Mets Merized Online

What an excellent column Ken Rosenthal wrote today for Fox Sports.

After reading his story I feel so much better about the future of the Mets outfield beyond 2007. Maybe Omar knew exactly what he was doing when he signed Moises Alou to that one-year deal, and why he hung on to Shawn Green, whose contract expires at the end of this season.

It looks like the Mets have some huge prospects on their way in the names of Carlos Gomez, 21 and Fernando Martinez, 18. Carlos Gomez is the most athletic of the two and has an impressive combination of power and speed and has a canon for an arm. Jose Reyes admitted that Gomez is faster than him and Carlos Beltran recently said that Gomez is much better than he was at the same age. Fernando Martinez is not as fast but is projected to hit with more power. He is often compared to a young Manny Ramirez.

Both of them are expected to be ready to contribute by the 2008 season, unless they hit their way to the Mets sooner. With Lastings Milledge already on the big league roster, it’s easy to see that the Mets are looking pretty good in the outfield for the next 8-10 years. As a matter of fact, who knows… maybe when the Mets get the All-Star game in 2011, the starting outfield will be Carlos Beltran flanked by either Milledge, Gomez or Martinez.

In my heart of hearts, there is no doubt that last year was just a dress rehearsal for the New York Mets. Sure I was devastated as I watched that backdoor curve freeze Carlos Beltran in game 7 of the NLCS for the last out. But I also understood the significance of everything we witnessed last season. It was a total cumulative collaboration of team work at it’s finest. Despite all the adversity, the Mets were diligent in their effort every step of the way and they grew more resilient as they overcame each obstacle.

To me it was all just a precursor for what I believe will be one of the Mets’ greatest seasons ever. The lessons from last year are already in play this spring as I hear each player saying the right thing and doing the right thing. The guys we depend on the most on offense, all showed up early. Reyes packed on 13 pounds of muscle, Beltran vows to steal more bases, and Wright worked out all offseason learning how to become more patient at the plate. These Mets don’t make excuses, they learn and grow, and have a yearning desire to get to the World Series.

You should all know that I’m just not talking out of my love for the Mets, and these are not the ravings of an over-exuberant fan. I’m ready to back my words up, and not with more rants, but rather a more sound and statistical approach. Here’s 5 reasons why I believe the Mets are going to the World Series this season.

1. Jose Reyes – Whenever people talk about MVP candidates from the Mets, you always hear the names of Carlos Beltran and David Wright. Well, I beg to differ. Jose Reyes is more valuable to the Mets than either Beltran or Wright. His ability to impact a game is unmatched by either of them. When Reyes gets on base, pitchers have to alter their delivery, catchers lose their focus, and defenses change their alignment. He completely unravels the opposition. Last year he led the Majors with 17 triples and 64 stolen bases, and became the first player in Major League history to have 122 runs or more, 194 hits or more, 19 homers or more, and 64 stolen bases or more in a single season. He also started in his first All-Star game, batted .300, and became the 9th Met ever to hit for the cycle. Nuff said! At only 23 years old, the best is yet to come.

2. Bullpen – Last year the Mets bullpen was among the best in baseball and there is no reason to believe that they wont repeat. The Mets superbly engineered their bullpen to the point of taking over a game in the 6th or 7th inning without losing any of its effectiveness over the course of the season. They created a model which is now being duplicated by even more teams this offseason. Salaries for middle relievers skyrocketed after 2006 as more and more teams became convinced that they needed specialized relievers for different aspects of the game, not just a closer and a setup man. Last year Willie Randolph used his bullpen like a surgeon, effectively using the strengths of each pitcher to extinguish any threats from the opposition. Guys like Pedro Feliciano, Darren Oliver, and Chad Bradford were no less important than their closer Billy Wagner, and setup man Aaron Heilman. The results were nothing short of amazing as the Mets bullpen led the National League with an ERA of 3.25 while having the fewest blown saves (15) and second most saves (43). They also led the majors in wins (32) and opposing batting average (.239), while finishing 2nd in strikeouts with 485. To sum it up… they were absolutely dominating! Despite the losses of Chad Bradford and Darren Oliver, the Mets may even improved with the additions of Scott Schoeneweis and Ambiorix Burgos.

3. Moises Alou – What the Mets desperately needed more than anything else this offseason was to find themselves a hitter that can hit left-handed pitching. Their lack of such a hitter may have been one of the main reasons the Mets failed to advance to the World Series in 2007. In Moises Alou, the Mets have acquired one of the most lethal right-handed hitters in the game. Last season he batted .301 and hit 22 homeruns with 74 RBI’s in only 345 at-bats. Against left-handed pitching he batted .349 with an on-base percentage of .407 and a .687 slugging percentage. He has batted .290 or better in 7 of the last 9 years, and .300 or better for 9 straight seasons against left-handed pitching. He is a fiery competitor who can work the count as good as anyone in the game and despite his power, he has never struck out more than 87 times in a season. In fact, in his last 700 at-bats he has only struck-out 74 times. His presence on this team will have a massive positive effect on David Wright, similar to the effect Carlos Delgado had on Carlos Beltran last season.

4. Tom Glavine – The Mets may not have signed any of the big free agents in the offseason, but making sure they kept their current ace, Tom Glavine, from leaving was a major priority. Luckily for the Mets, Glavine decided to stay and try to win his 300th game as a New York Met. In 2006, Glavine had his best year since the 2002 season and even earned a spot on the All Star team. The 40-year old lefty, went 15-7 in 32 starts with a 3.83 ERA, and his home ERA of 2.84, was the best in the NL East. Glavine was well on his way to winning 20 games and had compiled a nine game winning streak before going into a mild slump after returning from a blood clot scare. However, he finished the season strongly and was very effective in the postseason going 2-1 in three starts, with a sparkling 1.59 ERA. If the Mets are to have any chance at returning to the post-season, they will need Tom Glavine to be every bit as good as he was last season. As Glavine chases win number 300 into the history books, you can be sure that the Mets will be riding his chase into the World Series.

5. Destiny – Last season was only the first chapter in what is going to be a great story of how the Mets won it all in 2007. They have a great blend of veterans and youth unlike any other team in the National League. They have guys that are hungry for World Series ring like Carlos Delgado, Paul LoDuca, Moises Alou, and Tom Glavine, who wants his last season to be his most memorable. They have battle tested kids like David Wright, Jose Reyes and John Maine, who each got a sip of pennant fever and want even more than just a taste in 2007. They have one of the best bullpens in baseball, one that more than makes up for any shortcomings from their starting rotation. From the 1-8 spots in the lineup, the Mets do not have an easy out. In fact, top to bottom, they may have the best lineup in the National League. When you consider all of these facts, it’s easy to see that this season the Mets are a team of destiny. At least that’s what I think. In about 6 months we will all know if I was right or wrong.

Let me know what you think, and share your comments!

Although this offseason was not littered with any big name acquisitions and lavish press conferences unlike the last two seasons, the Mets will certainly have many new faces reporting to camp at their in Port St. Lucie complex this spring.

Of course the team has also sustained some losses, and most notable among them were Cliff Floyd, Chad Bradford, Brian Bannister, Roberto Hernandez, Chris Woodward, Darren Oliver, Steve Trachsel, Victor Zambrano, Heath Bell, Royce Ring and Michael Tucker.

Here is a quick look at all the new Mets as we get ready to open Spring Training.  

OF Moises Alou – Alou was by far the most significant acquisition for the Mets this offseason. He was signed as a free agent to a one year deal worth $8.5 million dollars. Alou takes over for Cliff Floyd in leftfield, and adds a much needed right-handed bat to the lineup, as well as protection in the lineup for David Wright. Despite his age (41), Alou can still pound left-handed pitching with the best of them, as he scorched them with a .346 batting average, third highest in the league.

RP Ambiorix Burgos – Burgos came over to the Mets from Kansas City in a swap for Brian Bannister. Although he may not play a significant role this season, the Mets look at him as the heir apparent to Billy Wagner. He has a plus fastball and tremendous upside. At 22 years old, he has already amassed 18 saves as the closer for the Royals last season, but still needs to harness his control. He has a tremendous future ahead of him.

RP Scott Schoeneweis -  Schoeneweis, 33, was signed to a three-year, $10.8 million deal. Over the last two seasons he has been very effective against left-handers, holding them to a .209 average and allowing just 1 home run in 201 at-bats. His ability to hold left-handed hitters in check will come in handy in a league that is loaded with some of the best power hitters in the game.

SP Chan Ho Park – The Mets were willing to gamble $600,000 in 2007, to see if Park can return to the form that made him a top starter when he was with the Dodgers, before signing his $65 million dollar mega-deal with the Texas Rangers. Although he was largely a bust during the length of the deal, he showed some life last season with San Diego. From 1997-2001, Park averaged 15 wins a season and compiled a 3.40 ERA, while striking out 966 batters in 974 innings. The Mets also included a clause that would pay him only $150,000 if Park fails to make the team out of Spring Training.

SP Jorge Sosa – Sosa probably won’t ever have another season quite like his 2005, when he finished 13-3 with a 2.55 ERA, but for the small price the Mets paid for him, it was a good gamble by Omar Minaya. He is expected to compete for a spot in the rotation (who isn’t?), but can be useful as the long reliever out of the pen. If the 29 year old righty comes close to duplicating his past success, he can be a great replacement for Darren Oliver.

IF Damion Easley – The Mets signed utility man, Damion Easley to a $850,000 contract. He is expected to fill the role played last season by Chris Woodward. Last season he batted .233 in 189 at-bats, with 9 homeruns and 28 RBI’s. I see this as a big upgrade over Woodward and a nice bat with some pop off the bench. His addition will also keep Jose Valentin fresh and he may even work himself into a platoon. 

OF David Newhan – Newhan adds some depth and appears to have the inside track on the final bench spot because of his ability to also play in the infield. He hit .252 last season as a reserve and has a little pop and some speed. His main competition for a spot on the roster will come from Ben Johnson.  

OF Ben Johnson – The 25 year old Johnson, was the key part of the deal for the Mets when they sent Royce Ring and Heath bell to the Padres. Johnson has an emerging powerful right-handed bat and will provide valuable insurance in case of injury to Shawn Green or Moises Alou. The Padres’ Minor League Player of the Year in 2005, Johnson was ranked as the Padres’ No. 4 prospect by Baseball America in 2006.

SP Jason Vargas – Vargas was once the top pitching prospect for the Florida Marlins. The 25 year old may start the season in New Orleans unless he really turns up the heat in camp. He has a huge upside and could prove to be a steal for the New York Mets.

SP Aaron Sele – Sele was signed to a minor league contract last month, and is one of the pitchers competing for a spot in the back of the Mets’ rotation. He has had some success in the past and may prove to be a good signing by the Mets. Last season he started 15 games for the Dodgers and won 8 of them with a 4.53 ERA.

RP Jon Adkins – Adkins was acquired from the Padres and actually was on his way to having a nice season before tailing off at the end of the year. He finished the season with a 3.98 ERA and pitched in 55 games. The 29 year old righty, might make the 25 man roster, simply because he has no minor league options remaining.

On a day that Willie Randolph proclaimed that only Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez were guaranteed a spot in the rotation, the stage had been set for New York’s very own reality show. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, The Contenders: A Shea Stadium Showdown.

First, lets meet the Executive Producers, Fred and Jeff Wilpon. This is where our story really begins. After a thrilling season which saw the New York Mets come within one strike of going to the World Series, Fred and Jeff Wilpon designed a plan that they thought would surely be a box-office hit, one that would be played out on the back pages of newspapers everywhere in the city. Their mission was to secure the talents of 28 year old, Barry Zito, the most talented star on the market. However things didn’t go as planned, because rather than opening up their wallets and going all out to sign the big star, they chose instead to make him a token offer, believing the allure of starring in New York’s biggest show would be enough to get him to sign on the dotted line. But alas, this fairy tale ending was not meant to be, as the star pitcher decided to take his glove, his guitar, and his matinee idol looks to the West coast where he ended up finding fame and fortune.

Next we have our Director, Omar Minaya, who nearly won his first Best Director award in 2006, but lost out to Terry Ryan who produced the feel good movie of the year, "The Twins." Unlike years past, when his producers gave Omar all the monetary resources he needed to produce a surefire hit, this year would be very different. Despite the huge windfall from a new cable network, a landmark stadium-naming deal, and record breaking ticket sales, this offseason Omar would have to find his cast from among a list of promising "B" actors and former blacklisted performers. Omar was even forced to stretch out his gaze far beyond the reaches of the Dominican Republic, to a far away city located in the isolated regions of the Korean peninsula.

It was a tough task, but Omar Minaya was the perfect man for this particular quest, and after many months of searching and negotiations, he finally put together a short list of would-be candidates, contenders, if you will. As February approached, Omar looked down at his list of contenders and said, "From these nine candidates, we will choose the three best warriors, and they will fill the void on our pitching staff."

And thus, the stage had been set. The challenge had been thrown down. And like gladiators in an arena, these nine heroes will see if they got what it takes to make it up north, where throngs of adoring fans will greet them on a cold April day. Without further adieu, I give you… The Contenders.

John Maine: The Man Who Would Be King – Barring a total spring meltdown, Maine should easily emerge as the leader of this group, and lock up the third spot in the rotation. Last season he stepped in and impressed the Mets brass with his mental guile and his ability to work his way out of trouble.

Oliver Perez: The Would-be Hero – After a dismal season speckled with a few flashes of brilliance, Oliver Perez’ stock is on the rise again after two dominating post season performances. Perez is no stranger to success, as he once struck out 239 batters in 196 innings pitched, with an ERA of 2.98 only two short years ago.

Jason Vargas: The Secret Weapon – The former jewel of the Florida Marlins organization, fell on hard times last season and lost some of his luster The hard throwing lefty is out to prove that he is no one-year wonder, and could surprise this spring. 

Chan Ho Park: The Beast From The East – After signing his huge $65 million dollar contract with the Rangers, it’s been all down hill for this former All-star. Last season he seemed to regain his form while with the San Diego Padres, and the Mets are gambling that with a little tweaking, he can become the pitcher he once was.

Aaron Sele: The Wanderer – This year will be the seventh time that Aaron Sele starts the season with a new organization. He is currently the seasoned veteran of the group, but it will be quite a feat if he could hold off some of the more talented youngsters competing against him. Sele has had some success in the past, which may grant him some favor with Willie Randolph.  

Mike Pelfrey: The Shooting Star – Pelfrey is the one pitcher that the organization wants to succeed. His talent is without question and he is as polished as they come. With a little more confidence in his abilities, Pelfrey may not only win a rotation spot, but he may even become the ace of the staff by season’s end. 

Philip Humber: The Comeback Kid – Humber was on the fast track to a rotation spot, but his hopes were dashed by an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. After missing almost a year, the former 1st round pick came back and put up some impressive numbers last season, striking out more than a batter an inning and even making a couple of appearances with Mets during a September call-up. The Mets are high on this kid.

Jorge Sosa: The Brave Little Toaster – After finally coming into his own with the Braves in 2005, Sosa reverted back to his wild ways last season, prompting the Braves to ship him off to the Cardinals. At 30 years old, it’s time for Sosa to step up, or step aside. He has always been plagued with control problems.

Alay Soler: The Cuban Missile – After starring for the Cuban National team, Soler defected to the United States and signed with the Mets. He made a spectacular debut which included a seven inning gem against the Dodgers, followed by a shutout against the Diamondbacks. However, it all came to a screeching halt after giving up 19 runs in his next three starts, prompting a demotion back to Norfolk.

So there you have it. From among these nine hopefuls, there shall emerge three pitchers who will help lead the Mets to the promised land in 2007.

It’s really going to be fun watching it all unfold, so stay tuned to MetsMerized as we bring you all the drama, all the suspense, and all the unexpected twists, as these nine brave warriors, put it all on the line for a chance to be… a contender.

It feels so good to have baseball back again. I have to admit it was a pretty long and boring offseason for Met fans, especially when we were left with the memory of that awful game 7 in our heads! Blah! They say the best thing to do after you fall off your horse, is to get back on again. Well, unfortunately for Met fans, the season ended and we haven’t been able to get back on that horse until now. And man, I gotta say that whoever came up with that stupid saying, was absolutely right! I’m completely recovered from 2006 and I am totally stoked for the new season.

There’s so much stuff coming out of Mets camp today and it’s only the second full day of spring training! First and foremost in my mind though, is our catcher Paul LoDuca.

Paul LoDuca has made it known that he would love a contract extension that will allow him to finish his career with the New York Mets. LoDuca, who will turn 35 in April, is entering the final season of a three-year deal that will pay him $6.25 million this season. He hit a team-leading .318 last year with five home runs and 49 RBIs, helping New York win the NL East for the first time since 1988.

Among his other contributions, LoDuca instantly became one of the leaders in the clubhouse after joining the team, and was a driving force and steady influence when he was on the field. He was also largely credited for leading an injury plagued pitching staff to a 4.14 ERA, that was ranked third best in the league.

Considering the fact that he was bedeviled with personal problems as well as a lingering thumb injury all season long, I have to credit him for gutting it out and helping the Mets win their first division title in over a decade.

There was also some other crazy story about Aaron Heilman being totally pissed off because he didn’t get one of the 12 reserved parking spots at Tradition Field. Poor Heilman, he never seems to get what he wants. I think Omar should give him a free pass to Disney World so he could go to the Magic Kingdom, where all your dreams can come true.

Meanwhile, Billy Wagner sounded like a man on a mission when he showed up. He vows to have a better season in 2007 and blamed some of his poor outings on nagging injuries. He said that this year he plans on bringing back the "old Billy Wagner." Somebody let me know when he gets here, I really miss the old Billy Wagner. Between me and you, I was quite pleased with Wagner’s performance last year. Sure he had a few too many blown saves, but when I think of Benitez and Looper, I suddenly remember how thankful I am that Wags is our closer.

Hey, I didn’t mean to go off on Milledge the way that I did yesterday, but I had to get it off of my chest. There’s nothing that disappoints me more than a guy with a million dollars worth of talent and a dime’s worth of common sense.  Milledge is one of the most exciting young talents in the game. He has one of the highest ceilings of anyone in the organization.

I guess if he didn’t have the personal problems early on he may never have fallen to the Mets with pick number 12, when everyone expected him to be a "Top 5" pick in the 2003 draft. I wonder if the Mets ever regret passing on players like Chad Cordero, Carlos Quentin, Brandon Wood, and Chad Billingsley, when they selected Milledge. OK, I’m gonna shut up now, before I get into more trouble. I’m just mad because the Mets have invested so much in Milledge, and it’s time for him to give the team some payback. Even though he was drafted 12th we paid him like he was drafted number one overall, and gave him a $1.9 million dollar signing bonus to boot. I’m not saying he has to be the poster child for the Boys Club of America, I’m just saying, smarten’ up dude, and lets play ball.

One of the Mets newest beat writers, John Delcos, kick-started a small firestorm on his blog, when he wrote the following…

It is so freaking cool to finally go into Mets Spring Training camp and not have to hear about the damned Atlanta Braves and their damned streak of consecutive titles. You have no idea how much I hate that team. I will never forget the year that they clinched just before going into the last series of the season against the Mets. Bobby Cox, who I despise, decided that rather than resting his regulars for a couple of days, he would instead play them all weekend long so that he could keep the Mets from winning a Wild Card spot. The Mets needed only one win, and of course the Braves swept them and the rest, as they say, was history. But this spring the Mets are wirting their own history as the enter Port St. Lucie as the defending NL East Champs for the first time in over a decade! Did you hear that John Rocker!

Did you know that the 2006 Mets made the fewest pinch-hitting appearances in the National League, the sixth-fewest pitching changes and the sixth-fewest defensive changes. Thanks to Marty Noble for that interesting fact.

I definitely think the defensive changes will increase a great deal this year with the addition of Moises Alou and a full season of Shawn Green. Plus if Anderson Hernandez makes the team, you can be sure to see alot of him late in the game.

ESPN recently reported that Pedro Martinez’ fitness therapist had this to say about Pedro’s ongoing rehab. "Pedro will be brand-new, the Pedro of maybe ‘97. It is my challenge, to build Pedro the old Pedro way. Pedro will again have the power in the fastball."

Wow, this is the second time in a month that I’ve heard such optimism regarding Pedro’s return, and this time it’s coming from the guy who’s sole purpose it is, to nurture him back to health. Can you imagine the impact Pedro would have on the rotation if he is anything close to his 90’s form when he returns after the All-Star break? I dont know if this is just another case of overblown optimism, or if there really is a chance that Pedro can come back and be as good as he was five years ago. But I do know this…  If Pedro does come back and pitches lights-out, the Mets will win 100 games in 2007. You read it here first.

The Chan Ho Park contract just keeps getting better and better. Apparently, the Mets will only have to pay Park $150,000 if he does not make the team out of Spring Training. If he does make the team, the Mets get him for a very reasonable $600,000.

Here’s the thing though, as Met fans we should be rooting for him not to make the team, because if he does make the team it means that either Oliver Perez or Mike Pelfrey or both, probably had poor springs. In fact, you can quote me on this… If Oliver Perez and Mike Pelfrey are lights out in Spring Training and clinch a spot in the rotation, there is no way Chan Ho Park makes the team as reliever.

There is some major pitching news coming from the Twins and the Cubs that may be music to Mets fans’ ears! It looks like both Carlos Zambrano and Johan Santana, could be available at the trading deadline if neither of them sign contract extensions before the end of Spring Training. Now, I’ll be the first to say that Barry Zito wasn’t worth the $125 million contract he signed for, however I’d gladly pay that for Zambrano, and I would definitely pay $150 million or more for Santana.

Our buddy in right field, Shawn Green, had his mutual option for 2008 declined by the New York Mets. I think this is great for the Mets, because you can bet Shawn Green is going to bust his tail this season as he plays for a new contract for 2008 and beyond. He may not hit forty-plus homeruns like he used to, but if we can get thirty-something homeruns from the #7 hitter in the lineup, then the Mets are going to crush the competition in the National League this season.

Pedro Martinez has already been sighted at Port St. Lucie, along with David Wright, Paul LoDuca, John Maine, Howard Johnson, and of course, Mr. Met.

It’s going to be great watching all the starting rotation candidates compete for the last two spots in the rotation. I am looking forward to seeing more of Philip Humber and Mike Pelfrey as the battle it out with Chan Ho, Oliver Perez, Aaron Sele, and the ghost of Christmas past.

I will be posting daily notes from Mets Spring Training Camp starting this Monday. I am so stoked, it’s gonna be a heck of a year!

NY Sports Guy breaks it down. 

Please forgive me. I’d like to write this in advance to all 8 of you that will read my blogs this season. 7 of those 8 will be my friends who will be reading just because I will make them. As for the rest of you, well, I’ll say it again. Please forgive me. I may write a few things this year that you may disagree with. I may write some things that will anger you. But with every time you disagree or get angry, you will be enlightened another time. Or you’ll at least laugh a little bit. I also, like most fans, think that I am actually a part of the Mets Organization. I will say things like “Why can’t we get a groundball” or “We have to start hitting the ball in the gaps”. I know that I am not but its easier, so stop hating.

With that said, I’ll get right to it. The New York Metropolitans have done barely anything to improve the team this year. With every move they made, there was another move they didn’t make. As an overly critical fan, I realized that with every positive development, there was an equally negative regression.

Here are the Pros

We picked up a crafty, veteran, right-handed bat in Moises Alou. He will help Wright see some better pitches. Yeah he’s forty but he’s still 15 years younger than El Duque 

Acquisitions of Scott Schoeneweis, Ambiorix Burgos, and Jorge Sosa highlight a list of relievers that fortify the bullpen. They will have to memorize Rick Petersen’s triangle of peak performance theory before they even pick up a baseball.

Re-signed important role players such as Tom Glavine (phew), Jose Valentin, Endy Chavez (my boy) and yes Willie Randolph. He wears a uniform too.

Bye Bye Cliff Floyd. You could have cemented yourself in Mets history in game seven last year but a strike out was way more appropriate. Cliff’s a good guy and all but so was Mo Vaughn.

Uh yeah that’s about it. I don’t know maybe Anderson Hernandez learned to hit by now?

In the Middle

Chan Ho (hit it out of the) Park. Considering we only gave him 600,000 dollars and he could potentially be an inning eater, I can’t disagree with the signing too much. But then again he is really bad and watching him pitch in a big spot gives me anxiety already. The same type of anxiety I got when…

Steve Trachsel was pitching. Or should I say throwing. This guy is why I take Paxil every day. I mean he came in there every 5^th day and pitched his little heart out. He gets an “A” for effort. But in the major leagues “effort” means as much as “potential”. About as much “potential” as Kaz Matsui had. 

Here are the Joes (worst show ever), I mean Cons.

Starting pitching. Absolutely nothing was accomplished. Wasn’t Barry Zito supposed to be a New York Met this year?  I mean that’s what I thought. 126 million dollars is a lot of money to spend on a number two pitcher.  In the long run that was the best choice, but we could have definitely used another arm and it is by far the biggest question heading into the season. Maybe Heilman could be a starter this year? HAHA just kidding.

Bye Bye Bradford. The knuckle scraping righty killer wasn’t worth the 10 million the Orioles gave him…. NOT (Borat brought it back). Omar apparently didn’t see his value as much as I did. 

Bye Bye Victor Zambrano. Actually that’s a Pro. My bad.

We picked up a crusty, old antique in Moises Alou. He could be Reyes’s grandfather. This guy stays on the field about as much as JD Drew and Carl Pavano combined. Maybe he should get the same trainer as Guillermo Mota?

Our best reasonably aged offensive acquisition was a tie between Damion Easley and David Newhan. I couldn’t decide who was better. I racked my brain for hours but I just couldn’t. Sorry.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

Now I realize there is so much a General Manger can do. There are only so many players available and you don’t want to be handing out long-term contracts like Bill Belicheck hands out dirty looks. Overall I think that at best, we stayed the same. Which in hindsight isn’t so bad. Mets fans want Championships to brag about, and unless you have a ring on your finger, you have to improve by adding new blood to the team. We have the core of Jose, David and Carlos as position players but starting pitching is more important than anything. Can the likes of Mike Pelfry, John Maine and Oliver Perez step up and give the team what it needs in 2007?

We may just have to hope that our 3 perennial MVP candidates carry us again in 2007. Maybe our patience will pay off. I hear there is a big lefty from Minnesota that might be available in 2008. Something tells me he will be worth a 126 million dollar price tag. But until then, we will just have to be optimistic and wait for Pedro to come back in August. Did anyone else hear that he is throwing 95 mph again?

David Wright appeared to wear down toward the end of last season, and after another busy winter, it will be crucial for the All-Star third baseman to keep the demands of his fame in check. With his popularity exploding beyond New York, the Mets’ cover boy must be able to handle the intensifying spotlight. So far I think he has handled his celebrity status quite well. He says and does all the right things, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he were to take it to the next level this season. I expect a huge season from David, especially now that he will have Moises Alou protecting him in the lineup.

All signs point to Lastings Milledge being ticketed for Triple-A New Orleans to begin the year. Minaya spoke with Willie Randolph, and the two agreed Shawn Green should be considered the right field favorite. "I think if Shawn is healthy, he’s going to be given every opportunity to be the guy," Minaya said. Shawn Green might be starting the season in right field, but I hope he don’t strain a neck muscle looking over his shoulder.

Last year the Mets got 61 starts from Steve Trachsel (30), Alay Soler (eight), Brian Bannister (six), Dave Williams (five), Victor Zambrano (five), Jose Lima (four) and Jeremi Gonzalez (three). In those games, the team was 35-26. Knowing all that… I feel a lot better about our pitching now. Don’t you? Read my 2007 Pitching Preview at Mets Merized Online.

Omar Minaya said he’s never been a part of a Mets camp with so much promising youth. In addition to Milledge, he’ll have highly regarded outfield prospects Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez in camp. Tony Pena’s teenage son Francisco, a catcher, will be there. And joining Pelfrey and Humber will be pitchers Kevin Mulvey and Joe Smith. Wow, I have to admit it’s been a long time since the Mets had so much quality depth in their minor leagues.

While discussing Citifield, Fred Wilpon said fans should see a steel outline of the first level of the stadium, from their seats at Shea by Opening Day. By June, the brick exterior, with its granite base, should also be visible. The team will debut a Web cam on mets.com next week so fans can see daily snapshots of stadium progress. How cool is that!

I read somewhere that the acquisition of David Newhan spelled doom for the chances of Ben Johnson making the opening day roster. Coupled with the fact that currently reliever Jon Adkins is also on the outside looking in, it begs this question: Why exactly did we trade promising relievers Royce Ring and Heath Bell to San Diego? They each had great success in the minors last year, and the mets couldn’t stop telling us how either one could step in and close for us in a couple of years. I just hope Ben Johnson does make the team. He has some nice power that the Mets bench could really use right now.

Buster Olney reported that he spoke with Padres GM Kevin Towers about the Mets’ signing of Chan Ho Park. Olney says that the Padres actually offered Park $1 million but that he signed with New York, because he had a better chance of being part of their rotation. When it was first reported that Park had signed for $3 million, I was very critical of the signing, but at $600,000 it was a great move and a risk worth taking.