By now, most of Mets’ Nation is aware that an incident took place last weekend involving the players and the media. The players rallied behind Bartolo Colon and declined to speak to the media until after Mike Puma of the New York Post departed.
The issue was that Puma had written, “if Colon’s neck were inspected by an umpire, the only foreign substance they would likely find would be peanut butter”. Of course, the article’s headline, “Lardball” also added to the animosity.
Once Puma left, the players began to emerge from the clubhouse and converse with the media.
Now this, of course, should be taken as a sign that the team is developing its camaraderie and it should not go unnoticed that Colon is expected to be a veteran presence for not only the rest of this year but next year as well. It is worth noting that in this case, the story is what a reporter did to a New York Met and not what a New York Met did to a reporter. Those of us who remember the Bret Saberhagen and Vince Coleman incidents know what I am referring to.
I will be the first one to admit, that in the game Colon pitched against the Los Angeles Angels on April 13th, I was dumbfounded to see him appear so nonchalant after giving up consecutive HRs to Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, and Raul Ibanez. At the time, it was excruciating for me to witness that. Of course, the Mets got pummeled and lost the game 14-2. After that game, Colon’s record stood at 1-2 and he had an ERA of 6.00. But since then and despite losing his next start against the Atlanta Braves, he has pitched solidly, striking out 14 batters while walking only one batter. His ERA now stands at 4.50. That casual demeanor, though, is part of his game.
So, in short, Colon has found supporters in the clubhouse and that is a good sign. The team is developing a fighting spirit and if that includes taking the fight off the field; well, sometimes that is a good thing.
I always thought baseball writers were supposed to report about events that occur during games and a players perspective after the game. To inject his personal lack of good taste humor into an article criticizing a player for something that has nothing to do with the outcome of a game is tasteless and is an embarrassment to the other beat writers who cover the Mets.
Writers’ jobs are to relay the story, perhaps even analyze it, placing it in some context for us.
Their job is not to become the story or become bigger than the story.
Since the advent of Twitter feeds on an ongoing basis, writers have a much more intimate relationship with their readers, to the point of it becoming personal. Which sometimes also leads to snark. And competition among beat writers to grab the largest number of Twitter followers among that team’s beat writers. Here in NY, that competition can be fierce.
What they need to understand is that the same editorial limits that have always prevailed in a paper’s Sports section, apply to their Twitter personae as well. Over-the-line in print is also over-the-line online. Now, we see Twitter anarchy bleeding into the Post’s print editions — no great shock there, as it IS the NY Post.
But, I, for one, am happy to see the Met players’ reaction to Puma. This has David Wright’s quiet dignity all over it. This is team building of the first rank, bonding together to defend the human dignity of someone new, but critical, to the team.
Let’s Go, Mets!
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The Mets have had incidents with terrible sports media personalities three times so far this year, twice with Mike Puma of the Post, and once with WFAN. It seems like the Mets aren’t going to be the punching bag team in NY anymore, and nothing makes me happier. Attitude changes results, and I like this new attitude.
I’m all for solidarity, especially when it’s for a good cause. The peanut butter remark wasn’t too bad, but the Headline was just offensive. The guy dominated for seven innings and the headline reads that? C’mon, that’s just immature and hackish.
That’s right …the Post had that early Ike Davis hidden injury story and WFAN had the Murphy baby controversy.