Five Thoughts on A-Rod

Don't have time to make this a full-fledged post, but I've been thinking a lot about A-Rod lately and have to say a few words. No flowery introduction, let's jump right in.

1. I find the idea of moving either David Wright or Jose Reyes extremely unpalatable.

For one thing, these guys are the cornerstones of the franchise. Bringing in A-Rod would change that somewhat, but only to a degree. Reyes and Wright will pre-date and outlast A-Rod. They're two of the most exciting players in the game, and they're both damn good at their positions (true, Wright's throwing leaves something to be desired).

Neither Wright nor Reyes is as pedigreed as Jeter was when A-Rod agreed to move for him, but I think some respect should be shown to the two guys who are the main attraction on this team.

2. Switch positions? Works every time!

Not just that, but I'm also a Mets fan, and it's impossible to have any optimism about position movement if you're a Mets fan. I mean, what comes to mind when you think of Hundley in left or Piazza at first or Reyes at second or Cameron in right? Mistake, mistake, mistake, mistake? Thought so.

It's not just that their defense suffered, these guys don't like moving positions, and I hardly blame them. They're professionals, they're trained in a certain discipline. Shortstop wasn't that different from second when you were playing ball in high school, but guys become major leaguers by being expert at particular positions.

Every now and then you have a Craig Biggio who can move seemlessly, but more often than not the guy who can move seemlessly is Joe McEwing (RIP).

3. In fairness, he was a Mets fan growing up.

It's stunning how little Mets fans care about this. Any other player -- any. other. player. -- that said they were a Met fan growing up, we would instantly fall in love with and desperately want him on the Mets. Hell, that's one of the things we love about David Wright.

We don't care because, seemingly, he doesn't care. Or he didn't care, we were told, in 2000, when it wasn't enough for him to play for his favorite team, he needed the private jet, and the private box, and the private marketing booth.

Ask your random fan what it would take for he or she to play for their favorite team and most would happily take the league minimum. Not A-Rod. A-Rod needed the league maximum. For my money, that's as important a piece of why fans can't understand him as weird press conferences about sleepovers he used to have with Jeter.

4. Bottom line, the Mets are playoff contenders, for now and for the rest of his contract, if they sign A-Rod.

Think about the mix with A-Rod in it. Between A-Rod, Wright, Reyes, and Beltran, you're locked in at four positions for at least the next four years, at which point Beltran comes off the books and A-Rod may start to decline (though by no means necessarily). Of course, that's exactly the same time when Wright and Reyes will theoretically be entering their primes, so that works out well.

5. Fuck the Reyes haters.

Trade Reyes? Are you people nuts?

Honestly, we would regret this one the rest of our lives. Let's never talk about it again.

- A.F.O.M.G.