without seeing your kid is a lot harder than watching the Mets (predictably, if you ask me) lose 2 of 3 must-win games against the gotdam Marlins.
Yeah, being glued to Mets games sucks now, and it will be worse when the Mets’ lack of hitting and lights-on bullpen will prove to be just what Satan’s team needs this weekend to right their suddenly sinking ship. But there’s one thing worse than having Mets games to watch, which is what we’ll have in a month; no Mets games to watch.
Pete Alonso leads the Mets in triples. That is all you need to know about this team.
Yes, bad Mets baseball is always better than no Mets baseball. Only a precious few left this year.
My modest goal was for the Mets to reach the Yankees series at at least .500 and within 2 of the Phillies and 4 of the Braves. Instead, they’re under .500 and 5 back of the Braves and Padres (2nd wildcard), 6 back in the loss column.
Alcantera’s deGrom-like game looks less impressive in hindsight after his mediocre teammates made the Mets look nearly as futile.
I can’t decide which was more pathetic: Baez stealing 2nd with no out and 3rd with 1 out, then RISP LOB. Or Alonso triple, no out, then RISP LOB.
Hand giving up the lead after a questionable decision to take out Stroman and Familia giving up the game winner hurt, but once again, the loss is on the Mets’ baffling ineptitude scoring while hitting well enough to put runners on. Baez and Lindor didn’t sit out this one.
As bad as the Mets look, they’re still in reach of making the season ender versus the Braves meaningful, assuming the Phillies don’t surprise. Fascinating series with the Yankees. They’re struggling, too, but they’re still holding a playoff berth.
The tragic is back.
Arrivederci, Jason!
Stroman was dealing, and should never have been taken out.
Rojas’ explanation was the usual garbage nonsense. The guy reached first on a spinning grounder, and so he takes him out, saying he wanted to stop the momentum.
That’s what he did alright.
He stopped OUR momentum.
Another loss TOTALLY on Rojas.
As soon as any starter reaches 60 pitches (or the 4th inning, whichever comes first), Rojas starts dripping beads of sweat down his graying temples and has to be physically restrained from grabbing the bullpen phone.
hmmm. that assumes the guy has a pulse.
i prefer the robotic managing by numbers coloring book theory…settings stuck on covid doubleheader.
his talent is to get the very *least* possible from the talent at his disposal.
we could have had girardi :-/
Yeah, he’s not the only manager in baseball who manages starters as though it’s their 3rd appearance of spring training, but it sure is annoying. I can just imagine his reaction to the Marlins getting 9 innings out of Alcantra the other night. He was probably on the phone with the commissioner’s office asking if that’s allowed.
…all i could think of was how good alcantra would look in a mets uni.
…was imagining smith, mcneil, davis, mcann for sandy…and the laughter back from the marlins GM.
Looks like we got an answer as to why Rojas’ arms look so bulked up, like some ridiculously puffed up hulk-like buffoon.
Just saw a commercial he is in, advertising some product, and it shows him working out in the weight room.
He should spend more time working on his baseball knowledge rather than his spreadsheets and his weights.
You leave Mel Rojas alone!
Serious question, why is Luis’s last name Rojas and not Alou? Is he ashamed of being part of one of the greatest baseball families ever to play?
clerical error, corrected in luis’ case
https://calltothepen.com/2020/01/28/new-york-mets-luis-rojas-alou-family-dynasty/
one could certainly turn your question around, the alou name telatively unscathed…
Well thats one way to avoid this team..leave the country!!
Jason,_have a GREAT trip!
Enjoy all your time away.
Your advice at end of today’s piece just shows you are a wise man!
sigh…………….
Ditto from all, Jason!
Arrivederci, Bunker!
Amen to all of this.
Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.
Safe travels, fratello Gregorio.
Before reading any of the other comments on this blog post I have to give my immediate knee jerk reaction because it hits home with me in a way I would love to be able to communicate as succinctly as you did. In everything there’s a balance. Work, Family, home, sports. To root for a team doesn’t mean every minute of your day is spent contemplating their status. That’s just silly. So your line about spending “blissful” time away from the Mets really made me chuckle because if you have a healthy balance in life you can walk away from the team at times when it becomes too aggravating but you’re still right back at it passionately at any moment without sacrificing your mental health! Yes, there’s always next year. And if you like watching them bottom feed the rest of this season, that’s ok, too! But going to Rome sounds nice. Maybe you’ll bump into Piazza.
Hey Stephanie, understand where you are coming from, but the passion/misery we feel is sort of like another word for being happy.
For me, one of the most miserable, saddest, angriest seasons in history was 1987 when we squandered all our potential, and blew what should have been another WS season.
So at least for me, when we say we are unhappy with the team and need to get away, we are really very (or at least somewhat) happy, and can (hopefully) also take care of our real-life responsibilities as well.
Notice how I qualified that, because, granted, it is hard sometimes.