The Passion and the Joy by voltaire on Blogster

Last year the New York Mets forged towards the final weeks of the season bent on winning the pennant. Then without warning, the team collapsed as though struck by a mysterious malady. Jose Reyes's bat (as he goes, so go the Mets) turned cold, as did the bats of his teammates and their pitching.

Jose Reyes was the team's sparkplug. His passion and joy for the game was contagious. He ran with great speed, stole bases triumphantly, and hit singles and doubles which he stretched into triples. When Reyes was on base, things happened; opposing pitchers' attention was torn between him and the batter. His enthusiasm spilled outside the dugout as well: when a teammate scored a run, Reyes greeted him with a ritual dance. Soon his counterpart, Lastings Milledge, the youngest ballplayer in the National League, was running the bases with abandon and hi-fiving the fans, and he was accused of showboating. Pitcher Billy Wagner allegedly posted a sign on Lasting's locker which read, "Know Your Place!"

In November 2007, Lastings Milledge was traded to the Washington Nationals. In June 2008, manager Willie Randolph was fired at 3 a.m. Eastern time; in his first game under a new manager, Jose Reyes threw his helmet to the ground as he was taken out of the game because of a tight hamstring pull.

It may be too facile to attribute the collapse of the 2007 Mets to the reining in of two spirited ball players like Reyes and Milledge. Their conduct was not professional (whatever that means), but neither was it unsportsmanlike. The Mets did an unpardonable thing when it quenched the flames of two free spirits. So be it.

2 comments on The Passion and the Joy

theprofessor said 3 months ago

Something was wrong with this team. When they signed Santana, I, as well as a llot of people thought that the division was theirs and a possible World Series berth if Pedro came back. However, they just have not jelled and the manager is usually the first to go under this scenerio. However, they still are in it as this division has no clear cut winner. So, Go Mets!
voltaire said 3 months ago
theprofessor: Thanks for stopping by. Yes, the Mets looked great on paper and last year, except for their collapse at the end of the season, they were great. They won't go far this season. But they have to make serious decisions for next year. Delgado, Castillo and a couple of older players have to go. They are top heavy with players in their thirties. I'm glad I do not have to make the moves.