All-Time Mets: Bench

Over the years the Mets have had countless bench players...wow, I cannot believe I thought of that all on my own...I really am a genius.

All kidding aside, every winning team needs to be fully rounded, that includes the bench, and on most of the Mets winning teams their bench was a key aspect to their success.

Those guys who can fill in when needed for injured starters, come in late in games and make something happen etc. are huge over the course of a 162 game season.

So, without further ado, I give you the Mets All-Time Bench.

1b/3b Lenny Harris- The leading pinch hitter in baseball history, Lenny was always a solid left-handed bat off the bench and good for a few knocks here and there, plus he could play the corner IF position, and even a little bit 2b if necessary

1b/3b Matt Franco- Franco was another great left-handed bat off the bench and just as clutch as Lenny Harris. I will always remember his walk-off pinch-hit single against the Yankees at Shea Stadium in 1999

IF/OF Kevin Mitchell-While "Mitch" never became the player the Mets had hoped he would while in blue and orange (1989 MVP with SF) he was always a great backup with incredible versatility, and he did come off the bench to get a pinch-hit single in the famous game 6 of the 1986 World Series and did score the tying run on the wild pitch

PH Rusty Staub-Good O'l Rusty. "Rusty's Ribs" were a classic, just ask Keith Hernandez! But Rusty was always a great clubhouse guy and, until Harris broke his record, held the Mets record for pinch hits

C Todd Pratt-The ULTIMATE backup catcher, Todd would play the day game-after-night game when Mike Piazza would need a rest, which was most Saturdays, Thursday afternoon day games, and the occasional Sunday game when Mike would have played on Saturday. He hit the homerun that sent the Mets to the 1999 NLCS at Shea Stadium when Steven Finley "jumped and he missed it!" to quote Gary Cohen

C/1b/2b/ss/3b/lf/cf/rf Joe McEwing-You did not think I would forget "Super Joe" did you? McEwing was never fit for the starting lineup for 162 games but boy, could you fit him in anywhere on any given day. The ultimate bench player, McEwing could do it all; and I do not exaggerate

Honorable Mention:

OF Lee Mazzilli-"Maz" was a hometown boy who also did not amount to what the Mets hoped but when they brought him back and he helped them win a championship all was forgiven (except the fact that he just got the boot from SNY)

2b/3b Tim Tueful-Who did not like Timmy Tueful? The quiet farm boy who had more pop than his tooth pick arms would let on was a solid backup in 1986 and got a ring for his efforts

OF Endy Chavez-"The Catch" will forever be remembered as two things: 1) one of the greatest catches in Met history, only third to Tommie Agee's two catches in the World Series and 2) the pinnacle of the "Los Mets" era, from that exact moment, the Mets have been going down hill ever since

All-Time Mets: Starting Rotation

Over the years the Mets have had many pitchers that when they pitch they grab your attention and nothing else matters. In 1969 there was Tom Seaver, from 1984-1986 it was Dwight Gooden. In 1999 and 2000 it was Al Leiter. In 2005 and 2006 it was Pedro Martinez and now it is Johan Santana.

When these guys took the mound you tuned in, and you watched until it was over. You listened to the game on the radio, you had it on the tv, it does not matter where but you were in tune with the game some way, some how, because you knew that you could be missing something special if you weren't.

However what boggles my mind is that none of these pitchers have ever thrown a no-hitter in a Met uniform. In fact, no one has. Any Met fan can relate to when a Mets pitcher getting a 1-2-3 first inning you say to yourself..."could this be the day...?" And of course it isn't, but it is still fun to dream.

Now it is time to come up with a 5-man rotation to make the greatest Mets team of all time

Each player will be accompanied by their best year's stats while in a Met uniform and a short bio of why they are deserving.

Tom Seaver (1971) 20-10 1.76 ERA 21 CG 286.1 IP 289 K .95 WHIP

Dwight Gooden (1985) 24-4 1.53 ERA 16 CG 276.2 IP 268 K .97 WHIP

Jerry Koosman (1969) 17-9 2.28 ERA 16 CG 241 IP 180 K 106 WHIP

Ron Darling (1986) 15-6 2.81 ERA 4 CG 237 IP 184 K 1.20 WHIP

Al Leiter- Not Nominated for Stats, nominated for gutsy performances

Tom Seaver-The "Franchise" and "Tom Terrific" was arguably the greatest pitcher to ever put on a Mets uniform. He single-handedly changed the face of the Mets organization and turned them from lovable losers into champions. Tom will always be a Met in our hearts, no matter how big of a jerk he has become after retirement...

Dwight Gooden-"Doc" was the single most electric pitcher to dawn blue and orange. His stuff was just incredible, a high 90's fastball with a devastating curveball that was dubbed Lord Charles, Doctor K will forever in our hearts be one of our favorites, and it is good to see that he has finally got his life back on track

Jerry Koosman-"Kooz" was one of the best left-handed pitchers in Mets history and the perfect one-two punch with Tom Seaver and he truly loved New York

Ron Darling-Ron was one of the most solid and consistent pitchers in Met history, and really solidified the Mets rotation in the 80's he was 99-70 with a 3.50 ERA in a Mets uniform

Al Leiter-One of the gutsiest pitchers BY FAR in not only Mets history but MLB history,

Big Al would go out and throw the kitchen sink at them if need be to get the win, just look at his playoff numbers and pitches thrown. In game 1 of the 2000 World Series he threw 124 pitches and got a no decision and in game 5 he threw 146. The guy is just a gamer, and there is nothing else you can say than that.

My personal favorite of the five is Al Leiter. No one pitched with the intensity that he did. No one. He was emotional and fun to watch. His grunting when throwing a cutter will forever be immortalized by those who grew up watching him and learned to throw left-handed in order to imitate him in the backyard playing wiffle ball.

Next Season: Part 4-Fundamentals

This post is about the lack of fundamental baseball that cannot continue next season.

I have literally completely admitted to myself that this is just an embarrassingly bad season with not too much coming out of it.

There are a few bright spots such as the recent play of Josh Thole, the last season hitting of Daniel Murphy and the offensive play of Angel Pagan.

That being said, there are some serious question marks right now. First and foremost, I am going to address last night's loss to the Atlanta Braves.

Let's face it, there are losses and then there are losses.

Last night, the Mets got the lead only to have Bobby Parnell show us once again why he SHOULD NOT be in the rotation next year. The guy just does not have it right now, which is such a shame because he has great stuff, mid 90's fastball with a sharp slider, and he just cannot keep the ball down.

So the Mets overcome that and eventually get the lead back, only to have their star closer blow a save, complete with Daniel Murphy making two errors on one play to allow the winning run to score from second base on a ground ball that was, go figure on this one, hit to first base by none other than Ryan Church.

Do you think that Ryan Church was a little happy that Murphy made the error, considering Murphy was the player supposedly "better" than Church during spring training...? Ryan Church is a class act and I would never suggest that, but it is fun to think about, is it not?

Little errors that are big errors. That is what we have been seeing. How many times has Angel Pagan lost track of how many outs there are? Many sources close to the team say he has also missed signs in the batters box and on the base paths.

Whenever Murphy bobbles a ball he panics and loses the play, as was the case last night

How many times has Pagan or Murphy ran right into a play happening in front of them? When do they learn? There are rookie mistakes and then there are just bad mistakes. It doesn't take five years of MLB experience to know you need to run hard, you don't run into the tag if the play is in front of you, and I am pretty sure they teach little leaguers to remember how many outs there are. These things need to be worked out, and unfortunately I do not know how to fix them at this level. If you get to the major leagues and you constantly forget how many outs there are and you miss signs I don't think there IS a way to fix that.

I am not going to even get started on another Frankie Rodriguez blown save, I would miss my next class...

All-Time Mets

Recently on Mets.com you were given the opportunity to vote for your favorite starting 9 players based solely off of their offensive production. This got me thinking about my all-time Mets team, not just the starting 9, and not just based on offense, so here is my All-Mets 25 man roster, equipped with coaching staff and front office.

Ground rules and Qualifications:

• They had to play for the Mets for more than half of a season
• Carlos Delgado cannot be a choice
• Nor can Carlos Beltran
• Starters cannot become backups (i.e. starting Wally Backman with Edgardo Alfonzo as your backup will not fly)
• Outfielders can be moved if a valid argument is made that they are out of position

I am going to break this down into multiple posts, t

his one being the first of five. This will be the post on the starting lineup.

I will make my lineup based on not the best player, but the best fit for the position to assemble a winner (because we Met fans know we haven't had too many of those over the years).

1. Lenny Dykstra LF-No one was tougher than nails and he is the perfect leadoff guy, that being said, there is no way he should have been a center fielder with an arm like that, so I am taking the liberty of moving him to left

2. Edgardo Alfornzo 2b-Everyone loved Fonzi, and he should have won a gold-glove in 2000, they made the mistake of giving it to ex-met Jeff Kent, Fonzi worked counts and always hit the ball to right field, the quintessential two hitter

3. Keith Hernandez 1b-This may seem like a no-brainer because of Mex's defense and

leadership ability, but I seriously toyed with the notion of putting in John Olerud and his career .330 average as a Met at 1b

4. Mike Piazza C-Now THIS was a no brainer. Best hitting catcher in the history of the game...

5. Darryl Strawberry RF-Now say what you want about Straw's attitude and his off-field struggles, it is arguable that no one has ever passed through the Mets organization with the raw talent that he had

6. David Wright 3b-Hits for power, hits for average, steals bases, has won multiple gold-gloves already, is currently the face of the franchise

7. Tommie Agee CF- Now THERE is a center fielder. Covered ground like no one else, stole bases, gritty and hard nosed, rest in piece Tommy, and always know you made the All-Time Mets on Bluesandorangesports

8. Rey Ordonez-Many would go with Jose Reyes in this situation, however I am going with Rey Rey. As I grew up watching the teams of the late 90's, I loved Ordonez. Sure he did not hit worth a lick, but he was good for one grand slam per season and maybe two homeruns. Regardless, you knew he was bringing the D. It was an automatic out if you even THOUGHT about hitting the ball on the ground to the left side, because if Ventura didn't get to it, Ordonez did.

Honorable Mention:

Mookie Wilson OF-who didn't love Mookie? Probably Bill Buckner...

Ron Swoboda OF-Never that impressive in terms of actual ability, but boy did he play hard

Gary Carter C-The Kid. 1986, enough said

Todd Hundley C-Hit 41 homeruns in 1996

Jerry Grote C-Heart of the 1969 championship team

Robin Ventura 3b-Batman, Grandslam-Single is possibly the most memorable moment in Mets history, thanks Robin

Ray Knight 3b- Hit game winning homerun in game 7 of 1986 World Series and got MVP, was not brought back by management and got a raw deal

Howard Johnson 3b-Didn't have that much of a shot with Knight, Wright and Ventura ahead of him, but he did hit 40 homeruns one year

Bud Harrelson SS-Who didn't, and still wouldn't, love Buddy Harrelson? Very few people played with his intensity.

Wally Backman 2b-Oh Wally. Hopefully you get your life back under control and get a shot at managing in the bigs, and please, bring back your mustache

John Olerud 1b-Good Ol'erud. Ol'edude. Classic nick names yes, a classic .330 batting average with the Mets as well

You may feel differently about certain positions, but feel free to comment and leave your own opinions.

Next Season: Part 3

Next season I have a proposal for the Mets slogan. Come See the 2010 Mets: Medical Staff Standing By

How About This: 2010 At Citi Field: Doctors Enter Free!

I kid, I kid.

But seriously, the amount of bad luck that has stricken the Mets this season has been staggering and some of the ways have been mind boggling (Luis Castillo slipping down the dugout steps).

Right now the Mets have a core of Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Johan Santana and Frankie Rodriguez. Many officials, analysts and fans (myself included) have been calling for a shake up and I think this offseason is the perfect time to make a change.

Keep in mind the immense respect I have for his talent and ability on the ballfield, but if you want to make one change this offseason you TRADE Carlos Beltran. You can claim all you want about his power and average and how you won't find another five-tool player like him, and I honestly do not want to hear it.

You win with grinders, not All-Stars. Look at all the teams who have won in the past. They get buy with gritty play, which the Mets do not have. Carlos Beltran, while an incredible talent, is a loafer, who is more concerned with getting hurt than he is making a play. He is never 100% (just ask him, all he ever gets to is about 93% healthy, his words not mine) and just does not have the badass, dirty uniform attitude of a winner, and that the Mets need.

Can you honestly say that over the past two years the Phillies have had better players at every position than the Mets? No. You can't do that. They have guys who show more heart than the Mets, such as Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino. They have guys who don't poo-poo managerial decisions, such as Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. They have journeymen middle relievers who bare down and GET OUTS late in games when it gets tight like JC Romero and Scott Eyre.

As much as I despise the jersey all of those guys put on, it is hard to deny that they are all winners, who care a lot, maybe even too much, about not just winning but EMBARRASSING their opponents.

Jeff Francoeur is a type of player like that; a "grinder". He plays hard, and it shows. He even plays with some reckless abandon, and I like it.

Unfortunately, David Wright needs to be the face of the franchise and be a diplomat which I respect and understand. Jose Reyes is still a 12 year-old and seemingly always will be. Johan Santana is what everyone dreams about being; yes I am implying he is the perfect mix when healthy and Frankie Rodriguez is a pro's pro, end of story. Carlos Beltran is the one that needs to go.

Add John Maine, Oliver Perez, Carlos Delgado (Free Agent) and I hate to say it, but Mike Pelfrey is making his own case to be shipped out right now, as well.

That is what is wrong with the Mets, I will not overload one post but I will let you all chew on that for a while, my next post will be about what good can come of making such moves and solutions rather than problems, STAY TUNED!

-Crofts

Pat Misch: Next Year's 5th Starter?

Allow me to introduce to you a 28-year old lefty by the name of Pat Misch.

While many people have completely given up on this season (rightfully so), many of you, like myself, have decided there is a reason to watch Mets baseball. My reason is that I am now in college and need filler

time in between classes and in the dorm room. The other reason someone may have is to watch the young talent they are calling up/have on the roster (i.e. Josh Thole, Angel Pagan, Daniel Murphy, Bobby Parnell) and make decisions about next season.

By the way over the next few weeks I will be doing posts about next season so stay updated!

The second post of today is concerning Pat Misch, the left-handed reliever turned starter. It is obviously early to make a statement like this and I may be jumping the gun, but wouldn't it be nice to see Pat Misch slot in as the team's 5th starter next year?

In two starts this season, Misch has pitched to a very nice 1.92 era, holding the Rockies and the Cubs to a combined three earned runs over 14 innings pitched.

I am proposing a starting rotation that looks like this:

Johan Santana

Mike Pelfrey

Jon Niese

Bobby Parnell

Pat Misch

If you want my opinion, Maine has to go, he is in a contract year, and after three straight seasons with extended time on the disabled list, he is no longer welcome in Queens.

Oliver Perez needs to literally be sent to a place with soft padded walls where he cannot hurt anyone or himself, and he needs to be left there for eternity. He cannot be in the rotation, I do not care about his contract, it's about winning!

Angel in the Outfield; Pagan for real?

At this point in the Mets season, as fan, you no longer look toward the post-season; rather, you look toward the off-season and next season. You start to ask questions about who will fill what roles and what the GM needs to do to make your team a playoff contender. Obviously, as a very outspoken person, I have many suggestions and ideas, so any time the Mets front office feels they want advice they should just give me a call.

Seriously, my number is 203-984-1303, call me, Omar.

While I was thinking about next season I found myself thinking a lot about Angel Pagan. In 60 games played this season, most of which were started in CF in the absence of Carlos Beltran, Pagan has hit an admirable .297, played solid defense and shown some speed on the bases (12 SB in 18 attempts).

However, what stands out about Pagan on the stat sheet is that he is slugging .498, and of his 68 hits, 26 are extra base hits.

Not too bad for a leadoff guy, right?

What stands out about Pagan in my mind that does not show up in a stat sheet is his hustle and gritty, gutsy play. Play like this is something people constantly say the Mets lack. To be honest, it is true. The loafing of Carlos Beltran, the lack of hustle from Luis Castillo, the seemingly unchanging attitude and mood of (again) Carlos Beltran, John Maine looking a zombie no matter if he is having a good day or bad one.

Let us be honest here, and if you are a Met fan you know exactly what I am talking about, can you beat a team that thinks they are going to win every single night, and SHOWS that they think they are going to win every single night (the Phillies), when your players are seemingly content with looking past a loss and moving onto the next day, and going by the motto "we'll get 'em next time"? Can you? In my opinion, no.

Now I am not accusing the Mets of not caring, because they are all professionals and this is obviously not the case, but you cannot deny the intensity of Shane Victorino or the swagger of Jayson Werth that just says you can't beat me; even if you want to fight me, I will beat you.

Pagan strikes me as this type of player. I have seen multiple times this season where he makes something happen by just running out a pop-up or groundball (I am talking to you, Luis, take notes, same with you Carlos Beltran).

It is obvious that I think Angel Pagan should be part of this team next season, whether it is as a fourth OF or part time starter, regardless, I think he needs to be a big part of the 2010 Mets: Medical Staff Standing By.