BY JOSH ROGERS | It’s okay Met fans, we can still love this year’s team. Winning everything isn’t always everything.
Before the World Series started last week I wrote that this was a moment to savor, win or lose. I felt confident they were going to win (ya gotta believe), but I’ve been rooting for this team long enough to know that heartbreak is always possible.
Then they lost the first two games of the series and I began to have writer’s regret. The heartbreak was even more than I imagined it could be.
The Mets lost three games to the Royals after leading in the eighth or ninth innings. Misplays by Daniel Murphy and Lucas Duda led to two of the three blown saves by Met closer Jeurys Familia, who had been near perfect against the Dodgers and Cubs.
But no one can take away the joyful surprise of reaching the World Series, when no “expert” predicted it in April or even at the end of July.
“I don’t want to hear that crap,” a WFAN announcer said Monday anticipating that line of reasoning, but he’s wrong.
This is a team to love even more than the ‘86 Mets — one of the team’s two championships and the only one I can appreciate. Without a doubt, those Mets were one of the most talented teams of all time, and had plenty of heart and character. I still remember the painful feeling when it looked like the Red Sox would win — and the joy when Mookie’s grounder went through Bill Buckner’s legs. But…
That team had the talent to win more than once, and whether the culprit was cocaine, egos, or something else, it does take away some of the luster. And no doubt, back when I was younger than the players, the team’s cockiness was more alluring than it would be to me now. Not that I have any revisionist feelings.
I loved them then, love them now, and that love will never die. It’s just, sorry Mex, Doc, Mookie, Ray, and the rest, the 2015 Mets are my special team.
Even Ron Darling, the ‘86 star, told SI.com before last week’s series that this year’s team “is a much better story, ’86 was a team of superstars that were supposed to win it.”
He was right, but this team also had loads of talent. Start with the starters. As an MLB Network commentator, comparing the 2015 pitching staff to 1986’s, said, it’s like they “have three Doc Goodens.”
Not only do deGrom, Harvey, and Syndergaard have dominating, overpowering stuff, they managed to not let their talent or youth get in the way of the team. That wasn’t so much a problem almost 30 years ago either, but back then Gooden was the undisputed ace, and even if the pitchers did get along, there were clearly personality clashes elsewhere on the team.
Was there any jealousy among the young phenoms or anyone else this year? It appears not.
Harvey and deGrom had strong claims to be the Game 1 starter last week, but deGrom took his assignment for the second game in stride. Harvey showed himself to be a team player, blowing well over the innings limit his agent tried to set. (Terry Collins, I thought, was right to let Harvey pitch the ninth inning of the last game, although a reliever should’ve come in after the leadoff walk.)
It was sheer joy to watch the star pitchers’ talent and maturity grow. The fourth starter, Steven Matz, could turn out to be as good or better than the other three. It’ll be fun to take the time to see.
The starting pitchers hopefully will be there the next few years, and could be joined by Zack Wheeler, who was injured this season. But even if they stay healthy and as effective as they are now — two big ifs — the realities of baseball economics are that the Mets won’t be able to keep all five for many years. This is a special pitching staff to enjoy while we can.
But this year’s Mets were about more than just the pitching. Yoenis Céspedes energized the offense for the stretch run and Murphy did it for most of the playoffs. Players said all of the right things when they got up 3-0 on the Cubs.
When Dodger Chase Utley went out of his way to hurt Ruben Tejada in Game 2 of the division series, the umpire’s blown call probably cost the Mets the game, but the team didn’t complain much and ignored the desire for revenge. They focused on winning.
Those moments against the Dodgers and Cubs are forever. So are the ones recapping the games to one of the team’s newest fans — my five-year-old son, who for now likes watching locker room champagne celebrations more than the games.
I may come to love a Mets team more than 2015 — I hope I do. Pitchers and catchers report in February. Let’s go Mets.
Contact Josh Rogers at Josh@cnglocal.com.
