Here we go again. Not even 20 games in and panic is already rearing its ugly head among the fan base. You would think that after the last two seasons they’d learn to take a week or two week slump in stride by now and understand that baseball is a marathon and not a sprint.
And what’s the first thing a Met fan wants when they are in a sheer panic? Call up the team’s number one prospect of course… regardless if he’s ready or not… because that will solve everything… and it will prove that the front office is serious about winning. It’s almost hilarious.
It’s amazing that there’s so many out there that truly operate at that mode. Thankfully we have a front office that acts like the adult in the room and doesn’t get their cues from crazed fans who’ve lost their ability to think straight. Somebody needs to protect those fans from themselves.
Top prospect Amed Rosario had two more hits last night to raise his batting average to .414 in 18 games for Triple-A Las Vegas. He has no home runs and only four of his 29 hits were for extra bases but he still has a robust .940 OPS to go with with his .455 on-base.
It’s a ferocious start for the 21-year old prospect, I agree, but he still has only 84 games above Single-A baseball under his belt.
GM Sandy Alderson has already weighed in on Rosario (and Dominic Smith) just three days ago saying:
“We’re very happy with the way they’ve started. I don’t think it accelerates any timetable but I think it’s starting to confirm what we’ve all believed,” Alderson said. “They’re top-level prospects and they’ve got a good future with the Mets.”
It won’t be long until we see Rosario patrolling shortstop for the New York Mets at Citi Field. But the worst thing you can do is alter your plan in a panic-stricken move before your scouts and development people say he’s ready.
The job for any good front office is to ignore the pleas from an angry and impatient fan base and make sure they are setting up their best prospects for success. That means never bringing them up to assume a savior role when the entire team is slumping and morale in the clubhouse might be in short supply.
The time for Rosario is coming. It might be in July or it might be sooner than that. But one thing’s for certain — that time is not right now. This current slump the team is in is Terry Collins‘ problem, not Amed Rosario’s. Figure it out, win some games, get your groove back, and then when the time is right… promote the kid.
