Doc Gooden says Mets can be saved, Shohei Ohtani would 'fit great' in New York
It’s been a disappointing season so far for the 2023 Mets, but as the trade deadline approaches and the team decides whether they will be buyers or sellers, one of their greats believes with the right move the season can be saved.
“My personal opinion, they need a shot in the arm whether it’s a good pitcher coming in or another hitter coming in. I'd like to see something happen to give them a spark,” Dwight Gooden said Wednesday’s Baseball Night in New York. “Sometimes a team needs some fresh air. What I mean by that is having someone coming in that’s going to bring the energy there.
“I don’t think they have that energy in one guy who is going to get in someone’s face and call them out when they aren’t hustling or doing their job. I think that’s what’s missing.”
It’s unclear which acquisition would fit that criteria for the Mets but one player that could give them that “shot in the arm” is Shohei Ohtani. The two-way player who is having an MVP-caliber season would fit in with the Mets, at least that’s what Gooden feels.
“Ohtani is a great guy. I think he’ll fit great in New York. He’s welcome to No. 16 if he likes,” Gooden said with a smile. “I'll be the first to admit when you first came to the States I didn’t think it’ll last. Eventually you want to make this guy a pitcher because you know, normally everybody wants pitchers. But what he's doing for both ends is amazing. I think he’s a once in a generation type player and it's fun to see. So hopefully we'll get to see that on a regular basis here in New York.”
Gooden posted a photo of him meeting Ohtani on Wednesday and when asked about it, the former Cy Young winner stayed cheeky.
“I'll say I've heard some things and I’ll leave it at that.”
The Mets have not lived up to lofty expectations following a 101-win season and Gooden believes it's the team's inconsistency is the biggest reason for their struggles this year.
“You can’t point to one thing, it’s a combination of different things,” Gooden said. “When they have the hitting and they score runs, the pitching hasn’t been there. I think just to get more consistent with the offense.
“I’d like to see a more set lineup. What I mean by is having guys know where they hit in the lineup. that I know guys I played with in the early 80s were comfortable in certain spots. Not taking a shot at [Mets manager Buck Showalter] or anything like that, but I’d like to see a more set lineup.”
While the Mets have tinkered with their lineup for a variety of reasons this season, a mainstay that has impressed Doc has been rookie catcher Francisco Alvarez.
The 21-year-old has 19 home runs this season and with every longball rises up the team’s record books. But it's the combination of his power and ability to manage a pitching staff that's impressed the former Rookie of the Year most.
“Now that he’s come into his own, he can be the face of the New York Mets for years to come,” Gooden said. “ Just to hear from veteran pitchers how good of a receiver he is. And not to lose him in his at-bats is really impressive to me.”
Whether Alvarez's continued maturation helps the Mets sneak into the postseason is yet to be seen, but with the trade deadline set for Aug. 1 the powers that be don't have a lot of time to salvage the year.
But this organization has a knack for the miraculous, we'll see if they'll be able to tap into that.
