23
2009
Blowing Off Steam Before Hitting The Road…
An article by 
I just finished reading a couple of different posts on some of the other Mets blogs I like to read, but both of them have left me scratching my head.
Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn’t our stated goal that we should put a championship caliber team on the field in 2010? Is that not what Jeff Wilpon and Omar Minaya promised us during their appearance with Mike Francesa?
As the title says, I have to blow off some steam before I leave for the holiday…
I am very confused by much of what I read lately, because I thought the object of the game was to win a World Series. And to do that, you enter each season with a team that you believe can get you there. Somehow, I sense a shift in gears around the Mets blogosphere.
All of a sudden embracing a win-now attitude gets you profiled as some sports radio call-in show crack pot…
If this isn’t a win-now team, what the hell are we doing with Carlos Beltran and Johan Santana who are not getting any younger?
Maybe Bob Klapisch was right…
Suddenly, the blog-heads are now more qualified than the radio-heads. Says who? What makes any of them experts? Have any of them held a job as a GM or assistant GM? I didn’t think so.
Blogging to me is no different than hanging out at a sports bar with my buddys and friends. We have a great time arguing and debating the best way to get the Mets to another championship. It’s fun sharing my own thoughts with all of you, but the best part for me is reading all of your responses. I learn a lot from those responses and over the years you have shaped the way I feel about the Mets and the kind of fan I am. Anyway, I digress…
I’ve read too many posts that suggest the Mets stay away from Jason Bay or Matt Holliday, and even more that suggested we didn’t need to go after Roy Halladay or sign John Lackey. It’s hard to believe this is the same fan base from a decade ago.
I am growing tired of the sentiment that we shouldn’t do anything this year because next year’s free agent crop will be so much better. Really? When I look at next year’s leftfielders the biggest name out there is Carl Crawford who could very well sign an extension with the Rays, or get traded and sign an extension with his new team as did Johan Santana and more recently Roy Halladay.
I want someone to tell me what free agent leftfielder in 2011 is better than Matt Holliday right now… or even Jason Bay?
A large contingency of fans wants the Mets to wait until 2011 to get a long term starting pitcher because there will be a better crop available as well, but the best one would have been Roy Halladay and he is now off the boards thanks to the win-at-all-costs Phillies, the team that is the class and juggernaut of the NL.
That leaves Josh Beckett as the top 2011 free agent starter, and he most certainly will re-sign with the Red Sox long before he hits free agency if all the rumors are true, and even so he’ll be 32 and has a checkered injury past. Apparently those were the big fears against signing John Lackey.
So when did procrastinating become an option?
I read these quotes about how everybody is glad the Mets didn’t trade for Vasquez because he can’t pitch in New York, or that we didn’t need Jason Marquis because he sucks, and I have to think that comments like that don’t say much for Maine, Pelfrey and Perez who each performed at significantly worse levels. Maybe it’s Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez who can’t pitch in New York. Anybody ever consider that?
Patience might be a virtue, but a century of patience has done little for the Chicago Cubs, and I’m not willing to be that patient.
Are the aggressive moves made by the Yankees and Phillies a sign of being inept, or evidence of teams that are just bent on winning and giving their fans something to cheer about?
If you want to be successful, shouldn’t we do what successful teams do?
Everyone wants to preserve the Mets farm system as if we’re protecting a batch of Ted Williams and Sandy Koufax clones, when the truth is that most of the names you hear of now will be much like dust in the wind 2-3 years from now.
What ever happened to Eddie Kunz and Nick Evans and Mike Carp and Lastings Milledge and Philip Humber? They were all ranked as the Mets Top 5 Prospects in December of 2006. Where are they now???
And after such a colossal failure you want the Mets to stand pat with a team that most likely finishes in 4th place, just because a few Mets minor league bloggers say that the future is bright? Gimme a break… You keep all those birds in the bushes and I’ll take my chances with proven Major League talent any day.
It would be different if Branch Rickey were running our minor league operations, but it’s Omar Minaya we’re talking about here. His only claim to fame is Pelfrey, the sinker-baller whose pitches don’t sink.
We now have mainstream bloggers who seem convinced that two big players won’t help the Mets in 2010. Really?
So a rotation of: Roy Halladay, Johan Santana, Jason Marquis, John Maine and Mike Pelfrey wouldn’t have made an impact in the race for the division? Really?
And a lineup of: Jose Reyes, David Wright, Matt Holliday, Carlos Beltran, Adam La Roche, Jeff Francoeur, Rod Barajas and Luis Castillo wouldn’t have scored enough runs? Really?
The addition of two significant players like Halladay/Lackey or Bay/Holliday coupled with low level signings of Jason Marquis/Randy Wolf and Adam La Roche/Mark DeRosa would have not only appeased an impatient fanbase, but it might have taken the Mets to sights unseen since 1986.
You can keep your patience, I’d rather stick with the sense of urgency.
Unfortunately for me though, the Mets don’t see it my way, and lucky for them, many Mets fans don’t seem to mind.
I suspect that after a few early April games with attendance figures below 25,000, the Mets will will change their minds and their philosophy real fast. And a very possible 5-20 start to the season can send everyone and everything into chaos and pandemonium, but unfortunately by then, all the free agents that could have helped will have all been signed. And next off season they’ll be crying about the lack of quality left fielders and starting pitchers all over again…
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.
42 Comments + Add Comment
MMO Featured Video
Recent Comments
- LongTimeFan: on Clubhouse Confidential On Bay’s Struggles: Joey D., no problem. I initially missed...
- LongTimeFan: on Clubhouse Confidential On Bay’s Struggles: I agree there's a real problem with...
- Joey D.: on Clubhouse Confidential On Bay’s Struggles: And what more does anyone really learn...
- Joey D.: on Clubhouse Confidential On Bay’s Struggles: LT, Sorry you didn't catch me apologizing for...
- Joey D.: on Clubhouse Confidential On Bay’s Struggles: Bayonne, LMAO - hope that doesn't mean the...
Recommended Links
Advertisement
Write Your Own Mets Post
Advertisement
We Appreciate Your Help
Affordable Graphic Design
Joe – You know that I do have patience but WOW!! I must say your article was incredibly poignant and convincing. I think you can get up on your horse and ride into the sunset for your holiday. Nicely done.
Thanks Danny…. Hi ho Silver, and away…
Joe,
I see you are as disgusted as I am about the Mets’ do-nothing off-season. Where we differ is that you apparently bought in to what the Wilpons and Minaya said about improving the team for 2010 while I saw it as a charade all along. Still, the few Mets’ signings are almost laughable. Dickey ? Dessens ? You can find better pitchers (and under age 35) in the Independent Leagues who would gladly play for the Major League minimum and could at least be called “prospects”.
I rooted for a lot of terrible Mets’ teams throughout the years, but at least, there was always an influx of new talent that offered hope, slim as it may have been, before every new season. At this point I don’t really care if the Mets sign someone like Austin Kearns or Rod Barajas, but amazingly they are not even trying to give the impression that they are doing anything. I don’t get it.
Finally something I can whole heartedly relate to. It’s about time somebody agrees with the way I feel. Too many Mets fans are giving Omar and the Wilpons a free ride for their lack of action and urgency to a team that has stumbled from two chokes and a season that was mishandled by the medical staff and fundamentally flawed even before the injuries struck. Blame Omar for all of it. His punishment a new three year deal that kicks off this January.
Why all the complaining? Haven’t Omar and Jeffy stepped up enough already this winter for us disgruntled fans? Are you not satisfied with Henry Blanco, Chris Coste, Ryota Igarishi, RA Dickey, Clint Everts, and Mike Hessman? Omar has addressed most of the Mets needs. He signed us two catchers, a RH 1B to platoon with Murphy, a top notch knuckle ball starter, and two, count ‘em TWO potential setup relievers! What more does a beleagured GM have to do to satisfy the fan base???? Sign John Lackey? Or maybe trade for Javier Vasquez? Maybe Mike Gonzalez? Perhaps Randy Wolf? Maybe Chone Figgins? Geez, are us Met fans hard to please!
BTW, hope no one takes that seriously. Just happen to be in a very sarcastic mood lately regarding the Mets.
And don’t forget Kelvim Escobar! Where doing I go to get on line for play off tickets?!?!?!?
“Dead solid perfect,” copying from a great football book. i am both stunned and steaming that Omar has been basically immobile. And wrong. i thought he would have moved by now to markedly improve this team. He has not. The question is: Will he?
Apparently the answer is going to be a great big fat NO! What does that man make in salary? Is it $3M per year? That’s really great! He’s making big time bucks for doing squat! Just what does he do in the office? Is he even going to be there through the end of the year? Seems as though he’s nothing but a big time clock puncher pulling in a big check while playing fantasy sports all day.
I sense that you were none to pleased with your Christmas bonus this week. I want to disgaree with you so badly, but I can’t find the words. In fact, I am doubting my original positions on things right now thanks to your post, especially about your comments on the minor leaguers which I always felt we should preserve. What can I say about those top 5 prospects that you mentioned other than the fact that 3 years ago I wanted to keep them as much as I want to keep Fmart, Ike, etc. right now. I don’t know what to think now except that maybe we do buy into the hype too much with these Mets prospects. Still, I feel strongly about Ike Davis. I really do think he will be the one guy that eventually comes out of the Omar era. Just wait and see.
Well, there is nothing wrong with a sense of urgency, but if a person doesn’t believe that Jason Bay is the deal, he just doesn’t. If he does not believe Omar is the guy to do this, he just doesn’t. How is this for urgency? The LFs in next year’s FA class aren’t great? Fine. How are the 3B? The SS? The CF? I suggested on another blog topic that we trade a core player. Fine. We get a good left fielder and maybe we sign a top CF next year….just saying. But I do not want Omar making that trade. There are ways to build without using Jason or Bengie. The Wontpons jsut won’t do the right thing.
Unbelievable. Management is a joke and a bunch of liar. They don’t care about the team and the fans. Get ready for a last place team people, its not going to get better in 2010.
Hey Joe,
I will not spend a dime at city field this year. In fact, I would even follow the game this year. I got better things to do with my life than to root for clueless losers. I suggest you do the same.
I rather root for the Mariners or the other NY Team.
At least this post makes sense as opposed to the one by MC at MetsBlog in which he takes an opposite position on almost all of your points. As for the 2011 free agent class being so great, it’s a pipe dream. Every off season they say that about next year, because they see all these great names and dont realize most of them will have their options picked up, or they will be offered arbitration, or they will sign extensions. A lot can happen in 12 months and more than half of the guys being touted in 2011 wont be free agents at all. That’s why I think you hit on a big point as far as the futility of waiting till 2011 to make your big moves. There’s no point to it.
Fantastic post, Joe D.
One thing that really gets under my skin is that when say a John Lackey signs with Boston or a Roy Halladay gets traded to Philadelphia, etc. that some Mets fans will say that Lackey was not worth the contract or Halladay was not worth the prospects and then a contract extension as well like they have to somehow justify the fact that the Mets did not make such a move that would instantly make them a much better team. If the Mets had signed Lackey most of those same fans would be dancing in the streets.
To be completely honest while I thought the Mets would come out aggressively this offseason and use both the free-agency market and trade market to fill glaring needs I now do not think they ever even came up with one decisive plan of attack.
I am really at a loss of words and it is increasingly frustrating watching teams improve significantly while the Mets sit on their hands and do nothing.
Omar Minaya said “So far, the timing of the deals have not been there,” which I have no idea what that means. Does it mean we have to deal other players before we can take on new contracts? Does it mean we can only concentrate on one player at a time? Does it mean I was on vacation and could not be bothered?
The Mets misread the market horribly and were not nearly aggressive enough in trying to better the team up to this point.
While Minaya says the timing of the deals have not been there I am seriously starting to wonder if the timing will ever be there for this regime.
The Mets are much more of a win now team rather than a win in a couple years team yet they seem very unwilling to be aggressive and put a team and reliable 25 man roster together. They are not that far away, player personnel wise, but are seemingly not committed to going all the way which is the most frustrating part.
Concerning the idea that the Mets are waiting for next year’s free-agent class, it is simply a laughable excuse and an attempt at justifying the extremely lackluster offseason. What will the excuse be next year? Let me guess “So far, the timing of the deals have not been there.” Many of the potential 2011 free-agents have options and/or are very likely to re-up with their current clubs and there is already a uniform waiting for Carl Crawford at Yankee Stadium.
Finally, who exactly came to the conclusion that Jason Bay somehow fits into the strategy of building a team around “pitching and defense” that they proclaimed would be the plan moving forward? The utter neglect and de-valuing of quality starting pitching is sickening. The team that is being put together will not be dominant enough in other areas to make up for the average at best starting pitching they will get over the coarse of a 162 game season. It baffles me how a team that invest so much can rely oh hope, potential, and prayer for 60% of their games.
I forgot to add that while there is still time to significantly improve the team in some areas there are simply no options, barring a surprising trade(who trades premium pitching?), to upgrade the most glaring need, starting pitching.
With the premium that is and should be put on starting pitching you will always have to overpay for quality proven starters.
The Mets seem unwilling to do so, however, they did for the rollercoaster ride that is Oliver Perez who has never been a quality proven starter from start to start.
They also will have more question marks than any supposedly contending team I can think of and it is not just about their glaring needs, it also includes legitimate question marks about each and every one of their core and star players.
History is not on their side from expecting everything to go right and there are very few teams that have had a 70 win season one year and then made the postseason the following year.
Strike-shortened seasons withstanding, there have been 6 teams since 1969(8 total seasons) make the postseason after a 70 win or less season…
Arizona Diamondbacks – 1998-1999
Atlanta Braves – 1990-1991
Chicago Cubs(3 times) – 1997-1998, 2002-2003, 2006-2007
Philadelphia Phillies – 1992-1993
San Francisco Giants – 1996-1997
Tampa Bay Rays – 2007-2008
…not impossible but not very likely.
Without improving the team substancially it becomes even more unlikely.
They are not going to do squat this offseason. They are simply going to “wait and see” how improved the team is with the players returning from injury. The problem is those players all constitute questions and several of those questions will not be resolved favorably. There is only one uninjured starter in the rotation: Pelfrey. All the others are coming back from one sort of physical problem or another. That is far from a good situation. We are staring at the cellar next year folks. Omar is waiting it out. The famous Francesa interview was all deliberate deception. They must think we are stupid and have no memories. I haven’t forgotten the promises that quickly. Next year I will watch TV on the couch with the cats for company.
Honest, i’ve not dran or even sniffed any Kool-Aid and i am morose about our have sat on our thumbs during this offseason. However, Fernando Martinez aside (and he had a lousy time in winter ball), i think we have about a half-dozen guys in AA/AAA this year that have a decent chance of being genuine contributors in 2011/2012: Ike Davis, Dillon Gee (remember him; he might contribute in 2010), Niese (fighting foe a rotation spot in 2010), Josh Thole(2010-11, Ruben Tejada, Reese Havens, Zach Lutz. Then outliers to be in AA in 2010 would include: Jenry Mejia, Brad Holt, Kirk Nieuwenhuis (a sleeper).
So, life ain’t good now, but it’ll get better! No dark days anew for us!
Andi didn’t even mention the kiddie corps of Familia, Flores, Allen, Richard Lucas, Aderlin Rodriquez, Nick Carr, Scott Moviel, Eric Niessen, Alonzo Harris,Cesar Puello, Juan Urbina, and Jefrey Marte (he, who looks like me trying to field a ground ball–but he’s 19).
So, cheer up Met Fans. Happy Quonza, Hanukkah, Christmas and all of that!
Joe, a great read as always. Your points are valid and well taken. I think the Mets will make moves. It just might not be on the grand scale many of us had hoped for… Your point about Omar and Jeff talking on the radio is totally accurate…needless to say we’re all waiting with high hopes.
The Phillies, Braves and Marlins have better farm systems than the Mets. Only the hapless Nationals trail the Mets. But just this month, they signed pitchers Brian Bruney, Scott Olsen and Jason Marquis.
Our guys will be battling for fourth place in the NL East and just might not be able to hold off the Nationals. Dour, downbeat report, but when you don’t invest and don’t have superior prospects, the outlook can’t be rosy.
Yet the Mets PR machine continues to pump out upbeat forecasts — got to fill the seats until the cash flow improves.
Brian Bruney, Scott Olsen and Jason Marquis? How are they any better than what the Mets have? Bruney only pitched in one game for the yankees in the postseason. In that game he gave up two runs and got only one out. Scott Olsen and Marquis are back of the rotation starters.
I have a question for you if the Mets are a 4th place team then why were they leading the division before all the injuries came?
Its because the best thing about being a pessimist when it comes to the mets its this: if you’re right, well, you told everyone so. Not that its very hard to be right when predicting misery for Met fans. But when you’re wrong, its all gravy.
To answer your last question first, every team has injuries. The Mets are, as they have been throughout Omar’s reign, brittle and overrated. The PR machine works overtime.
Regarding your first question, I never said they were better. I implied they would likely be competitive. With the Nationals active and the Mets sitting on their collective bum, which team will have the momentum for success?
I think we all need to take a deep breath. Let’s recognize that the Wilpon’s have not been candid with us. They are stonewalling for reasons that will be apparent in the near future.
You can add Matt Capps because he’s nearing a deal with the Nats right now.
I know every team has injuries but not to the extent of what the Mets had last year. I don’t know of many teams that lost 4 of their best players for most of the year.
Is Bruney,Olsen,Marquis and maybe Capps going to make a team that has lost 100 games two years in a row competitive? and If the Mets signed Bruney,Olsen,Marquis and Capps would you say the Mets are competitive? I bet you wouldn’t.
You make it seem like the Mets aren’t trying to sign players. They offered Bay and Molina a contract. Unless you think Omar is going around giving fake contracts to players. I hope thats not what you think because that makes no sense at all. You are just going to have to wait for the Mets to sign players. Thats just the way it is. The Yankees waited a month before Sabbathia signed. and it has only been 13 days since the Mets made offers to Bay and Molina.
Let’s all hope the Mets do well this season, but their almost total lack of success so far in this off-season doesn’t bode well. After the season,we’ll be able to assess the whole picture.
Merry Christmas and the Best for the New Year !!!
My point is at least the Nats are trying. What are the Mets doing? Unless signing guys like Escobar, Dickey, Dessens, old 2nd string catchers, oh and that Japanese guy constitutes trying?
I think escobar is alot better than Capps.
Pointing towards 2011 is just a way of not spending in 2010. The ghost of Uncle Bernie is guiding Mets policy. You can’t spend what you don’t have!!!
I will have high hopes when we have hired a respected, intelligent, future thinking G.M.
enjoy the holiday, Joe. Enjoy something, at least.
Well said! And I feel the same way as you do. The Mets needed to make a splash in the off-season but have so far produced barely a ripple. The splashing is being made by the Shankees and the Philthies who have shown that they’re committed to winning. Forget about the Mets for a while and enjoy the holidays.
Call them the Yankees and the Phillies. As much I hate both teams, at least they get it. Finishing anything but 1st or World Champions is not acceptable to both those teams.
Guys I know we all frustrated, but u know what, sheets is still out there, so is bay, holliday, chapman, barajas, and other low risk high reward guys, I know is not easy being a mets fan, n trust me I’ve been lobbying 4 minaya to lose his job, but he’s our gm, what can we do, lets pray we can make a good deal or trade to make our team better, our pitching is super suspect but so is other’s team, also guys remember, we’re getting reyes, beltran, santana, maine n other back healthy (cross fingers), that’s an upgrade already, give it time n I’m sure if we support our team (even if is watching games on tv) we’ll be fine. Anyhow, from joed86 to all u mets fans out there merry christmas!!!!!
Minaya must be sitting on his ass somewhere in the Carribean.
Oh yes! ‘Empty Pockets’ Minaya.
It’s so sad it’s funny!!!
New to the site as well as Twitter where I just discovered you, and I’m very impressed. Just now realizing that there is another world beyond MetsBlog. Now I have two favorite Mets sites!
Joe,
I agree 100% with everything you wrote. The Mets have their heads in the sand. I received another phone call today from the ticket office about my ticket package for next season. Screw them…they don’t deserve my hard earned money. I rather watch from home and turn the TV off when I get annoyed next season. This team is nothing but a 4th place team with the Nationals coming on strong. Unfortunately even if the Mets sign Bay (which I think they won’t)….they will not have enough pitching to compete with the Phillies, Braves or Marlins. I am really starting to believe the best thing to do is Fire Minaya, Jerry, and the coaches and trade everyone to rebuild. Lets trade for great talent now while we can still get very high quality back for Beltran, Santana, Rodriguez…etc…..I am really starting to believe the window to win a title closed after the 2008 season.
Merry Christmas to all.
And Merry Christmas to you too, Emilio.
Omar is just a hired gunslinger. He gets his orders from the Wilpons and the ghost of Uncle Bernie, the thief who wrecked the Mets.
The Wilpon’s don’t have enough dough right now to compete with the other owners!!! Sell the team.
Mets need to stop waiting for these players that don’t want to be here. We should just go ahead and sign Nady to platoon at 1B and LF and sign Derosa to platoon in LF and utility player. Barajas at 2 years is better than Molina for 3. Then sign 2 of the following Sheet, Bedard or Garland. I think we could be a playoff team with a shot at the Division title.
Bay is just waiting for any other offer he has no desire to play for the Mets and that is what caused all of our problems over the last 3 years not signing players who want to play here.
Didn’t buy that interview either. The #1 thing that needs to happen to this team is that nobody shows up at Ebbets Field oops, I mean Citifield this year (yeah I know its a pipe dream). Then maybe someone will convince Freddy and Jeff to sell our team. Then they can move to California, buy the Dodgers and rename them The Brooklyn Dodgers of Los Angeles!!!!
Reading this, I thought it was the words coming out of my mouth. I couldnt agree with you more. I think it is completely redic to think that a do nothing and wait approach is the way to go. PLEASE someone tell me that signing Holiday and Lackaye would not INSTANTLY put this team in contention for a world series. What the hell not? This team was predicted to go to the World Series by Sports Illustrated last year and there was not a name of Lackey or Holiday on that team. With those 2 signed and the return of Reyes and Beltran, that is a very solid baseball team. A line up with Reyes, Holiday, Beltran, Wright, Francauer, and whichever catcher is a very good line up and can compete with any in the NL. A starting staff of Santana, Lackey, Maine, Pelfrey (and whichever lower level starter signed) Can match up with anyone. Id honestly take Santana/ Lackey over Halliday/Hammels any day.
So please to all the “bloggers” and Mets fans who say to stay put, BITE ME!!!
Great post, very well put, and thank you