Adam Dunn: Big Donkey is one big but (or butt)

There is a reason why Adam Dunn is shopped every off-season and every trading deadline.

It’s not his defensive struggles. It’s not his extreme strikeout numbers (holds the major league single-season record, 195). It’s not his hefty contract ($8 million in ’09 and $12 million in ’10), or his hefty frame that slows him down both on the bases and in the field. It’s not he hasn’t played a meaningful game in September during his nine years of major league service (no post-season experience — period). It’s all of them — and then some.

Dunn is a big ‘ol country boy who does not like New York, “doesn’t enjoy his visits” to New York and seemingly would not be happy spending more time in Flushing.

SNY contributing writer Dan Graziano argues, “Adam Dunn is the great big solution to the Mets’ biggest problem … Dunn is exactly what the Mets need … they should do what it takes to get him … above all else is a difference-making offensive player …”

“He hits home runs,” writes Graziano.

That’s it?

The Mets have not hit with power in 2009, no question. The reason for the Mets power outage is debatable. Contributing factors include injury, age and a new, spacious ballpark. As of Saturday, the Mets as a team have hit 42 home runs. The defending World Champion Philadelphia Phillies have hit 96 home runs.

The difference between the injury-riddled Mets and the Phillies: two games. The distance between first and second place can be counted — in hits — one a single hand. The Mets are batting .232 with runners in scoring position and two outs and .211 with the bases loaded. Plain and simple, the Mets failure to execute has been more costly than any home run.

With two outs, the game tied 2-2 and Alex Cora in scoring position in the seventh inning of Thursday’s game at Camden Yards the Mets didn’t need a home run. They needed a base hit. Daniel Murphy delivered an RBI double. Carlos Beltran lined a single to left field, scoring Murphy. No home runs. The Mets used speed and situational hitting to take the lead.

One night earlier, the Mets left nine men on base (1-for-8 batting with runners in scoring position). With two outs and the bases loaded in the sixth inning, the Mets failed to get a key hit. Final score: Orioles 6, Mets 4.

The Mets “biggest problem” will not be solved by the ocassional longball from an overpaid, slow-footed, defensive liability who can drive a baseball 450 feet on occassion. The Mets “biggest problem” isn’t even home runs, it’s a half-dozen columns to the right on your statistical table: singles, doubles, situational hitting.

At 6′ 6″ and 240 pounds, the ”Big Donkey” as teammates call him, is not the “answer” to the Mets problems. His presence is nothing but a big “but” …