New York Mets: Van Wagenen’s depth plans tested early
By Ed Stein
It’s deja vu all over again for the New York Mets. Early in spring training injuries are mounting. New GM Brodie Van Wagenen’s plan to have a deep team is about to be tested.
Last season, injuries piled up on the New York Mets and that led to their downfall. When new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen took over at the end of October 2018, he vowed to build a deep team. After all, Major League Baseball is a seven month, almost daily, grind and players get hurt.
It’s a fact that human beings break down now and again. The key, in his mind, is to able fill-in players ready to go without losing too much production in the interim. That’s why he made the offseason moves to acquire more major league ready talent.
Most New York Mets fans figured come the regular season, they would see that plan in action. The team is one week into spring training games and already the depth plan is going into effect. Third base was thought to be solidly manned this year. Now it’s an area of concern.
The hot corner has been historically a black hole for the New York Mets since their 1962 inception. It wasn’t until the arrival of David Wright in 2004 that the position was buckled down for an extended period. In 57 years of existence 170 players have seen time at third for the Amazins. That includes Wright playing 1576 games (almost 10 full seasons worth) there. As a matter of fact, he is one of only five men to play 500 games at third. Last season,10 different players manned the position at one time or another. The monster is once again rearing its head.