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VINN. That's your acronym for remembering which states haven't yet gifted the world with a native son that would grow to be a Met:
[list][*]Vermont
[*]Idaho
[*]New Mexico
[*]North Dakota[/list]
As there are a lot of states whose names begin with those letters, it helps to remember that three of the four are Mountain Time Zone states. Yes, Idaho is only 3/4 in the Mountain Time Zone and North Dakota is only 1/4 situated there, but still, it's a helpful device.
But be not hopeless. There was a Vermont-born big leaguer as recently as 2014 (Daric Barton), and Hall of Fame Great Carlton Fisk is also a son of the Green Mountain State. It's also interesting that Vermont has produced major leaguers with last-name-first-names like "Daric" and "Carlton."
Idaho has been more fruitful in recent years — and we ain't talking about potatoes — currently boasting of two active big leaguers, Josh Osich and James Hoyt. James appears to be a member of the first-name-last-name club, and I frankly don't know how he made it to the big leagues with a stupid last name like "Hoyt." Good God.
New Mexico is a blessed place, home of warm sun, cool breezes, and our own A Boy Named Seo, but never native home to a Met. This is something of an historical accident, as the Land of Enchantment has produced dozens of players, and Albuquerque alone currently roots for native sons Ken Giles, Mitch Garver, and All-Star Alex Bregman, while up north residents of Farmington tell tales of longtime reliever Mike Dunn.
Surely one of those four will get some sense and join the Mets before his career is through.
Lastly is lonely North Dakota, and when you look to North Dakota, you look to Fargo, and when you look to Fargo, you're looking at the birthplace of hockey-haired Padres reliever Matt Straham. And debuting this year for Seattle was West Fargo's own Erik Swanson. That's a good prairie name. And it'd make a good Mets name.
So root for these states to do their jobs and get a player to the Mets. After 58 years, it's kinda shameful they haven't gotten the job done. Wyoming has produced two Mets and they're barely even trying.
Also, a tip of the hat to US territories such as Puerto Rico, Washington, DC, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, who all count native-born Mets among their official exports. I don't know what Guam's problem is, to say nothing of Samoa or The Mariana Islands, but they sure better get on the ball.
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