In the rush of news at the Winter Meetings when the Mets signed Francisco Rodriguez and dealt for J.J. Putz, we never really had a chance to say goodbye to those departing players - other than Lou Brutus's painful, tearful parting with Joe Smith.
But I got a reminder this week that I wanted to pass along. Few Mets fans seem to miss Aaron Heilman, but those of us who dealt with him on a daily basis will miss him - not for ruining our running game stories, but for being helpful and professional in the clubhouse.
We have a program for the
BBWAA Dinner - a very nice glossy magazine with all sorts of ads sold
from teams or agents honoring their players who are being honored. And
the one ad in there that didn't have a reason came from Aaron.
On Page 39 among a few ads for David Wright winning the Joan Payson Award for charity work, Aaron took out an ad that read:
An Appreciation
Playing at Shea
before you folks
was an experience
I always will savor
Thank you for support
-- Aaron Heilman
Congratulations to all award winners this evening
Now, that is not exactly the message that fans would have sent to Aaron on his departure. But I think it says something about Heilman, that he could absorb the abuse he did during his time here and still stand up with class and offer up a reasonable goodbye and thank you to the fans.
Now that doesn't mean that the fans aren't right to feel what they felt. I just think sometimes it's nice for fans to see the other side of the man that they are booing.
UPDATE: I guess I should have gotten to this earlier this winter. Heilman was dealt from the Mariners to the Cubs today, which is a happy ending to the story since that hometown territory for Heilman.
I certainly will miss him. He got a raw deal from the Mets. I hope he gets his dream and becomes a sucessful starter. Best of luck big guy, you deserved better from the Mets.
Posted by: Joe Gomez | 01/28/2009 at 12:49 PM
Wow. How crazy would it be if sometime during Game 7 of a 2009 World Series between the Cubs and the Indians Aaron was pitching against Joe Smith?
Well...it COULD happen!
It ain't anymore unlikely then the Cardinals playing in the Super Bowl.
Posted by: Lou Brutus | 01/28/2009 at 10:15 PM
Steve, there was always a portion of Mets fans like me who appreciated what Heilman did for the Mets. Sure, he had his rough moments, but I found it hard to fault him for this as he was doing his best in a role he never wanted.
I really hope he gets his chance to break the Cubs rotation and wish him the best.
Posted by: caseyB | 01/29/2009 at 12:26 AM
It's nice to hear that it wasn't all venom there. Now if only Luis Castillo could draw the same sympathy?
Nah.
Posted by: Steve Popper | 01/29/2009 at 12:36 AM
The Mets as an organization are classless and spineless. Wilpon knows nothing about running a team as do his flunkies. I always thought Heilman should've been a starter. He never seemed comfortable in his role yet never sold anyone out for his poor performance. The Mets will never be winners because not one player on that team will stand up and lead.
Posted by: carmine | 01/29/2009 at 01:50 PM