It seems that
Mo Vaughn and his former albatross salary have become the shining emblem for the mismanagement of the post-2000 WS Mets. Yes, trading for Maurice Samuels Vaughn was a mistake (thank you Steve Phillips), but at least as big a mistake was the signing of
Kevin Appier in the first place. The Mets signed a journeyman 34 year old pitcher with a career ERA+ of 120 to a 3 yr/$29.5MM contract before the 2001 season. Granted, the $34MM that the Mets ended up paying Vaughn, wasn't exactly chump-change; but my contention is that the gamble on Vaughn (who was also 34 in 2001) was a smarter risk than signing Appier. Vaughn had a higher upside, was an everyday player and really enjoys strip clubs. He also went to Seton Hall, which I find relevant.
On the heels of Todd Zeile's offensive indifference and Appier's ludicrous contract, you speak the truth in the context of the times. Getting Vaughn was a decent gamble and he's just a literally bigger target than others on the 2002 team and thus doesn't deserve to stand as the archetype of All That Was Wrong With The Mets. A less desperate team might have figured a way to work him back into playing condition and bring him along slowly, not insert him into the cleanup spot on Day One after a year of inactivity. But that was the Mets' fault, not Vaughn's.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy GMDB. "Go Mets" and "Die Braves" are marvelous symbiotic thoughts and bringing them together was inspired. Keep it up!