Pistol Pete arrived Sept. 5, 1964; now that was late
I stick with things a long time – ratty t-shirts, tattered sneakers, faded easy chairs.
For the same reason, I am glad the Mets did not break up this juggernaut at the trading deadline. Is this a personality defect, this disinterest in change? Probably. Go tell it to my clamshell cell phone. But some things work just well enough; you get used to them. I just got an e-mail from a senior-citizen hardball player in the city who says he has stopped being a Yankee fan because of the way they dumped Brian Roberts, essentially an Oriole, to make room for new infielders. Reminder: guys got dropped to make room for Johnny Mize and Johnny Sain and Enos Slaughter and Pedro Ramos over the years. Pistol Pete helped salvage the 1964 pennant, although he arrived too late to be eligible for the World Series. As somebody who follows most Mets games, I’m glad they did not scuttle Bartolo Colon. I got used to his constant half smile (is he happy? is it gas?) and his Iron Mike steadiness. I know he’s a one-year wonder at 42, but move him in the off season. I’m glad they didn’t trade Daniel Murphy because he hustles, old-school, even though he makes fans nervous every time he bends for a simple grounder. Generally, I hate the trading deadline in the era of free agency. I hated it when the Mets sold David Cone in one of those weasel waiver deals in late August of 1992. I hated it last season when the Mets unloaded Marlon Byrd. By mid-summer, you get used to a player who is doing his job. These mid-summer dumps happen when players’ contracts are running out, or getting too expensive. It’s the drawback to free agency, which the players earned, although the so-called reserve clause, servitude, contributed to that wonderful decade of my childhood – six pennants in 10 years for the Boys of Summer. That will never happen now. Duke Snider would have opted out. Or Big Newk. Or somebody. If players have the right to move around, clubs have the right to move them first, for some quick-fix advantage. I get it. Fans have a lust for trades; if they didn’t, there would be no sports-talk radio. But this Mets’ season is just comfortable enough, given our limited expectations in the hundred-year contamination period from Bernie Madoff. Sandy Alderson is building something – I don’t know what. They made a good move in keeping Duda. Who knew? They sent d’Arnaud to the attitude farm in Las Vegas, and brought him back fast. Who doesn’t love watching Famiglia and Mejia in the eighth and ninth? It’s been fun watching deGrom pitch – and swing – from his first game. So play it out in Queens, while the Lesters and Lackeys and Prices go flying around, office temps. Maybe Mets fans would feel differently if the Mets were a legitimate contender. Who has that kind of time?
Ed martin
8/2/2014 10:48:14 am
Exenactly, GV. While the Muts are not the epitome of consistency, they are interesting, and it is wonderful when they rise up and smite someone. 2 of 4 against the league leading Brewers on the road seems like a different club than the past few years. The young pitchers raise expectations each game for a win. I am nervous about Bartolo lasting the season effectively, Go Mets!
Thor A. Larsen
8/2/2014 12:45:23 pm
George, I find it increasingly difficult to be an ‘avid’ Yankee fan, an aspect of my conscious up until the mid 2000’s. Granted, the Yankees had some good years after that, including the 2009 Championship. However, with the increasing use of signing on current, perhaps ‘fading’ star players on other teams for huge contracts, not the least, Alex Rodriguez, and constantly trading away their quality minor league players, there is no real ‘Yankee Team’. The practice of Gene Michael and staff was very effective in the 1990’s in bringing up quality players from their minor league teams and signing them for their career such as Derek Jeter, Joge Posada and Mo Rivera, but that practice is essentially gone. Who are the Yankees?? I would be much more interested in the Yankees if they brought up all players from their minor leagues to fill vacancies due to injuries etc as they have done this year with their pitching staff, instead of trading for Tom, Dick and Harry this month and others last few months. Finally, I think the Yankees made an incredible blunder in not signing Robinson Cano, who came up from the minors, and had been extremely consistent, to a career contract.
George Vecsey
8/2/2014 02:11:49 pm
I agree, and I'm not a Yankees fan. That short period when Steinbrenner was suspended and Michael could use his instincts produced a great era. I don't recognize their pitchers -- I know, injuries, etc -- and there's a bunch of strangers at many positions. Hard to have any feelings about the Yankees. I feel so badly for Yankee fans.
Big Al
8/3/2014 04:01:55 am
I remember well Pete's contribution in late 64, along with Mel. Ramos reminds me of a story I heard Mickey tell. In 1956, Pete hit Mickey on instruction from the Senator's manager and apologized the next day. Mick accepted the apology but told him if he pulled that again, he would drag a bunt and run up his back. Instead, Mantle hit one off the "facarde." at the Stadium. Mantle in his Oklahoma drawl said Ramos told him "Meeky, I would rather you run up my back than heet one over the roof", hilarious.
George Vecsey
8/3/2014 06:40:09 am
Plus, the Red Sox have had three WS titles in nine years. Who could have believed.
Charlie Accetta
8/5/2014 11:03:15 am
I put mittens on because I didn't want to lose it in response to this entry, GV. After attending three games this week (including the Friday debacle and yesterday's self-immolation), that's it. There has to be a middle ground between the crazies who want to tar and feather the Wilpons and Uncle Saul and the namby-pambies who are so averse to much-needed change that they don't recognize the ineptitude as opportunity. You were against the Dickey deal, GV and while the jury is still out on D'Arnaud and Syndergaard, the knuckleballer's numbers playing for a team that scores runs by the bushel are pedestrian. CY Young was a fluke. My position at the time was to deal David Wright as well, because the numbers were sliding against a rising salary. But, I guess that some fans would have had to get to know new players, the kind that don't carry the familiar stench.
George Vecsey
8/6/2014 01:14:34 am
Charlie, I agree with you in some ways, but major moves take money, and I don't see signs that the Mets are prepared to commit. My problem is with salary dumps.
Craig Oren
8/6/2014 03:24:29 am
I seem to remember that Pedro Ramos, when with the Senators, repeatedly challenged Mantle to a foot race. The Yankees, knowing of Mantle's bad knees and that Mantle was a slow healer, just as repeatedly declined.
Big Al
8/6/2014 04:44:05 am
You are absolutely correct Craig. Mantle was so much faster than the other players and they knew it. There was no point in risking the best player in the game. As a kid, I will never forget the sight of him dragging from the left side and taking off like a big cat at a water-hole after a meal. Before his bunt hit the ground, he was more than halfway to first. He could absolutely fly. As Clete Boyer said of Mantle "He's the only player whose teammates are more in awe of him than the fans."
George Vecsey
8/6/2014 07:09:08 am
I was around that 1964 team. Nobody was happier to see Ramos than Mantle. They were kindred souls. More than any Yankee, Ramos could tease and challenge Mantle. I can't remember the details -- (he claimed) -- but I do remember the general badinage. 8/6/2014 08:43:58 am
I’ve been a Yankee fan since growing up in Washington Heights, 190th and Fort Washington Avenue. I rarely watch Major League games today, but I still love the game of baseball. It is a game of strategy and inches.
Big Al
8/9/2014 02:52:47 am
It's really gratifying to see them playing so well with kids and no-names. I can understand Met fans turning their team off. That organization runs its club like a White Castle franchise. Vive la difference! Comments are closed.
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