Can R.A. Dickey Catch Tom Seaver Or Denny McLain?

Maybe it hasn't been this exact question, but this
question in some form or another has been asked a
few times for sure since 1968. The reason to bring
up Seaver is because of the obvious, both he and
Dickey are/were Mets, but outside of Denny McClain,
you can fill in the blank depending on which teams
record holder your talking about.

Tonight R.A. Dickey goes for his eleventh win of
the season against the Baltimore Orioles with only
one loss thus far, and though it's clearly a little
too early to imagine R.A. getting 30 wins, it is a
little more likely that he can approach the Mets
single season wins record holder Tom Seaver if he
gets past tonight's hurdle. Denny McClain is NOT
the record holder for mos wins in a season, but he
is the most recent 30 game winner, having done this
in 1968 with the Detroit Tigers. Seaver went 25-7
in 1969 and since both of those two went on to win
the World Series that year it's certainly a sign the
New York Mets organization will welcome as a good
omen if ever there was one. The Mets just got over
one major hurdle of being one of only two teams in
existence without a no-hitter, the other being the
San Diego Padres, and that took 50 years, so why not
dream BIG.

It would be irresponsible of me if I didn't point out
that the 30 game winner watch happens often, in case
you haven't noticed, and I thought sure Ubaldo Jimenez
had an excellent shot at it in 2010 when he got off to
a 15-1 start and was sitting on a 2.20 Era, but Jimenez
flamed out pretty badly and finished the season with a
record of 19-8 and a 2.88 Era after going 4-7 the rest
of the way and not even winning 20 games or even the
Cy Young award for that matter.

Since Seavers 25 wins the closest we've come to the
30 win mark in recent history is Bob Welch and his 27
wins in 1990 while pitching for the Oakland A's, but
they lost the World Series, so much for omens. With
so many near no-hitters, and perfect games, as well as
the ones that have been thrown this season, it's clear
that pitchers are beginning to take back some of what's
theirs and that can only favor Dickey's quest for THIRTY
if he gets close enough. Yes, it's too early to think
THIRTY wins, especially for a knuckle baller, but since
a pitch count is one thing that knuckle ball pitchers
don't have to fear and have in their favor, if Dickey
wins tonight, don't be surprised to hear the 30 game
winner talk start to make the rounds sooner or later.


Tweet Don't Believe In Plays, Believe In Players - Al Davis

New York Mets No-Hit Once Again

The list is filed with a who's who, and a not so
who's who of pitchers that went on to both fame
and infamy after they left the NY Metropolitans
for other teams, but whether or not they became
Hall of Famers or not, they all have ONE thing
in common, they threw no-hitters for someone
other than the New York Mets, but they were
originally with The Mets.

Yesterday it happened again. Philip Humber
threw a perfect game, which though much better
than a no hitter, is still at the very least a
no hitter, and with that went on to join a list
that includes: Nolan Ryan, Nolan Ryan, Nolan
Ryan, Nolan Ryan, Nolan Ryan, Nolan Ryan, Nolan
Ryan, Tom Seaver, Mike Scott, Dwight Gooden,
David Cone, and yesterday Philip Humber.
This can certainly make Mets fans feel pretty
bad, then you can add to that the fact that the
Mets have as an organization themselves been no
hit six times by other pitchers as well, and
well it hurts, It really hurts.

Fifty years and counting. They should not be
considered an expansion team anymore. They have
been around half as long as most teams in the
majors today, and longer than about a half dozen
more. They're day may come, but as a Mets fan
I'm not holding my breathe any longer.

Tweet Don't Believe In Plays, Believe In Players - Al Davis

NY Mets Embrace Mediocrity And Induct John Franco

AP Photo

This certainly is not meant to demean anyone or even
offend John Franco, but he is the latest former Met
to be inducted into the NY Mets Hall Of Fame. Wait,
What? Really? Is this the example the Mets want to
set? Inducting a guy who was 54-56 in his time with
you, had 276 saves over 14 years or 19.8 per season,
and managed to blow 64 save opportunities or 4.8 per
season(4 to 1 ratio), and say he is worthy of being
a member of your "Hall Of Fame"? What did I miss?

I have been a Mets fan my entire life, and a loyal
one at that. I like John Franco, and wish he was
better than he was, but please don't ask me to admit
that he is worthy of being a member of a group that
is fairly noteworthy. I looked at that list, and
though it isn't in numerical order of importance, I
can say this: If it were numbered first to last, you
would have to put Tom Seaver at #1, and John Franco
dead last, and there is NO question about those two
spots what so ever. And by the way, if you're going
to write in and tell me that he is the all time saves
leader among lefties, I don't want to hear it, it a
fluff stat that means little to nothing in the grand
scheme of things.

The NY Mets organization has now not only failed their
fans on the field, and in the office, but they have now
made us the laughing stock of intelligent baseball fans
everywhere. Yes even more than we already were.
I wish I had more words or facts for this piece, but it's
blatantly obvious that this is a bad move, I won't bother.


Tweet Don't Believe In Plays, Believe In Players - Al Davis