It’s long been my belief that the hardest time to write about the Mets is the first week of games in the regular season. But it seems like the last week of December has been hard this year, too. Maybe it’s just my imagination. Regardless, today this column was going to be about Dominic Smith but I find myself not in the mood to discuss his 2019 role. So, instead, here is a list of New Year’s Resolutions for me and the Mets and Mets360.
5. Judge Robinson Cano strictly on what he does for the team on the field, not on how much salary he’s pulling down or what the team gave up to get him. Cano has zero control over those other two factors. Let’s judge him on what he can control. Which reminds me – Does he start the season off with one strike by asking to wear one of the few retired numbers of the team he just joined?
4. See three levels of guys from the minor league system. The past few years, I’ve gotten together with Metsense to see the Lo-A Mets play. This year in addition to seeing Columbia, my plan is to see Kingsport and Syracuse, too. Kicking myself for not seeing Kingsport the past two years when they had some really interesting guys come through. May that streak extend another year.
3. Be nicer to Gus. Right now I’m wearing a hat that Gus gave me yet it seems like I constantly mock his Wilmer Flores fandom. Really, he deserves better. Gus, I mean, certainly not Flores. But I’ll still be unbearable to Chris F and eraff.
2. Follow up on my vow not to nitpick Noah Syndergaard to death. For a guy with outstanding stuff, Syndergaard gave up a bunch of hits last year. Maybe it was bad luck, maybe it was rotten catchers/game calling or perhaps it was something else entirely. The bottom line was that he had a 3.03 ERA and a 2.80 FIP. If he had enough innings to qualify, that would have placed him 7th in the NL in ERA and fourth in FIP. Surely there are better things to complain about than that.
1. Try harder to expand the reach of Mets360. As you saw from yesterday’s early morning post, we have a call out for new writers. Usually whenever someone new joins the site, they bring some new eyeballs here and we haven’t had somebody new join since Dalton back in late 2016. Also, with the podcast now being part of a new nationwide grassroots network, there’s a chance to pick up new readers through that. They have a fairly active chatroom which I’m going to try to engage with and hopefully that will pay dividends. And I’ll try to broaden the scope of guests on the podcast, which has the potential to bring new people in, too.
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Still, I can’t shake this feeling that Smith is going to play a factor into the success of the 2019 Mets. Maybe he becomes a righty masher and carves out a role playing some 1B and some LF and being the top pinch-hitter off the bench.
Hey Brian,
I plan to make a trip to see Syracuse play at Lehigh Valley, Binghamton play at Trenton, Columbia play at Lakewood and the Cyclones playing at home.
Let me know if you want to coordinate.
Look at David, thinking about baseball on his honeymoon! I guess that’s okay but geez, put down the phone.
Would love to go to a Cyclones game but not sure how feasible that is.
The Chiefs are playing three games in Durham on August 6, 7 & 8.
Mike, The Chiefs are now called the Syracuse Mets. It is political correct. That is a 2 1/2 hour drive so I would consider it. I will keep in mind.
You are right, Syracuse Mets. It’s hard to change old habits and remember new names. Should be a blast to see all the guys we write about including Tebow.
5. Cano should be judged by the way he is 2019 season goes. It has been 33 years since in a World Series Championship so I’m embracing the “Win Now’ philosophy.
4. Count me it ! It sound like a Roadtrip!
3. Gus is not only a Met fan, is he a good human being. BTW, just last week I too wore the cap that he gave us.
2. Noah is talented and unappreciated. Maybe it is his “Peter Pan Philosophy” that makes him a target. Maybe this is the best that he can be.Not too shabby. Accept him and enjoy him.
1. “If you build it, they will come”.
Howz about Binghampton at Hartford?
I am about 45 minutes from both Trenton, Philly, and Lehigh Valley—maybe I can personally meet one or more of you guys. We can talk Baseball, or we can talk something that You guys know something about. 😉
The Phils Park is a wonderful spot, btw. I sit in and around sections 419, 420—– above home plate and just to the right. $25 a seat—beautiful perspective on the game…tough to get behind the plate any lower without a kings ransom
I don’t post a lot but what I love about this site is just people talking Mets. Rather then insulting one another. Thank you all and happy New Year.
Its my hope to get to a K Mets game. about 2-2.5 hrs for me.
By the way, its too uncomfortable when we agree on things, so I think persistent unbearable makes a fair bit of sense…of course, the reverse remains in place as well.
Like seriously, its time to see what we can get for Wheeler!
Hey folks! Here we go:
5. Buy me a Tampa Rays Wilmer Flores jersey and make sure to catch a few games a month.
4. Be more respectful and stop insulting the owners by calling them Coupons all the time.
3. Try to see the best in whatever Frazier brings to the table this season.
2. Let go of Kelenic and Dunn.
1. Show my appreciation more often for my buddies at Mets360. People that taught me to research before I spew information, who have given me a chance to get to know a small group of good guys that I want to somehow get to meet, and that make me feel wanted cause God knows I don’t get that too much, especially with my employees!
Thanks guys. Love y’all much. Happy New Year!