19
2009
Carlos Delgado Likely Done For The Season
An article by 
After suffering yet another setback with his hip injury, Carlos Delgado will most likely miss the remainder of the season.
Delgado told reporters that there is inflammation in his hip following some running last Saturday. The Mets first baseman had right hip surgery on May 19 and was originally expected to return in early August, but suffered a string of one setback after another.
“I’m a player. I like to play,” Delgado said. “You want to see your hard work pay off. It’s been a long and frustrating four months, so it would be refreshing to come back.”
Delgado had hoped to come back for the last two weeks of the season, but now faces the possibility that he has played his final game with the Mets. In 25 games this season, Delgado hit .298 with four home runs and 23 RBIs.
“Time is running out for him,” Manuel said. “It’s disappointing, because Delgado is a big part of the leadership core of this team, and to not see him back is hard to take when you thought we would get him back at some point in August.”
Manuel also speculated on Delgado returning in 2010.
“I don’t think the hip hindered him from hitting. And if you bring him, that’s what you’re bringing: a middle-of-the-lineup threat,” Manuel said. “But you’d always like to have questions answered before Spring Training.”
I just can’t see the Mets rolling the dice on Delgado again after already being burned by picking up his $14 million dollar option for this season. It’s sort of reminiscent of when they brought back Moises Alou under similar circumstances.
Even if Delgado returned on an incentive laden deal, another setback would once again deprive them of their only true power hitter and potentially send the team into a tailspin yet again next season. Would the Mets really take such a gamble after what they’ve endured already?
I’m thinking no, but at the same time I don’t see too many options for the Mets in free agency. One thing is certain though, and that is that Daniel Murphy is not the answer.
The Mets may have to make a trade to fix the power void in their lineup, and it’s still too early to see what players could be available although Jon Heyman wrote that Padres’ slugger Adrian Gonzalez could be an option for the Mets. If there’s any truth to his potential availability, It would cost the Mets a ton, but it just might be worth it.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
Went to my first Mets game, a Mayors Trophy game at Shea, in '73. We beat the Yankees 8-4 and I was hooked. I marched in two Banner Day parades, and before the Grand Slam single, there was the "Hendu Can Do" grand slam - I was there. I've collected Mets memorabilia all my life and started Mets Merized Online to feed my addiction.
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This additional setback pretty much puts to bed the argument that the Mets should bring Delgado back next year. It is just too risky to bank on him any longer. The decision for the Mets is how to position 1B for next season. Murphy is not the answer as he needs to be relegated to the bench or, better yet, traded. The Mets have a dire need to bring some power into the lineup, if for no other reason than to give some protection to David Wright in the lineup. That will have to be either at 1B or LF, better still at both positions. The cheap solution is to resign Tatis and put him at 1B as the placeholder until such time as Ike Davis is ready for bigtime (or with the Mets ready for smalltime). In any case, power needs to be brought in somehow. Lets see how Omar manages to screw this up badly.
Delgado is not going to be back. Even if he was healthy, Omar would manage to scew it up. Either way though, the Mets should be after a 1B and pitchers, pitchesr, pitchers….
If Omar Minaya brings back Delgado he’s a bigger idiot than I thought. It’s time to move on. Remember, Delgado was the one who said the Mets weren’t really trying in 2007 because they were bored.
GEEZ YOU DONT SAY
It’s a bit of a problem in planning, really. You want fast outfielders because the Wilpons have fenced the Grand Canyon. Therefore you need your power from the corners or behind the plate. Thole, naturally, has no power. Wright has lost his power and Ike Davis has only some power. Where is the plan here? I think Omar will try to bring Delgado back because Omar has zero imagination. Just like his bosses. And Delgado will go down again because he has never beel in shape and he is too old. The mets do not have enough to get Gonzalez. He is cheap right now. If he was making big money I would say they have a chance. But the Pads will want players.
wow Delgado out for the rest of the year, who didnt see this coming. The only way they should even entertain the thought of bringing him back next year would be an incentive based contract.
I wouldnt be opposed to that. If he’s healthy, he’s still a force to be reckoned with at the plate.
CAPSLOCK=DISABILITY ACCOMODATION.
THE DECIDING FACTOR IS BAT SPEED. CERTAINLY IF HE GOES DOWN AGAIN, IT’S A HUGE POWER VOID; BUT THEN AGAIN SIGNING ANY OTHER VIABLE 1B F/A MEANS THE SAME THING. I DISAGREE WITH THE ALOU COMPARISON & NOT WISHING TO SPLIT HAIRS, THE ’10 OPTION WAS 12M NOT 14 AND WAS A CEWRTAIN NO BRAINER. BTW, GAMES MISSED AS A NYM FOR TYHE MOST PAERT DUE TO UPPER BODY PROBLEMS RESULTING MOSTLY FROM HBP CIRCUMSTANCES NOT OUT OF SHAPE QUESTIONS. IS THERE A BETTER DEFENSIVE SPOT FOR AN “OLD MAN” IN CITIFIELD THAN 1B? I THINK NOT. IF HIS BAT SPEED IS RETAINED THAT’S POTENTIAL 30HR POP U DON’T GET FROM ANY OTHER REALISTIC ALTERNATIVE. IF NOT DELGADO, THE BEST6 OPTION POSSIBILITY IS HOPING TB DECLINES CRAWFORD’S 10M OPTION. I’M HOPING FOR AT LEAST A 130M PAYROLL, POTHERWISE WE’RE IN A HUGE HOLE. DELGADO’S THE ONLY POTENTIALLY AFFORDABLE SOLUTION TO BOTH POWER & 1B. ESP SINCE WE’LL NEED APPROX 15M/YR FOR A #2SP.(LACKEY,MARQUIS?) I BELIEVE IT SAFE TO BELIEVE CARLOS HAS BEEN CLEAN. I EXPECT NO HUGE DROP IN PRODUCTION FROM WHAT WAS EXPECTED LAST APRIL IF HE’S FULLY RESTED THIS OFFSEASON. HE’S ALWAYS BEEN A HARD WORKER & LIKELY NEEDS TO BE MONITORED TO PROTECT HIM FROM HIMSELF THIS OFFSEASON.