So who wants some onion rings?
This Mets season is starting to remind me of the hype leading up to the final episode of the Sopranos. It's all about who's getting whacked and how it's going to happen. The team simply can't continue to play games like Wednesday's lifeless disaster. Not after what went down last September and not with the Wilpons investing $140 million in this year's club. They didn't shell out $137.5-million in Johan Santana alone to see many of the players fold up around him.
As for Billy Wagner calling out Oliver Perez -- again -- I'm divided on that. Sure, Perez's day was a disgrace, but he's an easy target, with practically zero clubhouse presence. I don't see Wagner singling out Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran or Jose Reyes -- all deserving targets. Perez won't punch back, and that's the difference.
Maybe the Mets don't have a real leader, as Johnette Howard points out today, so could it be time to slap a C on David Wright's chest and make it official? Perhaps then Wright would feel compelled to take on a role this team desperately needs, and there's no other logical choice. It's a widening void that threatens to swallow the Mets whole.
The timing of this trip through Arizona and LA is not the best, and I'm sure Willie Randolph, who is starting to feel the heat, is dreading to see his former boss, Joe Torre, in the dugout across from him at Chavez Ravine.
At least there's help on the way. Moises Alou will be activated tonight and that will mean a few interesting lineup decisions for Randolph. Despite the success of Ryan Church in the No. 2 hole, as I talk about in today's Mets Insider, it looks like Randolph wants -- and needs -- Castillo to strengthen his grip on that spot. It's solid logic, but the Mets really can't afford to be patient these days. Before long, someone's career may depend on it.
But who deserves to take the fall? Randolph? pitching coach Rick Peterson? batting coach Howard Johnson? Should Delgado be released if he shows no sign of improvement over the next month? Something may need to be done, if only to wake up the rest of the team.
Reminds me of another pop culture reference from one of my favorite movies, Unforgiven. In one of the final scenes, Clint Eastwood's Will Munny is about to kill Gene Hackman's Little Bill Daggett, who makes one final plea: "I don't deserve this... to die like this. I was building a house."
Says Eastwood: "Deserve's got nothin' to do with it."
As in life, with these Mets, sometimes it's just your turn.
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Comments (5)
I love David Wright but he is far too milquetoast to be a leader. I've seen some glimpses of assertion and strength but I don't think he has the authority - yet. I hope he can grow into it, but I've always felt like the middle-of-the-road-ness of Wright isn't an act, it's how he really is.
And with Willie's attitude of always deferring to older players even if the youngsters are outperforming them, there's no way he would have any backing.
I still have hope that Delgado is redeemable. I do not have that hope for Castillo.
I think Castillo is more redeemable but who knows anymore. We'd better hope it's Castillo anyway with his contract.
p.s. Why isn't Ramon activated tonight too? There were rumors of him being hurt two days ago but Teufel denied them and he played last night again and hit a double. Doesn't sound like a guy who had a setback. We could use his bat tonight.
I would figure anyone who checks this blog knows enough about this team to realize that Castillo is out performing Delgado right now. He's playing good D for the most part, and he's getting on base, which the #2 hitter needs to do. He's no all-star, but he's been solid of late. Delgado has done NOTHING. Delgado can't make up for his lack of hitting with his play in the field, that's his biggest problem, which is something both Castillo and Beltran do.
A couple of things to ponder.
Witless Willie is the one responcible for putting the team on the field. It's his job to motivate them, and lord knows they are not playing like motivated people. So he gets the most blame and will take the fall if this team doesn't make the playoffs.
Putting a "C" on David's jersey will do what age can't. It will give him the authority to speak up and get after people if needed. It will be like a Sherriff's badge. With the badge comes the power and the status. It will be a visual sign from ownership and management that David has their blessing and the power to speak up. It won't matter if he's 25, and Delgado is 36. David would still be the leader.
My favorite line from Unforgiven happens after Clint blows away the bar owner. Hackman yells at him "Sir you just killed an unarmed man". Clint's reply, "if he's going to display my friend out front, he should have armed himself" or something like that. My point is if willie gets fired, he has no one to blame but his own stubburn self.
The problem with this team is the only player with a blue-collar work ethic is David Wright. Most of the rest are like emotionless Gordon Geckos -- executive types who only care about the bottom line -- in this case, how much is deposited in their accounts every two weeks Apathy is a big problem on this team with the exception of a few.