Keith Hernandez may be the best defensive first basemen of all time.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

When people think about leaders in Mets’ history, one player that is sure to come to mind is Keith Hernandez. He wasn’t a guy who was going to dazzle you with 40 homers or a ridiculously high average, but he was amazingly consistent. He was a defensive wiz, and he became the backbone of the first Mets’ team to win a World Series in 16 years. He just knew how to play the game.

Since the moment that Hernandez was acquired in June of 1983, he was known as a premier defensive first basemen. He won six straight gold glove awards as a member of the Mets, and he always seemed to be in the right place at the right time.

A guy who was rarely injured, Keith was rather consistent at the plate as well. He was a hitter who knew how to go to all fields, and he was good for his .300 batting average. This guy was just a good hitter. Evidence? As a Met, he had 10 games in which he had four or more hits.
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Was Keith tied to the mob? (PHOTO COURTESY OF OHMURPH.COM)

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

I was browsing the internet, and I came across some interesting stories as it pertains to the Mets. I felt that it would only be right if I were to share them with you, so enjoy!

Brookylyn Met Fan is comparing the end of the Mets’ season to the first Star Wars movie, saying “So hang in there Met fans. Yes we all love baseball but this is embarrassing and flat out painful to watch luckily we’re almost there…”

To be honest guys, I have become immune to their losing. I can go to a game and they lose, and I will just shrug and walk away. The difference is stark from when they are in contention. Usually, if the Mets lose, I spend the entire next day in a bad mood because of it. By the way, I have never seen a Star Wars movie, although I did love Spaceballs. May the Schwartz be with you!
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BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

I just saw this commercial on SNY, and I always crack up when I watch it. Put this under the “We Need a Laugh” category. Enjoy!

There are plenty of things to hate about the Mets right now.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

Earlier in the evening, I was watching a clip from the popular movie “10 Things I Hate About You,” which stars Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger (RIP). As I was watching, I did what I usually do. I thought of the Mets. I thought to myself. How could I make this some how relate to the boys in Orange and Blue? Then I decided that it was my destiny to list the ten things I hate about the Mets.

10) I hate the way their medical staff always mishandles injuries

Ever since Ryan Church started getting bothered by the concussions last season, the Mets’ medical staff has looked like a complete joke. They can’t seem to form an accurate assessment of a player. Ask Carlos Beltran. According to him, the doctors aren’t even trustworthy. He sought outside help to prove that his injury was indeed a bone bruise.

9) I hate how Citi Field is turning into Yankee Stadium II

The corporate scene is really taking over the stadium that is supposed to be built for the fans. When Citi Field was established, we all wanted it to be fan friendly, but the ridiculously high prices are making sure that the die hards stay out and the rich big wigs get in. That’s not exactly what I had originally envisioned.

8) I hate Howard Johnson

I know it is a bit over the top, but I cannot believe that some of the blame hasn’t been put on his shoulders. People have been discussing whether or not Omar and Jerry are doing there jobs, but this is the guy who needs to go. I know he is a mentor to David Wright and he is a part of the organization’s history, but he is not helping this team. We all can see that Wright and Tatis’ swings are off, yet the coach does nothing. Isn’t that his job?

7) I hate this team’s defense

This really shows how much the Mets miss Carlos Beltran. Right now, they do not have a bonifide center fielder to send out there every day. Their best defensive outfielder is Church, and he is being forced into center field when he is really a corner outfielder. First base always seems to be an adventure as well, and remember, Gary Sheffield is in left. That’s not the defensive solution.

6) I hate Jerry Manuel’s bologna speeches

When the Mets lose a game, fans do not want to hear excuses. They would much rather hear a coach say it as it is and talk about what the team needs to do to move forward. Jerry refuses to accept the fact that this team is heading nowhere fast, and for some reason, he still holds a false sense of hope. Well, sooner or later reality is going to give him a nice slap across the noggin.

5) I hate Citi Field’s walls

It’s ridiculous how far the walls are at Citi Field, and many players have already voiced their displeasure about how big the field plays. Although that works out well for the pitchers, the Mets have had many long fly balls die in the alleys. It seems like David Wright could easily have five or six more homers if not for the impossible dimensions in right center field. Apparently, the walls may be pulled in a bit after the season is over. I will have to see it to believe it.

4) I hate Fernando Tatis

I am not so sure why Jerry Manuel continues to start him over Daniel Murphy. I understand that the Mets lost by nine runs tonight, and Murphy wouldn’t have made much of a difference, but solid play should be rewarded. I feel satisfied when Tatis does anything other than ground into a double play. Something is definitely wrong with that.

3) I hate Castillo’s patience

I know what you are thinking. Isn’t patience a good thing? Sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn’t. Luis Castillo steps to the plate and seems to always look for the walk. While his OBP may be high, some situations may call for him to be a bit more aggressive. For example, if there is a runner on third with two outs and the pitcher on deck, he should look to drive the first pitch. If he walks, the likelihood of the inning ending with the next batter is very high. He should give the matter some thought.

2) I hate David Wright’s swing

It’s obvious that David Wright is having the weirdest season of his young career. It doesn’t help that all of the stars around him have crumbled and dissipated, but the fact of the matter is that he has a clear loop in his swing. Keith Hernandez must have mentioned it about 500 times by now, and people say that Darryl Strawberry has even informed HoJo to work on David about the problem. Doesn’t seem like we will be seeing a change in that any time soon.

1) I hate the Mets’ lack of passion

This team is so predictable. This isn’t like the teams of a couple years ago that could fight back and win a game here and there. With the exception being the game against Pittsburgh, this team has shown no will to be able to fight back once they are behind. These days, it really seems like a two-run lead is insurmountable for them to make a comeback, and that is downright sad.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

When people think of Keith Hernandez, they think of one of the great Mets of all time. He was a guy that provided a stable bit from the left side of the plate, and an unbelievable defensive first base. He is also known for his humor while being an analyst for SNY. He frequently makes jokes and interacts with fans by throwing blow pops or doing whatever keeps him busy for the allotted time. But, it was not always a smooth ride for the man that the Stache’ was named after.

Keith used to have behavioral problems when he was in high school. In fact, in his senior year, an argument with the coach led to Keith sitting out the entire season. Can you imagine that? These character issues scared major league teams, which is why he was available in the 42nd round of the 1971 draft. He was selected with the 776th overall pick to be a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. While it took Keith a while to get to the big leagues, he was greeted with his first burst of success in 1979, when he led the league with a .344 batting average, 48 doubles, and 116 runs scored, and went on to share the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award with Willie Stargell.

In 1982, Keith played a pivotal role on the World Series-winning Cardinals club. In the seven-game series against the Brewers, Hernandez knocked in eight runs. You’d think that Hernandez was going to be a Cardinal for life, but that’s when the rifts with management began. In 1983, continuous arguments between Hernandez and then Cardinals Manager Whitey Herzog led to Keith’s dismissal. Hernandez was dealt to a terrible Mets team in exchange for Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey. Herzog always maintained that trading Hernandez was the right move. Keith should have thanked Whitey, because the new Mets first basemen was on a mission to prove Herzog wrong.

In 1985, Hernandez’s cocaine use, which had been the subject of persistent rumors and the chief source of friction between Hernandez and Herzog, became a matter of public record. Hernandez was in trouble, but thankfully, he was able to make a successful recovery. Also, the problems didn’t hinder his baseball abilities one bit.

In 1984, which was Keith’s first full-season with the Mets, the Mets win total rose by 22 games, and they finished in second place to the rival cubs. In 1985, it was the Cardinals that held off the Mets, but 1986 was their year, and Hernandez led the way for a team that won 108 games.

Do you think he should be a hall of famer? Let’s look at the accolades:

* Won 11 consecutive Gold Glove Awards (1978-1988) at first base (the largest total by any first baseman).
* Won the 1979 National League MVP award along with Willie Stargell.
* Holds the career record for game winning RBIs, a statistic that was only official from 1980-1988. His career record is 129. The season record (also by Hernandez) is 24, set in 1985.
* Batted over .300 seven times in his career.
* Was a member of two World Series Championship teams (1982 Cardinals, 1986 Mets).
* Was selected to the All-Star Game five times (1979, 1980, 1984, 1986 as a starter, and 1987).
* Was the National League Silver Slugger at first base in 1980 and 1984.
* Led the National League in runs scored (1979 and 1980), doubles (1979), on-base percentage (1980) and walks (1986).

The proof is staring you right in the face. Keith not only was a great player, but he faced adversity while being one, and in the end, he was a champion that will be remembered by Mets’ fans forever.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

I am writing about this more because it entertains me than any other reason, and because Keith Hernadez was the initial inspiration for the Daily Stache’s title,  but here it goes. Marty Noble of MLB.com posted a story on Mets.com today about the potential curse that revolves around Keith Hernandez and the Mets’ terrible misfortunes down the stretch the last two years. This was one of the posts that he got in his mail bag.

For the past two seasons, we have witnessed the Mets implode in their final 17 games. Even the venerated 2006 team suffered from similar ignominy with its 7-10 record down the stretch. These shady performances led me to conclude that there is a curse on the New York Mets franchise: The Curse of Keith Hernandez.

While this may simply sound like a desperate plea for help, one must look at the facts. Mr. Hernandez’s uniform number with the Mets was 17, and for three seasons now, the Mets have lost their mojo after playing solid baseball for 145 games. This phenomenon has coincided with Mr. Hernandez’s promotion to full-time broadcasting duties. So I am simply wondering — do you believe there is a curse on the Mets?
– Kyu Chul S., Fort Lee, N.J.

Now, I think it would make more sense that baseball is cursed for not putting Keith into the Hall of Fame, but this notion is absolutely ridiculous. This reminds me of those times where my father and I would be driving to a game, and I would say, “Wow. Traffic is moving smoothly.” A few minutes later, we would see break lights up ahead. My father would give me the glare of death. He truly believed it was my fault.

The very thought of a curse is not smart. I remember Michael Kay talked about is on ESPN Radio last season. There was a game in which he discussed that a no-hitter was going on, and people were calling for his head because it was broken up shortly thereafter. Apparently, Michael Kay has the power of some sort of god.

The bottom line is this. There is no such thing as a curse. Babe Ruth did not haunt the Red Sox. There is no Billy Goat hanging out to torment the Cubs, and Keith Hernandez’s mustache is certainly not the reason why the Mets have faltered twice in the last two seasons. You can put that one in the bank.