The New York Post, of all things, published an article yesterday, actually painting a hopeful picture for the return of David Wright later this summer. While we all know this is designed to sell newsprint more than anything, it also holds out a branch that could possibly pull the Mets out of the offensive funk – in every sense of those terms – in which they currently, collectively find themselves. That branch will probably turn into a serpent if the team considers Wright the tonic for what ails them, and counting on him would ultimately trip up any efforts to improve the limp offense.
Let us consider this for a moment. If Wright is “promised” to return, let’s say, by August 1, odds are that Sandy Alderson & Co. would be forced to “stay the course:” trotting out some combo of Daniel Murphy, Ruben Tejada or Eric Campbell to man third base. Look how well that’s worked so far. It would foster a mindset of “The Captain is returning! Everything will be fine!” We all know this would be little more than a patented Wilponian snow job, another in a long line of wait-and-watch actions, designed to keep those ol’ goal posts a-movin’. And when Wright inevitably has another setback, the team will be in a worse spot than it is right now, owing to precious games ticking off the schedule.
Daniel Murphy is going to be a free agent this winter. It is all but a foregone conclusion that he will be traded right around the deadline. It would behoove Alderson to bring in Murphy’s replacement sooner, rather than later. The usual suspects include Ben Zobrist and Martin Prado – versatile infielders who could slot in anywhere on the diamond on the remote chance Wright does come back. A perfect candidate wound up on a division rival, as Alderson missed the boat when the Dodgers were shopping Juan Uribe.
There may not be any such thing as a surplus of pitching, but if any team might have it, the Mets would. The fans – what few of us are left – get all revved up at the prospect of watching Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard or Steven Matz take the hill. We’re less thrilled if the scheduled starter is Jon Niese, Bartolo Colon or Dillon Gee. Rumor has it that Rafael Montero and Jenrry Mejia might be making their respective returns to the major league roster soon as well. Any two of Colon, Gee, Niese, Montero or Mejia could be packaged for somebody who can hit, either an outfielder to keep Michael Conforto’s seat warm or a shortstop if the team finally decides to abandon the failing Wilmer Flores idea.
This is clearly a team crying out for some sign that the front office is paying attention to what’s happening on the field – and, frankly, in the stands – as well as the fiscal bottom line. This is a fan base that isn’t sure their pleas are being heard or if they can trust the powers that be. It is difficult to believe ownership and management can see what we’re seeing and be OK with it.
The status quo simply won’t do.
Follow me on Twitter @CharlieHangley.
I hear and agree with nearly every single one of your points, especially your final one. I don’t believe the market is allowing Alderson to do much of anything. I believe he could make something happen, but it would likely involve either minimal returns, or a dangerous overbuy. While the Mets are still well within the playoff race, there are 10 other teams right now in the NL, and 11 more in the AL that have legitimate claims as well. No one is rushing to sell.
Charlie the only sign from Citifield should be a white flag. Anything else is just a smokescreen.
They should try to trade Wright and see if some team will take a gamble on him and give the Mets something they can use this year. Wright doesn’t seem to have any power since they moved into Citifield, but he does have a big name, and some team may want that.
Wright cannot be traded. He has 10/5 rights and I believe a no trade clause in his contract.
‘If Wright is “promised” to return, let’s say, by August 1, odds are that Sandy “Alderson & Co. would be forced to “stay the course:” ‘
This is it right here. Fans and media can see right through this charade. It’s insulting and rightfully angering them. We’ve seen this before: promises of return when the team actually has little idea of when that will be. But they dangle the hope of a return ‘soon’ despite the murky prognosis to justify their inaction.
Fans are not seeing right through this if they keep buying tickets. The true protest is for the fans not to show up to the games or have a walkout in the 3rd inning or something.
Not showing up takes money from the Wilpons.
Showing up and walking out puts money in the owners pockets and insults the players.
Our beef is with ownership and the FO. The players, competent or not, are merely pawns.
“Somebody who can hit…” Who!!!! What the hell does that even mean?? Start naming names. Start naming teams. Start offering concrete information gathered through professional channels and not through some blogosphere fantasy. The New York Post, John Harper, the “writers who write these articles are not professional baseball people and know nothing about how a front office works or who has been discussed. Do the aforementioned people actually know something that Sandy Alderson doesn’t know? Stop insulting the intellegence of this readership.
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