Wednesday catch-all thread (2/4/26)
Please use this thread all week to discuss any Mets-specific topic you wish.
News came out that Keith Hernandez will be back in the SNY booth in 2026, as he’s reported to have signed a three-year deal to remain as one of the team’s broadcasters. Hernandez is expected to cut down on the number of games he does per year, dipping down to the low 90s from 110 games last season.
With such great turnover year to year among the players on the team, broadcasters help give fans a constant. This will be the 21st year in the booth for Hernandez. Without a doubt, there will be something reassuring hearing his voice on the broadcasts, even if he rarely says anything useful.
I used to much prefer Hernandez to Ron Darling but it’s been many years since that’s been true. Currently, my opinion is that Hernandez should transition into the role that Ralph Kiner had at the end of his tenure, where he’d come on about once a month.
Since that doesn’t seem to be in the cards, my hope is that the producers have Hernandez totally embrace the curmudgeon role. It’s not like it would take a lot of convincing. Hernandez should complain non-stop about teams that don’t embrace fundamentals. Lament that the Mets don’t hit and run enough. Blast managers for early hooks due solely to fear of the 100-pitch boogeyman. Rip fielders who can’t make accurate throws. Chew out pitchers who don’t cover first.
Instead, we’ll hear more stories about John Candelaria and Larry McWilliams.
Of course, we need to address the bigger picture and that’s how most color analysts have a limited shelf life. It’s refreshing to me to hear Jerry Blevins or Daniel Murphy or Todd Zeile in the booth because they bring something new to the table. Has anyone asked Curtis Granderson if he wants to be an announcer? My guess is that he would be terrific.
When I was a kid, I hated Old-Timer’s Day because the real game was delayed and we had to watch these old guys try to recapture old glory. I didn’t get it. And maybe that’s the approach needed to appreciate Hernandez’ return to the booth. It’s Old-Timer’s Day for 90 or so games. Sure, he’s more like Grandpa Simpson now but you should have seen him in 1986. He was something else then, baby.
From The Athletic:
"Mickey Lolich, the left-handed pitcher who outdueled Bob Gibson and won MVP of the 1968 World Series, was an icon of his time.
He died on Wednesday at 85, the Detroit Tigers confirmed.
Lolich leaves a legacy as one of the best left-handers in MLB history. He was a three-time All-Star known for his ironclad durability. He won three games in that 1968 World Series, going nine innings all three times."
Clearly Keith Hernandez is past his prime and tends to ramble or misspeak more often than he used to. His presence does take some pressure off of Ron Darling, in that his color commentary generally seems to be more on the hitting and defensive side of the equation with Darling appropriately drilling down on the pitching.
If you are not an old timer, and/or did not witness the 1984-86 teams, then it would be very easy to send Hernandez packing back to the Hamptons. But for those of us who saw him and Gary Carter as the pieces that really got the Mets their last championship ring, Hernandez, much like Ralph Kiner, should keep on the broadcast. I like Blevins and Zeile and have learned to like Murphy. What none of those bring is the way it used to be when teams bunted, stole bases, advanced runners and were not so reliant on the long ball. That was always the formula for the pitching strong/not so hitting strong Mets. It’s like going back to a time when there was no three point line in hoops, and the Knicks were famous for holding their opponents under 100 points.
Nice seeing those pitchers down in Port St. Lucie a week ahead of their reporting date. Shows character and maturity.