"Yet, the manager is dropping hints that Wright will bat fifth, with Paul Lo Duca in the two hole and Carlos Beltran behind him in the No. 3 spot."
Felz is pleased.
Felz might have a lot to write about next season.
Felz will have a big smile on his face every time Loduca grounds out to end the game while Wright is on triple deck.
" 'I guess I'm a show-me guy, I want to see that David can keep making the adjustments,' Randolph said Monday, leaving yet another clue. Fair enough, he doesn't want to rush the kid. But anyone who saw Wright tear up the National League after the All-Star break last year -- batting .333 with 16 homers in 273 at-bats -- would agree he became the Mets' greatest all-around threat."
This show-me attitude probably explains Randolph's unwillingness to just hand overthe leadoff spot to a young player like Reyes.
"Of course, batting Wright third effectively would crown him as the Mets' crown jewel, effectively demoting Beltran. That's probably too great of an admission for Randolph to make, and politically, a nearly impossible move for a team that has $119 million invested in the center fielder."
This is a "nearly impossible move"? It's simple. Before the game, when you make out the lineup card, you put Carlos Beltran in the #2 spot and you put David Wright in the #3 spot. If anybody is dumb enough to question the decision, tell them to look at the stats.
"Wright sounds convincing, but egos and organizational obstacles aside, the stats suggest not only is Wright better suited than Beltran to hit third, but Beltran is a better choice than Lo Duca to bat second."
No kidding.
If Randolph is unwilling to put the best lineup out there because of egos and organizational obstacles -- whatever that means -- then I am forced to wonder what Randolph is being paid to do.
No comments:
Post a Comment