For me, the great eighties teams are inseparable from the misery of before, and the realization of joy comes down to a moment in September 1983, when Keith Hernandez came up with two men out, two men on, and hit one of those doubles to right-center. The incredulous words came into my head, as I jumped up and screamed– “He does this all the time!! HE DOES THIS ALL THE TIME!!” We finally had one of those players. And that was just the beginning.

I had a couple of long drives today and thus, against my better judgment, some time listening to WFAN. I have to admit that I was thrilled to hear Evan Roberts explain that the reason he froze when Mike Francessa asked him who he was rooting for when the Yankees played the Phillies was because Francessa pissed him off so much with his Yankee- holiness crap, that he was moved to say he hoped the Yankees lost. Of course in retrospect, he would rather the Phillies lose, but he said he was just so sick and tired of Francessa’s bull, that he said the Yankees. I was glad to hear someone on air calling out Francessa. Of course several hours later when I got back in the car, I was immediately confronted with Francessa trashing Santana (”He never finishes a game,” “He showed up his manager,” “If he didnt say he wanted to stay in the game he’s not a real competitor”). I had to shut the radio off, but that’s only because i don’t have a platform like this blog to point out the ridiculousness of so much that is said about the Mets in the press and on talk radio.

Thanks for defending our team. Please don’t apologize.

The 2000 Mets were the gutsy example to which the 2009 squad should aspire? I liked the 2000 Mets plenty, so I’m all for exalting them, but you could turn it on its head if that’s your mission. The 2000 Mets came within two wins of making the World Series in 1999 and should have gone all the way with that experience under their belts; the 2000 Mets didn’t fight back against Clemens twice; the 2000 Mets didn’t step up against the Braves in September when it mattered; the 2000 Mets, despite the presence of All-Stars like Bobby Jones and Rick Reed (they were All-Stars three and two years earlier, respectively) and a top Rookie of the Year candidate in Jay Payton (he finished third) had to settle for the Wild Card; the 2000 Mets lost their soul when they traded Melvin Mora for Mike Bordick; the 2000 Mets were symbolized by Mike Hampton, a self-absorbed mercenary who didn’t have what it took in the World Series. Mind you, I don’t necessarily believe any of that (though I wish they hadn’t traded Mora for Bordick), but a writer could get up on a soapbox, weave a few anecdotes with some nifty turns of phrases and then sing hosannas to the undiminished spirit of Omir Santos, Livan Hernandez and how the current Mets persevere through the kind of injuries and turmoil the 2000 Mets could only imagine.

Dana, you and I wrote books about being Mets fans because (among other reasons) it became clear to us that “our” story wasn’t being told with accuracy, perspective or, for that matter, grace. We’ll continue to tell the story as we see it and hope the Mets back us up on the field.

I read your diatribe against Jeff Pearlman, and in my opinion, it was definitely warranted. Don’t apologize for your opinions. You have as much right to them as he does. He sounds like he has a vendetta against the Mets. Shouldn’t sports writers covering a team not let their personal prejudices affect their reporting? He reminds me of Wallace Matthews of Newsday, another writer who is constantly negative, especially where it concerns the Mets.

Although you say Jeff Pearlman’s book is a good read, I don’t think I want to read a book that trashes the Mets. There is enough bad stuff to read in the papers and books about the world today. I am looking forward to reading your book. Let’s leave Jeff Pearlman’s book to the people who think the National Enquirer and Star are classic literature.

I think Carlos Zambrano could answer that question for you right about now. If the Cubs miss winning the division by one game, they might well have his little hissy fit to thank. (Although I found it completely hilarious to see him “thumb” the umpire.) And no, it hasn’t seemed to “fire them up,” either. Not even with Mr. Turn Over The Buffet Table managing them. Talent and luck, people, talent and luck, talent and luck.

People who complain that today’s players don’t have the “fight” of the 1986 Mets are missing the point. For one thing, umpires have much tigher control over what happens on the field than they used to; ask John Lackey, who got kicked out of a game this year after two stinking pitches. (I only wish Dock Ellis had lived long enough to see that, it might have finished him off.) People still think Piazza should have charged the mound on Clemens. During a World Series! Yeah, getting our best hitter by far suspended for the duration of a World Series would have gotten the rest of our guys all fired up to beat the Yankees! You bet! Gahhh.

And players are different off the field now too. In 1986, a guy who was a health food nut who didn’t drink much or smoke cigarettes was considered a narc; now that’s more or less expected behavior. I once saw Jim Bouton and Bill Lee give a talk and they said the difference between when they were active and now was that “today’s pitchers are treated like thoroughbred horses; we were farm animals.” Probably same goes with position players. These guys are expensive, very, very expensive, and they act like it. On every team, not just this one.