The topic of the Mets' "core" is an exhausted one around these parts, but I don't care.  Writing up the "Off Day WAR" posts has hammered home the true reasons for the 2006-2008 Mets' problems.  None of these reasons are the production of our talented center fielder and third baseman (or our talented and disabled shortstop, for that matter).  I want to recognize the greatness of David Wright and Carlos Beltran once again.  These 2, along with Johan Santana, have almost singlehandedly carried the Mets this season.  Forget that Wright struck out against Kiko Calero; forget that Beltran misremembered how to slide a couple times.  Instead, please recall the valuable plate appearances each of these superstars have had over the long term.  Here are the Fangraphs wins above replacement (WAR) of Wright and Beltran, compared to the WAR of the rest of the Mets' position players.  I excluded hitting statistics for pitchers:

Unjustified hatred of the Mets' superstars by uninformed fans is a main reason I started writing last year, and these 2 should be commended for their performances this season.  I haven't even touched on Santana, whose 2.4 WAR is greater than the rest of the starting rotations' combined 1.1 WAR, (via Statcorner), but I feel even the most Cro-Magnon Mets fan can comprehend Johan's value.  That's all, I'll keep it short and simple.