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There are few fanbases I have encountered that feel as mistreated as the Mets. Sure, we have all loved teams that struggled, had stretches of losing, and have been under bad management. But the Mets are a team that seems to have been burdened with their own kind of bad luck, in spite of having made it to the World Series as recently as 2015.
The nightmarish pall cast over them by former owners the Wilpons; the loss of Carlos Beltran as a manager before he ever managed a single game because of the Astros scandal; and most recently the suspension of Robinson Cano, have given “that’s so Mets” a darkly comedic meaning.
The arrival of new owner Steve Cohen has done something unexpected: it has given Mets fans hope. Cohen has been an active participant on Twitter, engaging fans in opportunities to offer suggestions and ask questions (my favourite so far was a plea to ensure giveaways are plentiful enough for all attending fans). It seems like it might just be the moment Mets fans have been waiting for: an owner who actually cares about the team and wants to spend money to win titles.
Of course, only time will tell if that translates into real action.
- Behold, the most pretentious person to have a Hall of Fame vote.
Ballot #3 (our first "official" ballot) comes from Steven Marcus. He submits a blank ballot.
— Ryan Thibodaux (@NotMrTibbs) November 21, 2020
Marcus, who cast a Jeter-only ballot last year, notes this is not a "protest." He believes there are simply no Hall of Famers on the 2021 ballot.
In the Tracker: https://t.co/cVpo9dRM90 pic.twitter.com/TBw0x8NeQp
- Speaking of Hall of Fame voting, Ryan Spaeder has set up a website to allow former MLB players to cast their (unofficial) vote over who should be inducted.
- Lots of teams have regrets about certain trades, Nick Groke explores the worst trade in each team’s history. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- This free agent class has been considered lighter than some others, but that’s likely because of these 17 players who opted for a guaranteed contract rather than testing free agency. Story by Mike Axisa.
- Sport Illustrated looks at the teams who had the worst 2020 seasons.
- Theo Epstein might not be looking to be the next Commissioner, but Buster Olney gives some pretty compelling reasons why he should be the next man in line.
- Jayson Start looks at how very deeply MLB managers hate the three-batter rule. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- Oh boy, some interesting responses to this Twitter poll.
If you could erase one player from the history of MLB, who would it be and why?
— High Heat Stats (@HighHeatStats) November 22, 2020
- Jim Bowden offers up some advise with a suggested first move for every new MLB General Manager. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- Is it actually easy to catch a foul ball? Sam Miller explains why it’s a lot harder than it looks.
- Dayn Perry suggests Steve Cohen is precisely the kind of owner baseball needs right now.
- What can sports leagues teach us about fighting COVID-19? Keith Law explores. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- Rather than vilifying, we need to learn to do better by those with evident substance abuse issues, like Tony La Russa, writes Marc Delucchi. (Baseball Prospectus Premium required.)
- Bryce Harper and his wife Kayla welcomed a new baby girl named Brooklyn (the same name his former Nationals teammate Max Scherzer and his wife Erica chose for their second daughter.)
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.