ktw@whuxi.UUCP (WOLMAN) (12/11/84)
[Somebody pinch me, then get me tickets on the first base line at Shea!!!] Very rarely have Mets player deals given the fans reason to scream and yell for joy, but last night was one of those times; and it will carry over into the ballpark this summer. For those among you who haven't heard: GARY CARTER IS THE METS' NEW CATCHER! This does not belong in net.jokes. It's absolutely true. To get Le Receveur (I still think of him as a Montreal player!), the Mets had to give up some good players, the best of whom at this point is Hubie Brooks (along with Herm Winningham, Mike Fitzgerald, and some other guy in the minors). Rather than the horror that attended the trades of guys like Seaver and Ryan, this one should be met with joy. Hubie was a fine third baseman and coming shortstop; but he is replaceable. Gary Carter, however, is one of the great catchers of his generation, both defensively and offensively. He is 30, which means he will probably have only a few more productive years behind the plate; but I would guess his bat will outlast his knees, and if he can play other positions, he will be around the Mets for a good while. The middle of the batting order should be astounding: Hernandez, Carter, Strawberry, Foster. If I were pitching for another NL team, I would take a high colonic before I went to the mound. . . . Ken Wolman Bell Communications Research whuxi!ktw