The Lion's Den

Sunday, March 15, 2009

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.

85 comments:

OMARitis said...

May he have the same success as the original!!

Madraigos said...
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Skeptic Al said...

"Some say history tends to repeat itself". I say this blog tends to repeat itsself with Pulitzer type Postings.

Absolute Genius! Keep em coming!

Skeptic Al said...
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Skeptic Al said...

Wow Eli...youre script has already been picked up, and turned into a broadway play. Even Stephen King doesn't get this type of immediate reaction to his writings!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3907320098311390764&hl=en

wario said...

Where were you when i was learning Jewish History??....

Skeptic Al said...

Wario...obviously he was paying attention.

wario said...

LOL..... al, what would this blofg do without you?

wario said...

If he was i would have cheated off him, so i know he wasnt

haraz31 said...

LMAO

Eli From Brooklyn said...

I know as much Jewish History as anyone else. I guess I just came across a good website with Daniel and the Den. Let's hope when we are all sitting in our own den these spring afternoons (or even better, Citi's Den) we should be as fortunate as Daniel. Bring it on!

wario said...

did anyone ever tell you that you are the most random person ever?.... and thats why i love this blog:)

Eli From Brooklyn said...

Lol, someone once told me that at 2:12 PM on a Monday not too long ago. MetsBlog.com might update itself every 10 seconds but this updates people with useful (and random) thoughts and ideas in the world of baseball. I think.

wario said...

did you hear about our buddy duaner?

Eli From Brooklyn said...

Talk. Now.

wario said...

he signed with san diego... him and heath bell back to back

wario said...

mmmmmmmm maybe heilman can join them

Eli From Brooklyn said...

Really? How much? Minor league deal? And u heard bout Manny....?

wario said...

not sure i did hear about manny..... how long he out for?

wario said...

they told him theyll give him a new pair of goggels and some dominican food.... he was sold

Eli From Brooklyn said...

Hopefully a long time. It would make me feel better. Bell was not good when he was a Met. He needed the scene changing.

Eli From Brooklyn said...

LOL on goggles/d food.

wario said...

tru...he needs some food changes too

Eli From Brooklyn said...

He lost weight. The man can throw. Don't knock a fat man when he is walking out of the gym. You nervous bout Maine?

wario said...

im not but he probably is... he has some mental issues

wario said...

thats why he is back to back with oli

wario said...

lets start a fantasy league of just players the mets gave away or once had

Eli From Brooklyn said...

Maine? Mental issues? I think I heard that. Not as bad as Oli.

A fantasy league? Im signing Kazmir. You get next 2.

wario said...

lindstrom... the new markins closer who rick peterson said will have arm issues... (sound familiar?), and philip humber mmmmmmmmm

Eli From Brooklyn said...

Bad picks. I'm going with Ventura. Next.

wario said...

o we are going all time????

wario said...

i was doing current

Eli From Brooklyn said...

Um, yes, hon. Wake up and smell the coffee. You blew 2 picks already. My mets are gonna whoop up on yours... (and I know Al is reading this so he is welcome to join in at anytime).... Pick Wario.

wario said...

k stop........ new game.... fantasy league of just mets... whenever... at there peek on any team... your pick first

wario said...

al anytime, your welcome

Eli From Brooklyn said...

Yes, Al, anytime. You are welcome. I'll go with Kazmir. Take your next two, loser.

wario said...

easy tom seaver and piazza

wario said...

suck it

Eli From Brooklyn said...

Moron. I got Willie Mays. Keep it coming, genius.

wario said...

damn he was my sleeper ..keith, and jerry koosman

Skeptic Al said...

I'd love to comment, but I have no clue what you people are talking about.

Eli From Brooklyn said...

Um, you only get the next two after my first pick. Who am I dealing with exactly? Or what...

wario said...

its my game... go pick 2

Eli From Brooklyn said...

BEST METS OF ALL TIME. You pick a team. It's a draft. He has Seaver and Piazza. I have Mays and Kazmir. Al's turn. Pick two.

Eli From Brooklyn said...

Keith? It's for playing time. Not broadcasting talent. HAHA on Keith.

wario said...

is al with us or are we waiting???

Eli From Brooklyn said...

We will wait three minutes from this post.

wario said...

k( text him)

Luigi said...

Can I Play?

Eli From Brooklyn said...

No. Go away.

Eli From Brooklyn said...

(I don't wanna disturb him.) One minute left.

wario said...

lol

Skeptic Al said...

Have you forgotten to take your ritalin!
When I see a posting about Best Mets Ever, I will comment on that. Otherwise I'm sticking to the topic at hand.

Eli From Brooklyn said...

Time's Up. Wario?

wario said...

no one under 40 posts can play

Eli From Brooklyn said...

DID HE JUST DARE ME TO BLOG BOUT THE BEST METS EVER?~?~?~??~?~?~

Eli From Brooklyn said...

lol wario

wario said...

nice of you to pick up the phone al!!! you scared to get in on this draft?

Eli From Brooklyn said...

Do you think he doesn't kno much of the Mets past?

Skeptic Al said...

Eli...Do you think Willie saw the writing on the wall, just like Balshazer ?

wario said...

he is one of those bandwagon guys....

Eli From Brooklyn said...

Well, we can see he knows about his Jewish History and as well as "The Catch." A bandwagon guy is still a possibility. Speak more, Al.

wario said...

eli you picked kazmir over lima????

Luigi said...

Why can't I play? You guys are mean. Great blog though. Peace!

Skeptic Al said...

Today is tax day...gotta get to the post office...bye!!!

Eli From Brooklyn said...

You bet I did. Kazmir rocks. You know that. And have a great day Luigi. Thanks for the kind words.

wario said...

sorry we need more of a mario not a luigi for this.... maybe next time

Eli From Brooklyn said...

Enjoy the taxes Al. See if you notice a sign about the taxing Redding's arm did after his toe surgery. Peace!

Skeptic Al said...

We should have a fantasy league...

Eli From Brooklyn said...

We should. Wario's idea. How many ppl we need?

wario said...

5-7

wario said...

al stop ignoring me!!!

Eli From Brooklyn said...

He's ignoring you? How u kno and why would he?

Eli From Brooklyn said...

We have 3 here. How many more do we need? 2? Any ideas?

wario said...

he is scared of the wrath of wario!! (does that make sense?)

wario said...

look up!!!! eli

Eli From Brooklyn said...

I think that makes sense. Two more people, Wario. Anyone in mind?

wario said...

(im the only one here) {who yout alking to}?????

Eli From Brooklyn said...

I'm lost. Wario, u ok? We need 2 more for the draft!

wario said...

good..... not ok im hungry and cranky

Eli From Brooklyn said...

me 2. i want the season already. hows work goin..

wario said...

ttyl... gotta do resarch on my team

Eli From Brooklyn said...

lol...njoy

Unknown said...

wow this is a very long one

Skeptic Al said...
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