By David Rubin
(due to some prior commitments, this will be a brief column today. Look for an additional post later this week!)
This mornings' MLB Hall of Fame induction ceremony, coupled with the recent all-star game and the upcoming "trade deadline" marks the most exciting period of events for baseball, topped only by the World Series. This years' ceremony saw yet another one-time (albeit brief) Met player inducted in Roberto Alomar Jr., who, like Eddie Murray, Duke Snider, Warren Spahn and so many others before him, was a Met mostly in name, only. In fact, the list of Hall-of-Famers who played for the Mets (11) (not managed, like Casey, or ran the minors, like Whitey, or announced like Ralph) FAR out-numbers the actual Mets IN the hall AS a Met (ahem:::paging George Thomas Seaver) - just for sh%ts and giggles, the list of players who are in the Hall who played at least 4 games in a Met uni are (in order):
~Richie Ashburn ('62 - first to bat for the Mets, first Met All-Star)
~Duke Snider ('63 - had little left in one season w/ team)
~Warren Spahn ('65 - also only one season, but a great baseball card!)
~Yogi Berra ('65 - for exactly 4 games before joining coaching staff)
~Nolan Ryan ('66 - '71, traded for Fregosi, saw him pitch in my first live game in '68)
~GTS - ('67-'77, '83, Since he got a plug for his winery during today's HOF ceremony, we'll give him one here, as well - you can find more info about it by clicking here.)
~Willie Mays ('72 - '73, although hard to see him fall in the outfield, gratifying that he had a chance to finish his career in NY, where he started over 20 years prior)
~Gary Carter ('85 - '89, but it seemed like much longer as "The Kid" endeared himself to fans for his work ethic, smile and timely RBI's...wanted to go into the HOF w/ a Met cap, but the hall put an "Expo" logo there instead)
~Eddie Murray ('92-'93, unlike most on this list, Murray actually had 2 pretty good seasons, statistically, for the team. This top switch-hitter never appeared comfortable in NY, but it never seemed as though he was comfy anywhere.)
~Rickey Henderson ('99 - '00, Rickey says he always liked NY because the "Big Apple" is a place where Rickey can be Rickey, or so says Rickey- just ASK Rickey- Rickey will tell you!)
...and, today, joining these ranks, one:
~Roberto Alomar, Jr ('02-'03, falling apart during his season and a half with the Mets, and never regaining the greatness he showed most of his career- a huge disappointment along the lines of Juan Samuel.)
Obviously, Mike Piazza represents the next, best chance for entrance into the HOF in a Met uniform, as long as MLB doesn't blow it and put him in a Dodger uniform. After MP, the next hope for Met fans will come a number of years from now, when/if either Jose Reyes or David Wright a.) qualify and b.) stay in the orange and blue. That's why, this off-season, in addition to considering how much these players mean to the success of the team on the field, their future contributions to the organization MUST be considered as well. If Reyes stays healthy and were to steal 40+ bases for the next 7 years, he would have over 600 steals lifetime, along with close to 1,000 RBI's, most likely an average close to .300 and numerous All-Star elections, etc, it would be easier to make a case for his admittance into the HOF.
There are currently only 10 third-sackers in the HOF, and Chipper Jones will probably be the 11th when he's eligible for election. Wright's numbers are currently very good, but he'd have to step it up for the next 8-10 seasons in order to have his name uttered alongside the likes of Schmidt, Matthews, Boggs, Robinson and Brett. It's not impossible, nor, right now, is it probable, but he still represents one of the few options for future election that the team currently has, should he live up to his "end of the bargain" so to speak.
Realistically, Keith Hernandez deserves to be in the HOF since border-liners like Bill Mazeroski, Luis Aparicio and Phil Rizzuto are already enshrined, but since that won't happen any time soon, it's Piazza for sure and the Reyes/Wright combo as long-shots...
Guess the best bet for Met fans is to continuing to visit the HOF at CitiField and hoping the team continues to elect the right players/contributors for THAT hall at least...
(due to some prior commitments, this will be a brief column today. Look for an additional post later this week!)
This mornings' MLB Hall of Fame induction ceremony, coupled with the recent all-star game and the upcoming "trade deadline" marks the most exciting period of events for baseball, topped only by the World Series. This years' ceremony saw yet another one-time (albeit brief) Met player inducted in Roberto Alomar Jr., who, like Eddie Murray, Duke Snider, Warren Spahn and so many others before him, was a Met mostly in name, only. In fact, the list of Hall-of-Famers who played for the Mets (11) (not managed, like Casey, or ran the minors, like Whitey, or announced like Ralph) FAR out-numbers the actual Mets IN the hall AS a Met (ahem:::paging George Thomas Seaver) - just for sh%ts and giggles, the list of players who are in the Hall who played at least 4 games in a Met uni are (in order):
~Richie Ashburn ('62 - first to bat for the Mets, first Met All-Star)
~Duke Snider ('63 - had little left in one season w/ team)
~Warren Spahn ('65 - also only one season, but a great baseball card!)
~Yogi Berra ('65 - for exactly 4 games before joining coaching staff)
~Nolan Ryan ('66 - '71, traded for Fregosi, saw him pitch in my first live game in '68)
~GTS - ('67-'77, '83, Since he got a plug for his winery during today's HOF ceremony, we'll give him one here, as well - you can find more info about it by clicking here.)
~Willie Mays ('72 - '73, although hard to see him fall in the outfield, gratifying that he had a chance to finish his career in NY, where he started over 20 years prior)
~Gary Carter ('85 - '89, but it seemed like much longer as "The Kid" endeared himself to fans for his work ethic, smile and timely RBI's...wanted to go into the HOF w/ a Met cap, but the hall put an "Expo" logo there instead)
~Eddie Murray ('92-'93, unlike most on this list, Murray actually had 2 pretty good seasons, statistically, for the team. This top switch-hitter never appeared comfortable in NY, but it never seemed as though he was comfy anywhere.)
~Rickey Henderson ('99 - '00, Rickey says he always liked NY because the "Big Apple" is a place where Rickey can be Rickey, or so says Rickey- just ASK Rickey- Rickey will tell you!)
...and, today, joining these ranks, one:
~Roberto Alomar, Jr ('02-'03, falling apart during his season and a half with the Mets, and never regaining the greatness he showed most of his career- a huge disappointment along the lines of Juan Samuel.)
Obviously, Mike Piazza represents the next, best chance for entrance into the HOF in a Met uniform, as long as MLB doesn't blow it and put him in a Dodger uniform. After MP, the next hope for Met fans will come a number of years from now, when/if either Jose Reyes or David Wright a.) qualify and b.) stay in the orange and blue. That's why, this off-season, in addition to considering how much these players mean to the success of the team on the field, their future contributions to the organization MUST be considered as well. If Reyes stays healthy and were to steal 40+ bases for the next 7 years, he would have over 600 steals lifetime, along with close to 1,000 RBI's, most likely an average close to .300 and numerous All-Star elections, etc, it would be easier to make a case for his admittance into the HOF.
There are currently only 10 third-sackers in the HOF, and Chipper Jones will probably be the 11th when he's eligible for election. Wright's numbers are currently very good, but he'd have to step it up for the next 8-10 seasons in order to have his name uttered alongside the likes of Schmidt, Matthews, Boggs, Robinson and Brett. It's not impossible, nor, right now, is it probable, but he still represents one of the few options for future election that the team currently has, should he live up to his "end of the bargain" so to speak.
Realistically, Keith Hernandez deserves to be in the HOF since border-liners like Bill Mazeroski, Luis Aparicio and Phil Rizzuto are already enshrined, but since that won't happen any time soon, it's Piazza for sure and the Reyes/Wright combo as long-shots...
Guess the best bet for Met fans is to continuing to visit the HOF at CitiField and hoping the team continues to elect the right players/contributors for THAT hall at least...
Wrights first few seasons were definatly hall worthy, however he has actually regressed into a totally different hitter then the one who led this team a few seasons ago. Dont get me wrong, other then 2010, i'd take any one of his years and be estatic, but the last few years the strikeouts have added up, he really has hard time squaring up any fastball, and isnt the same two strike threat he used to be. Why? I don't know, but i'd bet it has something to do with the extremely fan and pitcher friendly park that causes havoc on ballplayers offensive statistics.
ReplyDeleteCharles- I would agree about his prior stats/approach, and there's no doubt that CitiField has gotten deeply into his head. We also don't know how much being the "face" of the franchise has affected him, possibly putting too much pressure on himself to succeed. That, combined with the specter and reality of Citi's effect on hitters is enough to derail the best of hitters. I have to think that a healthier Wright, working with a new hitting coach who stresses things that Wright had done in the past will have a positive effect on him over time. The strike-outs in particular have been Wright's biggest downfall, and makes me wonder if he needs to have his eyes checked- and I'm NOT being flippant about it!
ReplyDeleteI agree. Hudgens hopefully will restore David back to the hitter he used to be, but remember that HoJo was David's hitting coach in AA, AAA, and the majors, so it's not likely that the hitting coach's approach to hitting was the problem. At some point in Wright's career, he stopped catching up to the heater, and became a breaking ball hitter. David used to hit balls out at Shea to the opposite field regularly, taking over right where Piazza left off, and then something changed. Perhaps after the calapses the pressure he felt to carry this team did have a huge mental affect as you suggested. Couple that with the disastrous proportions at Citifield and you might have the chain of events that led to his new and unimproved swing. All I know is that I hope he swings his way back.
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