SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
Well, well, after spending a bundle on piecing together a contender, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen has some things to say Wednesday prior to the home game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
“I’m going to speak up and give it to you straight,” said Cohen, “go through some things that the fans are upset about, that I myself are not happy about.”
After Cohen, who grew up in Long Island as a Mets’ fans and is the wealthiest owner of any professional franchise poured in big bucks prior to the season, the Citi Field tenant in the borough of Queens was listed as a pre-season top of the heap group.
Instead it has tumbled to where it is now 16 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East, and has won only six times in June. It just came off seven losses in eight outings before defeating Milwaukee Tuesday, 7-2.
To break it down, the blame falls upon long-time manager Buck Showalter. Fans have piled it upon him for his handling of the pitching and putting together down and out lineups, especially in the bottom spots.
But Cohen hasn’t made any mention of being a modern George Steinbrenner and firing Showalter. The majority of the fans favor that, but the owner has stayed away from that. But what choice does he have?
Said Mets’ general manager Billy Eppler: “Look, he’s the guy to get us back on track in regard to Showalter.”
Really, well what’s taken him so long?
As of this point of the season’s halfway mark, the track has gone in reverse. True, the franchise has played a dozen more road games than those at home, but that’s a poor excuse.
The starting pitching has been up been up and down like the Cyclone in Coney Island, the bullpen has been a matter of numbers, more names than reliable success, the lineup at the top has been decent behind centerfielder Brandon Nimmo, maybe the only Met to make it to the All-Star game thanks to his lead-off strength and defense.
Right-fielder Starling Marte has been decent, yet strikes out too much, shortstop Francisco Lindor has been steady in the field with solid production at bat, young catcher Francisco Alvarez has really began hitting the ball, Jeff McNeil is a capable infielder-outfielder, and Pete Alonso, recently named team captain, leads the majors in home runs and will probably seek a third straight All-Star game home run derby victory.
Third baseman Eduardo Escobar is gone, traded to the Los Angeles Angles this week for two minor league pitchers, and young Brett Baty has stepped in with mixed reactions. Then there’s heavyweight lefty batter Daniel Vogelbach, and he has contributed only four home runs this season while toying around in the dugout in between innings.
They just brought up 22-year-old Ronny Mauricio, who plays shortstop, which is Lindor’s position, was this Eppler’s or Showalter’s decision, and where does Mauricio fit in? Trade him perhaps, maybe get a starting pitcher, Eppler or Showalter?
But right now it falls upon Cohen, the poor owner who is in fact a wealthy owner. Catch him on the tubes.
