Figgins Not The Fixing The Mets Need

Mets Blog

By Joseph Pascullo

Monday, November 16, 2009 12:16 AM EST

     Hello my fellow Mets fans and welcome back once again! Hot stove season is upon us as you know and as always, the stove is providing us with all the juicy gossip and rumors regarding free agents and trades our beloved Mets may look to pursue. Recently however, I've read through a couple of outlets that Omar and the Mets have developed interest in Chone Figgins formerly of the Los Angeles Angels to plug in the hole we currently display in leftfield. Based on everything we saw during the 2009 campaign, why Minaya and his crew would want to entrust Figgins with the leftfield job comes off as baffling to me. This is why.

     For starters over the past 3 seasons, Figgins has played 358 of his 389 games manning the hot corner known as third base, a position currently cemented closed by David Wright. As far as the outfield goes, Figgins has only appeared there a grand total of 12 times the past 3 years. Citi Field isn't any cakewalk, the outfield there is vast. Employing a guy there that hasn't appeared regularly in the outfield since 2006 is not going to solve any of the team’s problems, heck it’ll create a whole new one. He may be versatile and have the ability to play all over the field, but let's face it. If Figgins wants to come out of this winter with a starting job someplace, his best bet is to market himself as a third baseman. I don’t want the Mets to give a multiyear contract to a guy whose outfield play is rusty, making us all apprehensive during the contract’s duration.

     Aside from his absence from the outfield, Figgins' speed is arguably his best strength, and speed is something the Mets don't lack right now. The team finished 1st in the National League and 6th in the entire majors in swipes with 122 stolen bases. Let's not forget that that figure was achieved without full seasons out of David Wright, Carlos Beltran, and especially Jose Reyes. With those 3 men healthy and available for the whole season combined with Luis Castillo and off the bench threat Angel Pagan, there's little to no doubt that the Mets can once again lead the league in steals. More speed at this stage is nothing but an unnecessary luxury, not a priority.

     The real issue the Mets have is their lack of a power bat, a go to guy for the RBI. The Mets finished '09 25th in the majors in runs batted in, and dead last in home runs. Again, healthy seasons all around would have helped these sorry stats, but it's still an issue that needs to be attended to. Figgins is more of a leadoff/#2 type of hitter. He gets on base (17th in the entire major leagues) and has never really been much of an RBI guy because his style of play doesn't require him to be one. The Mets need a certified run producing player, and as far as the leftfield position goes, Matt Holliday and Jason Bay fit that bill nicely with each man driving in over 105 runs during their 2009 campaigns.

     I'm not in any way saying Figgins is a bad player. Figgins is a great hitter and a great speed threat, and any team looking for a leadoff man to set their offense's table should seriously consider locking Chone up. However as far as the Mets troubles go, Figgins wouldn't be doing anything to help out. His lack of outfield time over the past 3 years would be alarming heading into the season, and he wouldn't do a whole lot to aid us in the nonexistent power department we currently have. Omar really shouldn't be displaying interest in this guy. The fact that he is annoys me a little bit, and I once again have to wonder if the general manager is steering our club's ship in the correct direction. Are we cruising towards Octoberville, or Oblivion? My final verdict on Sir Figgins: a respectable player, but an unnecessary luxury, one the Mets can't afford to spend money on when more pressing needs are present.

     What do you guys think? Do you feel that signing Chone Figgins would repair the club? Or are you like me, and feel that Figgins doesn't help the team out in the areas that need sprucing, and should not be focused on this offseason. Comment your opinions below! I look forward to hearing from you, and as always my friends, thank you for stopping by to read!