Yes, I am on Twitter.
1. In today’s Post I wrote a column stating that the Mets must emphasize 2010 now. Among the items I suggested was to let the players who must be assessed play a lot without regards to wins and losses. Two of those players were Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans (now at Triple-A). I think we have a much better feel that both are not major league starters. But I wonder if they are even major league bench players. The Mets have been slow to recognize a shifting trend in the game: That teams are stressing defense, athleticism and run prevention in a greater way. Murphy and Evans are both poor defenders. So then you move to the question if they are good enough hitters to even be carried as spare bats.
2. I believe one of the biggest stories of this Yankee season is that Alex Rodriguez has made himself as invisible as Alex Rodriguez can make himself. In his first five years with the Yankees, Rodriguez had a way of being a human black hole who sucked all the life out of a clubhouse. He did this with his overt ego and insecurity. He had massive talent, but he also needed massive attention. He had an uncanny ability to say the wrong thing at the wrong time, and create a feeling of unease around him and the team.
Many times I wondered why Rodriguez did not have an advisor honest enough with him to essentially say “just shut up and play.” Well, he finally is doing that. Maybe the steroid controversy finally jolted him or natural maturity or — maybe — the configuration of the new Yankee Stadium. The new place has so many players-only, off-limits areas that some times I think you will see Big Foot before A-Rod.
Rodriguez has limited his public/media exposure and stream-lined his comments. I know a lot of folks have made a big deal about the zaniness of Nick Swisher or the pies of A.J. Burnett being vital to a more upbeat clubhouse. But I think Rodriguez’s willingness to recede to the background is more important.
DISCLAIMER: Why in my gut do I feel that some time in the next week I will regret writing about the quiet Alex Rodriguez?
3. The Phillies have four players with 20 homers already (Raul Ibanez, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jayson Werth). Ibanez and Howard have combined for 49 homers, just four fewer than the Mets have as an entire team. Sorry Met fans here is one more, you might want to leave here to go read a book:
The Mets have 20 homers left-handed all year or as many as Toronto’s Adam Lind. Nine lefty hitters have 21 one or more homers, including the Philly trio of Ibanez, Howard and Utley. The other six are Adrian Gonzalez, Carlos Pena, Adam Dunn, Prince Fielder, Russ Branyan and Justin Morneau.
