Hit in the Head with a Fastball

New York -- During this past weekend, New York Mets third basemen David Wright was struck in the head, just above the ear, with a blazing fastball thrown from the extraordinary Cy Young-caliber arm of San Francisco Giants right-hander Matt Cain.

The jolt was only the latest thud in the history of a star-crossed franchise that has endured countless losing seasons in its history, and shameful disappointments in just about all the winning seasons. As a matter of fact, the pitch that struck Wright and sent him to the hospital and the overcrowded New York Met disabled list could be seen as a metaphor for all long-time Met fans...a high hard one that knocks you embarrassingly off your feet, and into pre-coma unconsciousness.

This year, it almost appears as if players are scrambling to jump on the Met disabled list as if it's an exclusive club or the waiting list for a posh beach condo. As one might expect, most Met fans are not amused.

"Wright getting hit in the head is like your general taking the bullet after his squad has been wiped out," said Peter Miceli of Putnam Valley outside of Citifield this week. "I'm just a casual fan, now, after years of semi-serious passion. There's just no end to the terrible things that seem to happen to this team, and unfortunately, most of them are self-inflicted."

Before the injuries, this year's Met team was deemed to be championship-caliber by many, but long time Met fans have a deeper understanding. The other shoe will drop at one point or another, and this week it was David Wright's.

"I was a season-ticket holder since the mid-'60's, and have agonized through some rough stretches, but this team and this organization is just not likable anymore," said the bi-coastal Len Klatt, a former fan who was passionate for more than 40 years. "The organization is as arrogant as they are clueless. They never seem to respond to challenges. And, for a big market team with a lot of resources, they are perennially baffling in the talent department...just an absolute mess."

The days of Ray Knight brawling at third base after a tough slide are long gone. These days, victory is characterized by someone finally emerging from the country club disabled list. Carlos Beltran bruised a bone only about four months ago, after all. Jose Reyes must be suffering from the longest hamstring pull in the history of amateur and professional sports.

Eventually, David Wright will be back to assume his customary duties as third basemen for the New York Mets...a very good player canonized unfairly by the organization as a future Hall-of-Famer. Perhaps his unfortunate beaning will have positive repercussions rather than post-concussions. We'll know that's true if, when he recovers, he packs his bags and runs as far away from Citifield as he can.