As the weekend ended and the new week began, I started putting pen to paper (yes, SOME of us still use that antiquated way of doing things) to share some thoughts about the excellent team that makes up the Mets front office, besides Brodie.
As I was writing, the world of baseball tipped over on its side a bit, as the punishment came down for the Astros (NOT harsh enough, in my opinion), resulting in the suspensions, then terminations of their GM and manager; the Red Sox manager, one Alex Cora, was also let go as a preemptive strike knowing that they, too, are about to face major penalties due to their own cheating scandal (their SECOND, I might add).
Last, and certainly NOT least for Mets fans, one Carlos Beltran, the team's newly minted manager, that same guy I wrote so glowingly about last week, was the ONLY player cited in MLB's 9-page report on Houston's disciplinary report, and someone about whom we will all continue to speculate upon as we learn whether or not the team is going to let him go or keep him. Right now, their silence is deafening...
As I was writing, the world of baseball tipped over on its side a bit, as the punishment came down for the Astros (NOT harsh enough, in my opinion), resulting in the suspensions, then terminations of their GM and manager; the Red Sox manager, one Alex Cora, was also let go as a preemptive strike knowing that they, too, are about to face major penalties due to their own cheating scandal (their SECOND, I might add).
Last, and certainly NOT least for Mets fans, one Carlos Beltran, the team's newly minted manager, that same guy I wrote so glowingly about last week, was the ONLY player cited in MLB's 9-page report on Houston's disciplinary report, and someone about whom we will all continue to speculate upon as we learn whether or not the team is going to let him go or keep him. Right now, their silence is deafening...
At this point, I'd rather refrain from writing any further about the Mets' front office until we see just how this is all going to play out. What I AM willing to write about is cheating & baseball.
Let's face it- this game that we love, adore, cherish, has been populated by cheaters for as long as the game has been played. There are cheaters in the Hall of Fame; there are cheaters who have played the game, managed the game, umpired the game, you name it - none of us know who they are/were or how many, just as we will never know who really used steroids, how many, for how long and to what effect? And it doesn't matter- at this point, merely a week after advocating for and being grateful for the Mets hiring Beltran, I have to say that the fact that Beltran, in conjunction with whomever originated this scheme, or fleshed it out, no matter, need to be expelled from the game.
It's a different story when using technology to cheat versus being very good at stealing signs or knowing a pitcher's tell from simply observing them on the field. None of it is right, but in this case there ARE levels of wrong, and using technology with the specific intent of cheating is as low as it gets in this game. Wait - strike that - throwing games for a bet is by FAR as low as it gets...this, however, comes a close second.
Let's face it- this game that we love, adore, cherish, has been populated by cheaters for as long as the game has been played. There are cheaters in the Hall of Fame; there are cheaters who have played the game, managed the game, umpired the game, you name it - none of us know who they are/were or how many, just as we will never know who really used steroids, how many, for how long and to what effect? And it doesn't matter- at this point, merely a week after advocating for and being grateful for the Mets hiring Beltran, I have to say that the fact that Beltran, in conjunction with whomever originated this scheme, or fleshed it out, no matter, need to be expelled from the game.
It's a different story when using technology to cheat versus being very good at stealing signs or knowing a pitcher's tell from simply observing them on the field. None of it is right, but in this case there ARE levels of wrong, and using technology with the specific intent of cheating is as low as it gets in this game. Wait - strike that - throwing games for a bet is by FAR as low as it gets...this, however, comes a close second.
What next? Well, now, we wait and see just what today, tomorrow, this week will bring us...as the joy I felt in seeing one of our best players take over the helm of this ball-club has all but drained away...let's hope the Mets chances of contending this year haven't drained away, too...
One last thing - in case you don't think this scandal is all that bad, let's look at something my buddy Jonathan pointed out over the weekend. Joe Girardi was the Yankees' manager in 2017, the year the Astros won the World Series. They beat the Yankees in the play-offs to get there; by cheating, the Astros potentially cost Girardi another World Series, one that, if he had won, would have made it nearly impossible to be fired by their GM Brian Cashman.
More importantly, IF the Yankees HAD won that World Series, Girardi would have been on the same Hall of Fame path that Bruce Bochy is now on. He would have 2 titles on his resume as a manager, and possibly the Yanks of 2019, who also lost in the play-offs to Houston, might have won then, too, resulting in a third title and a sure-fire path to the Hall. Now, the chances of Girardi getting there are slim and none...thank you, Houston, we DO, indeed, have a problem...
More importantly, IF the Yankees HAD won that World Series, Girardi would have been on the same Hall of Fame path that Bruce Bochy is now on. He would have 2 titles on his resume as a manager, and possibly the Yanks of 2019, who also lost in the play-offs to Houston, might have won then, too, resulting in a third title and a sure-fire path to the Hall. Now, the chances of Girardi getting there are slim and none...thank you, Houston, we DO, indeed, have a problem...
Okay- one MORE one last thing- the best move this off-season for the Mets was just made- by the TWINS!!! In 2019, Josh Donaldson, then the Braves third baseman, hit 9 homers versus the boys from Flushing, with 16 RBI's and crazy on-base and slugging percentages.
Not having to face him anymore, and having him not only out of their division but also out of their LEAGUE was a huge win for this team in a week where we didn't seem to win a thing...
Not having to face him anymore, and having him not only out of their division but also out of their LEAGUE was a huge win for this team in a week where we didn't seem to win a thing...
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