Cavalry Updates
In the old westerns, there would be an image of the cavalry arriving from the distance. But the men on horses would be moving TOWARD the camera, not AWAY.
In the case of the Mets, it appears the cavalry is moving away from our point-of-view. Or perhaps it is an optical illusion.
Carlos Delgado, who had been “very close” to returning, has suffered a setback — a strained oblique. His hip feels great, though. Yee ha. According to the new face of the Mets John Ricco:
“The thought is possibly in a couple of weeks he could be back swinging”
Well super-duper. A “couple” weeks takes us into September. And “swinging” is not necessarily “playing”.
While Billy Wagner is pitching well and should be joining the Mets this weekend in Flushing, there is no news on John Maine nor J.J. Putz. Further, Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes remain in New York, rather in Florida rehabbing. And we’re all on the edge of our seats wondering what’s going on with Ramon Martinez … I mean, how long does it take to heal from a dislocated pinky?
In regard to all the disabled players, and the fact there are less than 50 games left in the season, Ricco went on to provide this breaking news:
“You’re going to run out of days at some point”
Ricco may speak slightly more eloquently than Omar Minaya, but the messages are just as mixed and useless.
I’m not really sure what it is you are complaining about here. Frustration over all the injuries or the Mets handling of the announcement? Don’t you think it is a little unfair to get on them over such a thing at this point? They will never simply tell people: “don’t come to our new ballpark there is nothing worth seeing there” so why even bother complaining about the spin or the denying the obvious that no one is coming back at this point?
My intent was not to spank the Mets for making this particular announcement — only to relay it.
Though it is possible that I’ve also relayed undertones of my own frustration with this misguided ship. We’ve been hearing garbage about the “cavalry returning” since early June, have we not? Perhaps I’m reminding everyone that this organization rarely speaks the truth about anything, and feeds on the paper-thin hopes to which a significant portion of the fan base clings.
Don’t shoot the messenger.
At this point, with the season all but over and the focus shifted to 2010, we need to figure out what to do with all these injured players in terms of their future with the Mets. Billy Wagner seems to be the only DL occupant with any value right now, and I’d like to see the Mets try to trade him for a prospect or two now rather than declining his 2010 option and not offering him salary arbitration (which means no draft compensation). Delgado’s all but a goner, and it’s tough to fathom offering him arbitration because he’s probably still due to make a ton a bucks and it’s doubtful any other team is going to offer him a contract that will match his likely arbitration amount without having seen him play for 5 months. I also see Putz as a goner, as I can’t see the Mets picking up his $8.6-mil option for ’10, and it’s likely he explores the open market for a better chance to reclaim a closer’s role. Though, I could see the Mets offering him arbitration. Because of their injuries, Beltran and Reyes have likely lost enough trade value to make them members of next year’s team, and I would say the same for John Maine but he’s headed to arbitration this year and I could see the Mets freeing up some more money by non-tendering him.
It’s certainly shaping up to be a very busy and eventful fall and winter for the Mets front office…that is, if they are willing to put in some long hours and hard work to make 2010 into a success. I guess that’s not necesarily a guarentee with this franchise.
I think even if Beltran was fully healthy all year he should be on the team next year. I think next winter, just before his final contract season, is the time to trade him if next year is not the year the Mets finally win with the core of Reyes, Beltran and Wright. I agree on Delgado being gone as well. Personally I would offer arbitration to Putz and even Wags, if they can’t find work else where I’d love to have both in my bullpen. I just hate the thought of so much money being wrapped up in a bullpen.
If the Wilpons have such fond memories of the Brooklyn Dodgers, they should approach the ownership of the Dodgers, buy the team, and move them to CitiField.