The Star Was Bright, Fernando

So in about six years, when Fernando Martinez is hitting big home runs in the World Series for the Kansas City Royals, here’s a tip: Before you do what I did, and mock the general manager who let him go for nothing on Twitter because it’s “typical Mets” (See Cruz, Nelson), remember that the Mets waived Martinez because he’s the only 23-year-old in captivity with arthritic knees.

And remember the lesson learned: Prospects are just that, prospects. They are not demi-gods who deserve to have statues built for them after the age of 16. Nobody is a top prospect at the age of 16. And if he was, then certainly he would not be a Met … he’d be a Washington National with Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper. The guy was untouchable during a time when the Mets were close enough to the promised land that they could have used him for that one player they needed. But instead, the Mets had him in the Hall of Fame already and made him, and his Charleston Chew hamstrings untouchable. And now, the swing that reminded Ralph Kiner of Ted Williams is on waivers, for anyone to have.

I applaud our management (and our fan base) for not comparing Zack Wheeler, Matt Harvey, and Jeurys Familia to Seaver, Koosman, and Ryan. Pumping their tires to that extent would only help if they were ready to deal them for major league help, and that’s not happening. Omar Minaya pumped this kid’s tires so hard they could have gotten Manny Ramirez and his fertility drugs for him. But that didn’t happen. Now, the Dominican DiPietro is on waivers. Come get him, major league baseball.