The LTJ Editorial: “David Is Always Doing The Wright Thing”

Make sure to take vitamins too, David!

The LTJ Editorial: “David is always doing the Wright thing”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

As a New York Mets fan, who doesn't love the impact Third Baseman David Wright has had on the team this past decade or so? Not only our team captain, Wright continues to be the face of the franchise being one of the bright spots on the team. He contributes as much on the field as he does off the field, always making sure to be another role model in the big apple everyone can look up to. However, one thing we all learn in life, especially in the sports world, is you can't control time. Eventually, you start to decline in skill, injuries start becoming more frequent, and next thing you know is you are fighting for longevity. Over the course of time, you need to start playing smarter, not harder. Entering his eleventh season, Wright has already had a few significant injuries that not only cost him playing time, but also put more wear on his body. The severe hamstring injury sticks out the most since it was a scary moment for all of us and definitely for him too. It was at that moment he probably realized, it's about time to work on something different for the future to prevent these injuries from creeping up on him again.

So far this offseason, Wright has decided to change his regimen when it comes to preparation for this upcoming MLB season. His main goal is to stay healthy and have a complete season without missing so much as a single game. Besides his usual diet and exercise, Wright is working on flexibility while focusing on durability with the usual wear and tear that comes with holding down third base. Being 31 years old does make you wonder just how fast time goes by. In a blink of an eye you turned from rookie to veteran and unfortunately, in Wright's case, he doesn't have much to show for it with the Mets. With only one playoff run in his career, it's easy to understand his frustration with how the team has done so far with him in the lineup. Bad organizational decisions really, but in the end, it starts from the top down. No, not just the Wilpons, it's about the people who make the personnel acquisitions for the team. You know, the main person responsible for upgrading, cultivating, and signing talent. I'm talking about General Manager Sandy Alderson.

If you think about it, Alderson has done a good job these past four years he has spent rebuilding the Mets. After the entire Omar Minaya debacle, he came in and went right to work on building a future winner from within. Yeah, it hasn't come to fruition yet, but the foundation is set and almost ready for takeoff. Currently, the Mets have the sixth best farm system in all of professional baseball, have gotten much more respect across the league, and have spent serious money in an offseason for once! That's right, the tight wallets of the Wilpons have been opened to reveal a golden aura. This light, brighter than a thousand suns, was the guiding force to bring in some fantastic upgrades to build around Wright. It's about time since well, Captain America can't do it all! Now with some pretty solid upgrades to our outfield, starting rotation, and top prospects waiting for the big call to the majors, the Mets are in a good position going into this season. Sounds like a broken record every year, however, the Mets should be competitive this season and hopefully be able to play some baseball in October.

Someone with the caliber of Wright should be enjoying postseason baseball to bring a championship to his team and city. With a better supporting cast this season, his longevity will be one of the big keys to success for the Mets this year. This new offseason regimen will benefit him for the long-term since Wright will most likely see his career begin with the Mets and end with them. Let's have #5 be in that starting lineup until 2020. The Mets will need him healthy more than anything for any hopes of making the postseason again since most of us want to forget about 2006 and actually remember another year instead.

The LTJ Editorial: "What Chris Young brings to the Mets"

The LTJ Editorial
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 11-26-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

"What Chris Young brings to the Mets"

As I'm sure you've already heard, free agent Center Fielder Chris Young has agreed on a one-year deal with the New York Mets for about $7.25 million. Last season, every baseball analyst figured the Mets outfield would be one of the worst in MLB but they surprised everyone, they exceeded expectations. With solid hitting from Marlon Byrd, the highlight creating defensive machine of Juan Lagares, and the speedy base-stealing of Eric Young Jr., it was entertaining to watch. Once Byrd was traded though, the trio was missing that offensive punch that Byrd provided so nicely. One of the needs the Mets needed to fill this offseason was to try to find a solid free agent to fill the void Byrd left. They hope they started to fill that void with their latest acquisition. Let's take a look at the pros and cons Young will bring to the table once he puts on his first ever Mets uniform.

Overall, Young's career hitting average is at a low .235 and he is known for striking out.... a lot. It's more of the fact that he swings at pitches he really shouldn't swing at but I'm sure with patience and coaching he will fit in just fine with the Mets. Despite this, remember, he brings something that the Mets have been lacking, power hitting. I've seen plenty of highlights of the time he spent with the Oakland Athletics and boy, does he hit with such raw power. It'll be great to see the damage he is going to cause in Citi Field. The Mets need it because their home winning record last season was absolutely horrible. They looked anemic at home and didn't hit that many homeruns. Perhaps Young will fix that with hitting balls out the ballpark so much that maybe the fan attendance will improve too.

I'm sure most of you diehard baseball fans out there enjoy a great baseball move, right? I'm sure you have seen or at least heard of the movie "Moneyball" right? Well, a part of me loves the theory crafting of the fact that if you have players that can get on base, you are statistically proven to have a better chance to win. Some agree, some disagree, all I know is, the Mets need to score more runs than they did last year. Another good attribute that Young brings is that he has a very good walk rate which is one of the aspects to Moneyball. Over the past few seasons of his career, a few times he was among the top 20% of all MLB hitters to walk in at-bats, pretty impressive if you ask me. So even though he strikes out a lot, he kind of makes up for it by at least getting walks to get the ball rolling on scoring runs. He is also very good at stealing bases, with over 120 in his career. So now if you have a threat to steal bases with someone who is very good at getting on base from walks, better scoring games are ahead of us!

Now the best part about Young is his defense in the outfield. It's probably one of the big reasons why they brought him in. In his career, Young has been ranked one of the best Center Fielders in Defensive Runs Saved. He has a keen eye when fielding and a decent arm to prevent bases and runs from the opposition. He is a quick decision maker and makes the right call most of the time. I don't really see the Mets moving him to the corners of the outfield since his most experience comes from center field. It would make sense to keep him there, keep Eric Young Jr. at left field, and move Juan Lagares to right field. Of course I still think the Mets should add one more free agent outfielder to the mix for depth and insurance in case of any unforeseen injuries.

Overall I like this signing as it's going in the right direction. I've always said that the Mets are really just a few missing pieces away from having a contending team. Realistically I think this signing is one of many more to come but I don't see them bringing any crazy big free agent to the team for insane amounts of money. I think they will sign a handful and bring in low-key players who will contribute and be productive. I'm sure they are doing all their research and doing their best to do what's right for this team. They have a long way to go to reach that goal but I'm patient, after all, it's still quite some time before Spring Training opens up again. Still have lots of free agents up for grabs and mark my words, the Mets are planning something big via trade. I sense it!

What do you think? Please leave your comments below and let's get some intelligent sports discussions brewing!

The LTJ Editorial: “Have we truly seen the last of Johan Santana?”

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 11-8-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

“Have we truly seen the last of Johan Santana?”

All through my life, I've always enjoyed getting the sports jersey of my favorite players on the various teams I root for. Yeah, it's no secret, while I do cover both the New York Yankees and New York Mets, deep inside my heart, I love my Mets. Ever since 1986 when I saw the World Series trophy in the hands of guys like Strawberry, Hernandez, Gooden, etc when I was about 5 years old, I was hooked on this team. That image to this day is burned into my memory, it's the last time I ever saw any of my teams actually win a championship that I can remember. These past few years have been rough on a diehard Mets fan like me but we have our moments here and there. One amazing memory that is actually up there with that '86 championship to a degree, was the first ever no-hitter in Mets history. I'll never forget back on June 1^st, 2012 when for the first time in team history, the New York Mets FINALLY achieved a no-hitter. I watched every inning that game getting goosebumps with every successful out leading to the 9^th inning. Once it finally happened, I knew that the player who ended up bringing that elusive no-hitter to the Mets would be immortalized forever. Of course it went to one of my favorite players on the team, Starting Pitcher Johan Santana.

Some say the decision Manager Terry Collins made to keep Santana in that game potentially led to the shoulder issues that nagged him thereafter. He re-tore his shoulder capsule going into this past MLB season and ultimately needed season-ending surgery that technically stemmed from that perfect game. He missed the entire season and being at the age of 34 years old, everyone wondered if he would ever be the same again. A few weeks ago, the Mets had the decision to pick up his team option or decline it. The team ultimately made the decision to not bring him back. At the time of this editorial, he will be testing the free agency market. There is a possibility he will return to the Mets if no interesting offers are presented from other teams. There is also talk he might be presented with a new deal by the Mets that is incentive based since he is coming off surgery and a year away from MLB. It’s the first time in his career Santana will be a free agent so this is all new to him as well as Mets fans seeing his name there.

When you look at the big picture, many questions need to be answered. Can Santana be effective as a starter again next year? Since he's towards the last leg of his solid career, would there be a chance he would change pitching positions? Maybe converting to a Relief Pitcher or even a Closing Pitcher at this point of his career? Of course the big elephant in the room is would the Mets make some kind of offer to bring him back since we are down an ace? We all know Starting Pitcher Matt Harvey will be out for all of the 2014 MLB season due to Tommy John Surgery on his throwing shoulder so we have a spot open. Would it make sense to bring back an established ace to fill the void without Harvey?

Let's try to dissect all this for a moment.

In the long-term sense, bringing back Santana would be a mistake. For the short-term idea of things, perhaps a simple one-year deal as insurance would be ideal for the Mets. I still think though, this could truly have been the last time we've seen Santana wear a Mets uniform and I'll explain why. We all know the Owners of the Mets, the Wilpons, have made it quite clear they want to bring in some top notch talent to the team to make a quality season out of 2014. They want great pitching, solid defense, hard-hitting players, and gradually mix in their young amazing prospects into the majors. The Mets farm system is one of the best in baseball, especially with pitchers. The Wilpons want to make the organization and its fans know the “youth movement” is coming, no more memories of aging superstars eating away at the finances of the team. No more old players just standing around being unproductive or way past their prime. The key is to upgrade areas with established productive players through the free agency and build from within. Sadly, a player like Santana doesn't fit this criteria anymore when you think about it. He's coming off an entire year of no baseball activity and off of back to back major shoulder surgeries. It's more than likely he's seen his better days and for the Mets to bring him back would be a setback. It would seem like they're just bringing him back for namesake purposes and not for the benefit of the long-term big picture. Sure, there is that slight chance he will return and be decent but history shows that most players don't after these circumstances. They come back and easily require a few more years of re-learning the mechanics and techniques of what made them originally famous. It's not easy to say the least.

It's sad that Santana's final moments with the Mets ended this way. I don't see him returning to the team and he will end up playing somewhere else battling struggles to keep up with everything. I'll always be grateful for his contributions to the Mets as well as finally bringing that no-hitter to this franchise. I finally got to witness something other than a championship that will be remembered for generations to come. Santana pitched that in Citi Field too, you can't put a price on how awesome it all was.

The first Mets jersey I ever bought was back in 2008. When it comes to jerseys, I always take my time and think about who I want to represent. Sure, I could have easily got one of David Wright, Jose Reyes, or even Carlos Beltran since they were all awesome at the time. Something told me though, I had to get the jersey of a true warrior. Someone who exemplified greatness and extraordinary skill. A baseball player who fascinated me every single time I saw them play this sport I love so much.

I went with #57.

The LTJ Editorial: “Don't underestimate Murphy; put him at first”

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 11-1-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

“Don't underestimate Murphy; put him at first”

 

For the past few years, the New York Mets haven't had a permanent nor consistent playmaker at first base. We saw a glimpse of hope back in 2010 when First Baseman Ike Davis was called up to the majors and made a serious impact on the team. Right before the 2010 All-Star Game, he had the second most HR's of any rookie in team history with 11. I specifically remember his defense was on point, he was patient with every at-bat, and he came through in clutch situations. Sadly, the following year in 2011, he was hit with a severe ankle injury and hasn't been the same since. Sure, in 2012 he hit a decent .227 with 32 HR's but in 2013 he was at his worst. It was so bad, I don't even want to mention his stat line since it was a definite decline from years past. Davis was demoted to AAA and had to earn his way back up to the majors. What happened? My theory is it's all in his head. He seems to lack the confidence that he can be a solid and consistent player. If he just focused on making the right choices in key situations he would be fine but he always looked lost and confused. He didn't stick to his original batting stance and changed it up almost every few games. Even Keith Hernandez questioned who, what, where, and why did his batting stance have no consistency. Davis's defense was atrocious and all across the media, people were demanding change. That change came by way of First Baseman Josh Satin.

Satin was called up to replace Davis, much to the cheers of Mets fans across the nation to bring some kind of redemption out of first base. He was someone who was doing good in AAA and earned an opportunity to help contribute to the team in the majors. He definitely impressed, he was getting his hits, played pretty good defense, and also made a Mets rookie record! He had a streak going on 29 consecutive games he started in which he at least got on base until it ended. Once the streak ended (Ironically once Davis was recalled up to the majors and got his starting spot back almost immediately) he started to struggle a bit. Satin lost that streak he had when he first arrived and just became another name at first base where he faded away. The Mets played the new game of shuffling first basemen based on who was pitching since once excelled over the other based on righties versus lefties. I've always said that while Satin did provide a spark at first base, he was better as a quality backup or used as a pinch hitter. Perhaps he needs more time in the minors, I just don't see the superstar potential of him just yet.

As we all know, the Mets plan to spend some serious money this offseason to start building the necessary pieces to contend for a championship in the next few years. 2014 seems to be the year but it could be 2015 or beyond, who knows. It's not going to happen overnight, but the plan is to bring in some much needed top talent to compliment the pieces we already have. One interesting scenario has been the possibility of trading away more talent to get either pieces we need now or future draft picks. The most common name has been Second Baseman Daniel Murphy. He had a pretty solid season for the Mets with a stat line of .286, 188 hits, 38 doubles, 4 triples, and 13 HR's. With a solid .319 OBP he definitely was a consistent player. Many suggest that the Mets could ship Murphy to a team that desperately needs an established second baseman and acquire some minor league talent for pitching, relief pitching, and the outfield. I don't think the Mets should trade him at all, he has been an asset to the team and continues to improve steadily. I actually thought about a scenario that would fix our issues at first base and allow some other popular players a chance to be on the field instead of being just hidden away as depth.

In my mind, this is how I envision our infield according to my scenario:

First Base: Daniel Murphy
Second Base: Wilmer Flores
Third Base: David Wright
Shortstop: (acquire top talent in offseason)
Catcher: Travis d'Arnaud

I'd move Daniel Murphy to first base since he can definitely handle it and be a fixture there. Wilmer Flores has shown signs of being the next big thing in New York, similar to when we all saw the debut and eventual development of Starting Pitcher Matt Harvey. It would be a shame to just have Flores and his talent be wasted waiting behind David Wright who unless he gets injured, will be playing third base the majority of the time. Speaking of Wright, he isn't going anywhere, he will always be our all-star third baseman. Shortstop is a weak link in our infield, Quintanilla did an sub par job last season and I don't see Tejada being a permanent starter. He just gets into a slump and never seems to bounce back in a positive way. That's why the Mets absolutely need to acquire a solid top talent shortstop in the offseason. Rumors have circulated we could have a reunion with Jose Reyes but I doubt it, plus he is another player who always gets injured and isn't consistent. Throw in the fact that he's coming in towards the latter half of his career. I'd like someone like Jhonny Peralta or even Stephen Drew to be honest. Someone who can hit, be good defensively, and steal some bases! Finally, I think d'Arnaud will turn into a solid catcher but will need another year or so to keep at it. Experience behind the plate will only help his progression. He should be our permanent main catcher for these next few years.

Murphy at first base would finally put an end to the slumps there, blunders on defense, and bring more of a successful presence there. I don't want to see him go since we absolutely need him to keep building around our core. So far it's shaping up nicely, like I said, just an idea I think would work while we bring in a quality shortstop, one starting pitcher, a few outfielders, and of course, a relief pitcher or two. Let us all see what the Mets have in store for us, bidding wars for the top free agents in MLB starts this coming Tuesday, November 5^th, 2013.

Let the races begin! Before you hit the gate, trust me, leave Murphy at first base, he's got this!

The LTJ Editorial: “It's just a game, right folks?”

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 10-25-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

“It's just a game, right folks?”

A few days ago, a man was arrested for tweeting severe threats to players of the NY Mets, other members of the team, and saying that Citi Field would be bombed. NY Giants Running Back Brandon Jacobs was threatened on Twitter as well yesterday. A man tweeted him that if he didn't run for a lot of yards and score touchdowns against the Philadelphia Eagles, it would be over for him and his family. This so-called “fan” even ended it using a racial slur. Some college football teams have banned players from even having their own Twitter accounts due to “distractions” off the field. Over the past few years personally, I've grown to love Twitter over any other social media outlet, even more than Facebook. It's a place where sports fanatics like me don't have to worry about silly statuses, thousands of pictures of food posted, or read how people enjoyed their lunches or naps. Twitter is all about information and having it customized just the way you want it. Lately though, it's been used as an outlet to violently vent some frustration directly to those that caused it... the players.

Many high profile sports athletes have an official Twitter tag. It's a way to advertise products, charity events, and just promote anything to your followers. Most of the time, you can actually tweet directly to your favorite athlete. This is an easy way to let them know you're a fan, how great they are doing, or lately, how much they need to disappear off the face of the planet. The latest involving the Mets fan who tweeted to almost every official Twitter player account of the team definitely took things way too far. I know these past few years have been really hard being a Mets fan, but nowhere near the extremes to start violating the livelihood of the players you root for. Could this fan have had some mental issues? Had he not been arrested, could he have done any serious damage to a Mets player? We'll never know, but I'm glad he's been taken into custody and away from the team I root for and the stadium I call my second home.

If you are frustrated with a player or team, then don't watch them. Don't attend their games, don't buy their merchandise, and just block them out of your everyday routine. To resort to threatening players on Twitter is sad since the majority of the time, they all tweet good things. I follow all my favorite teams/players and enjoy what they contribute. Even when the going gets tough, they show their human side and how they will practice harder to get that win. It's also pathetic how these so-called “fans” will threaten players based on something as silly as a Fantasy League. I've never done a Fantasy League before but am part of one for this NFL Season. I'm not going to lie, it's extremely fun and addictive. Every week I'm checking the ESPN Fantasy Football app on my iPhone to see who will be in my starting lineup and adjusting where need be. It's great, even more so since I play with a bunch of good friends of mine. You know the most obvious thing people forget about what makes Fantasy Leagues so great? It's actually in the name.... FANTASY!

Shocking I know. It's all a game when you really think about it. The players in any Fantasy League accumulate stats based on what they do in real life, nothing more, nothing else. To think that some so-called “fan” would tweet racial slurs and family threats over something as silly as that is beyond ridiculous. Hopefully fans remember that at the end of the day, it's all just a game. No need to tweet things that embarrass yourself and the organization you claim to be a fan of. Remember, part of being a fan is going through the ups and downs of sports. Your team won't win a championship every single year and some of your favorite players will get into slumps. Real fans root for them no matter what, not bash them on Twitter for something as minor as Fantasy League points.

Stay classy, folks.

The LTJ Editorial: “Renovation around Citi Field another step towards success”

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 10-18-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

“Renovation around Citi Field another step towards success”

For well over two decades now, I've been going to a ton of NY Mets games. I have many fond memories of going to Shea Stadium with my family and friends to see the Mets play while having a great time at the ballpark. I remember wins, losses, the organ music rallying the crowd, and of course, getting ice cream in a small Mets helmet. One of the memories though that has always stuck around when I think back to Shea Stadium was the area around it. It was literally just a dump. I never understood why the surrounding area was always filled with way too many places for tires, car parts, and used automobiles. It stuck out like a sore thumb every single time you walked around the area because it looked dingy and trashy. There was really nothing justifying having all those places around Shea Stadium that had no business with baseball.

Back in 2009, the Mets debuted Citi Field which would usher in new memories for us all. A brand new home for the Mets which featured so many new advancements, I figured they would also open up nice places around it. Nope, it seems they didn't really pay much mind to the surrounding area and left things as is. I always thought how does that look for baseball fans who travel from all over the world to see the Mets and they take a look around the area? If you have tourists coming in, there really isn't anything to see around Citi Field besides Flushing Meadow Park, the subway station, and the parking lot. After most Mets games, I love walking at that park since it's beautiful, especially after a victory. Only thing is, that's pretty much all the options you have. There are no nice restaurants, places to shop, not even any nice hotels around the area if you're visiting from abroad and looking for a place to spend the night. Just literally, tons of places to get an oil change, change your tires, and look at over 50 car shops to get random parts for cars.

I am happy to say though, the Mets and the city of New York finally took note of what I've been writing about and announced a renovation project. I guess it's something about “2014” that will bring a new aura to the Mets and everything they are involved in since we all correlate it with possible success. In addition to doing their best to have an offseason of bringing top talent to the team, they will begin a $3 billion renovation project for the area around Citi Field. It was approved by the City Council of New York and they will fill the area with brand new retail stores, hotels, restaurants, and small businesses to make the area more appealing for tourists and baseball fans worldwide. It will be performed by the Queens Development Group and it couldn't have come at a better time.

It's safe to say ever since the Mets opened up their new stadium, it's been filled with nothing but declining issues. They've steadily gone down in ticket sales, concession money, attendance, and even in team losses. It's a bit sad that the only time the stadium was filled to the brim was when the MLB All-Star Weekend came to town this year and whenever the NY Yankees visit. Every other time, unless it was a Matt Harvey or Zach Wheeler start, was a very light crowd. I'm not saying the area around Citi Field has anything to do with what I mentioned, but it could only add more value to what should be a solid new outlook for the Mets. I don't know if the Mets will be in the postseason next year, but at least they are doing the right steps to achieve better than what we have been getting use to. Getting rid of the nonsense around Citi Field and bringing in more attractive places to visit, shop, and eat is what New York is all about. Nobody wants to travel from a far away state just to look at car part shops in an area around a MLB stadium. People want to eat, shop, and see attractions so they can remember it for a lifetime.

Once the renovation project is done, which I'm sure will take a few years, it'll be a refreshing change to the area surrounding Citi Field. It'll be nice to see it all be transformed so in addition to nice walks at Flushing Meadow Park, I can go sit in a nice place to eat to talk about the game and relax. By then, the Mets will surely have a winning season and more. If not, at least we'll have retail outlets to spend our sorrows away at.

The LTJ Editorial: “Cuba, baseball, and here is to the Mets bringing the next big sensation!”

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 10-11-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

“Cuba, baseball, and here is to the Mets bringing the next big sensation!”

For decades, the country of Cuba has been known as a hidden gem for tropical sights, world class cigars, and some of the purest sugar the world has ever seen. They have also been known to treat baseball like a religion out there. Children at very young ages practice in the streets and yards dreaming about making it in the big leagues. Cubans love baseball, it's just beyond words to describe the thrills of what happens on the diamond. For a really long time though, Cuban baseball players were banned from defecting to America to play for MLB. Luckily, just a few weeks ago, the government of Cuba officially lifted the ban of players playing in professional leagues outside of the country. Now, instead of having to defect, players are free to leave to join foreign leagues across the world. However, we all know that the fame, the glory, and of course, the money, comes from the USA. Keep in mind the embargo is still in place between the USA and Cuba, meaning, no business transactions can occur between both countries, this lift is just for athletes. The fact that now Cubans can come play the sports they love in this country is huge, provided they meet some criteria. They have to apply for a license through the US Treasury Department and have a residence outside of Cuba. All players also are required to pay taxes on their earnings to the Cuban government.

For the past 20 years, over 200 athletes have left Cuba to pursue their sports dreams in the USA. This MLB season alone, 21 Cubans defected to MLB teams and have made a tremendous impact on the game of baseball. Some of the most famous ones in the past few years are of course guys like Outfielder Yasiel Puig, Starting Pitcher Bronson Arroyo, Shortstop Yunel Escobar, and Outfielder Raul Ibanez just to name a few. Before Cuba lifted the ban, all salaries earned went directly to the Cuban government. Now they can start to live the American dream and start showing the world all the amazing talent that has come out of the country. The next big superstar proclaimed by most has already been scouted by some of the best scouts in all of MLB. Three of which are scouts from the NY Mets, much to the excitement of Mets fans everywhere. This particular player earned two Triple Crowns in the Cuban National Series league, which is unheard of. We all saw the damage this player caused in the World Baseball Classic this past March where he hit three home runs, and while batting .360 had nine runs batted in. I'm talking about Cuban First Baseman Jose Abreu.

Towards the start of October, Abreu held private auditions for over 30 different team scouts in the Dominican Republic, where he resides. He has officially been declared as a free agent and will certainly have a ton of interest from pretty much half the teams in MLB. He has such a raw power when hitting, he will grow into quite the sensation to whichever team gets to acquire his services. He could easily get 25-35 home runs against the top pitchers MLB has to offer, that's how much of an impact Abreu is going to have once he makes his major league debut. His defense at First Base is pretty solid as he has a decent arm and knows how to be quick with decisions. He's not the fastest of guys when it comes to base running and probably won't steal many bases, but he will be a great middle of the batting order kind of player. His at-bat presence is one of patience and waiting for the right opportunity to hit which will make him great in clutch game-winning situations.

It's no secret the Mets will have money to play with this offseason to bring in some much needed talent to make 2014 one to hopefully remember. When I think of First Base, one immediately thinks of the inconsistency of Ike Davis. I highly doubt the Mets will play the same game again next year of “hoping” Davis doesn't start off on another bad slump. Josh Satin is serviceable at best and while he would be a reliable backup to have, he just doesn't scream starting material at this moment. I love what Justin Turner did at First Base, but it's not really his natural position. While he filled in when needed nicely, I don't see Turner as the long-term answer. Same goes for Satin, who needs more time in the minors to develop. Abreu could be that huge missing piece the Mets need to bring solid defense, a hot bat, and some international flare to the team. Reports indicate that Abreu is seeking a deal in the area of four-years/$40 million since there is no guarantee he will replicate the success he had in Cuba in MLB. Bidding could get really out of control between teams. Once all the offers are on his table, who knows where he plans to go. Some say teams can easily go up to $60 million, so it all depends on what these scouts see that we don't to have the teams spend top money to grab him.

Is it a longshot that the Mets will bring in Abreu? Not really because bringing him in would give so many positives to the team. It's a fresh new soon to be superstar that will adjust very well with the Mets and of course in Citi Field. He would immediately fix our First Base situation and fans from across the world will come to see him play. The Mets would send a clear message to its fanbase that they want to contend in 2014 and for years to come. Acquiring Abreu and building around him would bring more credibility to that statement and have I mentioned, Abreu will bring us more wins. We haven't had a super productive and defensive First Baseman since the days of Carlos Delgado back in 2006.

Perhaps I'm getting too excited about all this. If the Mets had a press conference with the announcement of coming to terms with Abreu, can you imagine the headlines across the globe we'd see? Abreu can become the next big New York sensation and that will definitely pack the masses to get a first-hand look at any ballpark he plays in. Obviously the Mets aren't the only team in the hunt since most predict he will land in either Texas, Boston, San Francisco, Miami, and yeah, even Pittsburgh. It's going to be a fun offseason like always in baseball, especially if you are a Mets fan. I just hope he does land with the Mets since that would not only surprise the baseball world, but it could the the first piece in building that championship caliber team we've been patiently waiting for.

The LTJ Editorial: “Harvey, face the knife, not the rehab!”

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 9-17-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

“Harvey, face the knife, not the rehab!”

Mets fans across the country were anxiously awaiting what Dr. James Andrews would tell SP Matt Harvey this past Monday. No news broke out at the time as the team issued a statement saying they would have full details the following day. It was finally revealed that Harvey and company decided to give a month or two into extensive rehab over having surgery. The thought process here is to give the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow time to heal naturally while rehabilitating it daily. If by around mid November another MRI shows no sign of healing, all signs point to the inevitable – Harvey will need to undergo Tommy John Surgery which would effectively keep him out of baseball for about a year. Some say Harvey refuses to accept the circumstances and wants to avoid this surgery as much as possible. Others say there is a 50/50 chance that he could indeed come back from this naturally and like he posted on his Twitter account, will be seeing fans back on the mound come April 1^st, 2014. In my honest opinion, I think he made the wrong choice here. He should have faced surgery and accept the fact that he's hurt and needs this taken care of as soon as possible.

The plan now is to have him be involved in a six to eight week throwing program to test his elbow and see if he can avoid surgery. While I admire Harvey's commitment to beat this the natural way, I honestly believe he is going with his heart and not his mind. Injuries of this nature really are 50/50 if you think about it. Lets say he does indeed beat this the natural way and all is fine for now. Fast forward a few years later and he has another similar injury, this time, it's worst and on the same throwing arm. What if it's so serious that it could potentially be career-ending? All because he went against medical advice in 2013 and didn't get Tommy John Surgery. What if in three or four years from now it comes back to haunt him? Years of wear and tear of not getting it surgically fixed now could potentially mean he loses all the attributes that made him a dominant pitcher later.

Regardless, he will have to face the knife at some point since a tear in your elbow is very hard to heal through rehab. If anything, this is just adding more time to recovery if and when he does need the surgery. It truly is a shame since there is a ton of pressure on the Mets to deliver big in 2014 and without their premiere ace on the mound, they are already at a disadvantage. I'm pretty sure the Mets will use their finances to acquire a top pitcher to help compliment our starting rotation. Even if Harvey does come back on April 1^st like he said, there is no guarantee he will last the entire season healthy. That's why I truly hope it's realized sooner than later that he does need to go under the knife, get the surgery done, and start working on coming back 100% healthy for 2015. It's better to play it safe now than be sorry for years to come.

The LTJ Editorial: “Are the Mets coddling our pitchers?”

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 9-10-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

 

“Are the Mets coddling our pitchers?”

 

These past few months for the NY Mets pitchers have been chock full of injuries left and right. Stemming from last season with SP Johan Santana, the Mets have a grand total of eight pitchers on the disabled list. Injuries ranging from stress fractures, surgeries to fix pain from pitching, herniated disks, and the dreaded Tommy John Surgery that takes almost a year to heal. Needless to say, is there something wrong with how Management treats their pitchers? Or could it be that the Mets are simply overprotecting them from imaginary harm? Let me explain.

Between having proposed “innings caps” in the minors, to pulling pitchers out due to high pitch counts early in games, a lot of times doing those kind of moves makes baseball sense to a degree. You have your starting pitcher hitting 80 pitches too early in a game and you worry about him getting tightened up, sore, or playing through fatigue. Most of the time these injuries come with the game, you pitch so many days of the week and only have a day or so of rest in between starts and practices. It's bound to happen because of the workload that you have with every start. I remember last year the outburst of joy mixed with fear of letting Santana pitch that perfect game because everyone worried would he last the entire year. He didn't, but I refuse to believe that him pitching 134 pitches in one game truly led to his shoulder issue that ultimately needed surgery. It was even reported that Manager Terry Collins wanted to pull him out due to fear of him getting hurt. Santana of course refused and is etched in MLB history for that perfect game, but what if Collins did indeed pull him out? Could that have prevented his shoulder injury? I doubt it, it's one of those things you can't really predict. That's my whole point. No medical staff, manager, or coach can prevent an injury based on “what ifs” because of how you're playing. One thing that I feel should never happen is limiting your pitcher because of worrying about the future.

I read a great article about a week ago in the New York Daily News about how legendary Mets SP Tom Seaver said that while he felt bad for what happened to SP Matt Harvey, nothing could have prevented his injury. Not innings limits, pitch counts, or pulling him out early because of the wear and tear of his arm. That not only just the Mets but baseball in general truly “babies” young pitchers instead of letting them go out and do what they've been doing since they were little; play baseball. That in his era, pitchers didn't get coddled or told to take it easy with their pitches, they relied on mechanics, practice, and playing at their highest. I completely agree with Seaver here because honestly, he's absolutely correct. Back in his day, pitchers pitched way more than they do now, not pitch less for concerns about longevity. They also didn't suffer any major injuries and that's with double the workload back then to what it is now.

It just doesn't make sense to have the mentality as a pitching coach or even Manager that coddling pitchers will ultimately prevent injuries. Nothing can truly predict what causes an injury and when I look at the injury report and see eight pitchers on there for the Mets, I think there is something bigger going on. It feels like management treats their pitchers like fans do with their fantasy teams.... like robots! Too many times technology gets in the way and everything is being counted and tallied against you. Trying to teach young talent how to throw slower speed pitches so you last longer doesn't make much sense to me. Especially being pulled from a game against your will because you are throwing too hard and need to be “protected” for the future. As a pitcher, you know your game and your body more than any coach thinks he knows about you. Unless you are writhing in pain and can't go the distance, then by all means, let the medical staff/coach make that decision and take you out. But if you are in a rhythm and doing your thing, it's not right to be limited because your name and age determine your playing status.

The whole reason MLB went to five and possibly six man rotations depending on your team structure, was to limit the workload on starting pitchers. However, back in the day, especially when Seaver played, it use to be four man rotations and not many severe injuries to boot. No shoulder surgeries, or hernias, blown arms, nothing. Just straight up baseball where 300 inning workloads were the norm. Let pitchers go to their potential and stop coddling them for fear of their careers. Everyone is a competitor, let that natural aggression out and let it get sorted out as the years go by. You can't prevent injury but it seems lately, coaches are preventing players from doing what they love. Let the players play because at the end of the day, injuries are part of the game. It's just going to happen in this day and age. Trying to prevent them by limiting and shutting down players shouldn't be the only option to preserve careers. Conditioning, practicing, and executing does that.

The LTJ Editorial: “Do the Wright thing, don't come back for nothing”

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 8-22-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

“Do the Wright thing, don't come back for nothing”

It's safe to say 3B David Wright has had one of the best seasons so far in his career with the NY Mets. Before getting dealt with a hamstring injury during the second half of the MLB season, he has been very productive this year. Being the host and face of the 2013 MLB All-Star Game, being named Captain of the team in the offseason, signing a new eight year contract extension with the team, and of course, his play on the field. So far this season, he is batting .309, 16 HR's, 54 RBI's, and an OBP of .391. What else can Captain America do? He needs to stay off the field and come back to the team in a mentor role. Let me explain why.

The 2013 MLB season is dwindling down to the final stretch. If you look at it now, there are just about 6 weeks of regular season baseball left. Come Sunday, September 1^st 2013, expanded rosters come to every team where lots of AAA minor league talent will hit the majors. The Mets will have a chance to give some valuable experience to young talent to prepare for what should be a breakout year in 2014. As of right now, 3B Wilmer Flores is doing pretty good in his debut in the majors and he could use as much time as possible to keep at it. Bringing Wright back in September would be silly to do since there is nothing worth playing for. I highly doubt the Mets are making it to the MLB Playoffs anyway so to have Wright come back to start could risk further injury. As of now there is no timetable for Wright's return but he has made it known there is no doubt that he wants to come back to play.

In my opinion, I'd love to have Wright back in the dugout every game but not on the field. I'd like to see him in a role to mentor those around him as they play. Specifically, all those young guys coming up from the majors who could use advice from one of the best players in the game. That way, his presence is there, he's back with the team, and helping as many guys around him learn. The risk of him re-injuring his hamstring is too great and one not worth taking. If he gets hurt again but it turns out to be more severe, not only could that sideline him for next year, but it may have a negative impact on the rest of his career. Manager Terry Collins trusted Wright when he said he was fine to play a few weeks ago but should have went with his gut instinct. If your star third baseman is in pain when he's running and is playing off passion while not thinking straight, you have to do the right thing for him and the team and pull him out. He should have made Wright sit and rest and not go out to play since look at what happened as he really did get sidelined by injury. You can't tell me your jaw didn't drop when you saw Wright run to first base in pain grabbing his hamstring in that game against the Kansas City Royals. You know you were worried like there was no tomorrow.

You can't really say Wright is stubborn or ignorant since he really isn't. He just wants to play so the team can win some ballgames and keep at it. I respect that but at the same token, you have to listen to reason. If the Mets aren't making any run for the MLB Playoffs, it's nice to be out there but not in this condition coming off a hamstring injury. It's not worth risking further injury or worst case, something that is going to plague the rest of your career. Either way, there are just about six weeks left in yet another losing season. It looks like once again, we will end under .500 in the National League East. There is no point in having Wright back in the starting lineup since there is nothing to play for.

Don't get me wrong, I love Wright, he's one of my all-time favorite players on this team. I will be one of the first to say he should just heal up, rehab when he's medically cleared to resume baseball activities, and just take it easy. Let Flores continue to keep playing and learning in the majors. Plus, I think it would be really cool to see Flores come off the field after an at-bat or when the inning is over and go sit next to Wright to evaluate. I enjoy every time I see that happen when SP Zach Wheeler heads to the dugout and the first person you see him talking to is SP Matt Harvey. It's like the whole big brother/little brother situation. You learn from one another and fundamentally grow. That is one of the areas that would help the Mets much more to end this season rather than risking Wright coming back for nothing. After this season is said and done we need to start preparing for 2014 and beyond. I want to have a healthy Wright come back rather than a hamstring-injured Wright coming off a surgery because he wanted to play for a handful of games in September.

The LTJ Editorial: "The rage in Valdespin now makes much more sense"

 

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 8-6-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

“The rage in Valdespin now makes much more sense”

Earlier this week Major League Baseball officially announced the twelve players who were caught using Performance Enhancing Drugs and their consequential suspensions of their involvement. Of course NY Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez was made the greatest example as he was suspended for the rest of this season and all of the 2014 season due to his involvement and bringing other players to the Biogenesis clinic that distributed the drugs. One name that surprised many in the baseball world, especially fans of the NY Mets, was to see the name of OF Jordany Valdespin on that list. Just like the others, he was hit with a 50-game suspension and brings some clarity to his recent altercations with the team.

A few weeks ago, I thought it was weird that the moment Valdespin heard he got demoted, he lashed out to Manager Terry Collins. He did that in front of other players as it was rumored that teammates had to physically restrain Valdespin due to the outlash. His behavior was uncalled for as he even used a profanity to describe Collins that hit all the newspapers in New York and of course social media, which showed just how embarrassing the entire ordeal was. Once I read about this incident, I knew that his time would soon come to an end with this team even though he was sent down to our minor system. You just don't call your Manager that kind of profanity and expect all to be forgiven, especially when you do that in front of the guys you play alongside with every game. What happened to being humble? He should be grateful to be playing for this organization, not also forgetting, he is playing on the professional level of Major League Baseball. You just don't do those things, especially when you're 25 years old. You are an adult for crying out loud, not a teenager playing baseball in the street.

As if things couldn't get even more embarrassing, Valdespin was the main catalyst in a bench-clearing brawl in AAA-Vegas. Even in our minor league system, he just couldn't stay out of trouble or out of the media. AAA-Vegas is about progressing, perfecting, and adjusting your game. Not to get into fights with future prospects of professional baseball. What are you teaching the young guys down there? When things get bad, just start fighting? What does that truly accomplish? If you are demoted from the majors to the minors, be humble, take your shots like a man, and mentor those around you as you improve. At the end of the day, you are still a member of the NY Mets and should act professional at all times, especially in that situation in the minors. When 1B Ike Davis was sent down the the minors, you didn't hear any of this nonsense. Not a peep. He did his time to improve what he needed to fix and was called up when he was ready. No bench-clearing brawls, no immature antics, just all about baseball and getting back to the majors. I respect guys like Davis who did it the right way, the real way.

I'm pretty sure we have seen the last of Valdespin on the NY Mets. There is no reason to keep him since we have other prospects that are getting ready for the once in a lifetime opportunity to play professional baseball with this team. They just called up 3B Wilmer Flores who will debut tonight and we have a nice core of young guys who will bring more talent to us than Valdespin ever would have brought to us anyway. I'm glad he got caught because cheating should never be used as a way to get an advantage over those who naturally work hard to play at their best level. Plenty of legends did it the right way and are all going to be remembered for their ethics, athletics, and clutch performances not for using PEDs. Valdespin is nowhere near a legend obviously, even before he was caught cheating he wasn't anything special to be honest. Now with this suspension, it's even more clear he is a disgrace to this team, to Major League Baseball, and of course, to himself.

At the end of the day, he will serve his suspension and always be tagged with being associated with being a cheater. Everything now makes sense, the outburst against Collins, the bench-clearing brawl, and how most reports say most of his teammates didn't like him either. They said he was very immature and didn't focus on what matters most – baseball.

The LTJ Editorial: “This just isn't going to be that kind of season”

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 8-2-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

“This just isn't going to be that kind of season”

We all got excited, especially after the All-Star game. The NY Mets were going into the All-Star break after winning several series on the road and were only about eight games out of first place. Yes, they were still 4^th in the National League East but still, there was hope that if they kept winning, they wouldn't be too far off in chasing the Atlanta Braves. Then, once again, the cold harsh reality hit that once again after the All-Star break, everything would start going from bad to worse. The Mets would start losing close games and getting clobbered when they should be dominating teams (like the Miami Marlins). Even the phenom of SP Matt Harvey started to feel it, he can't win in Miami. Yes, those same Marlins that have some of the worst statistics in all of major league baseball seem to have Harvey's number, he's winless against them.

So you look at all that, our situations at first base between Ike Davis and Josh Satin, our lack of hitting and run support, you pretty much spell what the rest of the 2013 season will look like. I hate to say it, but this just isn't our year. We don't have the impact players we need, we lack the hot winning streaks to succeed, and as of right now, we just need to keep playing as many players from our minor league system to focus on the future. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to sound like everything is horrible with the Mets, it really isn't. It's to a point now where almost every game we are in, we just can't seem to hit, even after quality starts from our pitchers, we have zero run support. It's frustrating to watch since we know we've seen glimpses of guys like Byrd, Buck, and Wright hit very well. Then other times, it seems nobody can get on base or worst case, we have people in position to score, and we just can't punch in those guys to cross the home plate. It's almost 100% predictable and annoying when you can see the double plays against the Mets coming. Eventually though, summer will be over, the Fall will be here, and the playoffs of October will begin. The Mets, sadly, won't be anywhere in sight but thinking about 2014.

What happens now? Well, I'm going to take a look at our present day starters and see who is staying and who is going. Kind of like an evaluation on our current talent and whether or not they are worth keeping for the future.......

*** CATCHER ***
When I think of John Buck, I think of a great mentor, a good teacher for guys like Recker and eventually d'Arnaud so I would keep him even as a backup. If he can start for us next year as the best option for the team, great, if not, keep him but have him be the backup to either Recker or d'Arnaud, if he is ready around that time.

*** FIRST BASE ***
If Ike Davis continues to be in the funk he is in, I honestly don't see him being around for too long. While I don't think the Mets will trade/release him, I see him being in the minors and working with the youth. I also don't think Josh Satin is our answer at first base even though he's been pretty good with us, I think he is more of a solid backup to a true starting first basemen. What do I suggest? All the talk about the Mets making some serious acquisitions in the offseason should help effect this position. We need to sign a quality name to first base, trade for one, do something. We need a household name to hold it down.

*** SECOND BASE ***
Daniel Murphy is on fire this year and I love what he brings to the team. He sometimes makes mistakes that costs us runs but he has been pretty good defensively for the most part. I have a funny feeling the Mets might actually trade him for some other positional players but I sure do hope they keep him and include him in the long term picture.

*** THIRD BASE ***
What more can I say? David Wright is our team captain and is having one of the best seasons of his career as our main third baseman. He will keep doing his thing and I don't see any reason to bring anyone else in. He's also not going anywhere and I seriously doubt they will trade him for anyone really. He is the main guy the Mets will be building around.

*** SHORTSTOP ***
Omar Quintanilla has been decent this year but I don't see him in the long term with the Mets. I hope Tejada goes back to being who he use to be, but since he's been on the DL this year and before that was playing pretty bad, the Mets should look to sign a quality SS to bring speed, leadoff hitting, and stealing bases back to this team. Kind of like when we had Jose Reyes, we need that speedy presence back on this team. Justin Turner has been pretty good as of late, but will he be our solution at SS? I doubt it but at least he can provide depth when needed.

*** LEFT FIELD ***
Absolutely love Eric Young Jr. and I definitely think the Mets should keep him and continue to have him be the hot bat we needed for the outfield. The minute he came to the Mets, he made an immediate impact and has been one of the few reasons why, outside of a Harvey or Wheeler start, you should watch the team play.

*** CENTER FIELD ***
I like Juan Lagares but I think he should be used as depth and not really a potential starter. Once again, this is one area the Mets need to spend some of their money on, we need at least one or two more quality outfielders. Guys who will hit, be very good defensively, and bring a sense of power to the team.

*** RIGHT FIELD ***
Personally, I would keep Marlon Byrd on the team for next year and beyond since he is pretty clutch when needed and overall has been a solid acquisition to the team. He has a good eye on the ball, is pretty patient at the plate, and has had a major hand in most of those late game rallies that won us some games.

*** STARTING PITCHERS ***
Obviously we have the great tandem of Harvey/Wheeler who we will keep and continue to build around. I would also keep Hefner, Gee, and am kind of on the fence with Torres. I think Torres needs more time in the minors until he is truly ready to dominate. Until then, I think the Mets in the offseason need to sign one, maybe two quality starting pitchers to the team. I have no idea if we will ever see SP Johan Santana back in a Mets uniform, so I can't count on him at all in being part of the long term plan for the Mets.

*** RELIEF PITCHERS ***
While they have improved slightly this season, we have absolutely no dominance when it comes to our bullpen. I do like Hawkins and his experience, Edgin is ok, Rice is alright, and Atchinson is serviceable. Out of all of our bullpen though, I think Aardsma needs more time in the minors and just isn't ready to perform in the major league level. Overall though, we need to sign at least one high quality arm for bullpen relief. I think if we added a strong arm to our bullpen, it'll equate to more wins, easily giving us more of a chance to compete in the NL East. We lost too many close games because honestly, our bullpen gave up one too many runs.

*** CLOSING PITCHERS ***
I like what Parnell brings to the table so we are fine here, he's not perfect, but I think he fits the closer role nicely for the team. I wouldn't really go after anyone to handle our closing duties.

Despite it all, I'm still going to watch my Mets continue to bring this season to a close. Hopefully we end the best way we can and start to do whatever is necessary to build around the gems we do have. Guys like Wright, Harvey, Wheeler, Murphy, Young, etc. I know it hurts to say this season isn't what I had hoped it would be from this past April, but one insight in all of this is never losing hope. Not this year, but in 2014 and beyond, I know better times are ahead for this team. We have a solid minor league system, we have quality guys on the roster now, and if you think about it, we are just a few missing pieces away from a high quality final product to compete day in, day out. It's going to happen and I know it all starts this offseason! Hopefully the Mets make wise choices (Please, don't pull another Jason Bay) and start thinking about what makes the most sense to start having winning records for 2014 and beyond!