Stories are rife through the media about the sad tale of Michael Conforto, the Mets' last right fielder for several years. He was unceremoniously dropped by the team as he entered free agency, then could not find a taker from among the other 29 contenders. It was not over then, unfortunately, as things went from bad to worse.
It turned out he was nursing an injury to his shoulder sustained in January. Then when no offers were forthcoming, he opted to have surgery to correct the issue taking himself out for all of the 2022 season.
During the Mets history Michael Conforto certainly ranks as one of their better options at that position. Arriving during the World Series year in 2015 he appeared in roughly 1/3 of the games and produced an encouraging line of 9 HRs, 27 RBIs and batted .270. Extrapolated over a full season he would have had the goods to contend for Rookie of the Year.
His best season was likely 2019 when he hit 33 HRs and drove in 92 while hitting .275. He has fought injuries off and on throughout his career but thus far has racked up 15.7 WAR for his achievements.
No conversation about right field could even take place without examining what Darryl Strawberry meant to the NY Mets. He rose to the majors as a 21 year old way back in 1983. He earned Rookie of the Year credentials based upon his output of 26 HRs, 74 RBIs and 19 SBs while playing a very solid right field along with a cannon of an arm. He went on from there to appear in eight straight All Star games, seven for the Mets and one for his second home with the Dodgers.
His struggles with personal demons of substance abuse and domestic violence curtailed what could have been a Cooperstown worthy career. He finished at age 37 with exactly 1000 RBIs to go along with 335 HRs and 221 SBs. He was four times in the MVP voting, finishing as high as second. After baseball he found religion in a big way and has become accepted by the fans once again for all that he did to help the team win. Last week he even showed up at Citi Field roaming around the stadium in his own Strawberry baseball jersey!
Le Grande Orange as Rusty Staub came to be known served twice for the NY Mets as a right fielder and as a pinch hitter extraordinaire. He was initially obtained in trade with the Montreal Expos for then right fielder Ken Singleton, first baseman Mike Jorgensen and shortstop Tim Foli. He quickly became a fan favorite as he hit .293 in his shortened 1972 campaign.
He then improved to show more power and RBIs the following years. He averaged 19 HRs and 92 RBIs per 162 game season during his initial four year foray in a Mets uniform before they traded him to the Tigers for a last gasp of Mickey Lolich who did pitch to a respectable 3.22 ERA for a bad team and finished with a losing record.
Staub returned as a free agent from 1981 through 1985, finishing an aggregate of a full season's worth of primarily pinch hitting at-bats, delivering 13 HRs and 102 RBIs. Somewhat surprisingly, he finished with a higher WAR rating than did Darryl Strawberry, but his career also started at age 19 and ran until he turned 41. A few others contributed relatively well for the Mets in short stints, including the aforementioned Ken Singleton. He wasn't hitting for much batting average as a youngster but he was good for better than average power and RBI production.
He went onto become an Expo from whom the Mets obtained another right fielder later on with substance abuse issues named Ellis Valentine. While he had been a Gold Glover with great power, by the time the Mets picked him up midway through the 1981 season it was clear he was a shell of his former self. He lasted one more season with the Mets before ending his career just a year later with the Angels.
He cost the Mets big-time as Jeff Reardon went north of the border along with an ill-fated acquisition from the Tom Seaver trade, Dan Norman.
Starling Marte is too new to include on the list but assuming the Mets do not trade him, he will join the others in years to come.
Do any others come to mind?
Too short a list for a franchise with a 60+ year span.
ReplyDeleteStrawberry was best.
Reggie Jackson could have by far been the best.
Ron Swoboda was one if the most impactful in 1969, when it really counted. His September and October were huge.
Rusty could have been the best had we not foolishly traded him for a fat, aging, formerly excellent pitcher. Well, he actually was still good (3.22 ERA) but went 8-13 in his one Mets' year because they couldn't hit..
Didn't Marvelous Marv play there?
ReplyDeleteNah.
I'll go with Darryl