The Crane Pool Forum

Fast, good-fielding fellow who takes a bat that was first-half clutch to the Twins. I always feel for the guys who fall away as a team rises yet continue to support the cause. Bader never appeared to mope.

Local boy* makes good.
Later

* = Bronxville, NY

I'm glad he got a big-league gig this late in the off-season.

I've always hated to see centerfielders backpedaling, but I felt confident seeing him doing it.

Some guys are at their best coming in or going back on the ball, or getting into the gaps, or cutting balls off, or throwing, or just playing with good judgment about whether to go for a ball or whether to make sure it doesn't get past. He was pretty excellent all across the board.

Game-tying double in a Sunday game against San Francisco. Two-homer game almost single-handedly taking a game against Colorado. Offensively, his clutch hits in the first half helped to paper over some otherwise extended unproductive streaks, and that wasn't particularly sustainable. But it sure helped win some big games for the Mets in a season when they didn't have a game to spare, so hats off to him.

He made playing CF look effortless. He just seemed to glide to the ball. He was fun to watch.

I liked him, but he has never hit enough to be to be an everyday starter. Glad he landed a deal.

Thought the Mets overpaid with a one year, $10M contract but his first half made me a fan. Loved the hustle, and his unabashed Judaism--going so far to wear an embroidered Star of David on his belt--at a time when so many people needed signs like that. I'll miss him and wish him well in the Twin Cities. Was at that Sunday game against SF, and man was it electric!