Who's on First?

from MetsLifer.com
Carlos Delgado has a hip injury. He might say it's fine and he feels good, but I guarantee that this is going to come back to bite us at some point during the season.

So if Delgado becomes an issue or continues his slump from last year, who is our answer?

There isn't an official backup first baseman on the Mets roster. We've got Damion Easley, a makeshift all purpose guy who doesn't really excel at any individual position and is a decent hitter at the plate. He's good for filling in holes, but not a guy I want out there every day.

Marlon Anderson is choice number two. I love what he does for us as a pinch hitter and an off the bench kind of guy, but again he's not an every day player in my opinion. He had some success playing every day with the Nationals, but he's not going to give us the production we want from a regular first baseman.

After Anderson, there's Abreu and cast of other potential fill ins. Never before have I thought we should have held on to Shawn Green, but it's not like he's a heaven sent addition either.

What I would like to see is if Ruben Gotay can play first base. I know the kid is injured right now which effects this proposition, but spring training is a great time to test this out. With Luis Castillo as the starting second baseman and with Easley & Anderson both experienced and capable backups, Gotay may find himself on the outside looking in come opening day.

We've seen this before. Remember Jeff Keppinger? Got called up in mid-season, hit the cover off the ball and then was in the minors the following year never to be heard from again. Sure he got injured, but his moment to become an every day Met was gone. Now he's back in the majors and hitting the ball well.

I think Gotay is our modern day version of Jeff Keppinger. He just needs a chance. Believe me he is not an answer to our first base issues. I'd still like to see us get a guy like Texiera in the future, but the current free agent/trade options including Nick Johnson, Richies Sexson, et al aren't exactly exciting to me.

Gotay has got a good bat although he tends to hit better from the left side. He's a decent fielder, but at first base that can often be hid. Gotay would need some practice/experience to get comfortable there so that's why it's so disappointing to me that he's injured right now.

I like Gotay a lot and want to see him get another shot to prove that he deserves to be in the big leagues. Honestly, his production as an every day player may be on par, if not better than, what we'll get from Delgado this year, except for maybe home runs.

If Gotay can get off those crutches and field a few grounders, I'd love to see Willie Randolph give him some touches at first base. Could be a valuable option for us come May.

And Then There Were 3

3 days to decide destiny. 3 games to determine the fate of this season. 3 pitchers who need to bring their best stuff. 3 wins is what we need.

The Mets are a game back in the Wild Card so we need to win this division. We need to win it tonight. A win tonight rights this ship, if only temporarily, and gets the fans and players back in the right mindset.

It's a Friday night game at Shea so the stadium should be packed. All eyes will be on this team waiting for it to crumble. While the Phillies have been out there creating their destiny, the Mets have been stumbling toward oblivion.

But all that doesn't matter right now. What matter is 3 games. 3 wins in 3 nights. That's all we can control. The cards will fall as they may. But 3 wins is what we need.

I also think there are 3 players that need to perform in these next 3 days or else we might be watching playoff baseball without our beloved Mets. First one is Jose Reyes. Reyes has become the David Copperfield of this team in September with his ability to disappear in this lineup. He needs to put his slump (and his home run swing) behind him and focus on getting on base. We all know that as Reyes goes so do the Mets. He needs to go full tilt the next 3 days.

The second player is Carlos Delgado. Sure you could say Beltran. You could say Alou. But I think Delgado is the man the Mets will need these next 3 days. Alou is en fuego so you know he'll get his hits. Beltran has been pretty steady, but if Delgado shows up to play he's the linchpin that could set a winning streak in motion. We've seen little production from him lately so a boost in his performance should spur this team to victory.

And finally the 3rd and most important player is David Wright. David Wright is our MVP. He may not win the NL MVP, but he needs to perform like he is. We rely on his performance as our foundation for this ball club. He cannot waiver now. We need him to be clutch. No more double plays, but plenty more of those opposite field hits. Once again the Mets need David Wright to carry this team.

3 is the magic number at this point. Forget the past and focus on 3. 3 wins. That's all I want. Then we'll see where that gets us on Monday morning.