Mets Corner Outfielders: On The Decline
Like most New York Metropolitan fans, I have my concerns before the season begins. Yes, our starting pitching is an issue. In fact, the entire pitching staff is an issue. But I have harped on that quite enough thus far. Most fans are optimistic about this season and so am I... kind of. Some may see the glass as half empty or half full. I see the glass as completely empty and I am way to lazy to clean it, especially since I don’t even have a dishwasher and my dish towels are filthy with remnants of beer and floor dirt. But to me, it just seems that Shawn Green and Moises Alou are very close to bottoming out this year. Both have had impressive careers up to this point. Unless a player is at the skill level of a Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens, by the time they reach their late thirties, expect a serious decline in games played and overall production at the plate and the field.
Moises appeared in 155 games in 2004, 123 games in 2005, and 98 games in 2006. Would it be a complete shock if he only played 75 games in 2007? I wouldn’t be surprised. I don’t think even the living organisms that have formed on my dishtowels would be surprised either. Remember that Moises batted after Barry Bonds last year. Barry leads the league in intentional walks every year. This gave Alou so many opportunities to see great pitches and drive in runs. Don’t think that this didn’t skew his statistics at least a little bit. I will give him a chance, but his spring has been about as productive as Isiah Thomas’ Knicks after he got his contract extension (lost 6 of last 7 games).
Shawn Green has looked better in the plate since an early spring slump. But he has not been as productive as a corner outfielder is expected to be. After having 28 home runs and 86 RBI’s in 2004, he diminished to 22 and 73 in 2005, and then 15 and 66 last season. He is also a liability in the field. Watching Shawn Green trying to throw someone out at home plate is like Ferris Bueller putting Cameron’s fathers red Ferrari in reverse in order to fix the odometer.
So I presented a potential problem that the Mets could have this season. Two struggling corner outfielders, that could have difficulties playing through a long and arduous season and then some more games in October. Solution? Endy Chavez. He is the answer to any problem one could have. When my boss asks me why I am not at quota with 3 days to go in the month, you want to know what I say? “Relax Boss, Endy Chavez”. You want to know what he says back. “Ohhhhh yeeeaahhh, I apologize Dave, get back to writing your article on company time”. Besides getting me out of jams at work, Endy has the ability to play any outfield spot. He led the Mets in outfield assists last year playing part time (you hear that Carlos!) and he had a .300 batting average as well. We also have Lastings Milledge to take time away from these geezers. I think that Milledge and Chavez should split time 50-50 with Green and Alou. This would also be beneficial, as the two veterans would have fresher legs towards the pennant race and then the playoffs. This is when their experience is needed the most.
