Gary Carter To Join Mets Again

Have you heard the news that Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter was going to rejoin the New York Mets?  If not, it only made the news because Carter named himself as a contender.

Apparently, Carter commented back in May that "if" Mets Manager Willie Randolph were to be fired, that Carter would love to himself manage the team.  That he was "only a phone call away". 

Not the type of comment that would get you the interview I don't think.  Perhaps a 'if the right opportunity should arise, I would love to work my way up the ladder with the right team' would have been better.

Gary, once again, you're working against yourself.

Carter's career was one of the best careers a catcher ever had.  An eleven time All Star (twice the game's MVP), three Gold Glove Awards, and five Silver Slugger Awards.  He provided offence, defence, called a great game, and provided leadership.  Who wouldn't want a guy like this?

Apparently, the Baseball Hall of Fame didn't. 

Even though Carter was one of the best overall catchers of all time, he wasn't elected until his sixth attempt.  Each year, more people began to take up Carter's cause and almost force him into the Hall. 

When he did get elected I almost felt like it was only because everyone made the people at the Hall put him in that he was there.

Then they made him wear the Montreal Expos cap.  It seemed to infuriate him.  Then the Expos retired his No. 8.  The Mets didn't.  The Expos moved to Washington and have basically erased their Expos past.  Good old No. 8 is being worn in Washington.

Am I missing something?  Did Carter do something?  Was he not as well liked as I thought?  Wasn't he the fierce competitor who has won numerous awards on-field and spent countless charity hours off-field?  Was the Hall messing with him?

Or was this the cap that rightly belonged on his head for the rest of history even though the team is gone?

I went to Carter's inauguration into the Hall.  I swear half the crowd was wearing Expos Jerseys with his name on the back.   I don't think Carter realizes that he meant more to the Expos than he did the Mets. 

His most memorable days might have been with the Mets but he seems to think that everyone else should share those memories. 

Gary, enjoy the moment.  Your a Hall of Fame baseball player.  Go after your dream of becoming a big league manager—but please don't make us feel like you are entitled to it.

This sense of entitlement that you have recently makes me wonder why you don't realize why you are not being hired by a major league team.

You had the chance and you blew it.  In professional sports you don't get too many second chances - just ask the thousands of ball players before you who never made it to the big leagues!

In 2005, Carter was hired as a minor league manager the Gulf Coast Mets.  He did a fantastic job and was promoted to the St. Lucie Mets. Once again, he did a fantastic job and was offered a promotion to AA.  It looked like his dream was becoming a reality.

However, Carter refused the promotion to AA in an attempt to gain a position on Randolph's Major League staff.  He didn't get the job and was left on the sidelines wondering what happened.

Carter could have had another fantastic year or two managing in the minors and he might have gotten the call this year.  Maybe by the Mets or maybe by someone else.  Does it have to be the Mets Gary? 

On a side note, did everyone else see Carter at the All Star Game lifting up the Mets hat that he must keep in his pocket?  Just didn't make sense?  The others were doing it to salute the Yankees (ie. Dave Winfield). 

Gary Carter was a great ball player.  A Hall of Fame ball player.  He is not a Hall of Fame Manager.  Maybe some day he will be.

This year, Carter is managing an independent league team in his home state.  He's won as a manager before and he's winning again this year.  He is obviously a pretty good manager.  Maybe someday he'll make it to the big leagues—and if he does he'll deserve it.

For now, Carter needs to realize that he is not entitled to the job.  If he wants to make it to the big leagues as a manager he must first realize that he needs to be a little more humble and a little more flexible.

Gary, you're not a Met.  You're a Hall of Fame ball player wearing an Expos cap.