A Tribute

Not a whole lot has gone wrong this season for the New Mets, at least on the field. Despite a number of key injuries to core players, the Mets engine has kept on trucking along. Of late, it seems like they just don’t lose.

Today, for the first time that I can remember, the Mets have the best record in all of baseball. Their 82-49 record leaves them a measly .002 points ahead of the Tigers for the top winning percentage in the game.

This is an epic day in Mets baseball.

For the first time in a while, it is all starting to make sense to me.

The baseball season is a grind. I don’t think I missed an inning of a game for the first three months of the season, I would say the over/under would be somewhere around 15 total innings missed.

But of late, even the Sip has slowed down. I find myself watching more games on the internet and doing less arguing with my corny Yankee fan roommate over whether I can put on the tivoed Mets game.

162 games is a lot. It’s a fucking grind. Which what makes the fact that the Mets have been so consistently good so amazing.

How many losing streaks has this team really gone on? 1, maybe 2.

Was there a single month where we could say that these guys look bad? I don’t think so.

This, my loyal Y2kers, is a product of something much greater than talent on the baseball field. This is the result of two very important people in the organization, Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph.


I was a little harsh on Omar during the offseason, mostly because I felt he overpaid for his talent, that he did not maximize efficiency in all his deals.

But each end product has been an A+. Again, as much for the abilities on the field as their actions off.

Minaya preached two things upon his return to the Mets front office, pitching and clubhouse.

Pitching is easy, everyone wants pitching.

But the clubhouse that Omar Minaya has put together deserves a ton of credit.

To start, things are a lot easier when you have David Wright and Jose Reyes on your team. Does anyone in baseball have more fun playing the game than these two?

Then there was the acquisition of Pedro, the All Star pitcher/class clown. Pedro immediately brought smiles to Shea. He became the Roger McDowell of the new millennium.


The most controversial acquisition was Carlos Beltran. Beltran was a superstar on the field but somewhat of a recluse off the field. In simplest words, he was BORING.

Last year, Beltran struggled. He was bad on the field. He did not handle media relations all that well.

Enter Carlos Delgado. What better way to please your superstar signee than to bring in a close friend and fellow countryman? The relationship between Beltran and Delgado has been well documented, both on and off the field. Delgado serves as Beltran’s protection, both in the lineup and in the media and now all of a sudden our superstar can just play… and he is an MVP candidate.

Then we look at the rest of Minaya’s 2006 offseason.

Paul Lo Duca: Instant clubhouse hit, replacement for Mike Cameron in Big Three of Coolness, Wright, Floyd and now Lo Duca (RIP Killa Cam).

Julio Franco: Consummate pro, seasoned veteran, INSERT PLEASANT CLICHÉ HERE.


Billy Wagner: Good old boy. Gives an entire clubhouse confidence in a position that has failed the Mets for the last 20 years. A case where on field success translates to off the field confidence.

Look at the Mets. Is there anyone you don’t like? Is there an A-Rod on this roster? This whole team is involved in the magic and everyone is smiling. It is the perfect mix of respected veterans (Glavine, Delgado, Pedro) and shining youth (Wright, Reyes). The role guys are pleasant.

Heck, look at Endy Fucking Chavez.

Over the course of a 162 game season, this chemistry could not be more important. These guys spend pretty much every day of their lives together for six months. For good or bad they have to like working each other and respect each other.

Think of all the people that you hate at your job, and now imagine liking them. Wouldn’t it almost be pleasant to hear your alarm in the morning, press the sleep button and then hear it again?

So kudos to Wheel and Deal Minaya. This aspect of his acquisitions was clearly overlooked.

And of course, kudos to the king of the fresh toasted sub, Willie Randolph. Baseball managers are usually judged by wins, losses and clubhouse mishaps. Willie is a perfect 3-0. He is winning and his team is happy.

People talk about Willie and Jimmy Leyland as the two best managers in baseball this season. It makes a whole lotta sense in so many ways.


One thing to remember is this. The Tigers have dominated with pitching. Verlander, Rogers, Robertson, Bonderman getting the ball to Zumaya, Rodney and Todd Jones. Yes they are young, but they have been great.

And more importantly, they've been HEALTHY.

Willie has managed to overcome losing his two best starters and best setup man for extended periods of time. He has thrown in a cast of misfits and castoffs and continued to win. Every button he has pressed has come up green.

This has been the dream season at Shea -- so far. Our expectations are high.

But unlike the Yankees, who rely on overwhelming talent to win, the Mets have something greater. They have a team.

Teams win championships, not players.

And so we pray.

Vaya con dios,

Sip