Opinion: What to do with Carlos Delgado
Yesterday, in a poll on MetsBlog.com, 62 percent of voters said that Carlos Delgado is their biggest concern as the Mets move 
forward through 2008.
The next biggest concern is the Bullpen, with just 18 percent.
…i agree…and, frankly, i’m at a loss with what the Mets should do with Carlos Delgado…on one hand, i know it’s early…Mark Teixeira is hitting .235, too…the problem, though, is that delgado had a slow bat last season, and he’s now a full year older…
…as i noted on several occasions last year, he has a long history of performing every other month…last year, he hit over .320 in September and July, and .273 in May, but under .250 in April, June and August…the same script played out every other month in 2006, of course all numbers were a bit higher that season…nevertheless, he went every other month…up, then down…up, then down…
…this year, he’s sort of done the same thing, but all in April…he started hot, hitting .357 through his first seven games, but since is batting just .106…
…so, it’s not like he can’t hit…he just can’t hit consistently…and when does, the peaks are smaller and the valleys are deeper…
…as i mentioned the other day, i have noticed more and more eye-rolls, shoulder shrugs and overall frustration regarding delgado from people connected to the team, to the extent that it has me wondering just what his future holds…in short, i believe the team is discussing how best to handle delgado’s struggles…
…the thing is, based on history, the Mets are not going to cut delgado and his $16 million salary…at least not yet…however, it would not surprise me if the Mets have another every-day first baseman during the second-half of the season…for that to happen, though, he needs a replacement and his struggles must continue…
…it’s too early to realistically consider 21–year-old Double-A 1B Mike Carp, who is hitting .425 with five HR in 19 games for Binghamton…he’s got talent…every one knows this…but he’s not an adequate replacement for a pennant-contending team in New York City just yet…soon, but not yet…
…also, i do not trust Fernando Tatis – at all – despite his eight home runs for Triple-A New Orleans, where he is hitting just .238…look, if tatis really could hit, he’d have more than 56 at bats in the major leagues over the last four seasons…at 32 years old, i would hope he could hit home runs in Triple-A…the fact that he can does not impress me…
…also, free-agent 1B Frank Thomas has no business being on the Mets…he’s a egocentric headcase who would not accept splitting time in Toronto, where they have the designated hitter…what on earth makes people think he’ll accept splitting time with delgado, while being forced to take the field…no thank you…it’s not 1999…this is not a fantasy team…also, Sammy Sosa is not a first baseman…hell, he’s barely an outfielder…and people wonder if he can play first…if he can, do you honestly think he’d better than delgado, all while having to answer steroid question after steroid question from the overtly-giddy new york media…unreal…
…lastly, i am also not in favor of putting Moises Alou, Angel Pagan or Ryan Church at first base…not yet, at least…it has not reached that point…first base is not as easy as fans would like to believe, just ask Mike Piazza and Gary Sheffield…now is not the time for trial by fire, or to teach an old dog new tricks…maybe soon, but not yet…
…instead, in the short term, the Mets should just sit delgado down…seriously…call it a mental break if you have to…fact is, he’s a mess, not just on offense, but also on defense…sit down, relax, clear your mind, carlos, don’t take batting practice, just do drills, and return in a few days with – hopefully – a fresh perspective…in the meantime, let Damion Easley get some at bats and let Marlon Anderson get some time, since their action will soon be reduced when alou returns…
…in the meantime, the Mets should continue to pepper teams with ideas and questions about who is available in trade, specifically the Pirates and Xavier Nady, who, to me, is the most obvious solution…he hits righty…he has played nearly 100 games at first over the last few seasons…he succeeded in – and liked – New York a few years ago…he hits…he’s balanced…and he’s well liked in the clubhouse and among the fans…the problem is that it will likely cost pitchers such as Eddie Kunz or Jon Neise to get him…no, Jorge Sosa will not get it done…
…the other day, i speculated that the answer will instead come in the form of a player like O’s 1B Kevin Millar, who, although not much better than delgado, is at least consistent…and he’s a fighter who craves winning…
…i could see a scenario in which a guy like millar, or Scott Hatteberg, are acquired, but this, too, is not yet necessary…
…basically, as Newsday’s David Lennon said on SNY prior to yesterday’s game, delgado has roughly one week to prove himself – before alou returns…if he doesn’t, he’ll most certainly be dropped in the order, after which i assume he’ll be even more on notice…then, many of the above options can be considered…
Yesterday, Delgado was 1 for 4 with two strike outs.
[Poll=75]
