Ya' Still Gotta Believe

When Kenny Rogers threw ball four to Andrew Jones, walking in the National League Championship Series winning run, Mets fans fell into a state of depression. After all, less than half an hour before the team that had come so far was just two outs away from forcing a game seven in a series once trailed three games to none. In a season of incredible twists and unlikely outcomes, it seemed that the most unlikely of all would be a Mets loss in a game they had furiously fought so hard to win. A game that saw the Braves, with their best pitcher on the mound, score five times before the second out of the first inning was recorded. Yet, the Mets came back, twice, taking the lead on two separate occasions. It seemed for just a moment that the Amazin's would pull off another miracle. Oddly enough Mets fans were disappointed when that miracle fell short.

But the season as a whole was not a disappointment. The Mets showed tremendous growth over this past year and made terrific strides in the progression of their franchise. This coming a year after the Mets let a playoff spot fall through their finger tips. Although they gave everyone a scare in the waning moments of this year's regular season, the Mets not only made the playoffs, but made a mark by advancing past the first round. Even in losing the NLCS, the Amazin's showed the courage and strength that were that hallmarks of this year's team. By the end of the series, they proved to the Braves, and more importantly to themselves, that they will be a force to reckon with in the future.

This despite the fact that the Mets were dominated by the Braves, a better team, for the past three years. They played a brutally rough series, losing three games by one run and the other by only two. In addition, the games they won were played under extreme pressure; games in which they were trying to avoid being embarrassed by getting swept or by being knocked out in five games. With one out in the bottom of the tenth inning of game six the Mets had a nine to eight lead and the Braves had visions of a catastrophic collapse of unthinkable proportions, one so large it had never been matched in baseball history. No team down three games to none in a playoff series has ever forced a game seven. Do not think the 1999 Mets did not leave a lasting impression on the baseball world.

Baseball is a different game than it was thirteen years ago when the Mets won their last championship. In those years, every team that won a division, back then there were only four divisions and no wild card, had an even shot at winning the whole thing. Baseball was unique in this manner; the three other major sports had a playoff system of 4 rounds, while Baseball had only 2. A football team that got into the playoffs considered its season to be a success. After that, each playoff win added a measure of success to the season, with the ultimate goal being a Super Bowl win. Baseball was different. In Baseball, winning the division was nothing more than a vehicle to the post-season, in which two teams squared off for the first of two major goals: winning a pennant, or league championship. The loser of that League Championship Series went home feeling that his season was unfulfilled. The two Pennant winners squared off for the World Championship, but even the losers in that World Series went home winners as they could legitimately (without a stretch) call themselves Champions, for they were in fact Champions of their respective League. So Baseball in fact had two champions every year, the two league champions, one of which to become World Champion.

That all changed when Baseball realigned in 1995. The advent of the wild card in Baseball changed the entire landscape of the Baseball post-season. Now, like in other sports, teams try to set realistic goals. Ten years ago, a baseball team would never say, "Our goal this year is to make the playoffs." Such a thing never happened, because a team would never sell themselves short by having such meager goals. Today, however, such a declaration is common. What happened was simple. Four additional teams were allowed into the playoff tournament. As a result, those four teams, who are now playoff teams, are necessarily as good as the playoff teams under the old alignment. Hence, teams that previously could not win their division, due to another team's sheer dominance, can now announce with excitement that they hope to make the playoffs. Right now, making the playoffs is a watermark to determine how a franchise is progressing.

For the Mets, therefore, making the playoffs means that their season was a success, and it shows just how much they improved over last year. Essentially, they are right now where they were in 1985. (Had the Wild Card been in place, they would have been in the playoffs that year, too.) This year, they won nothing. There is no merit to winning a Wild Card or a "Division Series" (Just what division are they the champions of, the Western Division?). What they Mets did show is that they are ready to take the next step, that they are not only a franchise on the rise but a franchise who next year (given they make a few shrewd off-season moves) will be in position to win the Pennant and beyond.

There are many similarities between the mid eighties Mets and the current Mets. Gary Carter was acquired in a trade prior to the 1985 season, and he joined Keith Hernandez as the team leaders. Jesse Orosco and Roger McDowell made a strong lefty/righty tandem out of the bullpen; each one chalked up seventeen saves. And the Mets were eliminated on the second-to-last day of the season, despite winning ninety-eight games, third best in the Majors. The Mets already had the Cy Young Award winner (Dwight Gooden) on their staff, along with two other pitchers with an ERA under three (Ron Darling, Sid Fernandez), and a slew of pitchers with ERAs under four, but they went out and got a top notch left handed pitcher in Bob Ojeda, who in 1986 went 18-5 with a 2.57 ERA. Other than that major acquisition, the Mets contented themselves to minor roster tweaks. They brought in backup catcher Ed Hearn, and infielder Tim Teufel.

The 2000 Mets have similar needs. Although they already have their backup catcher in Todd Pratt and a slew of backup position players, they do need the minor tweaks and the big time pitcher. At the end of this year, the Mets had 7 starting pitchers. Octavio Dotel, has a big future ahead of him, and will likely be on the Opening Day roster. Al Leiter and Rick Reed will also be there. Free agent Kenny Rogers' fourth ball will be the last pitch he throws as a Met, and everyone is probably better off that way. Orel Hershiser was offered the Manager's job in Cleveland, so it is not clear whether or not he'll be back, although the Mets like his veteran leadership, not to mention his good pitching. Bobby Jones and Masato Yoshii are both under contract for next year although General Manager Steve Phillips probably wants to unload at least one of them and fill their spot with an ace. Believe it or not, both of those players have a lot of appeal to certain teams. They are both young and with a lot of upside. Unfortunately, they don't fit into the Mets plans right now. Neither of the two will not bring back an ace in a trade, but certainly have considerable value in a trade package.

Mets fans are disappointed. They were two outs away from history, and twenty-nine outs from the World Series. But Mets fans have plenty to look forward to. Now more than ever, Mets fans can be excited when they hear, "...just four months to Spring Training." And if that doesn't work, just remember that the Mets are the Western Division Champs.

Adam Cohen takes your calls and talks sports on WYUR 530 AM, Sunday nights from 11 PM to 11:30 PM (212) 923-2471.