DAVID RUBIN: TRAINER? TRAINER? BUELLER?

How many of us remember the first time we had to look for a new doctor, whether because of changing health plans or moving to a new town? I had to do it first when my original adult doctor retired; again, when I moved to California 25 years ago; and, recently, when my long-time doctor decided that he couldn't make enough money anymore seeing patients under new health plans and methods of payment and so he became a high-paid medical consultant for a hospital group in Arizona. Thankfully, I was able to find an even better replacement, but sadly that's not always the way it happens. In fact, I have been through multiple chiropractors, urologists, Gastroenterologists, orthopedists, eye doctors, etc...and even with that amazing invention they call the "internet" it's still a major crap-shoot when you start seeing a doctor, much like going on a blind-date. Doctor care in general has changed completely from the days when a physical consisted of a full 30-45 minute full body examination, as today it's more of a cough, listen to your breathing, how are you feeling, quick diagnosis and prescribe pills, creams and the like, then wash, rinse and repeat. If you're lucky, like I am right now, you find a doctor who is incredibly caring, thorough and follows through, but that's more often not the case any longer. In fact, I have a friend who told me recently that he's been through NINE GP's in the last 5 years because he just cannot find someone who meets all of his needs, including being on his current (new) healthcare plan! 

By now, you're asking, "David- what in Hera's name does this have to do with the New York Mets- the team you are writing about?!"

Well, it came as a pleasant surprise at the end of the season to a very angry fan-base when GM Sandy Alderson announced that the team's entire training staff was being let go (save for consultant Mike Barwis- UGH!!!) and that Sandy would bring the team's training and physical fitness methods up to speed with the methodologies of other clubs who have been far more successful in keeping their players on the field.

Now, of course, there are no "magic bullets" to be purchased here that will ensure that we won't have another outbreak of catastrophic injuries next year, but the odds, seemingly, MUST be in our favor, at the very LEAST having only HALF as many injuries (although of course I'm praying, as all of us are, for a complete return to health for the entirety of our injured and under-performing starting staff). It's reassuring to know that Sandy is FINALLY going to bring the team's training methods and staff up to the standards that teams like the Red Sox, Dodgers and Indians have set (or at least one hopes), but the biggest questions I have from the aftermath of the announcement that he was making the change were:

1.) How long has Sandy been working on this change, was it an all year process, has he consulted with fellow GM's who have been more successful with their training/medical processes and has he already interviewed replacements? 

and

2.) How many hires will it take until he finds the right combo of training teams and methodologies before true change not only happens but brings the team to the cutting edge of methods and procedures? Will they purchase advanced medical equipment (like MRI and Cat-Scan eq to have on-site at their Port St Lucie and Queens compounds)? Will they make the right choice from the get-go, and if not, are they going to be willing to move on quickly until they DO find that right combo of trainers and methods?

At one point, my favorite doctor was only working out of a less-than-favorite hospital, and due to outcry from his patients he ended up applying to and be accepted at a far more high quality hospital, It was a combo of listening to his "constituency" and convincing the appropriate people that he could bring added value to the newly chosen hospital. It worked out well for the 15 years he remained there, and those of us who actually had to spend any time in the new hospital were VERY happy that the change had been made and benefited all of us. 

I can only hope that Sandy will make the right selection right out of the gate; that the team will spend the money necessary to update their training and evaluation methods to those of the more successful organizations in the league; and that the end result will be that the team's health will be the beneficiary, which then, of course, trickles out to the fan-base in spades!!!!

Fingers crossed- oh, and by the way- can one of our more tech-savy readers block the team's internet from being able to access WebMD???? Just in case...