Reese Kaplan -- Sometimes Breaking Up Makes Sense

Back in my teenage years I had my first steady girlfriend who I originally thought was the answer to all of my dreams.  However, as our time together evolved, it turned out we were not a good fit for one another after all.  When the need (or desire) arose it was far easier, though perhaps not particularly smart to pursue a reunion with her than to find someone new who might be better.  Sure enough, the same problems arose that led to the breakup in the first place, we once again went our separate ways, not any better off for the experience.

Starting only as recently as the 2015/2016 decision by former GM Sandy Alderson to acquire (and sacrifice talent a second time for) infielder Kelly Johnson, the modus operandi of the Mets has been often to pursue reunions with former players rather than develop from within or seek others who have not failed on the New York stage in the past.   I won’t recite a litany of Alderson reunions, but most recently Jose Reyes was an example of a waste of roster space who took playing time away from more deserving alternatives.

Brodie Van Wagenen was brought in to change the culture and usher in a new way of doing things for the Mets, yet in this respect it’s more of the same.  So far this off-season included Part Deux with Jeurys Familia, Dilson Herrera, Devin Mesoraco, Travis Taijeron, Carlos Gomez, Rene Rivera, and Ruben Tejada.  Whew, that’s a lot of unimaginative roster construction!

Of that group, only Familia seems to have the potential to be a productive member of the team.  That move was actually applauded as he was obtained for what was considered a team friendly deal, though closer Edwin Diaz may quibble with that considering his contract was simply renewed. 

The primary argument for reunions usually is that the person in question has already performed on the big stage of New York.  There’s something to be said for that notion as not everyone is able to withstand the pressures of the intense media scrutiny that amplifies every little thing into cataclysmic proportions.  In fact, the crosstown rival Yankees once employed the poster child for someone who wilted under the bright lights in previously productive pitcher Ed Whitson. 

The further spurious reasoning for reunions is the old cliché about it being better the devil you know than the one you don’t.  That superstition and ignorance really can’t be defended.  Roster construction should be about the best available resource who fills a given need, not going back to the well simply because you’ve seen this same person perform in the past. 

Just like the girlfriend you spurned as the wrong fit in the past may be familiar and easier to obtain once again than finding someone new, the likelihood things will be better the second time around is not something on which you’d want to bet the ranch.  Why then do you think that bringing back the same ballplayers who were dropped, shipped out or who ran screaming from the club the last time will somehow improve now that they are older (and in some cases) already in rapid decline?  One would have hoped BVW would indeed show the imagination his predecessor lacked.