Remembering Gary "Kid" Carter One Year Later

This Saturday will mark the one year anniversary of the passing of MLB HOFer and Mets legend Gary Carter. His exuberance and enthusiastic approach to the game led to the nickname "Kid". He was a gentle and kind soul. Those who had the pleasure of meeting him will never forget the experience.

With all of this said, the Mets Menu staff would like to reminisce about our memories of the Kid and how he impacted the Mets, the fanbase, MLB and our lives. Please remember him with us. RIP Kid.


Frank- I am still in shock a year later. My thoughts have not changed since my initial reaction. I felt that we, as fans, lost our innocence the day he dies, much in the same way that music fans lost theirs The Day the Music Died. At the time, I wrote an article on my personal blog, New York Fan in South Jersey. I don't think I could capture my emotions any better today than I did then. For that article, please click here.

Shale- I was born in 1989, so I never got to see Carter play for the Mets. I also never had the opportunity to meet him while he was around. Over the years, I have seen many video clips of him helping the Mets become one of baseball's best teams during his time in New York from 1985-1989.

Carter was a critical player, not just in the lineup, but also in the clubhouse as he became a mentor for some of the Mets' younger players and they knew they could always go to him if something was on their minds. Right after he passed, I saw on SNY his former teammates' reactions and didn't know the full impact Carter had on the mid-late 1980s Mets until then.

The Kid loved to play baseball and loved the attention he got as well. If anyone lived the dream back then, it was Gary Carter without question. I remember in 2003 I was sad that Carter was not inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Met, even though he wanted to go in as a Met. Instead, the BBWAA decided he was going in as an Expo because he played in Montreal much longer.

Like Frank said, it's crazy to think that Carter has already been gone for one year and the Mets and their fans will always have a special place in their hearts for The Kid.

Jose- I will never forget my first baseball game in June of 1987. My mom and I went to Shea early for batting practice. As we find a spot along the left field line, the Mets are ready to come off the field. We see Carter jogging off. I looked at him and waved. He looked at me, smiled and waved back. It made my day. Ever since then he was and still is my favorite Met of all time.

Wendy - I met Gary in Manhattan when he was at Barnes and Nobles for his "A Dream Season"  book signing.  It was such an incredible experience, he was so kind and polite to everyone.  When I first found out how ill he was, I was completely devastated and by the time of his death, as much as I had resigned myself to the fact that he was terminally ill, his death was still very emotional.

I was a fan of his before he was even a Met, I remember admiring him while  he was still with the Montreal Expos.  Seeing him and Keith Hernandez hoist the 1986 World Championship trophy above their heads is something that will remain a lifelong memory for me.

The fans loved him because of his love of the game and hard nosed attitude, the toughest nice guy you would ever want to meet, as bad as his knees were, he would not dream of asking out of a game or complaining.  That is part of the reason why I have always been so drawn to David Wright, they are very similar that way.  I was not in the least surprised to hear that they were close and had a lot of conversations until the last few days of Carter's life.

Why the Mets need to get Bourn

Jackson Walsh
MM Correspondent

Following Scott Hairston's two-year deal with the Chicago Cubs, the Mets real only hope is the primed free agent Michael Bourn. The Mets have been reticent due to enjoying the thought of a number 11 first round draft pick.

But the Amazin's can have their cake and eat it too if they get the ruling they are seeking, that acquiring a top free agent like Bourn would not effect their ticket number in this upcoming draft. Then they get another outfielder to fill a piece of the jigsaw puzzle and perhaps another young prospect to give the team a little more hope for future seasons.

Normally, a team can't argue having their draft pick used in a case like this. The difference here is that the Mets finished with the tenth worst record last season. That earned them the number 10 pick. Major League Baseball awarded that spot to the Pittsburgh Pirates as an extra draft pick for compensation. Only the top ten picks are secure when a team signs a free agent like Bourn.

There is no guarantee that Bourn would answer the Mets call, yet it would transform the outfield rotation (Duda-Nieuwenhuis-Baxter) and add on to the reserves (Cowgill, Brown). A contending mark for Bourn is far off, yet being the only player wanting a big league contract, it just might be the only alternative

The World Baseball Classic: Why David Wright, Johan Santana and other players should avoid it

Photo courtesy of NY Daily News

Frank Gray
Editor

The concept of the World Baseball Classic is not a bad one, in and of itself. It allows baseball to spread popularity of the sport around the world. That exposure is huge for Major League Baseball. It allows them to attract the very best from other countries to play in America and it helps TV ratings.

This is all understandable. To this point, it makes sense that MLB should only want the very best of their players to represent their countries; the better the athlete, the better the competition, the better the games, the better the ratings and popularity levels.

With all that said, baseball does not need to grow in other countries as much as MLB is protesting that it does. According to the International Baseball Federation, there are 118 countries throughout the world that play professional baseball. This includes the dozens of countries in the WBC. MLB has branched out to these countries where the sport is most popular. They have repeatedly played their season games in Japan, Puerto Rico and Mexico, just to name a few.

Does that mean the sport couldn't use more growth? Absolutely not. Globally speaking, baseball is not always even a top five sport in television ratings, with Cricket, Soccer, American Football, Basketball and the Summer Olympic Games all ranking higher at various points this past year than our beloved sport of baseball.

Therefore, it is in the MLB's best interest to have their best players on the biggest global stage; the WBC. However, is it the best thing for the players? The answer isn't immediately clear. There is always the risk of injury when a player will play extra games for another team and not the initial team of which he is signed.

That, of course, means he will be impacting his contractual teammates, their clubhouse, their environment and their rhythm for an extended period of time, not to mention the player's rhythm own as well. While there is no hard evidence that links an injury curse to the WBC, it is always a relevant possibility.

Whether it is national pride or professional ego, playing in these games is tempting and prestigious for players. They get national recognition and are embraced as heroes. Some, like Oliver Perez, have actually parlayed their performances in the WBC into large MLB contracts.

Still, others seem to be effected negatively by the extra effort. Take the face of the Mets franchise for example, David Wright, He hit 33 home runs the year prior to the WBC and just 10 the year of the WBC. That 2009 season is also the debut of Citi Field, so this could be a coincidence, but there are others.

Jose Reyes, for example, had a dismal 2009. He only played 36 games and was shut down due to a calf injury in May. In addition to Reyes, Carlos Beltran's downward spiral with the Mets began after his appearance in the 2009 WBC. He only played 81 games and hit 10 home runs in that 2009 campaign. The next few years, he spent nursing the same ailments that would repeatedly be re-aggravated.

One more example would be Carlos Delgado. In 2009, he played in the WBC and was subsequently shut down in May of that season and would never play a Major League game again..

While other teams can claim the same type of horror stories with a few of their players, it is not wise for anyone in the Mets organization to take part in the WBC. They are not in a position where they have the type of depth to make up for a major player going down to injury or could afford the hit of a major player having an underachieving year.

Johan Santana (if healthy) and David Wright have both confirmed they will participate in this year's festivities. While it can be debated how much good or bad they can do for their national rosters, it can be certain that their MLB team can't afford taking the chance.

If the Mets don't wish to step in because they are contractually covered, the mantle of responsibility falls on the player. They have more to risk in being accountable to their everyday teammates and fans than their national teammates should something go awry in this WBC.

When it comes to the WBC, for the good of the players, the team, the fans and the health of the clubhouse, the players must resist the temptation and just say no.

Daniel Murphy: A Secret Weapon for the Mets in 2013 & Beyond

Photo courtesy of Alex Gallardo/AP

Jordan Panitch
Mets Menu Contributor


Throughout the last decade for the New York Mets baseball, second base has accumulated the least amount of production. The Mets tried out innumerable options at second base in their recent history, including Luis Castilo, Brad Emaus, Damon Easley, Luis Hernandez, Alex Cora, Jose Valentine, Anderson Hernandez, Kazuo Matsui Miguel Cairo, Robert Alomar, etc, all of which have failed to continuously produce.

An even more notable stat is that with the exception of Luis Castillo, no Met second basemen has ever remained on the roster for three consecutive years. It has been a bad situation. This statement pretty much sums up the frustrating situation the Mets have had in their recent history at second base. 

It has been way too long since they had "that" guy. That guy at second base that can produce at a consistent bases season after season, and providing a spark for the team with strong defensive abilities. Thankfully, one of the biggest out-takes from the disappointing 2012 season showed the Mets that they have found that guy. His name is Daniel Murphy. 

                                                                  
In 2008, Murphy entered his first year with the Mets. He did not get much playing time, but he did hit for an impressive .313 average in 49 games and 131 at-bats. There was one problem though, he looked lost playing left field. He posted a .962 fielding percentage, but besides the errors, he looked lost out there. The Mets did not have confidence starting him every day.

He landed a bigger role in 2009 due to the injured Carlos Delgado, and Murphy got a shot at showing what he could do at first base. He opened some eyes, and surprisingly looked very comfortable there. in 101 games at first base, he posted a .989 fielding percentage with only 10 errors. Between first and a few other miscellaneous positions, Murphy played 155 games in all in 2009, with a .266 average with 12 homers. 

He did not play during the 2010 season at all due to injury. When he returned in 2011, he was having a breakout year. He played 109 games, and hit a very impressive .320 before suffering a season-ending injury. Again, he did not have a position that defined him. He did not play more than 54 games at one specific position, switching between first, third, and second. 

A big question loomed before the 2012 season. The team didn't have a second basemen. They team put that position in Murphy's hands. He had another great offensive year, posting a .291 average in 156 games with 6 homers and 65 RBI's. Along with David Wright, he made a huge contribution to the Mets first half surge. 

Defensively, he started to look more comfortable throughout the season, but still struggled at some points. He had a .974 average with 15 errors at second base.  Many people believe he will never become a great player because of his continuous defensive struggles, but when his season is looked at in two halves instead of one, it is much easier to see that Murphy is on the right track. He had 9 errors before the break, 6 after.

 It is also important to take into account that second base was Murphy's unnatural position, and 2012 was his first year playing there for a full year. It was quite obvious that early on in the year, he was very uncomfortable there, but as the season moved on, he became much more adept to playing the position, turning double plays very efficiently with Tejada, making his routine plays, and even by the end of the season, he was making phenomenal plays, and at some points looking like a gold-glover. His experience at multiple positions has come in handy in the past and can be an asset to the team in the future as well. 

Many people think he is great trade bait for the Mets, but they're wrong. He's a keeper. His 2012 performance shows he really can become a great, key, consistent player for 2013 and beyond. Maybe we will see him in an all-star uniform come July, who knows??

Murphy's  production should allow him to become a long-tenured, and a possible franchise player for the Mets organization, and hopefully he will be playing a large role in  helping the Mets bring a world series trophy to New York. 

How the 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame Shutout Will Affect Mike Piazza's Eventual Induction

Shale Briskin
Assistant Editor

Not seeing Mike Piazza getting inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this year was very tough for me to endure. He was my childhood hero growing up, back when I really started following the Mets in 1998 at the young age of 7.

Arguably the best hitting catcher of all time, Piazza redefined the offensive standards at the position throughout his career. His 427 career home runs are by far the most of any catcher, with 396 occurring while behind the plate. His .308 lifetime average, .922 career OPS, 12 All-Star Game nominations and 10 consecutive Silver Slugger Awards (1993-2002) would prove that Piazza is indeed a genuine Hall of Famer.

The 2013 Hall of Fame voting process was rather unique, simply because of the "Steroid Era" and how the players of that generation would be looked at due to possible steroid usage. Some writers with Hall of Fame votes, such as Howard Bryant and T.J. Quinn of ESPN did not even turn in ballots, while others simply didn't vote for Piazza because of speculation that he may have used performance enhancing drugs at some point in his career.

The fact of the matter is that there is no legitimate PED or steroid evidence against Piazza. He was not mentioned in the Mitchell Report and never tested positive for any substances. The only real speculation of possible steroid usage has come from this article famed writer Murray Chass wrote in 2009. Other than that, there really isn't any concrete evidence that proves that Piazza indeed used any performance enhancing drugs.

With all this being said, it's inevitable that Piazza will eventually get inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He got 57.8% of all votes on his first ballot this year. This means that he is in great shape to be elected in the near future. The only question now is when will it happen?

Piazza's future on the Baseball Hall of Fame will actually be affected by the status of other eligible members at least as much, if not more than his own credibility and all the negative "Steroid Era" rumors he has been tied to. The next few years will include quite a few worthy players that played at the same time as Piazza in the 1990s and 2000s.

Here is a breakdown of all the remaining and upcoming eligible members for the Hall of Fame.

Remaining Eligible Players Through the 2013 Ballot (Year of Eligibility in 2014 in parentheses):

- Jack Morris (15th Ballot and Final Year of Eligibility)
- Don Mattingly (14th Ballot)
- Alan Trammell (13th Ballot)
- Lee Smith (12th Ballot)
- Mark McGwire (8th Ballot)
- Tim Raines (7th Ballot)
- Edgar Martinez (5th Ballot)
- Fred McGriff (5th Ballot)
- Jeff Bagwell (4th Ballot)
- Rafael Palmeiro (4th Ballot)
- Larry Walker (4th Ballot)
- Craig Biggio (2nd Ballot)
- Barry Bonds (2nd Ballot)
- Roger Clemens (2nd Ballot)
- Mike Piazza (2nd Ballot)
- Curt Schilling (2nd Ballot)
- Sammy Sosa (2nd Ballot)

Notable First Year Players on the 2014 Ballot

- Tom Glavine
- Luis Gonzalez
- Jeff Kent
- Greg Maddux
- Mike Mussina
- Kenny Rogers
- Frank Thomas

Notable First Year Players on the 2015 Ballot

- Carlos Delgado
- Nomar Garciaparra
- Randy Johnson
- Pedro Martinez
- Gary Sheffield
- John Smoltz

Notable First Year Players on the 2016 Ballot

- Ken Griffey Jr.
- Trevor Hoffman
- Billy Wagner

Notable Players on the 2017 Ballot 

- Vladimir Guerrero
- Manny Ramirez
- Ivan Rodriguez
- Miguel Tejada

The recently retired Chipper Jones will be eligible for induction starting in 2018.

As shown here, the 2014 and 2015 classes are quite loaded, when combined with all the holdovers from previous years. It will be very difficult for voters to decide on who should be inducted and when. The fact that no one got inducted this year will make the next few years that much more difficult for the baseball writers.

If I were to predict what would most realistically happen in future elections, I would say that Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas will all get inducted on their first ballots in 2014. Maddux and Glavine are two of the greatest pitchers to ever live and by far two of the best throughout the 1990s. Thomas was one of the best hitters in the 1990s and has 521 career home runs. None of these three players have ever had any performance enhancing drug rumors tied to them, so it's pretty much inevitable that all three will be enshrined a year from now.

Craig Biggio could join them as well, being that he got 68% of all votes this year and fell just short of induction. Jack Morris is on his final ballot and could possibly get more votes, although a future induction through the Veterans Committee is more likely to occur for him.

As for Piazza, he could possibly get inducted in 2014. However,with Maddux, Glavine and Thomas all shoe-ins for induction, plus Biggio likely to get more votes, those four players could push Piazza back another year.

The last year in which the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) elected three players in the same year was in 1999, when George Brett, Nolan Ryan and Robin Yount all got inducted. The BBWAA though has not elected four players in one year since 1955. Joe DiMaggio, Gabby Hartnett, Ted Lyons and Bill Terry were the four inductees that year. This history could even work against Biggio in 2014, which means he could get pushed back from induction as well.

As for 2015, Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez will both get inducted that year for sure, as they were two of the very best pitchers of their generation. John Smoltz could also be inducted right away, but he's not as much of a definite first ballot inductee compared to Johnson and Martinez. If Smoltz does not get inducted in 2015, the chances of either Biggio or Piazza getting inducted will certainly rise. If Piazza does get inducted in 2015, that would be great, but if not, there are still many years to go.

In 2016, Ken Griffey Jr. is a shoe-in for a first ballot induction, being that he was one of the best overall position players in the 1990s. He has no links to possible steroid use as well. Trevor Hoffman is very deserving for the Hall of Fame as well, but it's not certain he will be inducted on the first ballot.

Thus, it would be fair to predict that if Piazza is not inducted in 2015, 2016 will be his year. If he is not surrounded by Johnson and Martinez for his induction, Griffey and Biggio will probably be the two players in his induction class.

All I'm really trying to say is that if Piazza's induction does not occur until a few years from now, it will not be due to possible performance enhancing drug rumors like it was this year. The upcoming Hall of Fame ballots will simply be loaded with deserving players and the automatic inductions of some of these players will simply push Piazza back by default. Furthermore, history has proven that it's rare now to see the BBWAA elect three players in one year, and extremely rare for four or more players to get inducted in the same year.

Be patient fellow Mets fans! Piazza will get inducted within the next three or four years. How it all plays out though beginning a year from now will be very fascinating to see.

I was planning on going to Cooperstown again this summer to see Piazza's induction, but with not even one new person getting inducted this year, I will postpone my trip until 2014. But when Piazza finally gets elected, I will look forward to seeing you in Cooperstown because I would not miss his induction for anything in the world.

Today's Special: Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn, Pedro Cerrano and JASON BAY???

Everyone's favorite cinematic "lovable losers" are possibly joining forces with the recent castoff of MLB's actual "lovable losers". The Cleveland Indians are really best known for the movie franchise "Major League". They have not done much that is noteworthy on the field in the past several decades. In the movies, Cleveland throws together the most motliest of crews in an attempt to catch lighting in a bottle.

Real life seems to be imitating art these days. It seems that the Indians are talking to Jason Bay about a free agent contract for next season. They are currently still in negotiations with Kevin Youkilis. All of this after hiring Terry Francona as their manager.

This is clearly Cleveland's way of building a midwestern version of the Boston Red Sox. Bay, however, may or may not be the answer. If you're the Indians, though, he comes with the right price tag. The Mets bought out his contract a few weeks back and, as a result, still owe him $21M from his massive and uninspiring original $66M contract.

It's common knowledge that Bay is thought of as a wonderful guy and a great teammate to have around in the clubhouse. Perhaps, as the Indians are hoping, he could catch lightning in a bottle with Francona and with being back in the American League. Goodness knows, he surely didn't by returning to the National League.

I'm sure all Mets fans wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors. We just all wish he wasn't doing it in another uniform on the Mets' dime.