The Mets have had their fair share of embarrassments in 2010, and the main culprits are back at it again.
Professional-smiler-turned-benchwarmer Jeff Francoeur and the second baseman who is currently dead last among NL starters at the position in batting average, OPS, extra base hits, and total bases, Luis Castillo, are chatting it up to the New York media about how they deserve to be treated like starting players.
After his walk-off hit Tuesday night, Castillo was visibly bitter with his teammates and manager Jerry Manuel, as he refused to even crack a smile as his team mobbed him in excitement after a win against the Marlins.
"I thought I would be playing tonight but I am not making the lineup. What is going on here? I don't know what he's doing," Castillo told the Daily News prior to Wednesday's game against Florida.
The aging second baseman, a mere shell of his former self, is standing firm in his position of wanting out of New York. "I think we will talk to them about that," Castillo said. "I need to be in a different kind of situation. I don't know what they want to do. I want an opportunity to play, and if it is here, then I am happy. If it is somewhere else, then that's what it is."
It's become obvious that Castillo views himself in a much higher regard than the manager, the entire organization, and the fanbase. As he continues to handcuff the club by simply being on the roster, rookie Ruben Tejada is the one suffering.
At 20 years of age, Tejada clearly isn't ready to face major league pitching. His defense has been stellar, however, and his so called, "rookie mistakes" have been minimal. With time and development, Tejada can very well be the future at the position for the Mets (don't tell that to Reese Havens), but frankly it's too early for Tejada to be an everyday player. But don't blame him or the team, blame Castillo.
In much the same situation as Castillo, outcast rightfielder Jeff Francoeur has also asked to be a starter, or traded.
“We want to play every day,” Francoeur's agent told the Newark Star-Ledger earlier this month. She continued, “We prefer to play in New York. But if we’re not going to play every day in New York, we absolutely welcome the opportunity to play every day somewhere else.”
Francoeur, who has mesmerized fans with his million dollar smile, rifle throwing arm, and spirited grit, is currently second to last in the MLB in batting average and slugging percentage, last in on base percentage and OPS (on base % + slugging %). In addition, no right fielder in the league has played as many games and has fewer total bases or extra base hits then Frenchy.
But through all of this, Francoeur, and some blinded fans, seem convinced that he is the future of the Mets.
This offseason, however, should bring new homes to both Francoeur and Castillo, and in doing so, they'll finally let the young talent and the entire organization function as it's meant to.
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