Kevin Baker's book is here!

Kevin Baker's book is here!
"... an exemplary sports book..." Kirkus Reviews

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Horror Halloween question: Should we hold our noses and root for the Mets, hoping to shame Prince Hal?

First, let's state the obvious: There's no tangible impact on the Yankees if the Cubs win the 2015 World Series. We are not their nemesis. We haven't done anything to them since the Babe made Charlie Root an immortal. They will be a NL powerhouse for the next five years, but that's St. Louis' problem. We exist on another plane.

The Royals nearly fall into this domain. It's been nearly 30 years since we used little Freddie Patek as a Kewpie doll, and nearly 60 since we handed them Marv Throneberry in exchange for Roger Maris. Their oldsters may still hate us, but I can't see ginning up even a mild dislike for KC, especially with angrier fish to fry in the AL East. In other words, meh.

Toronto looms as trouble. When we see the 2016 Blue Jays, we can see them with or without David Price. The question: If they win in 2015, will they be sated and let Price walk? (They have a lot of big contracts to renegotiate, and Tulo is even more fragile than Brett Gardner.) Or will they be drunk on victory and shell out to keep him? My hope is that a Toronto victory would send their stars marching to Scott Boras or Jay-Z, expecting Robbie money for jogging to first. Frack that, Canada.

But the main question: What if the Mets win? Last time it happened was 1986 - the Buckner moment. If there is a historical component here, be afraid. The Yankees reacted to the Mets championship by having one of the most disastrous winters in their history. We traded Doug Drabek and Brian Fisher for Rick Rhoden. Then we pooched the free agent market - signing Lenn Sakata, the (then-old) Willie Randolph and Rick Cerone. During the regular season, we traded for the horrible Steve Trout. But that was George. This is Hal, aka: "I'm Not Cheap."

If the Mets win, their delirious parade along the Canyon of Heroes will rival - maybe even surpass - the Yankees first championship celebration under Joe Torre. Basically, New York City will explode with Met love. Wright will be Jeter, De Grom's hair will be everywhere, and A-Rod will be a memory of an afterthought. Seriously, will anybody care about Carlos Beltran and Chase Headley? This blog might as well switch to covering the Kardashians. I feel like old and cranky Bernie Sanders: "I'm sick and tired of hearing about your DAMN Yoan Moncada!" But the shitpile will fall hardest on Hal and his siblings. Those Yankee Stadium seats cost too way much to sit empty in front of a crapola team. And the Mets - a less costly night out - will be solid for many years.

So... my conclusion? Hell, it doesn't matter. The key is whatever Toronto's ownership decides. Because it's hard to see the 2016 Yankees overtaking them, if their top dogs - which have oodles of money - develop of taste for winning - or, if denied, get hornier than ever for a ring.

My best guess: Close your eyes, hold your nose, root for Toronto, and imagine Hal's seat getting progressively hotter, so much so that even his courtier press starts making fun of him. It's now been six years since we won anything. It's taken six years to march into this Yankee purgatory - the netherworld of the Wild Card. It might take us another six to march out.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

FLASHBACK, 1986....IT WAS A HORROR...PEOPLE WHO LIVED ON MY BLOCK, WHO I ACTUALLY KNEW, AND NEVER UTTERED A WORD ABOUT LIKING THE METS, WERE HANGING BIG MET FLAGS IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE...MET JACKETS, MET HATS, MET SHIRTS, MET KEYCHAINS, EVERYTHING METS, WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE. I SAID TO MYSELF, "WHO THE FUCK ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE KIDDING? I HAVE KNOWN THOSE PEOPLE FOR 20 YEARS, THEY NEVER EVEN TALK BASEBALL TO ME! THESE MET FANS ARE LIKE RODENTS THAT ONLY COME OUT WHEN THEY ARE WINNING! I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY MET PARAPHERNALIA AROUND HERE, EVER! (NO HATS, NO FLAGS, ETC.)..THESE MET FANS, AND FAN BASE ARE THE WORST "FRONTRUNNER" FANS, POSSIBLY IN THE WORLD." .....FAST FORWARD TO 2015...I DRIVE DOWN MY BLOCK (NEW NEIGHBORHOOD ALL TOGETHER), AND BOOM, MET FLAG!...THEN I SEE ANOTHER...SAME EXACT CRAP AS IN 1986...MET HATS, SHIRTS, THE WHOLE 9 YARDS, ARE ALL OUT OF THE CLOSET, AND ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT'S A HORROR ALL OVER AGAIN. MEANWHILE, THESE LAST 3 -4 YEARS ASIDE, THE NEW YORK YANKEES JUST GAVE THE CITY 20 CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF THRILLS, MIRACLES, MAGIC MOMENTS, A FEW LEGENDS, 5 RINGS, AND 5 PARADES...(NOT BAD HUH)? ...MEANWHILE, THE NY MEDIA JERKS OFF TO THE METS...THEY LOVE TO KICK THE YANKS (ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE DOWN)-SEE MIKE LUPICA- I'M SO FULL OF JOY, HE LOST HIS JOB WITH THE DAILY NEWS, AND ALSO HIS RADIO SHOW ON ESPN. THAT COCKSUCKER HAS BEEN KNOCKING THE YANKS FOR OVER 40 YEARS!!! ALL THE WHILE ADMITTING ON HIS RADIO SHOW, HE LOVES "MY METS"..THAT LITTLE SCUMBAG......ANYWAY, I GOT OFF THE TRACK, SORRY....POINT IS....DON'T EVER ROOT FOR THE METS! EVER! MY HATE FOR THEM IS EQUALLY MATCHED WITH THE RED SOX.....ROOT FOR THE CUBS TO CRUSH THE METS, AND IF THEY DON'T GET IT DONE, THEN PRAY THE A.L. WINNER DESTROYS THEM, GOD FORBID, IF THEY GET TO THE WORLD SERIES.....THERE SHOULD BE ENOUGH SHAME ON HAL ALREADY AFTER THAT PERFORMANCE DOWN THE STRETCH, AND THAT COMATOSE 1 GAME PLAYOFF GAME THAT WE DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR IN FRONT OF OUR HOME CROWD!!!

Anonymous said...

THAT WAS 20 YEARS OF THRILLS..NOT 2! ....20 YEARS, WITH A 2 AND A ZERO!!!!!!!!!

Rufus T. Firefly said...

Go, Cubs, Go!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9XtDyDUjIU

By the great Steve Goodman.

Isiyku Abdulahi said...

I really want the world to know about this great man who brought back happiness into my life again after my husband left me and the kids 3 years ago for another women online when i contacted Dr Believe he cast a love spell for me within 48 hours my ex husband start calling me and begging for forgiveness for everything that have happened between us. I was so happy to have my family back together with love again here is the email of Dr Believe via believelovespelltemple@gmail.com a man with the great powers you can also call him or add him on Whats-app: +2348156148821
God bless you
I am very grateful for your help in my marriage.