Ever since the Mets selected Lutz in the fifth round of the 2007 draft, the 6-foot-1 third baseman has repeatedly landed on the disabled list with a variety of injuries. In his first professional game with the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2007, Lutz was lost for the season after suffering a hairline fracture in his right foot. This season, Lutz, playing for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, missed several weeks thanks to an injured hamstring, followed by a broken finger when he was hit by a foul ball while watching the game in the dugout. He then missed another week after getting hit in the head with a curveball June 24 against Norfolk. - http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/lutz_back_on_field_and_planning_Ag1zlkTiFkL6lqsfBvmDKM#ixzz1RcYwWeFc
Billy Wagner:
(2006-09): Why is Wagner number one and not Franco? Because of his dominance and efficiency during his tenure with the Mets. Signed as a free agent by Omar Minaya, Wagner’s 2006 season was arguably the most dominant of any closer in Mets history. He saved 40 games that year in 45 chances, pitching to a 2.24 ERA, 1.106 WHIP, 11.7 K/9 and 4.48 K/BB. He also successfully finished the first four games of the Mets playoff run that season before falling apart in the top of the 9th in Game 2 of the NLCS, allowing three runs in a tie game (he did successfully finish Game 6 though to preserve the win). Overall as a Met, Wagner had a 2.37 ERA, 1.054 WHIP, 10.9 K/9 and 4.26 K/BB, while saving 101 games in 118 opportunities, an 86% success rate. The loss of Wagner during the 2008 season was a key reason the Mets failed to make the playoffs that year. However, due to his dominance while a Met, Wagner ranks as my top closer in team history - http://risingapple.com/2011/07/07/top-five-closers-in-mets-history
Beltran on WS:
"I want to play baseball, have a chance to make the playoffs and win a championship," said Beltran, who has appeared in two postseasons, one with the Astros, the other with the Mets. "That's why you work hard your whole career to try and be in a position so you can win a World Series. That's my goal." - http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/giant_interest_in_all_star_beltran_o4B6qkOugVvRBoF0WOELBO#ixzz1RcYHdzoE
Lutz, like F-Mart and so many others, hasn't been able to stay healthy and luckily for him, despite the missed time, the Mets have steadily advanced him through their system. It's really unfortunate because he has had pretty decent numbers and I would love to see what stats he'd end up with after 550 at bats in AAA. Like so many others, if he had just stayed on the field a little more, the Mets' might have had a more appreciated farm system with some inticing trade chips or even better options when injuries had occured in times past and present. It's all moot at this point with the way their so called bad farm system has attributed to their competitive play this year, but it doesn't hurt to be spoiled and wish it could've been different for these guys.
ReplyDeleteLutz, like F-Mart, are not trade chips. Lutz has had bad luck, but he also has bad feet
ReplyDeleteNever said they were trade chips. Said they could've been if they were'nt always hurt. As for bad feet? Todays game, no matter how you look at it, will usually take a good bat with horrible defense, over great defense with a horrible bat. Daniel Murphy looked like he was dodging grenades when he manned the outfield in 2009. The Mets tried him all over the field trying to keep his good bat in the lineup. The game is loaded with all bat, no glove players. My point was that these guys, with their capable bats, would've contributed in some form by trade or actually playing for the Mets by now, if they weren't always hurt. Lutz's bad luck has kept him down a lot more then his bad feet has and if you hit enough or even are capable of hitting for power, everyone is a trade chip. Chris Carter, Allen Dykstra, Mike Carp, Lastings Milledge...all traded cause they could hit...and nodda one a gold glover. Power hitting trumps defense in todays game, if it didn't, Ruben Tejada would be considered a better second baseman then Chase Utley.
ReplyDeletelet's start over...
ReplyDeleteLutz suffers from genetic problems with his feet.
The great untold story about Pedro Martinez was his feet problem. He simply couldn't push off the rubber like when he was younger...
Lutz has had a bad runat some real bad luck injuries, but, even if he didn't have any of that happen, he still would be greatly limited as a ballplayer in the future, due to his feet.
Sorry to here about his foot misfortunes, but like many baseball stories, it would be fabulous if he could overcome these injuries, genetic or otherwise, to really make his mark. I believe it was Dmitri Young that actually played with a insulan injector strapped to his hip because of diabeti, so anything's possible.
ReplyDelete