7
2009
What If These Things Happened?
An article by 
Hypothetically speaking… let’s just imagine for a second that the players we hear on the HotStove are interested in the Mets. Now, let’s also imagine that Omar could sign most of them, be somewhat reasonable and not press “Force Trade” from a baseball video game like signing EVERYONE (we’re not the Yankees). Anyway, the players we hear
in the news are: Derek Lowe, Oliver Perez, Manny Ramirez, Orlando
Hudson, Randy Wolf, Jon Garland, and Ben Sheets. There’s more names out
there, but we don’t hear that at all, obviously.
Ok, there are a
few situations out there. We have a void spot for starting rotation.
However, in my opinion, it’s actually two. I love my boy Jonathon Niese
and all, but I think he still needs to tune a third pitch to be
successful. Enter Derek Lowe, Oliver Perez, Randy Wolf, Jon Garland,
Ben Sheets, and Tim Redding. Who do we choose? Well, it looks like Omar
is picking Derek Lowe and staying with Niese. In my opinion, I’d either
sign Derek Lowe AND Oliver Perez or sign Ben Sheets AND Oliver Perez. I
really think Ollie should be a Met again. Why? He’s a Phillie killier
and he’s a lefty. The Mets only have Johan as their only lefty starter.
Ollie is still young and has a great upside. Derek Lowe is Mr.
Consistent and Ben Sheets is just scary, both good and bad. Yes, good
being he’s absolutely filthy when healthy, and bad being he’s almost as
bad as Carl Pavano, injury-wise.
–Signing two pitchers = reasonable and very do-able at this point.
Concern
#2, left field. We currently have Fernando t-t-t-t-TATIS and Daniel
Murphy. While that’s a good platoon, it could easily be insanely
upgraded with one player. Enter Manuel Aristides Ramírez Onelcida
(thanks Wiki). Sure, he’s a crazy act in the clubhouse; yet players,
coaches, and managers love him, or at least a good chunk of them do.
He’s deadly with the bat, but an absolute clown on the field. I don’t
care, but with him in this already punishing lineup, the Mets would
instantly be the team to beat around the NL.
–Costly + Scott Boras = not AS reasonable, but very managable if price drops.
Hi,
I’m Luis Castillo. I make a very good amount of money, even though my
knees are about to break in pieces. I also can’t run anymore and I
can’t hit. I could bunt though! What do we do about this? I don’t think
we can do anything about this situation anymore. What an ideal
situation would be to ship Castillo somewhere, eat some of his
contract, and wish Orlando Hudson could drop his price just a tad bit.
Hudson brings that nitty-gritty attitude needed for this team, much
like Wally Backman was for the ’86 Amazins. Oh, and I love the double
flapped helmet. It looks much better on him that it does for that man
named the Flyin’ Hawaiin (still bitter about them winning).
–Big ass contract isn’t gonna help at all, but there’s still a small chance of him leaving and the O-Dog coming to Citi Field.
Finally,
with all that being said, if all of the above move happen (chance is
probably 1%) the opening day lineup and rotation would look like this.
1. Jose Reyes (SS)
2. Carlos Beltran (CF)
3. David Wright (3B)
4. Manny Ramirez (LF)
5. Carlos Delgado (1B)
6. Ryan Church (RF)
7. Orlando Hudson (2B)
8. Brian Schneider (C)
9. Pitcher
1. Johan Santana (L)
2. Derek Lowe (R) / Ben Sheets (R) **
3. Oliver Perez (L)
4. Mike Pelfrey (R)
5. John Maine (R)
Note:
The lineup only looks like that because if I had Delgado, Church,
Schneider as 6,7,8, it would be too lefty heavy, thus me having Hudson
at the 7 hole to break up the lefties.
Now isn’t that just crazy folks? I wish it would happen, HEY, maybe it’ll happen. A Met fan can only dream right?
——
That’s right ladies and gentlemen. Your own Minor League Reporter for two years has started his own blog, entitled ‘Retire 31‘. I just started it a few days ago, but if you like what you read, please make sure to give it a look. Just click this link and read away! Thanks to everyone!
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
Went to my first Mets game, a Mayors Trophy game at Shea, in '73. We beat the Yankees 8-4 and I was hooked. I marched in two Banner Day parades, and before the Grand Slam single, there was the "Hendu Can Do" grand slam - I was there. I've collected Mets memorabilia all my life and started Mets Merized Online to feed my addiction.
8 Comments + Add Comment
NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationals | 26 | 18 | .591 | - |
| Braves | 26 | 19 | .578 | 0.5 |
| Mets | 24 | 20 | .545 | 2.0 |
| Marlins | 24 | 20 | .545 | 2.0 |
| Phillies | 22 | 23 | .489 | 4.5 |
Last updated: 05/24/2012
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Write Your Own Mets Post
Hi, I’m Oliver Perez! I’m totally mediocre, and if you look up inconsistent in the dictionary you’ll find my picture, yet Mets fans want to keep me around! People enjoy calling me a Philly killer, but they frequently ignore the fact that my ERA against the lowly Washington Nationals was 8.62 last year!
Oliver Perez is just not that good, people. His WHIP has been above 1.39 (last year’s league average) 4 of his 6 years in the league. I’m not huge on Jon Niese, but I’d rather see him soak up MLB experience than see Perez get shelled in the first inning and get paid upwards of 30 million dollars to do so. Sign Lowe and Redding, and you won’t miss the loss of Perez at all.
Milo, you cracked me up that was funny, but I disagree. I just think Redding is a dog, and Perez was mediocre like most lefty pitchers at 21-26, but now he is about to reach his prime years. Give him a chance!!!
Ryan, I can’t argue with you, good post and much luck with the new blog.
I don’t think Redding is very good either, but if worst comes to worst he’ll suck and we’ll slide Jon Niese or Bobby Parnell into the starting rotation. If we spend tons of money on Lowe AND Ollie, we’re blocking Niese and Parnell for years to come.
By the way Ryan, best of luck with the new website (I just realized that I didn’t wish you luck in my first comment)! I’ll definitely be visiting every day.
Yes Ryan, A Mets fan can certainly dream. Goodness knows we have spent many nights dreaming of our beloved Mets winning championship after championship…a new postseason hero every year. I’ve softened my stance from “NO MANNY!”, to “If the price is right, why not?”. Reason being is that no matter how flat a pancake is, there’s two sides to every story. Manny is a dope 99.9% of the time, but we will never know the whole story of what went down in Beantown. That being said, I don’t see the Wilpons sold on him. I’d love Castillo’s contract and gimpy knees gone too, but for the Mets to sign 2 pitchers. sign Hudson and eat a chunk of that contract is a little too much to ask I think. I always enjoyed watching Ollie pitch, but I think he’s as good as gone…unless the Mets lose out on Lowe. Good luck with the new blog, I’ll be sure to drop by for a visit!
LETS GO METS!
I still don’t want Manny. What Manny pulled with the Sox last year is unforgivable. If he could do it for a team he won championships with, imagine what he could do to a team he only needs to have a 2 year loyalty to.
Sorry, don’t want the guy. He’s heavy, and he’s got the kind of frame that makes me think he could get real old overnight.
Its been reported that if we do sign Manny Delgado will be traded, most likely to the Angels.
Orlando Hudson would bat 2nd.
I would love it if the Mets added Lowe and Manny. I am torn on Perez. His youth says do it, his erratic perfromance says stay away.
Manny is going to cost 3/75 mil minimum. If his price drops everybody will jump in on the bidding and push it right back up again. Still I say his bat, his experience, his love of the clutch situations is worth the gamble against his bad attitude. Even when he “tanked” for the Red Sox he hit better than most Mets. He would take the pressure off Wright and Beltran especially in September. So how about signing Lowe, Sheets (one year heavy incentive deal)and Manny. If Sheets craps out then you have Parnell, Neise, and Figgy to fill in.
Dude, we need to be realistic here. The Mets cannot just go out and sign everyone in sight.
Lowe = $14 mil
Perez = $11 mil
Manny = $23 mil
Hudson = $9 mil
That’s $57 mil that the Mets don’t have. Plus they need to add another lefty and middle infielder. And they would be giving up 4 draft picks as K-Rod, Lowe, Hudson and Manny are Type A’s. Let’s be realistic here man – yeah you gave the 1% disclaimer but c’mon.