MetsFail

Rumors abound today that the Mets are close to signing 1b Mike Jacobs to  a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training.  This is the same Mike Jacobs that was traded to the Marlins in 2005 as part of the deal that brought Carlos Delgado to NY, and the same Mike Jacobs that dominated in his one American League season with the Kansas City Royals.  By dominated, of course, I mean he batted .228 with a .297 OBP and 132 Ks in only 434 AB.  (Of course he also had 7 more HRs than any Mets player, but that was done in a much different ballpark).  But so what?  It’s a minor league deal, so no harm.  I’m not here to bash Jacobs (any more).  So what am I here for?  I am here to celebrate the prodigal sons that returned to play a second time with the Mets.  Like who, you ask?

Tom Seaver, for one.  What’s that, you say?  Am I really going to mention Tom Terrific, the Franchise on MetsFail.com?  I mean this is the greatest pitcher the Mets have ever had.  The guy won 3 Cy Young awards with the Mets for crying out loud.  How DARE you sully his good name, you cry.  Well, sully I will.  This isnt MetsWIN.com or MetsPASS.com after all.  Prior to the 1983 season, Seaver was traded back to the Mets.  Despite an opening day 2-0 win over the Phillies and a respectable 3.55 ERA, Seaver’s one and only season back in a Mets uniform ended with a not-so-terrific 9-14 record (yeah, the team sucked, so just call this creative license, ok?).

So Seaver isn’t a good example, you say?  Fine.  How about David Cone or Lee Mazzilli then?  What’s that?  Why do I keep bringing up Mets players we actually liked?  Well, it’s not like I can bring up Vince Coleman or Armando Benitez, since they only played for the Mets once.  I work with the material I have, ok?  And if I brought up returnees Bob Miller or Mike Jorgensen, would you even bother reading?  No, so get off my back, would ya?  David Cone was a great pitcher his first tour of duty with the Mets, compiling an 80-48 record with an ERA around 3.15 and 1159 Ks over six seasons.  It definitely wasn’t luck number seven for Coney, however, as he managed a putrid 1-3 record and 6.50 ERA in 4 starts and just 18 innings pitched before hanging up his spikes for good on May 30th.  And Maz?  He returned to the Mets as a free agent before the 1986 season, and spent 3 1/2 disappointing seasons with the team before being claimed by the Blue Jays.  Mazzilli’s second tour resulted in a .229 BA, with only 7 HRs, 50 RBI in 358AB over the 3+ seasons back with the Mets.

Anyone else worth mentioning, you ask?  How about Kevin McReynolds?  After 5 fairly productive seasons with the Mets, Kevin was traded to the Royals in December 1991 as part of the Bret Saberhagen deal.  After two seasons with KC, he was sent back to the Mets in exchange for the aforementioned Vince Coleman.  McReynolds was not quite the same player, as he slugged but 4 HRs and tallied only 21 RBI in 180 AB in a mostly reserve role.

And Bob Miller?  Well considering he was 1-12 in 1962, his 2-2 record and 3.58 ERA in 1974 was pretty much Cy Young-like.  Can’t really knock him for that, right?

So  come on back, Mike Jacobs!  As you can see, the second time is the charm for Mets players.  What the hell, it can’t be worse than Fernando Tatis, can it?

Schnizzle out.

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