Obviously I’m not talking about Jordany Valdespin since
he has not been given the chance to play (and the Mets haven't sniffed contention since the back-to-back epic collapses of 2007 and 2008). Rather, it's another now-former New York
pariah named Tim Tebow. As polarizing a
figure as you will ever see on a professional sports field, Tebow was unceremoniously
dumped in a minor trade to the NY Jets when they brought in a Hall of Fame
talent by the name of Peyton Manning to take over for him. No one can begrudge Denver for trying to put
the best team possible on the field.
Then his unfortunate NY Jets tenure began. The front office probably thought all of the
jerseys and tickets that would be sold with Tebow wearing green and white. They had visions of a wildcat offense with
two quarterbacks lined up to confuse the opposing defenses. Secretly they would probably admit that
having another NFL starter around might motivate the incumbent Mark Sanchez
into spending more time refining his game and less time posing for magazine
photos.
Apparently they never consulted the head coach, Rex
Ryan, about these grandiose plans. Since
Ryan was not in control of who was on the roster, instead he did what he could
to minimize the visibility (and impact) that Tebow had on the Jets’ moribund
offense. When Sanchez was throwing
interceptions and enjoying the view of the sky while flat on his back, the
cries were heard throughout Jets Nation to play Tebow, but they fell upon deaf
ears. By the end of the season you had the illustrious Greg McElroy taking more
than twice the number of snaps as the former Heisman trophy winner. Tebow was buried on the depth charts, running
occasionally, blocking and doing some special teams work.
Ryan had succeeded in neutralizing a flawed but potent weapon by not
playing him. At the end of the season
the Jets signed another former starting QB and drafted yet another one. Tebow was unceremoniously kicked to the curb.
That history lesson brings us to the present day with Mr.
Valdespin. He too is a polarizing figure
that fans either love or hate. He has
some great talents but Terry Collins has taken a page out of Ryan’s playbook and
marginalized his role on the team. Even last year when the outfield was facing
injuries to Andres Torres, Mike Baxter and Kirk Nieuwenhuis (along with the ongoing incompetence of
Jason Bay), only ONCE during the entire season did Valdespin get three consecutive
starts. This year Collins was probably
inwardly cursing when Valdespin pretty much led all players in offense in
Spring Training and thus cemented a spot on the roster. The irony is that Valdespin has not been
benched for baseball equivalent of Peyton Manning. He’s behind the ilk of Collin Cowgill, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Juan Lagares, Mike Baxter, PED-abuser Marlon
Byrd and now the immortal Rick Ankiel – a group of players who will only get
into Cooperstown if they buy a ticket.
This weekend’s HRgate in Pittsburgh was yet
another in a long line of incidents in which it’s become clear there is no
future for this manager/player combination.
What’s worse is that it’s rubbed off on the other players. When Valdespin was plunked for his
celebratory antics not a single person from the manager to the bat boy went to
see if he was alright nor raised an eyebrow at the pitcher. Yes, Valdespin broke an unwritten rule and the retaliation was expected. However, it seemed highly ironic that Valdespin is the one
pilloried for being JV1 – 1 man and 24 teammates – yet everyone did exactly
what they chastise Valdespin for doing – not behaving as a member of a team. Even the newly named Captain did nothing to show solidarity with his teammate.
Just as Tebow was a player who had a way of coming up big
when it was needed, Valdespin also brings that intangible energy to an
otherwise lifeless team. However, the
Mets have succeeded over the years in systematically stripping away anyone who
does not walk the straight and narrow. Maybe it's a cultural overreaction to the Gooden/Strawberry/Mitchell/Coleman/Cone era where the headlines were made for off-the-field behavior as often as for what transpired between the white lines. Consequently, it's now time for them to demote Valdespin to
play every day to build up his trade value, then flip him for someone with all the vibrancy of Lucas Duda. He may blossom in another organization or he may fizzle. He
probably has the greater potential to become the next Manny Alexander than the
next Manny Ramirez, but right now he’s simply wasting a roster spot in Collins’
doghouse.
Reese - the Valdespin situation reminds me a lot of Lastings Milledge a few years ago. The organization seems to be particularly intolerant of anyone who stands out in the crowd and seems to revel in burying those players. Milledge should have been a star, but I've always thought that the Mets jerked him around and ruined his career. Valdespin may be best served getting away from the strange vibe at Citi and getting to a team that can manage an outsized personality.
ReplyDeleteIt's ironic - New York is supposed to be among the most liberal places in the world, but in baseball circles it doesn't get more conservative than the Mets and the Yankees.