Three reasons to give thanks for the New York Mets

The New York Mets are an enigma. At times they make us cheer, at other times they make us cry, and even other times they makes us throw something at the tv or explain to the police that you’re sorry for the noise but the Mets are on and you’ll try to keep it down.

We all have reasons for loving them. Whether we grew up in a family of fellow Mets fans or adopted them later in life, they are the reason we love baseball. The team we hope for every Spring. With this Thanksgiving holiday upon us, it’s a good time to consider why we are fortunate to be fans of the New York Metropolitans. While there are many reasons we all may have, here’s a short list of three.

The first reason is their past. Established in 1962, they were the lovable losers from New York whose duty was to replace the departed Dodgers and Giants. Though it took them a while, they did come around and earn a place in the hearts of New Yorkers.

From the “Miracle Mets” team of 1969 to the kids that showed us why “Ya Gotta Believe” in 1973 to the dominant bad boys of 1986, the Mets have had several great teams. They’ve also had their share of amazing moments too.

From the black cat incident to Strawberry’s Montreal moon shot to the Ventura grand slam single to the Mike Piazza home run after September 11th to the Johan Santana no-hitter. So many more great memories to choose from. The past is certainly filled with the warm glow of reminiscing.

The second reason is their present. In 2014, the Mets accomplished a lot more than expected. While the team GM Sandy Alderson had hoped for 90 wins, the team still did finish in second place, even though they were 11 short of Alderson’s prediction.

In addition to such a high finish, there were individual awards. Juan Lagares won a Gold Glove for his outfield play. The first Mets outfielder since Carlos Beltran to do so. Also, Jacob deGrom took home the coveted Rookie of the Year award. The first Mets player to do that since Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden achieved that feat in consecutive seasons in 1983 and 1984.

The third reason is their potential future. This is a team that is coming off of a pretty good season and is a step or two away from greatness. They have a pitcher in Matt Harvey that is coming off of surgery and looking to regain his all-star status.

They have a solid to potentially great rotation to match an outstanding bullpen. With more experience and the youngsters playing up to their potential, this is a team that can make some noise for the next few years.

Besides the current roster, the team has built a strong farm system in which to deal from should they need a veteran along the line. The talent in the minors is also something the team is hoping will be prepared to be on display should any of their starters struggle with injuries. The system is deeper than it has been in many years.

In closing, there are many teams that would love to trade places with the Mets organization. There was a time in the not so distant past where that was not the case. This is an advantageous time to be a Mets fan. As the offseason continues to unfold and we inch ever closer to Spring Training, let’s keep these points in mind.

When it gets difficult to remember the basic things to be thankful for this holiday season, just remember that you’re a Mets fan. You have a lot to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving.