Quick – name the player you first associate with the Washington Nationals? You likely said Bryce Harper and except for some stragglers saying Daniel Murphy you would have plenty of company. No credit to you if you said Jonathan Papelbon.
How about an Angel? Mike Trout, surely.
Here’s a tough one: the Phillies? Don’t say it’s Carlos “Chooch” Ruiz. They either don’t have one or it’s the outgoing Ryan Howard or the incoming Maikel Franco.
Had we posed this question at the beginning of the 2015 season or earlier the answer for the Mets would be the captain, David Wright. But because we have become all too familiar with the term “spinal stenosis” Wright is no longer the best player on his team. Arguably he may not be the best infielder the club has. Certainly right now most of us would rather see Neil Walker at the dish than David Wright in a big spot.
I suppose a case could be made for the $25 million dollar man Yoenis Cespedes but it is hard to see him as the face of the franchise when he just might opt to head for even greener pastures after this season has ended.
“The Franchise” was once the nickname for Tom Seaver so we can’t dismiss the young stud pitchers. In some ways because there are four young guns with a rehabbing Zach Wheeler ready to join in later in the season they kind of divide the vote. Noah Syndergaard might be a blonde head above the others but one still figures to give the tag face of the franchise to a position player where there is a worthy candidate.
Only 23 years old Michael Conforto is off to a fabulous start to the 2016 season. As we have seen he just continues to bang out one line drive after another. And while it is unlikely he will finish the season with an OPS over 1000 (it was at 1025 on Tuesday afternoon) he could end up with it in the 900s which could put him in the discussion for NL MVP.
We also see him as a competent left fielder with an accurate albeit not powerful arm. His teammates say nothing but glowing things about his comportment and the fans give him deserved ovations when he heads to the batters box.
We fans can enjoy the notion that he is now in the affordable part of his career. One has to wonder how the team will deal with him through his arbitration years and further down the road as he approaches free agency. Fortunately this does not have to be worried about right now.
For now we can enjoy one of the great blessings a team sometimes gives its fan base – a young developing star player.
I am so in on Conforto because he makes contact, hits with extra base power, is humble but confident, and fields his position adequately.
Syndergaard is the stud of the pitching staff because of the pure power and control. I love his moxey throwing that first inside pitch in thd World Series and then telling the Royals where they can find him if there is a problem. He is a leader.
The Mets are fortunate to have two cornerstones for anyones fantasy baseball team but the only player in my Met life who was the Franchise was Tom Seaver.
…until he goes on an 0-20 spell
I thought it was Harvey…wait…deGrom….hold it….Syndergaard…Ces?….no no Conforto….Rosario anyone?
From when we first drafted thisbkid we all thought he’d be good but now it looks like he might be great. Wouldn’t that be something? His ceiling has definitley gotten higher.