We’re “This Close” To Blowing The Whole Thing Up

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• aye July 1, 2009 at 2:47 pm

  Santana is a fine pitcher, yes, he apparently used to be really goOtsod. Like in the Greinke/Linecum sorta range, but he is not that anymore. He started the season really hot blowing everyone away and he is super hittable these days. He is not striking out hitters and is obvious that the first 2 months are taking a toll on him. Santana is overpaid…However, the mets would lose a ton of money if they trade santana. Its not worth it. Plus really I will take his inconsistency an 14 wins with a 3.40 Era….I cant think one person in the mets staff that will put similar numbers or bring the excitement santana does. Its too early to give up on Santana and saying its obvious this core wont give us a championship. I mean 2 yrs, really?
• steve July 1, 2009 at 7:02 pm

  I agree with you.Lets blow this team up.But i wouldn’t trade a few players. I think this team needs to have a culture atmosphere,team identity,that is like the ballpark.We need to get younger faster,and have better pitching.1st off if Boston wants Reyes trade him for Lowrie,and Ellsbury and Buckholz.Then id trade Beltran to the Yankees for Joba, Hughes,Melky.Delgado to Toronto for Rios.Basically we need players who are athletic,who can run and catch the ball.All of this i believe could’ve been avoided in the off-season.If Minaya had paid attention to the price drops and who wanted to play here.
  • theonlymaskman July 1, 2009 at 9:30 pm

    The decision to let Orlando Hudson go to the Dodgers for chump change sure stinks now with the real Reyes out indefinitely. Does anyone think there would have been a way to put him to use as things have worked out this season? Of course that’s hindsight, but a quality player for almost free who wants to play for you demands a real look. Joe Torre is happy the way it worked out.
• tinski July 1, 2009 at 7:16 pm

  nobody would give up top prospects for Santana because they wouldn’t want to pay him that sort of money
• Mikey July 1, 2009 at 8:16 pm

  Didn’t we get promised that there would be fewer/more meaningul posts on this board? What the hell is this? Get rid of everyone? If we were 3 games over 500 with a 1 game lead in the division, you’d be scouring StubHub for field level seats right now.

  And as for the other Fantasy League “Dungeon Masters” you’re smoking banned substances if you think that we’d get that many high level major league ready players from contending teams for aging, highly paid injury prone guys at this stage of the game.

  C’mon guys. June has been awful. AWFUL. The last 2 Septembers…I feel ya. But are we Met fans, or are we Yankee fans? Do we believe in our guys, or do we just believe that the solution to every problem is to throw money at it and fire the manager (and in the case of the “Bring Back Bobby V” squawkers, to re-hire one who we already canned.

  I’m not gonna say that I wouldn’t prefer Orlando Hudson and Derek Lowe on this squad to Luis Castillo (who, it should be pointed out, has done a fine job this year…with one notable exception) and Ollie Perez. But
• Tommy2cat July 1, 2009 at 11:45 pm

  In a recent conversation, my brother and I concluded that these are “The Beltran Years”, which are highlighted by “Swing Carlos”, the whimper “We are the Team to Beat” and Yadier Molina’s swipe-tag of a slideless runner.

  Yes, even the face of the franchise, David Wright, whose “Swagger” has turned into a wiggle, cannot sit down from getting his @ss kicked every night.

  THIS TEAM HAS NO BALLS! Here’s who I am keeping:

  Santana
  Pelfrey
  K-Rod
  Wright
  Cora
  Santos
  Wagner
  Figueroa

  Winning is an attitude. Beltran, Reyes and Delgado are, respectivley, soft, stupid, and injury-prone. Even Castillo has demonstrated some willingness and desire to win. I’d keep him if he agreed to accept a salary commensurate to his contribution, as Orlando Hudson’s back-up next year. DW and Church are on thin ice.

  Here’s who I’d trade or release:

  Minaya
  Reyes
  Beltran
  Maine
  Ollie
  Schneider
  Tatis
  Castillo
  F-Mart (he’s gone)
  Green
  Putz
  Parnell
  Redding

  Ummm, I’d like a large helping of young talent, please. Omar has a major blind spot, and the players that he chooses year in and year out cannot stay healthy. That’s a fact.
• Ben July 2, 2009 at 7:59 am

  There is seriously something deranged about all of you. I can’t even begin to get into why all of these points are mindless, so I’ll just make a few quick notes:

  Johan Santana, even DESPITE his rocky outings of late, is still easily one of the top-5 starters in the NL. Remember, he is a perennial SECOND HALF pitcher – even before he came to the Mets, he never dominated in the first half – so to judge him like this after he’s given us two amazing seasons, is ridiculous. Up until two nights ago, he has been the consummate professional, and is exactly the sort of mature, crafty ace this team needs. Where else are you gonna find a pitcher of that caliber? For the record, ANY TEAM with a half-decent payroll would give up top prospects for Johan – he’s the best pitcher in baseball.

  I agree that that long-rumored, but highly unlikely, Red Sox trade for Reyes sounds awfully tempting now that we’ve begun to question Jose’s ceiling, but short of grabbing a top young pitcher like Buchholz AND a future all-star leadoff hitter like Ellsbury, I’ll pass. Reyes really is hard to replace – even if he never progresses past this level, he’s one of the top 10 players in major league baseball, and easily one of the best leadoff hitters, on TOP OF WHICH he plays shortstop, a position where you’ll be hard pressed to replace his production (don’t say Flores, because he’s not gonna be a SS, and don’t say Havens because he hasn’t proven anything yet).

  To the last poster: I literally have no idea why Figueroa is on that list other than GIANT MAN CRUSH. Seriously, the guy has shown that he’s a AAAA pitcher, why would you keep him over Maine, Parnell, F-Mart, Reyes, and Beltran??

  I hate the Beltran is soft crap. He’s been playing on bad knees, carrying our offense, easily our most consistent hitter, for years. He makes every play in center, brings speed and power and average to the plate, and you want to dump him??? Idiotic.

  Thank you, Mikey, for pointing out the necessary comparison between us and Yankee fans.

  Steve, I would respond to your Yankee trade proposal, but I’m too busy trying not to cough up blood from laughing so hard. Next.

  I really don’t know why everyone is freaking out right now. Where would the Yankees be this season if they were missing Teixeira, Jeter, their entire outfield (since all 3 combined equals Beltran), Pettitte, and Joba?? Oh yeah, and Posada. Sure, A-Rod/Wright can carry the team, but only so far. These guys need protection to reach their hitting potential, and the scrubs we’ve been starting are doing the best they can. This season was lost to injuries, but why have you all suddenly decided that every player is worthless?? You sorts of fans make me ashamed to be a Mets fan, because I get judged for your worthless nonsense. THESE sorts of comments are why we were just voted the most obnoxious fans in the league. We’re supposed to be smart, not Yankee fans. Get it together, and believe.
• Tommy2cat July 2, 2009 at 9:27 am

  Ben – we forumites can do without the personal attacks, please leave them at home.

  Carlos Beltran at a most critical moment and has since has failed to produce repeatedly in crunch time. I don’t want to hear “We’re the team to beat”, I want to SEE IT. Beltran is a stat-mizer in my view. When I see a guy like Matt Holliday face-plant his way at home plate into the playoffs, then I KNOW that I am looking at a winning ballplayer. When I look at Carlos Beltran, I do not see that type of effort. He’s a pussy, period.

  I only trade Reyes for commensurate value, which should be major-league ready top talent. I can do without the handshakes, pouting and chest-thumping. Just play the game…and please show up at crunch time.

  Delgado is probably the most frustrating player, because he is a leader capable of producing in crunch time. Unfortunately, either he gets injured in crunch time or loses his timing to such a great extent that he creates a hole in the line-up. And at other times, he can carry the team and provide the necessary leadership. Cal Ripken he is not.

  As for Figueroa – no man crush. I like the fact that he called out the Washington Nationals last year, and he’s someone to whom I would give the keys to the team in the 6th and 7th innings, and perhaps the 8th in a pinch. Why? Because he’s a competitor and brings the kind of stuff that can shut down an opponent once through the line-up. It is those qualities, PLUS his attitude that I consider valuable.

  As a former quarterback and pitcher, I believe that I can identify team-oriented qualities in other ballplayers that incline toward winning. I see them in some individuals and not in others. The qulaities that I see in Reyes and Beltran are more individualistic – sort of like Prima Donnas, which I absolutely disdain.

  And its not just those guys. I HEARD the interview with Putz earlier this year when he stated unequivocally that he had trouble getting up for the 8th inning. I hit the roof when I heard that comment. Even if he really feels that way, he should shut-up, suck it up and put up for the team. Its quite deflating to hear a multi-millionaire whine about exactly how he earns his money, or not.

  Ben – I hope this helps you understand my point of view. I certainly understand yours concerning the decimation of this team by injury. But I think this teams’ challenges runs a little deeper in the character department, and that’s what I’d like to see addressed. Now is as good a time as any.

  Have a great holiday weekend.
• METS62FAN July 2, 2009 at 11:25 am

  CAPSLOCK=DISABILITY ACCOMODATION

  WE’RE NOT BETTER THAN THE PHILLIES? HOW GOOD ARE THESE PHILLIES? REALLY? ARE THEY TRULY A GOOD TEAM OR A TEAM WITH PERFECT TIMING FOR HOTSTREAKS? IF THEY ACTUALL WERE SO MUCH BETTER WHY IS IT THAY’VE HAD TO RELY ON OUR COLLAPSES TO CONTEND? FOR EVERY YEAR OMAR’S BEEN IN CHARGE PHILLIES HAVE SUCKED OUT TAILPIPE FROM APRIL THROUGH AUGUST. FOR THOSE NOT COUNTING THAT’S ’06,’07,’08 & WOULD BE ’09 SANS THE INJURY DEVASTATION. EVEN WITH 75% OF OUR BEST HITTERS, 40% OF OUR ROTATION & OUR PRIMARY SETUP MAN MISSING FOR OVER A MONTH WE’RE STILL RIGHT BEHIND THEM. IF THETY WERE SO MUCH BETTER WOULDN’T THEY SHOW IT? IN ALL BUT ONE OF THOSE PRECEDING YRS(’07) THE BYN HAVE DOMINATED THE SEASON’S ONE ON ONE MEETINGS. SORRY, BUT THOSE ARE THE “FACTS” NOT THE PERCEPTIONS YOYU’VE BEEN FORCE FED. LAST YEAR THEY NEEDED CAREER YEARS FROM LIDGE,WERTH & VICTORINO COMBINED WITH A DISSOLUTION OF OUR BULLPEN TO BARELY GET BY US TO ME THAT DOES NOT DEFINE “MUCH BETTER” THEIR PLAYERS KNOW IT & TRULY FEAR IT, WHY ELSE LOOK OVER THEIR SHOULDERS AT US WHILE HOISTING THEIR TROPHY. IT’S CALLED “WHISTLING PAST THE GRAVEYARD”. I BELIEVE MUCH OF THEIR BLUSTER IS TO PUMP THEMSELVES UP. I’VE BEEN A MET FAN NOW FOR 47 YRS & CLEARLY DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY, AFTER ALL THE DISASTER’S THIS YEAR, OUR BEING ONLY 2GB IS CONSIDERED LUCKY & SOMEHOW PHILLY’S FAULT RATHER THAN OMAR’S GLORY! THE MEDIA IN NY SPORTS TREATS THE NYM LIKE THE MAINSTREAM TREATED BUSH(W), EVERYTHING NEGATIVLY PRESENTED, ALL GOOD IS/WAS HAPPENSTANCE. TATIS’ ’08 WAS A FLUKE. SHEFF’S POWER PRESSENCE, PURE LUCK. EVANS CONTRIBUTION, NIEVES,REDDING ALL LUCK; BUT SOMEHOW INJURIES IS OMAR’S FAULT.
  DOESN’T ANY OF YOU SEE THIS? WE’RE HAVING A SUPRISINGLY GOOD SEASON ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. ANYONE BELIEVE WE WOULDN’T BE IN A BETTER POSITION, WITH A BIG ’06 TYPE LEAD IF WE HADN’T LOST: REYES,BELTRAN,DELGADO,PUTZ,SCHNEIDER,CASTRO,CHURCH,CORA,MAINE,REDDING,PEREZ,PAGAN,MARTINEZ AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER THIS YR?
  DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU; BUT I BELIEVE WE’VE GOT THE MAKINGS TO TAKE 2 THIS WEEKEND IN PHILLY.
• mary July 2, 2009 at 12:13 pm

  THe guy can’t throw 1 run games every time. Bottom line, we did not score enough runs and the Brew crew did. Anybody who wants to get rid of Santana is CRAZY.