I’m good with the talk about the changes in Major League Baseball – both the “for” and “against” them. I’m good with the discussions about the moves made by the organization, again, both the “for” and “against” them. I love debate and crave the intellectual stimulation. But when I take a look at some of the posts on the various threads on social media and, worse, read some of the comments, I want to just stick a pencil in my eye.

To wit: here are three things about the Mets I am so sick of reading:

3 - This is what the lineup should be

Of course I have MY feelings about what the lineup should be or, rather, what I would like to SEE it be. But come on, what makes me or YOU, smarter than the analytics department of a MLB baseball organization?

I say “analytics department of a MLB baseball organization” because it is well-known now to be VERY RARE that a manager makes out the lineup card. That, after all, USED TO BE his job. But now he is handed a lineup with “probabilities” to consider during the course of a game.

So, do fans know more than the professionals who are paid to come up with optimal matchups and best options in the multitude of possible situations? And, yet, you can’t go through a day without somebody posting THEIR proposed lineup and then getting upset when someone challenges them.

Please keep in mind, that if you post something, you are INVITING commentary. So it is even more gnawing when someone begins attacking those who comment in disagreement on their post.

2 - Ed Kranepool should have the number 7 retired for him

No. NO. A HUGE NO.

Ed Kranepool was great for the organization. He was signed by the Mets out of high school. He was NOT an original Met which is sometimes reported, but he did make his debut for them during that inaugural 1962 season.

Now let’s be fair…the Mets organization was NOT fair to Kranepool. They didn’t properly season him. He wasn’t ready. He was not A-Rod or Griffey, Jr., ready to play as a teenager. He needed to be brought along and work his way up. The Mets, instead, jerked him around. And it cost him. Kranepool had some productive seasons but, for the most part, was bench player who never was considered worthy enough to earn a full-time starting job. The closest he came was the 1965 season when he was named the Mets representative to the All Star game.

The fact that Kranepool hung around so long, and never played for another team is admirable. But it doesn’t make him worthy enough to have the No. 7 retired in his honor. For comparison, Ron Hodges, basically a third string catcher for most of his career, had the same “type” of career that Kranepool had. And, yes, his No. 42 is up there, but not for him, it’s for Jackie Robinson. But nobody is calling for Ron Hodges to have the number retired for him, nor should Kranepool have the No. 7 retired for him either. I am so sick of hearing about it.

Again, please keep in mind, that if you post something, you are INVITING commentary. So it is even more gnawing when someone begins attacking those who comment in disagreement on their post.

1 - Wally Backman should be manager of the Mets

This is the one where I want to throw my laptop against the wall, or my phone out the window. I really want to know, ONLY for curiosity, what makes fans even mention this man’s name?

He was a “serviceable” player. He was NOT a superstar. He was shown to be someone who got the most out of his little bit of talent that he had. That’s it.

He was hired by the Arizona Diamondbacks and fired before managing a single game. Was that right? Should he have gotten a second chance? Alex Cora came back to manage the Red Sox after serving HIS suspension. So why not Backman?

Why hasn’t ANY team given Backman a chance to return to Major League Baseball? There are 28 other teams in other cities with less pressure than New York City to give him a shot. Not a single one has come through with an offer. Not a one…nay…nay…nay.

The videos of him going berserk on minor league players, during minor league games on minor league fields is well chronicled. And if that’s what you are looking for, that’s great. But the game has evolved. Earl Weaver, Billy Martin, Bobby Cox would all be dinosaurs in this age of baseball. The fiery manager is no longer a part of the game. And Wally, well, I am not quite sure what anyone believes he could bring to the table if there’s no one to fight with. So please, PLEASE, make it stop.

And yet again, please keep in mind, that if you post something, you are INVITING commentary. So it is even more gnawing when someone begins attacking those who comment in disagreement on their post.