When everyone went down on the disabled list we were all waiting on the edge of our seats until after the All-Star break because that’s when Omar and the Mets promised Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes would return and turn the season around. Today is August 4, 2009 and Beltran and Reyes are not back.
As of this writing the Mets are currently 8 games back in the Wild Card, with 8 teams ahead of them. In the National League East the Mets are 10 games behind the Phillies. The chances of making the playoffs are very slim. It is time the Mets stop thinking about making the playoff’s in 2009 and start planning for the 2010 season. This is not me being an alarmist, this is me being realistic. There is no point in hurting these guys and risking their 2010 season and perhaps their careers for them to play a few games to sell some more tickets at Citi Field for 2009.
Jose Reyes cannot run the bases yet. The reason he has this tear in his hamstring is because the Mets rushed his recovery when he injured his calf. This is a type of injury that does not heal on its own. As soon I heard of the injury I knew Reyes was down for the season and will at some point to the chagrin of the Mets require surgery. Reyes should just be shut down now, go get his surgery so he can be ready to go in 2010.
As devastating as Delgado’s and Reyes’ injury was to this team I believe that the worst injury to this team was Carlos Beltran. Since Beltran was placed on the disabled list on June 22, 2009 the Mets record is currently 19-22. Carlos Beltran it seems throughout his Mets tenure has always been overlooked by fans and the media. To me he was always one of the most important players. A true 5 tool athlete. For the past 3 season’s he has won a Gold Glove for his excellent defense at Center Field. The injury he suffered was a bone bruise. He received a cortisone shot back in May, rested for a few days and then came back and played. There have been some rumblings that Beltran was dissatisfied in the way the Mets handled the injury and even some more rumblings that he was pushed by management to play during the injury resulting in the bone bruise getting bigger. Beltran not having much faith in the Mets anymore had a second opinion that concurred with the original diagnosis that said all Beltran needed was rest.
It’s now been almost 2 months and Beltran isn’t back. Like Reyes he has not run the bases yet, just taken batting practice and some fielding practice. If Beltran does come back, aggravates that bone bruise further it’s highly possible that he would need to have micro-fracture surgery and could miss much, if not all, of the 2010 season. The success rate from what I understand is not encouraging for micro-fracture surgery and that could spell the end of a promising career for Beltran. I admire his guts and his commitment to this team but where we are in the standings I do not think it’s worth risking his 2010 season or in the worst case scenario the rest of his career. The Mets need to tell him this. Without Beltran we will have no chance of making the playoffs next year. It’s important not to just think of now but the future. It’s important for this team to do something right and keep Beltran out of the 2009 season.
The team is pulling a carrot in front of us by announcing these injury updates and their return to help in order to keep a steady stream of revenue coming in for this year. ;it just seems the mets are always trying to save face (before whom, i wonder) rather than just doing what it takes to have a good team on the field
Good article. I have believed that Reyes would not be back without surgery from the day they announced a tendon tear. What are they thinking? He should have had surgery over a month ago. Beltran should be shut down also. The Mets should have traded for replacements to carry the team this season and into next season. Instead nothing was done and the season is shot. Now the only debate is whether our team is better than the Nats and Pirates. We need a new front office so this franchise can be run properly.
I don’t believe any of the latest injury returns. Until I see with my own eyes of them on the field, able to run, catch and hit, then I’m going to ignore Omar’s suggested return for the injuried players.
You know what, the only people that should return if they want to is delgado, puts and wagner. They are playing for contracts next year….The rest can sit down and stay sitting…This season is a lost cause, and beltran prognosis is not good long term. And reyes saying he will be at 80%? I rather have him 100% next year.
I agree wholeheartedly. There is no reason to pretend the Mets have a chance this year. We need to focus on next year and that’s it. Do whatever we can to make a serious run next year, and that means making sure Beltran and Reyes recover fully, even if it means sitting out the rest of the season.
I agree with Greg. If we rush them back for a slim chance at nothing, and fail then we will have more injured players in 2010 and nothing to show for it. Let the guys we have out there now earn their stripes. The more experience they get the more valuable they could be as bench players next year or as trades.
Holy crap, it’s turned into 1991 again. This team is in awful shape. Where to start? Aging, oft-injured core players, no farm talent, AAAA players at the major league level, and oh, I almost forgot, a GIGANTIC payroll. We are at the time to clean house and start over point, beginning with Omar, though I wish somethhing could be done about ownership. Not all of this is his fault, but enough of it is to send him packing. It’l looking like we are in for yet another long down period. At least the food is good at Citifield.
I agree too, I’d rather not risk a repeat next year, get these guys healthy.
Unless we get ourselves two mashers in the middle of the lineup and a solid number two starter, a repeat next season will happen wheteher Reyes and Beltran are healthy or not.
Agreed.
Well thats an entire other conversation about off season acquisitions.
Who’s to say we’ll be making any off-season acq’s? I bet we’ll stand pat through the off-season betting the injured will be back to normal.
In other words, we won’t be going anywhere fast.
From a team standpoint, if the Mets fall to 10 games out of the wild card, then Beltran and Reyes should be shut down.
From a personal standpoint, I can’t sell my tickets on StubHub even though I’ve listed them for as little as $5.86! If Reyes and Beltran come back, maybe I can sell my tickets for close to face value instead of being forced to lose all this money on unused tickets!