STRAW' POLL
Mets legend believes future 'bright' in Citi
PORT ST. LUCIE — Darryl Strawberry sees a “bright future” for the Mets given their influx of young talent and new regime’s vision for the organization.
For the franchise’s all-time home run leader it’s a theme that resonates from his playing days: Develop talent through the farm system and keep replenishing it. But Strawberry also isn’t about to discount this season.
“I wouldn’t call it a complete reset, they are still good enough to win right now,” Strawberry said Tuesday at Clover Park, where he is serving as a Mets guest instructor this week.
Strawberry, whose No. 18 will be retired by the team on June 1, was part of the wave that arrived to help the Mets win their last World Series title in 1986. The group developed from within also included Dwight Gooden, Mookie Wilson, Lenny Dykstra, Wally Backman and Kevin Mitchell, among others.
The new prospects on whom the Mets are banking include Drew Gilbert, Jett Williams and Luisangel Acuña Jr., with starting pitchers such as Christian Scott, Mike Vasil and Dominic Hamel expected to compete for jobs either later this season or next.
Frank Cashen was the architect of the Mets’ last World Series winner. Now it’s president of baseball operations David Stearns trying to find the right mix that can end the championship drought.
“[Stearns] is doing exactly what Frank did,” Strawberry said. “When I look at some of the things he’s done this offseason and the way most want to criticize him, saying he’s not doing a good job … he’s doing a good job because he is looking at the future of the New York Mets. He’s looking at the talent and he’s looking at the current team, what the needs are — which is good because your owner has a lot of money but he’s not throwing it away.”
Strawberry, who battled a cocaine addiction, ultimately left the Mets through free agency. He would like to think Pete Alonso won’t follow that same script after this season. Strawberry says there is a big difference between his situation and Alonso’s.
“The opportunity to stay in New York will be open to him,” Strawberry said. “The opportunity was not there for me. I think the front office and people here do like [Alonso] and if you have a big year now they have got to open up their hands to you. … When I got to that point they told me I had to have a big season. I had a big season and then we didn’t talk.”
Strawberry, whose Christian ministry takes him on the road over 250 days a year, was asked what message he has this week for the players.
“I don’t really have one,” Strawberry said. “I just need a break, so I am taking a break from working and to come down and put a uniform on. I wore this uniform for a long time and had great success with this uniform.
It’s fun to come down here and see the guys.”