Good morning Mets fans,
Everyone is hopped up about Dillon Gee this morning which is good, it has been a while since there was anything to be excited about. As I mentioned last night I only watched one pitch…
The Mets visited Walter Reed hospital yesterday…
From the Daily News:
The event perhaps also offered perspective on the Mets’ relationship with the three most prominent players who skipped the non-mandatory event – Carlos Beltran, Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo. All three have had issues with the Mets recently.
Still, David Wright was disappointed that everyone didn’t go. “You’d like to see everybody. I don’t think it’s big enough until you get everybody.
Wow. As captain of the team I am calling them out, starting with Ollie. Ollie where the hell were you yesterday?
And from MLB.com
Wright, Wilpon and pitcher Mike Pelfrey also plan on making their annual pilgrimage to Engine 10, the firehouse located next to Ground Zero in Manhattan, next Friday.
“Forget about being the New York Mets and playing baseball,” Wright said. “I think that just being American and living in this country, we owe it to those guys to say thank you and tell them how much we appreciate what they put on the line every day — and a lot of times what they’ve sacrificed. You’re talking about guys a lot younger than me that are going over there and giving up their lives trying to fight for our freedom.”
I’ve got no problem giving Castillo and Perez a pass on this. neither are citizens, and both of their native countries have an extensive history of US Military incursions.
Of course, I don’t know their reasons for opting out. But, it’s really none of our business.
Beltran. Beltran had better of spent the day getting treatment on his knee, or had been doing something pretty damn important.
I have no problem with anyone going or not going. The same way I have no problem with who or what charities players do or do not give to and what type of volunteer work anyone does. I don’t care who they do or do not worship.
There is no mandate for where or what athletes are required to do. Castillo, Perez and Beltran may have had other plans already set up. Families may have been in town. They may not be fully comfortable in hospitals. They may not have wanted to go for any number of reasons.
if Wright wants to privately make a big deal out of it, that’s his right as captain of this team. But as a fan, it’s no more my concern than if Beltran doesn’t want to stick around after a game to sign autographs.
Dirtdart:
I imagine Beltran might have opted out using a similiar rationale in cite in ‘defense’ of human waste perez and slappy castillo.
Recall Delgado’s stance regarding Vieques?
BTW: I’m not webstalking you… but familiar w/ you from UniWatch.
I agree with your analysis. Plus, it is my hope that Ollie and Luis are playing (or sitting the bench) for teams not in New York next season (if not sooner).
Carlos Beltran has always had a cool view of the New York fanbase, perhaps caused from getting booed during his first season here because he did not play like he did during the playoffs for Houston. If not for Julio Franco, Beltran may have already been ridden out of town on a rail. Without Delgado, I think he finds himself without many allies.
I’m not sure why anybody would have expected Oliver Perez to go on an optional team event — he hasn’t really been treated like part of the team in months.
Ollie should have agreed to go to the minors, but the Mets just need to cut him and let everybody move on.