Quiet Resolve

The 1986 Mets, what a year and what a team. The truth is, however, that season started in 1985. I remember reading Davey Johnson (who managed the Mets both of those years) talking about the similarities between the 1986 Mets and the 1970 Orioles. Johnson played for the Orioles in 1969 and made the last out of that World Series, thus the Mets beat the heavily favored team from Baltimore. Johnson said when the team assembled for Spring Training in 1970, while it may not have been spoken, everyone on the team resolved to win the World Series that year, to dominate baseball, as a way of avenging their loss the previous year. Johnson said the 1986 Mets, after finishing in second place behind the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985, resolved to go all the way in 1986, and they did.

Now we fast forward to 2008. In 2006, the Mets were clearly the best team in the National League, but they did not get to the World Series. In 2007, the Mets experienced a collapse of epic proportion. Now we come to Spring Training 2008.

Mets owner Fred Wilpon addressed the team and, while not saying he expected them to win the World Series, and while not threatening them, he made it quite clear that he believes this is the team to go all the way. Most of the players seem to enjoy hearing him talk and respond favorably to his comment.

It appears, from everything that I have read so far, while they may not be saying it, the 2008 Mets team has resolved to go all the way. Certainly that would do a lot towards absolving their failures of the past two seasons. They seem to be anxious to get the season started and I think that excitement is carrying over to the fans.

If this year is anything like the 1970 season the Baltimore Orioles had, or anything like the season the 1986 New York Mets had, it is going to be a lot of fun.