We all know the long list of Mets players on the disabled list this season.
Most of them have been there for quite some time, and there have been rumors swirling around about possible returns at different times all season.
Mid- to late August seems to be the most recent time table for the returns of guys like Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes, J.J. Putz, John Maine, and Billy Wagner.
But here’s why I think the injured players that may be rushing back should not: It’s time for the Mets’ management to make a responsible decision and shut them down before they hurt themselves any further.
The Mets are currently a paltry 50-55. With all the teams involved in the Wild Card race, the Mets will likely need to win 90 games to make the postseason.
That means they’d need to go 40-17 through the remaining games to make it. Even if everyone I listed above came back today, I doubt the Mets would be able to string together a stretch like that.
Beltran, Reyes, and Maine, in particular, have injuries that either surgery or more rest will heal correctly. Rushing back from these injuries for a losing cause (the 2009 season) is a foolish decision that might worsen their physical situations.
Beltran’s knee bruise hasn’t improved, so he should reconsider the micro-fracture surgery that was discussed when he first went out. I know there’s a huge risk involved with the surgery, but his injury has shown no improvement to date and has an approximately eight-month recovery time.
If he has the surgery now, and all goes well, he’ll be able to start baseball activities again by next April. If he waits and needs the surgery down the line, he may miss the better part of two seasons.
Reyes’ recovery has suffered from setback after setback. He’s obviously not ready to return, but he is trying to hurry back to remedy the dire situation that’s going on in Flushing. He should take the rest of the season off, rest his leg, and come back at full strength next year.
Maine’s shoulder fatigue somehow has not gotten any better, even though an MRI recently showed he had no structural damage. The best medicine for “fatigue” is rest, so let Maine get his rest and get ready to pitch next season and beyond, because he is obviously in the long-term plans for this team’s future.
Delgado, Wagner, and Putz are all coming back from surgeries, and all seem to be progressing well. These are three guys that I feel could and should make an effort to come back, but not before they’re ready.
Delgado will be auditioning for a spot on next year’s roster. Wagner will be auditioning for other major league teams to show he’s not washed up and worthy of a contract next year. Putz needs to rebuild his confidence, as well as raise his possible trade value, as I have a feeling he might not be back next season.
It’s time to think about the future of the franchise and the well being of the players that make up this franchise. In some cases, like Beltran’s, their careers could be in jeopardy. And since this season is a wash, returning this season should be a low priority.
Unfortunately, for the fans, this is the type of season where these discussions come up at the beginning of August. It’s been a tough one to watch, and it’s only going to get worse.
I am a diehard Mets fan and have been so since 1984 but I also consider myself a realist. For as much as I would like to say keep fighting by bringing back the DL crew this year I can’t. This has just been a disasterous season from the beginning and there is no chance of a fluke like the 2006 Cardinals happening to this team. To me the Mets’ year WAS 2006 and they were unable to capitalize on an inferior opponent in St. Louis. It has been a drop every season since with things only getting worse and the organization becoming the laughing stock of major league baseball. The Mets have overpaid certain undeserving players then get real cheap adding talent around them to seriously contend with the likes of the Phillies. Just yesterday the Mets had the opportunity to add a promising young talent without having to give up a soul in Alex Rios and from reports they passed. Why? The 60 million left on Rios’ contract was too much? Are you kidding me? You gave Luis Castillo a four year deal and are likely stuck with him for the remaining two years, you actually gave Oliver Perez a raise of 36 million over three years, that one really has me scratching my head. Those are two players you will not be able to get rid of, maybe in their final year if some team wants an expiring contract. The thing that I would really like the Mets brass explain to me is why when you know that your starting rotation is the problem because they can’t pitch deep into games and therefore your bullpen is then overworked would you not go out and seriously address that issue. Their solution was to bring back Oliver Perez and add journeyman pitcher Tim Redding off the scrap heap. Did they really think by doing this that all of a sudden they would be able to overtake Philadelphia? Being cheap at times but then foolish at other times with your money is not going to win the wild card let alone the world series. Sure they have the second highest payroll in baseball but when the crosstown Yankees spend three quarters of a billion dollars on two starting pitchers and a first baseman and you add Ollie and Timmy, that does not make me feel good as a Mets fan. I feel like the Red Sox fans felt before they finally got by the Yankees in 2004, always got our faces looking straight up at the Yankees’ butts. Whatever we do, they do times 10. Things need to change soon or it’s going to be like the late 70′s early 80′s for the Mets all over again. Overhaul and start over from scratch. The only player I’d keep without a doubt is David Wright. You need a new Met and every position but thirdbase. Listen up Wilpon’s, if you want to save your franchise and your fan base you better do something and do it fast or else you and that new field will be going under just like the company the stadium is named after.