As both a fan of the 2012 New York Mets and someone who considers herself in touch with reality, I have absolutely no problem admitting that this team has a big problem, but it isn't on the field. The most damaging thing on this team lives in it's office.
Earlier this month general manager Sandy Alderson expressed confusion when it was announced that David Wright would not be the starting third baseman for the 2012 All Star Game. "A city of eight million was outvoted by a city of 800,000" he tweeted. However, that Pablo Sandoval, a .307 hitter with the nickname 'Kung Fu Panda' could beat Wright is not a mystery to me. The San Francisco Giants organization went out of their way to entice fans to vote. So far out of their way, in fact, that fans were automatically entered into a "Giants VIP Experience" after voting 20 or more times. And I'd never underestimate the nickname factor; a cute moniker often signals a fan favorite. What did the Mets do to highlight their star player? Well, there might have been an email blast or two, but not much more from the franchise that desperately needs to keep it's captain through the next round of post-season negotiations. Wright isn't just an asset at-bat with 194 career home runs and a consistently solid performance at third base, he's often referred to as a pillar of strength on the team, setting a good example for the influx of young players, and he's an indisputable fan favorite.
It's this same disregard for team and fan morale that leads us to rumors of a trade involving young team prankster Justin Turner for Colorado Rockies catcher Ramon Hernandez, a 36-year-old who will undoubtably battle a steep learning curve as far as fitting in with the evolving team chemistry and catching that slippery RA Dickey knuckleball. Could you find another infielder who is flexible enough to play multiple positions, keeps the team upbeat and throws around baked goods when his teammates perform well? Maybe, but you couldn't replace Justin Turner in fan and teammate hearts. This trade is still a rumor as of the publication of this post, but Alderson's biggest concern, quoted by SNY's Mets Blog, is the "salary dump" he'll likely feel with this purchase, not the disruption of one of the best Mets lineups we've seen in years. Baseball is a money-making business for sure, but when a community of steadfast fans live and breathe your organization for the specific attitude (or lack thereof) they are known for, you might want to keep that fun-loving aspect of your team alive and well. Otherwise, get the crew cut and look for the dollar signs: I'd like to point you to another team that plays a little further uptown.
This is the team that names chicken mascots after their fans. This is the team that isn't afraid to play pop music during their time at-bat. This is a team that fans believe in, even after they are swept by some of the statistically lowest teams in the MLB. So please, Mr. Alderson, as the halfway point of the season comes around, take a look at what you have, not what sells papers. Put stock in the team that's come out of countless injuries and negativity to be six games over 500 halfway through the season. And while you're at it, if we could keep the team, but trade some of the folks upstairs, that would be great too.
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Bottom line is that this is basically a no-lose trade for the Mets. Mike Nickeas can barely hit his weight, let alone be an acceptable catcher (the bar is pretty low for catcher offense and he's well beneath that). If they can improve that spot offensively, while only sacrificing some cash and the no-hit/no-field Justin Turner, they're likely to be better for it this season and next.
Also, the complete misunderstanding of the "salary dump" scenario is inexcusable. Justin Turner makes the Major League Baseball minimum salary ($491,000). Ramon Hernandez makes $3.2 million in 2012 and 2013. If you are intimating that the Mets are cheap or something, the Mets are TAKING ON salary. It's a salary dump from the point of view of the Rockies, who sit at the bottom of the NL West and have no use for a 36-year old catcher when they've got Wilin Rosario, a big prospect in their system, already taking over as their starter.
The bottom line is that if acquiring Ramon Hernandez helps the team to win a few more games and actually helps them win the division or make it to the playoffs and keep the season going through October, there's little downside.
I trust Sandy Alderson and his staff and I think they would carefully weigh this trade, taking team chemistry into consideration. They're the ones that built this team afterall. There is an added wild card spot this year and the Mets, going into the second half, are .5 out of one, and 1.5 games out of the other. Taking away JT isnt going to kill this team's chemistry or make them the Yankees. If sandy can make the money work, make some trades to keep the Mets competitive through the second half, you know what would be really fun?
A wild card berth.
Sidenote: Ed Lynch was a fan favorite who was traded mid-season by the Mets as well. In 1986. Remember him?
Also, I don't blame him for Wright not getting voted as a starter, I think what the giants did with the balloting is viewed across baseball as kind of low.
If we were in a better place I might have different opinions on who to keep and who to drop, but this is how I feel about it right now.
But thank you for reading and for being respectful of my thoughts! I really appreciate it.
Gotcha!