Mets Reach 15 Games Over 500 With One Hand Tied Behind Back

 August 22nd, 2008

The Mets have won 14 out of their last 18, yeah, the Cubs do stuff like that. What makes this 2008 team so amazing is HOW they won those games. It almost seems like a sniffy, tear jerker war movie, so many of the big guys injured, and the little guys are carrying the whole team on their backs. That's why I say the Mets are doing it with "one hand tied behind their backs," but in fact there are about nine guys whose hands have been tied, enough to form a whole team, and an expensive team with a higher salary than the Florida Marlins.

Here's the numbers, and you won't believe it.

Pedro Martinez $11,813,315   injured from 4/2 to 6/3

Billy Wagner, $10,500,000  crippled since August 6th

Moises Alou $7,500,000  played from 5/2 to 5/22, then injured since June 6th,

Orlando Hernandez $7,000,000  injured since March 29th.

 Luis Castillo $6,250,000 injured since July 3rd.

Ryan Church $2,000,000 injured since June 29th.

Ramon Castro $1,975,000 injured from 3/21 to 5/9.

Marlon Anderson $1,050,000 injured  5/24 to 6/10 and then from 8/2 onward.

Duaner Sanchez  $850,000  injured from March to June 

John Maine $450,000 on DL from 8/3 to 8/13

Also remember that Brian Scheider ($4,900,000) has been playing with a sore thumb and has had to miss alot of games. Also injured is former post season star Trot Nixon, Angel Pagan, Jason Vargas, and, oh a couple others. 

So who's been winning all these games?
N/A salary guys like Nick Evans (one day in AAA)  Danny Murphy(no days in AAA), Argenis Reyes, and Eddie Kunz. Now we have Luis Ayala for a song, and he's going great.

Take note, Steinbrenners, money can't buy everything!

These expensively crippled Mets could form a lovely hospital courtyard team. I'd have Castro catching, Orlando Hernandez pitching, Anderson at short, Castillo at second,  Alou in right, Church in center, and Nixon in left. Maine would have to fill in at third and Martinez at first. Wagner and Sanchez would be the relievers. Talk about the high cost of hospital care... their total salaries add up to over $46,000,000!  Its an "amazing" team that can put $46M in talent on the bench--a whole team in fact-- and still win 14 of 18. 

So the Mets have a great farm system after all. As Steve Somers might say, "Who knew?"

 Our new Mr. Met Team Mascot