The Lion's Den

Some say that history tends to repeat itself. Some even say, that the same event may take place, with new characters, new places, and new faces but the storyline is as identical as identical can get. That is where we come in - Spring Season 2009, a time of hope, excitement and opportunity. But before we take a look into today, let us rewind 2600 years ago, to a place where history painted the original chapter, the time in which it all began...

2615 years ago:

The King of Babylon, King Belshazzar, died, and Darius the Mede became the new king.

King Darius decided to appoint a hundred and twenty supervisors and governors to help rule over his kingdom. And he made Daniel and two others their boss. The other supervisors and governors didn’t like it. Daniel worked harder, and did much better work than any of them. The King was so impressed he was going to put Daniel in charge of the whole kingdom.

“We have to do something about this Daniel,” the supervisors, the governors, the lieutenant governors, and all the other officials said to themselves. But no matter how hard they looked, they couldn’t find anything wrong with Daniel because Daniel was completely faithful and honest in everything he did.

“Maybe we can use his religion against him,” they said.

And so they came up with a devious plan.

They came before King Darius one day and said, “King Darius! May you live forever! (although each one of them was probably really thinking, 'May you die tomorrow - so I can become King!'). All of us who help to rule your kingdom; the supervisors, the governors, the lieutenant governors, and all the other officials, think that it would be very wise of you to issue a command that for thirty days no one should be able to ask for anything from any god or man except you, O Great and Mighty King. And if anyone should ask for anything from any god or man besides you, they should be thrown into the lions’ den.”

King Darius accepted the idea of the supervisors, the governors, the lieutenant governors, and all the other officials, and signed the decree.

It became a law of the Medes and Persians that could not be changed.

Daniel heard the King’s decree, but still, the next morning he went to his window to pray, just as he did every morning, noon and night.

This was exactly what the supervisors, the governors, the lieutenant governors, and all the other officials were looking for.

They went straight to the king.

“Your Majesty, may you live forever!” they said. “Didn’t you sign a decree that said for thirty days no one should ask for anything from any god or man except you, O Great and Mighty King. And if anyone should ask for anything from any god or man besides you, they should be thrown into the lions’ den?”

“Yes,” said the king. “It is a law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be changed.”

Then the supervisors, the governors, the lieutenant governors, and all the other officials said, “We saw Daniel praying to his God this very morning! He does not respect you or your order.”

When King Darius heard this news he was very sad. He knew that Daniel was a good and honest man, who served him faithfully. And so he worked into the night, trying to find some way to rescue Daniel. But he couldn’t.

The supervisors, the governors, the lieutenant governors, and all the other officials came back the next morning and demanded, “Your Majesty, you know a law of the Medes and Persians can never be changed. Daniel must be thrown into the lions’ den!” Which was just what they wanted all along.

And so, the king had no choice but to have Daniel thrown into the lions’ den. The King said to Daniel, “May the God whom you serve so faithfully save you!”

And then the king’s men grabbed Daniel and threw him into a pit filled with pacing, roaring, hot-breathed lions.

Years Later:

The Manager of the Mets, Manager Willie, was fired, and Jerry The Gangsta, became the new leader.

Manager Jerry decided to appoint whichever players succeeded the day before, to help rule over his kingdom in the National League East. And he made Daniel Murphy and two others (Nick Evans and Joe Smith) their young leaders. You produced? You played. The veterans and other minor leaguers didn’t like it. Daniel worked harder, and did much better work than any of them. The Manager was so impressed he was going to put Daniel in charge of the whole kingdom come season time; left field would be his for the taking.

“We have to do something about this Daniel,” the other young stars, the every day players, the bench warmers, and all the other Mets said to themselves. But no matter how hard they looked, they couldn’t find anything wrong with Daniel because Daniel was completely faithful and honest in everything he did. He truly was second to none.

“Maybe we can use his work ethic against him,” they said.

And so they came up with a devious plan.

They came before Manager Jerry one day and said, “Mr. Manuel! May you coach forever! (although Gary Carter, who was miles away on a baseball field in Long Island, was probably really thinking, 'May you die tomorrow - so I can become manager!'). All of us who help to bring you a Daily W; the veterans, the speedsters, the home-run hitters, and all the other Metropolitans, think that it would be very wise of you to issue a rule that for the next thirty days of Spring Training no one should be able to impress any owner or coach, O Great and Mighty Manager, except you. If you like what you see in a man, then let it be known, it will be he who will play And if anyone does progress and succeed, then let him be thrown into the lions' den to see if he is truly an authentic star.

Manager Jerry accepted the idea of the young ones, the Hernandez's, the Spanish-speaking, and all the other New York players, and agreed to such a diabolacle plan .

It became a law of the Mets and their Personnel that could not be changed.

Daniel heard the Managers’s decree, and still, the next morning he came to the field, to play, just as he did every morning, noon and night. He lived and breathed baseball.

This was exactly what the hot prospects, the potential game changers, the 8 year minor leaguers, and all the other hopefuls were looking for.

They went straight to the Manager.

“Your Managerial Majesty, may you coach forever!” they said. “Didn’t you sign a decree that said for the first thirty days of spring training no one should impress anyone except you, O Great and Mighty Leader. And if anyone should impress any coach or player besides you, they should be thrown into the lions’ den to see how authentic they truly are!? To see if they truly can compete!?”

“Yes,” said the Cool and Calm Jerry. “It is a law of my Mets and their Personnel that cannot be changed.”

Then the jealous-ones, the just out of college guys, the Rule 5 draft picks, and all the other Binghamton Mets said, “We saw Daniel playing like he was God this very morning! He does not respect any opposing pitcher, he takes more walks than the Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club, and he beats the ball up as if he had a personal agenda against it.

When King Jerry heard this news he was very sad (but secretly, very glad). He knew that Daniel was a good and honest boy, who played for him faithfully. Would he be able to compete in the games that matter? Would he choke in the oh-so-crucial times? And so he worked into the night, trying to find some way to rescue Daniel from the every day spotlight. But he couldn’t. He knew Daniel would have to walk the plank.

The spark starters, the base stealers, the record contract setters, and all the other Tradition Field inhabitants came back the next morning and demanded, “Your Gangsta'ness, you know a law of the Mets and their personell can never be changed. Daniel must be thrown into the lions’ den!” Which was just what they wanted all along. To see how quickly he would crumble.



And so, the Manager had no choice but to have Daniel thrown into the lions’ den. The Manager said to Daniel, “May the game whom you serve so faithfully save you!”

And then the organization’s men grabbed Daniel and threw him into a pit, a stadium, a park, a field, an opposing cities' batter's box, a 9th inning pressure-filled spot, an unfamiliar left field, surrounded by pacing beer vendors, roaring fans, threatening Philidelphians, breathing-down-your-back coaches, and a city that had him thinking that maybe, and just maybe, there might be some people out there who want to see him succeed even more than he did.

Us Lions Await.