Chavez’s disastrous night increases the urgency for Minaya to pick up a new corner outfielder in the next week. Chavez was the face of three of the Mets worst plays of their worst game of the year (so far). He ran the Mets out of 2 potential big innings, getting caught at the plate (badly) twice with no out, Wright on, and the big hitters coming up. Then the game’s biggest hit was an opposite field flair that went over Chavez’s head.
Now it’s certainly true that Chavez shouldn’t be starting this often, and that the Mets need to acquire a corner outfielder before the deadline to replace Alou, especially since Church is questionable. But Chavez played well. He had 3 hits. Getting caught at the plate wasn’t his fault. They were idiotic decisions by the third base coach. No way Chavez should have been sent on those. I can’t tell whether or not a different outfielder would have caught that fly ball. But this was a tough, tough loss, Chavez is going to take some of the blame, and the Mets are even more likely to find Chavez’s replacement in the starting lineup.
Posted by Gil Reich 
