As we all know by now, Wallace Matthews wrote yet another column bashing the Mets. And we, as fans, have every right to be angry. We have every right to boycott Matthews and use our Newsday for our fireplaces. But did we even take the time to consider that maybe, just maybe, Wallace Matthews might be right for a change?
The Mets made a blip on the playoff radar in 2006, but lost thanks to a Scott Spezio triple and the most infamous 2-run home run in Mets history. 2007 was an epic collaspe and 2008 was deja vu. 2009….don’t even go there.
Every off-season, we make our wishlists: “I hope they sign Matt Holliday!” or “I hope we acquire a #2 starter!” or (on the top of my wishlist) “They should just get a bionic arm for Johan Santana.” Every offseason, we watch Omar Minaya sit on his hands as the Yankees buy their 27th World Series ring.
The difference between the Yankees and the Mets is that the Yankees say their committed to winning and they show their fans that. The Mets say they’re committed to winning and that means a 20% hike in ticket prices.
The Mets haven’t done anything worth talking about in the last three years, unless the conversation is about futility in Mets history. They haven’t tried to improve the team by fixing the holes in our roster *cough* left fielder *cough*. Omar Minaya and Wilpon family may say they are committed to winning but I was always taught that actions speak louder than words. So, Omar, show us you want to win; show us you are committed to this team. Until Omar shows us he wants to win, I hate to say it, but I agree with Wallace Matthews.
Agreed, it’s time to quit the talk and walk the walk.
MASK? WHEN WAGNER CRAPPED OUT DID WE PURSUE LERSSER SOLUTIONS SOME FAVORED SUCH AS PUTZ OR FUENTES? NO. WE WENT DIRECTLY AFTER THE BIGGEST STUD AVAILABLE DISREGARDING THE 10M ON BOOKS FOR WAGS’ RECOVERY. THAT’S CERTAINLY NOT DOING ANYTHING. NEITHER WAS NEEDING A TOP OF ROTATION ACE & AGAINST MOST ODDS, BAGGED THE BIG GAME, AGAIN! WAS THAT CHECKBOOK BASEBALL OR OLD FASHIONED SKILL AT PORTRAYING MODERATE SUSPECTS AS PROSPECTS. BTW, BACK TO THE CLOSER ISSUE, WE NOT ONLY EXERCISED GOOD JUDGEMENT & CHECKBOOK STYLE IN ACQUIRING THAT STUD, BEST AVAILABLE, CLOSER; BUT AGAIN JUDICIOUSLY PKGD A GROUP OF FLAWED ASSETS TO ACQUIRE ONE OF THE LESSER AVAILABLE CLOSING OPTIONS AS INSURANCE.
WHILE, THIS CERTAINLY ISN’T THE RACE TO FIN’L DOOM SOME DEMAND IN FOLLOWING NYY FREE-SPENDING, ‘NEVER SAY NO’ TALENT COLLECTION. IT’S CERTAINLY SECOND BEST, BTW THEIR CAN BE ONLY ONE BEST. I WOULD CERTAINLY BE WILLING TO STACK THE NYM ATTEMPTS AGAINST ANY OTHER COMPETITOR’S IN THE NL. WHILE THEY OBVUIOULY DON’T ALWAYS SUCCEED IN THEIR QUEST, THEY, UNLIKE MANY OTHERS DON’T QUIT TRYING. THERE IS ALWAYS A RELOADING, RETRYING TO BE COUNTED ON.
62, Unfortunately they DID stop trying. No attempt was made to repair the team during the onset of injuries last season. Omar sat on his hands when many good players were available. If just 1 or 2 holes were filled last season, this offseason would be less of a mountain. The team now has a substantial list of needs to fill as well as a depleted Farm to contend with to boot. We see it differently and my view is that Omar (perhaps directed by ownership) has sat on his hands and let a bad situation get worse. There was too much relying on the return of injured players which never happened. You need to respond to fix problems on a timely basis rather than let the problems fester and grow. We now face a 2 to 3 year recovery at best rather than being able to get competitive for next season.
My fear is that we have been fed a diet of lipservice. There is a need to walk the walk starting now. I want to see some real talent come on board for starting pitching and power for the lineup. Minor enhancements are not going to cut it. Along with that, my fear is that Omar is not up to the task given how he has been discredited with the Bernazard affair and similar matters. We have a GM who has shown he has no ability for concise and effective communication. How can such a person negotiate effectively with agents and other GM’s? I want to see a demonstration that Omar is up to the job of bringing in real talent. And please don’t cite the past; let’s deal with the reality of the present.
Right on! Until we win something, we have nothing to talk about anyway. So let’s shut up, go out there, win some baseball games and then and only then, can we allow our words to escape. Until then, they should remain bottled up, not to make an appearance until we play some games in October.
What’s this world coming to when Mets fans start agreeing with Wallace Matthews?
It must be that misery loves company! Wallace Matthews makes Mike Lupica seem to be an optimist.
How about signing Delgado and Mike Jacobs to play first as a year or two stop gap before Ike Davis or some other home grown talent. Mike Jacobs can definitely hit the ball out of CitiField so if Delgado goes down, we still got a guy with some pop. Not to mention Jacobs can play the outfield as well and is a real solid defensive firt basemen. Cheap insurance policy for Delgado.
People keep saying that the only sure way to land Roy Halladay is to take on Vernon Wells contract. Well we have a hole in Vernon Wells and he can also definitely hit the ball out of CitiField and play defense. How much of the contract would they really have to take on. If Halladay is getting paid 12 million and Vernon is getting 21, if Toronto could get out of these contracts and pay 6 million a year towards Wells’ contract, making him a 15 million dollar player, the Mets could probably absorb both his and Halladay’s contract.
Still costing them a hefty 33 million plus per year, but Toronto would clear 25 million from their payroll this year and and 15 million each of the next four years. This strategy worked out well for the Rockies with Mike Hampton. The Mets considering the contracts they are taking on, would have to surrender probably minimal prospects. I could see maybe a deal with Murphy, Maine, Pagan and Mejia going to the Jays. Given the fallout from trading Halladay, I feel major league ready players are going to be preferred by the Jays.
They should still definitely sign Ben Sheets as well tho.
When negotiating with Halladay on a contract extension, Mets could use the fact that they have a limit on how much salary the can take on in this trade. I think Halladay signs for 18-19 million a year on a 4-5 year contract.
Rotation
Santana
Halladay
Sheets
Pelfrey
Perez/Neise/Other
Starting Lineup
Reyes
Beltran
Wright
Wells
Delgado/Jacobs
Franceur
Castillo
Santos/Thole
Pitcher
He is a new GM-he would be laughed out of the league for taking a package like that—and we would be laughed out of the league (if we weren’t already) for taking on a hideous contract like Wells. Wells has packed it up. No player, not Hallady at 32 for sure, is worth that, particularly when Halladay will want about 160 mil. what is this thing about people wanting Murphy? Maybe Niese, Martinez and Mejia could get it if there is no real hot interest around the league to compete. They can wait till mid-season to trade Roy.
Hey I thought Pelfrey, Martinez, Mejjia and either Flores or Mejjia would be what it would have to take to get it done. I was thinking about this little wrinkle to go along with it, castillo to the Dodgers, Pierre to the Blue Jays, Wells and Cash(maybe half of his money that is remaining) goes to mets…I just don’t think we can get Lackey if the Yankees are in the derby.
If they paid half of wells’ salary, he would still be overpaid the way he is playing now, but I would do it. He is still better than a lot of left fielders at half speed. I like the Castillo wrinkle. Nothing worse than a sunk cost–see Billy Wagner-2009-and Ollie Perez-Forever.
Jacobs is not an improvement over Murphy. He had one year of 32 homeruns, otherwise he hits about 15 – 20 hrs a year and that is NOT at Citifield, and his defensive skills at 1st make Murphy look like a gold glove.
I agree that in order for the Mets to have a real good shot at getting Halliday is u may have to take Vernon Wells and play him in LF. And by the way Halliday makes 15.75 million this coming year not 12 million and Wells has 107 mil left on his deal, half that is 53.5 million, he has 5 years left. U can get Toronto to pay half, maybe, i think u have to take wells to beat out the yankees or red sox or anybody else for halliday.
hahaha,
you can start a blog here about Ancient Chinese Pottery and it’ll morph into everybody’s idea of what moves the Mets should make for 2010!
lol.
China is richly endowed with the raw materials needed for making ceramics. The first types of ceramics were made about 11,000 years ago, during the Palaeolithic era. Chinese Ceramics range from construction materials such as bricks and tiles, to hand-built pottery vessels fired in bonfires or kilns, to the sophisticated porcelain wares made for the imperial court. This is evident in the Mets need to improve 1b. Trading for Adrian Gonzalez would ensure success for dynastys to follow.
ROFL!
3,750,000 more reasons for Toronto to consider this option. In recession, there is opportunity for those with money.
But do the Mets have big time money? The jury is out on that question.
i agree with jdon that Wells may have mailed it in and it’s odious to think that he’d be the LF for the next 5 years putting up ‘eh’ numbers…and i keep waxing hot and cold over getting Halladay. i think i’m leaning in favor of it again, only because i don;t think we’ll get Lackey (Yanks) and why aren’t the Angels hot to sign Lackey, btw? That disturbs me.
So, it’s back to Doc..and the ONLY way we get him is to take Wells in the deal. So, do we do it? i don’t know. What do you people think?
Because otherwise, we refurbish the pitching with a cluster of good but not great arms: Marquis, Wolf, Piniero (who i think beats just us) and 2 very intriguing but questionable health-wise guys like Sheets and Harden. If we signed 2 – 3 of those guys, is that enough? Would that put us over the top against the Phillies, Braves, Marlins, Cards, Dodgers, Giants, D-Backs, Rockies, Brewers? (Division rivals and possible wild card / playoff teams.) i’m asking. What do we do, if we don’t get Lackey?
Also, it’s not looking good for Holiday or Bay. Do we trade for Carl Crawford or Granderson (if he ‘is’ available)? Or do we get Pierre for Castillo and play a lot of small ball, with Reyes, Pierre, and Chone Figgins next year? Is Pierre too old, or does he still have it for a couple of years?
And re 1B: i continue to doubt Murphy is the answer there. Do we import Xavier Nady into the mix to pair with Daniel? Can the X-man play 1B? Or Mike Jacobs…that’s a great idea by metstem. Is Jacobs an option to fix our 1B woes, given the realities of the marketplace out there?
i think Nady and Jacobs mixing with Pierre might be an offbeat way to get it done, ‘fixing’ our LF and 1B issues…and energize the offense by injecting an exciting brand of baseball into the Mets.
What do you people think?
One of the original knocks on Mike Jacobs was that his poor defensive footwork and other minimal defensive skills at first base offset some of his promising offense. I wonder if that assessment was correct? If so, has he improved so that he is a competitive first baseman in the field? Also, he had arm problems because of an injured shoulder. Though he would play first where throwing is less important, is his arm better or good enough? Anybody with a knowledgeable answer?
If we were tobring in, say, Wolf and Marquis-and hope Pelfrey gives something, we would have an average starting staff, counting Santana. That would put a lot of pressure on an offense that really does not deliver with men on base, and has been up and down for all of its rep over the past few years. If they can get a Halladay or Lackey, fine.
i guess i’m saying: is Doc (+ his megabuck new deal) ‘worth’ the Wells anchor..or are we better going to a Plan B?
Plan B is: signing 3 among Marquis, Wolf, Sheets, Harden, Piniero; trade Castillo for Pierre; sign Figgins; sign Nady and Jacobs. Or Plan B could include trading for Crawford or Granderson for LF.
Would these guys put us in the heat for a playoff spot and create an exciting brand of small ball/speed/pitching that would win games?
i now doubt we’ll get Lackey, Holliday or Bay. So, how do you people vote?
It’s imperative we urge a ‘plan’ onto the front office. i fear waking up on ‘pitchers and catchers’ day andseeing a bunch of ‘maybes’, ‘who are these guys’…and Ollie!
If taking on Vernon Wells means giving up less prospects for Roy Halladay, wouldn’t that be a good thing? It’s not like Wells wouldnt be an upgrade over last years opening day left fielder Daniel Murphy.
[...] from MetsMerized Online says that actions speak louder than words, and wants Omar Minaya to show us he wants to [...]
True, another question is, are they really open to trading their prospects for a player whether it be Gonzalez or Halliday…….can they trade Castillo for Pierre or somebody else’s problem, i mean say we can’t move Castillo, then he’s the 2b and basically were focused on FA, then do they do they sign Lackey if the yankees are not involved in the sweepstakes, do they sign him to 5 yrs 90 mil, which is what i think the winning bid will be, do they sign Molina, do they bring Delgado or Glaus in to play 1b if there not open to trading for a Gonzalez if they get lackey, then if Castillo is the 2b, do they sign a Guerrero or Dye to play the OF, will see. It’s tough because u have to to create a different plans where u get lackey or u get Halliday, u also to make different plans where 1 is where castillo is the 2b for next year and 1 if he is traded, so it’s tough.
I JUST KNOW THAT I HAVE MY RENEWAL FOR MY SEASON TICKETS AND I AM WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE METS DO BEFORE RENEWING MY TICKETS……I HOPE ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE DO THE SAME….THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THAT THE METS WILL GET OUR DISSATISFACTION WITH OUR BELOVED BALLCLUB…..LET’S SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN $$ GO AWAY.
Yes, Nester, Wells would be a plus versus Murphy in LF on opening day. But would he continue to be a plus all the years afterward? i think we’d be irate over the inflexibility of the contract and the roadblock he’d be for the next 5 years.
i guess i’ve moved on from Plan A: Lackey, Holliday, Bay or a Doc to a Plan B…and yes, Castillo is another piece of the puzzle: can we move him, or is he our 2B next year?
Seems to me, odds look decent to good, we can trade Castillo for a decent player, either Pierre, Blake…or someone.
Plan B, i think, if we do it right with the likes of Marquis, Sheets, Wolf + Pierre (or Crawford or Granderson) + Figgins + Nady/Jacobs or Blake would make us be able to contend next year.
Id like to sign Marquis and Figgins right now.If the Mets had them now it would put them in a stronger position.Knowing we need a leftfielder Holliday and Bay can sit and play us against the Yankees for more money.If they traded Castillo,Figgins or Hudson could hold out for more money knowing we need a 2nd baseman.Signing Marquis gives us a weak starting 5,but a strong position going after Halladay or Lackey.So lets sign Figgins and Marquis.Then offer Lackey 5 year 85 mill.Bay 4 year 68 mill.Or Holliday 6year 108 mill.If Lackey signs elsewhere go after Halladay.If Bay and Holliday sign elsewhere you have Figgins and Castillo you will need power from C and 1st.
GOOD READ-Sports Illustrated predictions-http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/ben_reiter/11/08/reiter.50/index.html
3 position players and a decent pitcher.
With all due respect, Jessica, I think I have to disagree with one thing you said.
Every offseason, we watch Omar Minaya sit on his hands
Two winters ago, Omar signed the bext free agent pitcher on the market in Johan. Last winter, he signed the top closer in baseball.
and then in the 04 offseason he signed Pedro, Beltran, and went hard after Delgado (but Marlins signed him). in 05, he signed Wagner, traded for Delgado, and signed Paul Lo Duca. all he did in 06 was sign Alou. but then in 07, he traded for Santana, resigned Castillo (to a terrible contract), and traded Lastings Milledge for Ryan Church and Brian Schnieder. then in 08, he signed K-Rod.
and by the way, you said he signed Santana. he traded for him, then gave him and extension. and also, you said K-Rod was the best closer in the game. he’s a top 5 closer, but not the best
Steve, great idea to go after Marquis and Figgins ASAP…but i do think they’d have to tell the guy where he’s playing, no? But i hear ya and i think its a good approach.
Yet, i highly doubt we’ll snag either Lackey or Holliday…and now think the Wells ‘anchor’ too steep a price to pay for Doc.
Which is why, i’m for ‘Plan B.’ And if we got Figgins and Pierre…along with Nady/Jacobs or Blake…we’d have a good assembly of spped and power…that along with a Sheets and Wolf…might, just might, put us in the race big time: pitching/defense/speed and ’some’ power…
Thanks Bob.I agree with you about some of the players to pick up.But id switch Jacobs with Blalock.As long as they sign Marquis im with you id go after Sheets(harden,bedard) or Wolf.Then sign Barajas or Molina to catch.
[...] from MetsMerized Online says that actions speak louder than words, and wants Omar Minaya to show us he wants to [...]
Thanks Steve: Blalock, huh? i’ll check his stats. i would’ve added Bedard, but heard he’s a ‘problem/issue/head case’…if not, he’s interesting, i agree.
i checked on Bedard…Q with him is his health..if we can get a gauge on that, and it’s good to go, guy has great talent…
You and Matthews are dead wrong, Jessica.
A well-spent $150 million payroll leaves us extremely competitive with the Phillies. With the revenue from the new, $800 million stadium the taxpayers gave the Wilpons, and as a largest-market team, the Mets can well afford the second highest payroll in the majors. For the approximately $47 million for acquisitions on top of our $103 million in commitments and raises for 2010 we can certainly afford an excellent hitter like Holliday, two durable, above average starters, a solid C like Greg Zaun, and a couple of patches, say a live bullpen arm and great glove at 2b. That means living with Angel Pagan in RF and Daniel Murphy in a platoon at 1b, but if those are the weak spots in our lineup we’re doing just fine. A rotation no better than Santana/Pelfrey/Arroyo/Marquis/5th starter has a chance to be above average at every slot. That’s a team with an excellent shot at 95 wins.
Make no small plans, Jessica.
i doubt we’ll get Lackey or Holliday or Bay…which is why i think it’s critical to have a Plan B, rather than come up empty by Spring Training. i’ve mentioned the players i think both obtainable and successful with the Mets. i think we can do better than Arroyo and Piniero…Marquis, Sheets, Wolf, Harden. Bedard…pick 3; sign Nady/Jacobs for 1B and some LF; trade for Pierre; sign Figgins….
Why would people doubt we get Lackey, Holliday, or Bay!? We’ve got the money, we need them more than the other teams that can match our cash. Why not get them?
This Wallace Matthews guy has brought forth the venom of the Mets Nation but I am one Mets fan that is ticked about how the last 3 years have gone starting with the bat left on Beltran’s shoulder in the playoffs. I can’t even talk about who they should get in the offseason or anything like that. In my mind, there is nothing to talk about. The organization just needs to back up what they promised the fans and the city: A real effort to produce a winning team in a winner’s city like NYC. Period! That’s all I want. That’s all I can accept! Minaya and the Wilpons, the ball’s in your courts!
You are absolutely correct. Mets fans can talk about this player or that player until the cows come home, but if Omar and the Wilpons don’t put some resolve behind the hype they have fed us then it’s all moot. As I said in a prior post, it’s time for mgmt and ownership to CUT THE TALK AND WALK THE WALK. It’s time for them to show us they’re serious and establish a truly competitive team. That goal is very distant right now and it will take a lot of work to make it happen. I hope Omar has his feet off the desk and is working overtime right now. Omar, this is no time for relaxation.
It’s not the Mets’ MO to outbid the Yankees or Red Sox for a player…and Holliday and Bay have power, but their ‘D’ ain’t ideal for ‘C’ field…+ i bet their ‘power’ fades at ‘C’ field also…so i’ve honed in on a Plan B that refits the team to the park…speed, pitching, small-ball, better hitting…
What the Mets should do is trade for Crawford. Then Sign Lackey and Sheets Resign Delgado. here is how it would look.
1 Reyes
2 Castillo
3 Crawford
4 Delgado
5 Wright
6 Beltran
7 Francouer
8 Santos
1 Santana
2 Lackey
3 Sheets
4 Pelfery
5 Maine/Perez
You want to bat Carlos Beltran in the 6 spot? Tom Wolfe wrote a journal called “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test” that produced many similar trains of thought as this. All kidding aside, unless Delgado has another reneissance year and Wright decides to be more of a ball player and less of a labradoodle Beltran is the only real legitimate slugger in that lineup.
I want Delgado behind Crawford. I think Wright is better than Beltran so thats why he is batting 6.
Also Delgado did pretty good before he got hurt 298 BA 4 Hrs 23 RBI in 26 games.If he gets hurt Murphy is not horrible replacement. You don’t think Wright is a good hitter? and do you also think that having Reyes and Crawford in the same lineup won’t score alot of runs?
i just think it’d be better to have beltran up with 2 outs with men on base because wright has a tendency to sing at bad pitches and strikeout. im not ignoring the fact that beltran is often caught with his bat glued to his shoulder. i can agree with the idea of having a solid hitter behind wright so he sees better pitches but i think id rather move crawford to the 6 hole or something. idk.. the problem with that lineup is its full of #3 hitters, which isnt necessarily a bad thing.