3
2009
Can The Mets Hold Down The Fort Until More Troops Arrive?
An article by 
To begin, let me first commend the Mets on the remarkable fight and resiliency they displayed yesterday at PNC Park where they beat the Pirates 9-8 in ten innings. I thought they showed remarkable courage and fight under some intense adversity.
These days, the Mets are not only faced with the challenge of battling the opposing team, but also must contend with the ghosts of two collapses, a media that loves to pour on the heat, and a fan base that has become far too impatient and angry. That’s a lot of things they have to overcome each time they take the field, and yet they manage to do it with a team comprised mostly of backups, aging veterans, and players that were called up from the minors long before they were major league ready.
And despite these overwhelming odds, the Mets find themselves just one game out of first place as they begin a crucial three game series against their latest arch rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies.
Don’t expect the Mets to get much brotherly love in this city, unless we can get as many Mets fans to attend these games, as there were Phillies fans the last time these two teams met at Citi Field. The Phillies took two of three back then.
As much as I love the incredible toughness this team has shown, I have doubts as to whether they can continue to stay afloat in this race without some help. The brave souls who defended the Alamo showed amazing toughness and heart too, but that wasn’t enough for them to hold down the fort. By the time the reinforcements showed up, it was unfortunately too late.
I find that the Mets are in that same situation, and it’s not just the Phillies that worry me, it’s the suddenly resurgent Braves and the always pesky Marlins that the Mets must overcome as well.
The Mets need some help now. That silly, and in my opinion ignorant, argument that one trade isn’t going to help the Mets does not hold water with me.
The addition of a big bat in this lineup would make a big difference. It made a difference for the Dodgers(Ramirez) last year, it made a difference for the Astros in 2004 (Beltran), and it made a difference for the Mets when they traded for Donn Clendenon who helped them win the division and then hit three big homers in four games in the 1969 World Series.
One bat will also allow the rest of the team to breathe easier, especially David Wright who has taken the world upon his shoulders at 26-years old.
Andrew Marchand of 1050 ESPN writes,
An MLB executive familiar with the Mets’ thinking tells me that the Mets have no plans to make any major trades right now. They feel as if they will improve themselves before the July 31st trading deadline more than anyone in baseball. By then, the Mets think that Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, John Maine and Oliver Perez could be back. In August, Carlos Delgado could return.
The Mets might actually believe that all these players will return sometime this month, but what if they’re wrong? It’s no secret they the Mets have a terrible track record when it comes to forecasting an injured players return.from the disabled list.
Would it be that terrible to go out and get a guy like outfielder Alex Rios who is on the block and seems to be perfectly suited for a park like CitiField?
The Blue Jays are strapped for cash and at the same time the team wants to make an offer to their ace pitcher Roy Halladay who wants to finish his career in Toronto. Rios has a huge contract that they need to unload, and it’s for that reason that he wouldn’t cost much in the way of prospects or players in return.
In his last three full seasons, Rios has hit .296 with 56 homers, 245 RBI, 64 stolen bases, 273 runs scored, 123 doubles, and 21 triples.
Currently he is batting .260 with 19 doubles, 9 homers, 37 RBI, 38 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases. He is just 28 years old.
How can anyone say that this one bat would not make a difference?
Plus, he wouldn’t be a rental player as he is signed through 2014 at an average of $12 million dollars annually. He will only be 33 in the final year of that contract, and there is an option for 2015.
He can play rightfield, and also plays a solid centerfield and can give Beltran’s knee a rest when needed to keep him fresh for the stretch run.
Alex Rios’ career numbers are actually quite similar to Beltran’s numbers before he was traded to the Astros.
When Carlos Beltran does come back, we can simply slide Rios over to leftfield so that we can use Sheffield off the bench or platoon him with Ryan Church in right field.
All I’m trying to impress on you is to forget that notion that one trade is not going to help. One player has made the difference plenty of times in baseball, and this could be another one of those times.
Let’s not gamble on the unpredictable returns of Reyes, Beltran and Delgado, and hope we are still in what has now become a four team race in the NL East.
Let’s do the right thing and give these fightin’ Mets a chance now… while they still have an opportunity to take this division in July.
We have fought too hard, and endured too much to just leave our play-off hopes to the slim chance that more reinforcements will arrive in time.
Hey Omar… Remember the Alamo!
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.
12 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
Recent Comments
- Russell Zanca: on In The Most Unholy Of Fashions, The Friars Demoralize Mets 11-5: New to MLB, Brian? "Friars" has been a...
- Brian: on In The Most Unholy Of Fashions, The Friars Demoralize Mets 11-5: Doublecheck that headline theres no baseball team...
- Hormel: on View From My Window: Padres Here For 4.: Padres fan here.... Regard Sandy - yes he...
- Mr North Jersey: on Mets Will Not Demote Ike Davis Despite .159 Batting Average: Yea I don't know what to tell...
- Joey D.: on Mets Will Not Demote Ike Davis Despite .159 Batting Average: Thanks North, it was the question of...
Write Your Own Mets Post
Got to say Joe D great piece. Great gritty win yesterday by the Mets and hopefully Tatis strong showing is a sign that maybe he figuered some stuff out and is back on track to do what he did last year. But we can only hope thats the case.Got to agree with you about Rios. Jays need to shed salary and the Mets are a team that can take on some salary so they may be able to get him on the cheap side. He would be a nice addition especially if the Mets do get healthy and have the core guys coming back. If you can add a bat like Rios without giving up much, which they should be able to do, you got to pull the trigger. Also I heard Vernon Wells is on the trade block as well. I would assume he be a tougher transaction to pull off though. Lets GO Mets!!Knock Philly on thier ass this weekend!
Joe, you are right. One big bat or decent starting pitcher means a lot ipso facto on a number of levels, including showing the current 25 that management is very serious about contention.
Of course, one player can be that difference maker who helps your team to win the crucial four or five games that’s the difference between 1st place or a Wild Card finish, or another October where you’re left saying, “Man if only we’d won just a few more games.”
Loving the Mets doesn’t mean we don’t want to see roster improvements.
Can this team win big w/o a trade or acquisition? I have no idea, but I’m willing to try improvement.
LGM!
This is one of your best written pieces this season. I’m so glad you took the time to explain how tough the Mets have been with all the injuries and distractions of playing in NY. I must say that I find myself agreeing with you about Alex Rios. In fact, if Rios was on this team he would immediately become one of our core players too along with Beltran, Wright, Reyes. The contract isn’t even that excessive and considering that Rios has not even peaked, it seems rather reasonable. I always like Rios as a player and you didn’t metion the fact that he is an excellent defnder in centerfield as well as both corner positions. This deal makes so much sense on many levels, and this is one player I wouldn’t mind trading Parnell and either Evans or Murphy for. Those guys may eventually be average players, but would never be core players like I believe Rios is.
Gosh so negative after a great win,but you might have a point Joe. If we were to trade for Rios then Toronto has to take some of that contract. I don’t see how Toronto can continue to sign their supposed best players, Vernon Wells, to big contracts only to find out they are not that good or they don’t have the cash. I would take Rios, he always reminds me of a young ARod in body type, if they pick up some of the contract and we don’t have to give away what little prospects we have. LGM
Great work Joe. Agree 100% on Rios. I have the felling that if the Mets dont go out and get him, the Braves or someone else in the wildcard hunt will. Not sure shy Omar is being so stubborn…
Great article and I agree completely. Mets fans have to get over the idea of one player won’t make a difference. It will, especially if all the injured do not come back as planned. I would not be surprised if Reyes is delayed given the chance of reinjury since his running is so intense. Maine is quite likely to be late in return as well. Age could very well slow down Degado’s healing. Picking up Rios’ contract would be a great move. He is a solid player and his presence on the team will make a difference. It should be the first step in getting the team whole. Not doing it is giving up on the season.
yes! come on Omar, get Rios in New York
Interesting. Realistically, what would Rios end up costing us?
The Jays have hinted that if they can survive their 10 game road trip against the Yankees, Rays, and Orioles, and a 3 game home series after the break against the Red SOx, that they would be buyers. As it stands right now, they are 4 out in the wild card, and are a very good team in a difficult division.
Rios was signed to that contact because the Jays though he would grow up to be the next Carlos Beltran (5-Tool with 30-30 HR-SB). Wierd but true fact, 3 yrs ago, the Jays almost traded Rios for Lincecum.
Because he has underachieved, they would consider moving him because of the contract.
The Jays would want starting pitching, or a power bat. Now we don’t have any power bats, other than Sheff or Delgado’s expiring contracts.
They would ask for Brad Holt/J. Mejia. We would say no. We’d offer to give them Ollie’s bad contract (which would be less than Rios’s in the long haul). They’d say Hell No. They’d ask for Jonathan Niese. We’d hesitate.
My question is would you trade Jon Niese and take on all of Rios’s salary, and if not, what lesser prospect would you give? Consider that we may not be the only ones involved on Rios.
YES! ALEX RIOS for john niese and nick evans. I would so do that trade and take on the contract.. BROOKLYN OWNS WHERE ARE YOUU!!
I TOLD YOU SO.
Love the article, Joe.
Mets are using the buy low strategy. When he plays to his full potential, he is great.
Kunz and Havens should get it done.
Nice piece of work, Joe.
If the Mets don’t pull the trigger, it’s likely we’ll never be certain of the reason. Baseball GM’s can be tight-lipped. But it’s my hunch, and it’s only a feeling in my gut, that the Mets will freeze and say something like, “The conditions weren’t right for a trade. We just couldn’t get together on a deal.”
The real reason is one that has been bugging me all season. It’s likely the Mets are fighting their financial waistline right now. Bernie Madoff is screwing us even as he serves his not-long-enough prison term.
I think the Mets have run the ‘financials’ and are in a squeeze for a few years. This is really the year, from the perspective of having less free cash, to filibuster spending decisions. Why? CitiField is new and is worth a hundred thousand or more gratuitous admissions this year, but maybe there will be fewer next season. When the novelty recedes, the Mets will be more compelled to make pure roster-building moves.
Despite my normal male-sized ego, I’d like to be wrong!!! But a lot of Mets fans may be reluctant to bet I am.