Mets hitting coach Kevin Long explains secret to Daniel Murphy’s success

As chronicled by the New York Daily News, Will’s father, Patrick, was angry when an email from Topps put the blame on the Major League Baseball Alumni Association for the mix-up.

Jeana Yantz was a Fairport fifth-grader the last time the New York Mets won the World Series in 1986, and she knew back then she was different than most girls her age.

The player who probably knows the most about the “86 Mets is Michael Cuddyer, who was a 7-year-old that year and lived in Virginia”. Is this something you could have ever predicted?

These Mets players don’t think Kansas City is the better team. I wouldn’t say I was a Mets fan, but I was very familiar with that team. They believe, so we believe.

But this is the World Series and all bets are off. Duty to team trumps duty to oneself. The Cubs just could not get ahead of the Mets’ pitchers, and were either tied or trailing during all 36 innings.

It wouldn’t be sour grapes for Cubs fans-or Dodgers fans before them-to rationalize as fluky their teams’ losses at the hands of a hitter experiencing a Bruce Banner-esque transformation at the plate.

It’s the first World Series appearance for the Mets since they lost the “Subway Series” against the Yankees in five games in 2000 and first postseason appearance since 2006 when New York lost the National League Championship Series to the Cardinals in seven games. And all their runs came in the eighth inning and beyond.

“It’s deep starting pitching and timely hitting”, Johnson was saying Sunday, “and it’s a formula that’s working well for the Mets – especially in the playoffs”. How special has this all been for you?

“I’m new at it, but it’s been enjoyable”, Rodriguez told the Daily News before Game 1.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock (in which case, consult a doctor, don’t peruse the Internet), you’ve seen the absolute tear that Daniel Murphy has gone on in the postseason. He’s hit home runs in six straight days, he’s just been absolutely fantastic.

Not only has he given manager Ned Yost a better option at second base than Omar Infante, he also provided outfield depth when Gordon was out with a strained groin.

“It has really been a lot of fun watching them since the end of July”, Moroczek said.

Q: Do you have any special plans for the games?

Q: All right, what everyone’s been waiting for, what is your prediction for the World Series?

Rodriguez declined to make a prediction on who he thinks will win the Series.

And just think, it only took him 1,688 regular-season games to reach the playoffs. It was his best effort of the postseason and he only threw 77 pitches. Toss in unlikely bullpen star Jeurys Familia, and you have enough great themes for even the New York tabloids.

The hardball must suddenly look like a beach ball to Murphy, who has averaged one homer every 54 at-bats in his major league career, 10 times below the outrageous rate he has been smacking them in the 2015 postseason.

So, sure the Mets starters are going to face a deep lineup in the Royals, guys like Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustakas and Kendrys Morales.