Full disclosure: I am a big Kansas City Royals fan. I was there in '85 when they pulled off one of the most improbable World Series runs in history. I am extremely happy that they won this year's World Series. That said, the New York Post (owned by troll Rupert Murdoch) decided to put out one of the most despicable front pages slamming their own team that was defeated by the Royals: the New York Mets. Please read on after the squiggle.
Here is the front page.
First things first. The fact that you do not celebrate the fact that your team made the World Series is despicable enough, but you have the lack of class to slam your team because you didn't get the result you want is utterly childish and should be considered as a termination offense.
The Kansas City Royals were on a mission. They were two runs from winning it all last year against a very talented San Francisco Giants team.
Here is the article from the Kansas City Star about that heartbreaking loss.
The Royals, known for two decades as a punchline, made it all the way to the World Series. This group did that, these talented ballplayers who bonded during bus rides in the minor leagues, then common struggles and triumphs in the big leagues. They lost in the end, but along the way changed baseball in Kansas City for a group of fans who’ve been waiting through more heartache than should be allowed.
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/...
THAT'S HOW YOU DEAL WITH A LOSS LIKE THIS!!!!
Terry Collins, manager of the Mets, took the loss with grace and character.
"This is my fault."
Matt Harvey, the starting pitcher for the Mets, took responsibility as well. He pitched brilliantly for eight innings. The Royals were just not figuring him out. They had one last chance because he did what you want major league pitchers to do: demand the ball, take the hill and win the game. This is not unheard of. In 1991, Jack Morris (who should be in the Hall of Fame) was the starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins in the decisive game 7 of that year's World Series. The manager of the Twins, Tom Kelly, usually pulls his starter in the 9th inning to go with a fresh arm to win the game or keep it where it is, whether or not the starter is throwing a shutout (which starting pitcher Matt Harvey was doing in the game last night). When the Twins were in the 1987 World Series they were leading in the ninth inning in game 7 and Tom is seen talking into Frank Viola's ear saying he was pulling him for their closer, Jeff Reardon. He was able to put him in and win that game and the title.
In the '91 World Series, the game was tied 0-0 and was one of the most exciting game 7's ever in World Series history. Both pitchers, Morris and Hall of Famer Jon Smoltz were both throwing other-worldly stuff. When the Twins turn in the 9th inning came up, Kelly wanted to pull Morris. Morris flat-out refused. As a matter of fact, the story is that Morris was ready to beat Kelly up in order to stay in the game. (Morris would have easily won. Kelly was no Billy Martin.) Kelly relented and Morris went on to pitch two more sterling innings and claim victory for the Twins in that game and win that series.
Let's face it: Morris could have blown it like Harvey. These things happen in baseball.
Instead of celebrating the great season that the Mets have had this year, every mistake was recounted in the series by Murdoch's rag. Yes, there were mistakes made...ON BOTH SIDES. That's baseball.
Eric Hosmer, first baseman for the Royals, booted a baseball in Game 1, leading to the Mets taking the lead late in that game. If the Mets would have taken that game, they had a good chance of taking the series. What did Murdoch's own Fox Sports telecast do? They immediately showed the infamous mistake made by Boston Red Sox Bill Buckner that helped the Mets win game 6 of the 1986 World Series. Real classy. However, they showed it too early.
Unfortunately for the Mets, Alex Gordon launched a towering home run in the bottom of the ninth to tie that game, which the Royals would eventually win on a sacrifice fly hit by the aforementioned Hosmer. That's baseball.
The ball can take a bunch of bounces you don't expect. It is truly a game of inches. Hosmer made other errors. Royals pitchers made bad pitches. Kelvin Herrera made a huge mistake in game 3, the one game the Mets won in the series. These things happen in the fishbowl known as the World Series of Major League Baseball. The fact that you make it there should matter. It should always matter.
A great opposing take on this is from former Saturday Night Live's cast member Jim Breuer.
Whether you like him as a comedian or not, please look through his posts on the series. He does have some vitriol for a player or two, but overall his take is one of a true baseball fan. He respected the Royals completely, but he also loves his Mets totally. Even though they were beat pretty soundly by the Royals he says what every REAL fan says when their team reaches the pinnacle, but does not quite grab the brass ring: We'll be back.
He is looking forward to next year and he should. The Mets are most likely going to keep this team together next season. Some players will be gone, but the heart of the team (he refers to them as The Four Horsemen) will be there. While he is creating his video post, other Mets fans join in and agree. "We'll be back." is their refrain.
This is how it should be.
People in New York need to teach the Post a lesson and not buy that rag for at least a month, demand a public apology from Rupert himself and possibly get some people fired.
The Mets are not a disgrace. They are a damn good team. They beat some damn good teams to get to the World Series. They will be back.