Bad Stuff 'Bout the Mets

In the late '70s, "Saturday Night Live"'s Weekend Update correspondent Chico Escuela wrote a tell-all book called "Bad Stuff 'Bout the Mets." In honor of this week's bungling of the Willie Randolph firing and the former fake Mets infielder, here are five bad things the Mets have done in their history (listed in chronological order). Not Putting Whitey Herzog in Charge of the Team: Whitey Herzog was the director of player personnel for the team from 1967–72. Under his watch, the franchise produced Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Nolan Ryan, Tug McGraw, Amos Otis and on and on. After they unexpectedly won the 1969 World Series, Herzog knew what the Mets had down on the farm waiting for them to keep a sustained run of success going. He was passed over twice when the team needed a new GM?first when Bing Devine left to go back to the Cardinals and then when Johnny Murphy died in 1970. If he was put in charge of the team, would he have traded Ryan, Otis, Ken Singleton and other stars-in-waiting? Probably not. Imagine what could have been. Putting M. Donald Grant in Charge of the Team: When original owner Joan Payson passed away in 1975, Grant took control of the team. He essentially knew nothing about baseball and treated the players with disdain. He also ignored the new concept of free agency, instead opting for the cheapest way to run the team. It all culminated in the Midnight Massacre of June 15th, 1977, when Seaver was traded to the Reds. And Shea Stadium became known as Grant's Tomb. Grant was fired in '78?a couple of years too late. Breaking Up the 1986 Mets: Frank Cashen put the '86 Mets together. And he tore it down. A youth-filled team sprinkled with veteran leadership, the 1980s Mets looked like they would win multiple championships. After winning the Series, injuries and drugs hurt the team, and then Cashen started getting rid of the "bad eggs" and then even the good ones. Kevin Mitchell was the first to go, followed by Jesse Orosco, Lenny Dykstra, Roger McDowell, Rick Aguilera. One bad move after another, which ultimately led to… The 1993 Mets Existing: Jeff Torborg. Bobby Bonilla. Vince Coleman. Bleach. I'll Show You the Bronx. They weren't called the worst team money can buy for nothing. Just say the words 'Bobby Bonilla' to a Mets fan and watch him want to punch you in the face. Trading Scott Kazmir: Was it Rick Peterson's fault? Was it Al Leiter's fault? Was it John Franco's fault? Was it Jim Duquette's fault? How about the Wilpons? That was the problem?too many people involved in the decision-making process. The end result was the painful (and I mean painful) experience of Victor Zambrano. When word spread about the trade, most fans thought it was a joke. Kazmir for Carlos Zambrano? Victor Zambrano? You're kidding, right? The team cleaned house at the end of the 2004 season mainly because of that one trade. Bad idea. Really, really bad trade. Of course, there weren't only bad trades and decisions over the years. There were many good moves, too?hiring Gil Hodges, Cashen, Davey Johnson, trading for Donn Clendenon, Tommie Agee, Felix Millan, Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, David Cone, Mike Piazza, drafting David Wright, signing Jose Reyes?but we'll save that article for the next time the Mets do something good.