obvious choices Robbie Alomar? HUH???

There are some obvious choices on our ballot, including Brooks Robinson at third, Robbie Alomar at second, Ozzie Smith at short. But first base? Good luck.

Obvious choice Robbie Alomar? HUH???
and is Mattingly even remotely close to Hernandez as a fielder?

and is Mattingly even remotely close to Hernandez as a fielder?

Fielding-wise, Mattingly is Santo and Hernandez is Brooks Robinson. Donnie Baseball was a standout at first, but he wasn't historically great like Hernandez was.

A-Rod didn’t officially choose Mattingly, however, because as he said with a rueful smile, “Yankee fans already hate me.”

That was funny.

As for second base, I would have thought Mazeroski would have had that all to himself.

Alex Rodriguez was on the verge of choosing Hernandez because, as a die-hard Met fan growing up, “I watched every single Met on WOR for four straight years. I saw so much more of Mex than I did Donnie.”
A-Rod didn’t officially choose Mattingly, however, because as he said with a rueful smile, “Yankee fans already hate me.”

A-Rod's status just leaped five levels in my eyes. Maybe he can opt out next year and sign with the Mets for 2B?

Right or not, I like this banging of the drum for Alomar. He needs "first ballot-ness" in 2010, you know...

Hernandez did things at first base no one has done before or since. His great daring and courage in fielding bunts would have largely been wasted in the AL, however. The Santo/Robinson comparison is very apt, IMO.

He also deserves a lot of credit for leading that young Mets pitching staff almost like a catcher. You had the sense then that Hernandez told them the things that needed to be said while Carter was the ever-positive, rah-rah type.

Henderson also had access to the primo, uncut ####.

Mike Squires at 1B!

As an Indians fan I'm required to dislike Hernandez for stealing his paycheck in 1990. He flat out quit. Heck, vote for Vic Power.

[Hernandez] also deserves a lot of credit for leading that young Mets pitching staff ...

Do not let Sam M hear you say this.

I don't think there's any basis to compare Mattingly's fielding to Hernandez's. In terms of skill, if not necessarily value, Hernandez ranks with the all-time greatest defensive players at any position.

Happy Base Ball

The Mets IF in 2 years - Wright 3B, Reyes SS, A-Rod 2B, Beltran or Milledge 1B.

I'm sure A-rod can't wait to move to 2B...

Henderson also had access to the primo, uncut ####.

Jesus christ, Henderson? Who the #### am I talking about? Christ almighty. It's like I was drunk. But not.

[Hernandez] also deserves a lot of credit for leading that young Mets pitching staff ...

Do not let Sam M hear you say this.

Nah, I agree with this 100% -- on the field. There is a huge disconnect between the positive effect Hernandez had as the on-field leader of that young club in 84-85, and the corrosive effect e had in the clubhouse, after-hours, and on the road. The Mets got a combination that Whitey Herzog decided he couldn't tolerate any more -- and I no more want to ignore the positive side of it than pretend the negative didn't exist.

I'm sure A-rod can't wait to move to 2B...

I'm just surprised he's not worried about blocking Anderson Hernandez...

Reyes wouldn't move to 2b would he?

Reyes wouldn't move to 2b would he?

Been there, done that. Not gonna happen again. At this stage, I would be stunned if A-Rod could play a better SS than Reyes anyway.

I don't know about the off-the-field stuff. I do know that Kevin Mitchell was viewed as the corrosive influence on Strawberry and, I guess, Gooden. (Mitchell and HoJo off the bench is why that 1986 Mets team is underrated in an all-time sense.) Of course, there's a strong circumstantial case for blaming Gooden's fall from grace on Hernandez. But my sense was that that reckless stage of Hernandez's career was firmly behind him. I also can't see Hernandez hanging out with Doc and Darryl away from the park. He was a man and Doc and Darryl seemed like kids, comparitively, even at the time. (Not on the field, of course.)

I do know that Kevin Mitchell was viewed as the corrosive influence on Strawberry and, I guess, Gooden.

That's what the FO thought, and it was part of why Mitchell was traded in the McReynolds deal. It also showed how little Cashen understood his clubhouse. As far as the partying and drugs and carousing went, Mitchell wasn't the guy showing Doc and Darryl the way; it was Hernandez. The 1986 Mets were made in Keith's image, on and off the field. They took their cues from him in learning how to be major leaguers . . . for good and bad.

As far as the partying and drugs and carousing went, Mitchell wasn't the guy showing Doc and Darryl the way; it was Hernandez. The 1986 Mets were made in Keith's image, on and off the field. They took their cues from him in learning how to be major leaguers . . . for good and bad.

From Pearlman's book, it seems that the most influential core in that clubhouse were Hernandez, Dykstra, and Backman. I don't think they sought to influence the kids, but the way those three carried themselves may have been alright with well formed veterans, but not so good for impressionable youngsters.

That's why I like the idea of having Franco and El Duque around. They're confident and established enough that they can serve as the proper mentors for these kids. And I wouldn't be surprised if, in a year, that Bernie Williams were in a Met uniform. If kids like Milledge and Gomez can't figure things out with these types of veterans around, then there's no hope of them ever figuring it out.

From Pearlman's book, it seems that the most influential core in that clubhouse were Hernandez, Dykstra, and Backman. I don't think they sought to influence the kids, but the way those three carried themselves may have been alright with well formed veterans, but not so good for impressionable youngsters.

Obviously Pearlman should know more about this than I do... but I have my doubts that Dykstra and Backman could have been that bad of influences considering both were part time players Dykstra ALSO very young.

I'm far from certain AROD can play SS better than Jeter these days.

I say we start a campaign to vote for Dick Stuart at 1B, Pedro Guerrero at 3B, Todd Hundley in LF, maybe Cliff Johnson at C, etc.

I say we start a campaign to vote for Dick Stuart at 1B, Pedro Guerrero at 3B, Todd Hundley in LF, maybe Cliff Johnson at C, etc.

How about occasions in which players played something other than their usual positions, even if just for a few games or for an inning or two? Dodger examples include Fernando Valenzuela, first baseman, not being able to reach a soft liner in the 18th inning, and Paul LoDuca, LF (in 2003). I don't actually know if LoDuca as an outfielder was good, bad, or what, but it was scary and hilarious, all at the same time.

Who's the worst case of a second baseman with the yips? Sax, Knoblauch, or someone else?

Obviously Pearlman should know more about this than I do... but I have my doubts that Dykstra and Backman could have been that bad of influences considering both were part time players Dykstra ALSO very young.

But Dykstra always struck me as having kind of that big, "I'm a team captain" kinda personality, so other young players might have gravitated to that.

Of course, many others observed all of this much more closely than I did, so that's just a theory ...

Ya gotta love a culture in which the last 50 years can be referred to with a straight face as "all time."

That's why I like the idea of having Franco ... around.

Yeah, he's a pretty great role model. Especially considering how he was tight with his boy Jesus way back when ...

Who's the worst case of a second baseman with the yips? Sax, Knoblauch, or someone else?quote]

Platoon Sax and Knoblauch at second, as they both had the problem. Mackey Sasser and Dave Engle could platoon at catcher (neither could throw back to the pitcher). Steve Blass on the mound. Keith Olberman's mom can coach first.

That looks bad...

But Dykstra always struck me as having kind of that big, "I'm a team captain" kinda personality, so other young players might have gravitated to that.

I only have my impressions at the time as someone who watched every game so obsessively it was embarrassing then and now. Dykstra was like a team mascot. He was the shortstop on the Bad News Bears. No one took him seriously as a leader. He famously yelled at Gooden to stop striking out guys in Lynchburg because he was bored just standing out there. He was comic relief, mostly on that team. And he became a fan favorite I think because he played with such child-like abandon. By the time everyone figured out Dystra was more than a curiousity, the regular season was essentially over. So, I can't buy that anyone gravitated towards him.

And, though I've never read those tell-all books by the beat writers, those Mets were really the first modern team in that they generally had complete disdain for the media and I doubt that any writer got close enough to any of them to really know anything. I know some reporters have bragged about having this kind of access, but I'm very skeptical. And, again, I just can't see Keith hanging out with baby brothers Doc and Darryl after hours.

I'm thinking Doc and Darryl found all that booger sugar without the help of I'm Keith Hernandez.