EXPECTATIONS for 18: T.J. Rivera

[Edgy MD]

Woo-hoo for Phil Evans. Good for him. Who doesn't root for a 15th round draft choice making his first opening day roster?

I'll tell you who. The born-a-Mets-fan New Yorker undrafted free agent whose job that was before he Evans and Tommy John conspired to steal my thunder. I'm T.J. Rivera, and I'm an infielder/outfielder who has inexplicably been felled by a pitching injury. The timetable of recovery may be shorter for non-pitchers, but I'm expected to miss at least a third of the season, and then there's rehab, and then there's waiting for an opportunity to open up. An opportunity that I had waited for for years, and successfully seized, before my UCL went rippedy-rip. T.J. It stands for Tommy John.

Bittter? A little, man. But the future is still out there. What does it look like? You tell me.

[fimg=159]http://mets.locals.baseballprospectus.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2016/08/TJ_Rivera_kid-1.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=337]https://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/usp_mlb__philadelphia_phillies_at_new_york_mets_85476480.jpg?w=1000&h=600&crop=1[/fimg] [fimg=304]http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2016/0913/r125525_600x400_3-2.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=312]https://images1.minutemediacdn.com/production/912x516/593d4123b17af1223d000001.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=312]https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dIQ_oi-VuAk/maxresdefault.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=176]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pLDAwVJKlFg/VTqHwL7ktRI/AAAAAAAAD88/mOU7y2VocMc/s1600/IMG_2144.JPG[/fimg]

Know what you're missing out on? Heroism!

REenfh_Nr0Y

[G-Fafif]

Dude has begun TJS rehab, playing for those St. Lucie Mets last night. Went 0-for-4 as DH.

[smg58]

It's a start. There's no need to rush him. But it will be good to have him back.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Allowing him a chance to reestablish himself would be a good use of the remaining games of the season. Especially after Cabrera is dealt away.