MLB New York Mets

Are New York Mets Lovable Losers or Future Contenders?

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By @AnthonyBeers

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

For the eighth straight season, the New York Mets are not playing baseball in October. For the sixth straight season, the Mets have a record below .500. And in April of next season, Terry Collins will be entering his fifth season as manager of the Mets. There wasn’t even a murmur, a hiccup or a question Collins shouldn’t return next season. On top of it all, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson recently signed an extension through 2017.

The team’s chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon didn’t even wait for the offseason to re-sign Alderson and claimed he was pleased with the “improvement” of the club — nothing like the exact same thing for four straight years to feel better about things. Sure, the Mets got a few more victories, and there were some positives, but at the end of the day it was the same old Mets.

Mets fans today just settle for the mediocrity. Before this past season, Alderson said fans should expect at least 90 wins. Alderson even restated his claim after pitcher Matt Harvey’s Tommy John surgery. But alas, the Mets’ numbers were no different than they have been in recent years. And yet, there has been very little outcry from the fans for Mets’ management to change.

In 2014, the Mets’ team batting average of .239 finished 13th in the National League, and 28th in the MLB. With the bases loaded, the Mets team average was an abysmal .198. Even worse, with RISP, the Mets are 25th in baseball, leaving an average of 3.64 runners stranded per game. Regardless of the fact that batting numbers are down throughout all of baseball, the Mets have shown no improvement at all in the area of clutch hits. The only good news is the Mets did not have completely embarrassing strikeout numbers, finishing right in the middle of the pack at 8th in the National League.

With a 304-345 record overall under Collins and Alderson, Mets fans need to understand that the team should no longer be considered rebuilding. It’s time for fans to stop with this lovable loser attitude and start actually acting like New Yorkers. It’s time that fans actually go to Citi Field for something besides good food and free t-shirts. Collins and Alderson need to be on the hot seat throughout 2015. Mets fans should demand the team acquire a shortstop by any means necessary. Fans should be angry when they hear about secret injuries from captain David Wright. It should be expected that the Mets do something with their large amount of pitching options and make a trade for some real hitters.

This whirlwind of change all starts with the fans. The attitude and expectations are poor, and are well exemplified by the #ImAMetsFanBecause trend on Twitter. Mets fans need the die hard, believe it when you see it, constant improvement true New York attitude. All of that starts with questioning Wilpon’s decision to keep Collins and extend Alderson.

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