Shawn Green comes to the Mets to give them a powerful hitter in the six hole, and replace the lamented Xavier Nady as a real corner outfielder and RBI threat behind the slumping kid at third-base, the one they used to chant "MVP. MVP, MVP" about way back in late June. He also gives them another mensch on the bench, to go with the likes of Delgado and Franco, Floyd and Glavine - older, productive character guys who know how to play the game.
Though it puts an end to the overblown "Team of Latinos" conspiracy theory, a Jewish leftfielder also appeals to a sizeable fan base in this metropolitan area of ours - a former All Star, still young at 33, good-looking, and he doesn't suit up for Yom Kippur. Omar Minaya knows what he's doing in Queens. If you follow the standings only, the Mets appear to have been cruising since May Day - except it's not true, really.
Although they play in the anemic National Leeague, the Metties have had to overcome quite a bit - the complete replacement of the starting staff, the loss of the best set-up man in the league to a Miami traffic accident, a massive hole at second base, and various mega-slumps (Heilman, Delgado) and assorted injuries. Pedro's been a non-factor for two months.They haven't really cruised; they've made the right moves to keep the big ship moving.
Think about who's gone from the opening day roster: Matsui, Zambrano, Bannister, Nady, Castro. Pick-ups like Hernandez and Mota, along with Heilman's resurgence, have given New York a dominant bullpen. Of course, they do have two legitimate MVP candidates in Beltran and Reyes, as dynamic a duo as there is in baseball.
But Willie's astute moves, the shuttle of starters under Peterson's care, and most of all, Omar's telephone work have kept the Mets moving steadily to dominance. Add Shawn Green, the best Jewish hitter in New York since Art Shamsky, already inspring "Messiah" signs from the wise-ass Shea denizens. He fits the Mets, he fits the Mets fans.
We've got a lot of Izzy Mandelbaum in us, left over from the Dave Kingman years perhaps - that sense that although we know we're tough, we're sure the world's out to screw us. Everyone thinks they're better than us. Well, hello, dough boy. We're here to whip you in to shape, so grab your jocks - if you need one. It's go-time.
