Irrelevance or Punch Line? You Chose
Francisco Rodriguez has been released without bail, ordered to stay away from his girlfriend’s father, he is facing third-degree assault and second-degree harassment charges, and he has been suspended by the Mets for two days without pay.
The buzz from Citi Field suggests the team could also direct Rodriguez to anger management classes after he returns from suspension.
To read specific information about the ‘incident,’ and the ‘history of violence,’ as well as player and team reaction, check out this report on ESPN.com.
Personally, I have never been comfortable judging personal lives.
The on-record, disappointed-yet-supportive reaction from David Wright, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Jeff Francoeur all seem to jive with a similar statement issued by Jeff Wilpon before yesterday’s game, when he said:
“Ownership and the organization are very disappointed in Francisco’s inappropriate behavior and we take the matter very seriously.”
Yes, I find their lack of emotional reaction to be disheartening, but I wasn’t there, I don’t know Rodriguez and I don’t own the team.
That said, I’m totally comfortable judging the team… and, I am so disappointed in what is going on here, not just in action but in response to the action, and I’m embarrassed to be a Mets fan.
It’s getting to a point in which I find people taking pity on me for the team I root for, which sucks. It used to be Yankees fans would razz me, because of a perceived ‘rivalry.’ Now, I get an arm around the shoulder, pity, and a condescending-concern, that says, ‘I’m sorry, man, that sucks, I hope they turn it around for you guys.’ I mean, from Yankee fans. Jeeez.
And that’s the thing, once again, instead of people talking about baseball, it’s off field crap, and – to them – the Mets are a punch line.
It’s late summer, and New York City is talking about the Mets today, but not because of Johan Santana’s complete game shutout and the dream of sweeping the Phillies and then playing 14 games against terrible teams, but because of a player being arrested… otherwise, the Mets would be irrelevant.
So, that’s the choice I guess: Irrelevance or Punch Line?
Thanks for narrowing down our options, guys.
I believe you are known by the company you keep. The people you associate with, the people you do business with, the people you hang out with, these partnerships help to define who you are.
Right now, like it or not, the Mets are viewed as a ‘circus,’ they’re defined by Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo, not Wright and Reyes, and they’re seen as connected to controversy, not miracles; Ponzi schemes, not business savvy; handcuffs, not trophies; and players who believe in ‘assault,’ not winning.
Is this fair? Probably not. Does it matter if it’s fair? Not at all. Because, like it or not, perception is reality.
Sure, the Mets could have gotten away with all of this 20 years ago, maybe even 10 years ago. But today, with how the Yankees run their operation, with the economy as it is, with the cost of Citi Field and other entertainment options in New York City, the Mets have to be better than this, not just on the field but off it as well.
The Mets need to decide who they are, specifically what type of franchise they want to be, what type of product will they offer New York and, most important, how can they make it happen. They ignored these questions last off season, instead relying on hope that it would all work out. Well, it hasn’t.
Like I said last winter: ‘Hope is not a strategy.’
Eventually, there must be real accountability, not just talk but words… real changes must occur… a real plan must be put in place, not just vague language about pitching and defense… and talented, smart people must be put in position to carry out that mission, i.e., the best and brightest, not just nice guys, friends and family.
Otherwise, I’m afraid the Mets will keep making us choose between being irrelevant or being a punch line… and I’m sick and tired of that choice.
To read more about this subject, be sure to check out Bob Klapisch in the Bergen Record and Joel Sherman in the New York Post.
