14
2010
Boras: Mets Knew, Doctor And Trainer Gave Consent
An article by 
According to Joel Sherman of the NY Post, a person with knowledge of the situation said Beltran did not obtain advance written consent from the club to have the surgery, which was performed by his personal physician, Dr. Richard Steadman, in Colorado.
However, Carlos Beltran’s agent Scott Boras, disputed that account last night. He said the guarantee language in the slugger’s contract requires advance written permission only for “elective operations”.
“This was necessary surgery, necessary surgery to work,” Boras told The Associated Press.
Of course the Mets might try to claim that the operation was elective, but that claim would be trumped and completely invalidated if Beltran was in pain. Scary still is the fact that the Mets first reaction was one of recouping money and suing one of their own, rather than any genuine concern for the player’s health and well being. Very classy… After a reaction like that, I wouldn’t be surprised if Beltran demanded a trade.
In a conversation with fellow fans on Twitter, I said that the if anyone had a case, it was Beltran and not the Mets that had the best chance to win any legal action solely based on how the Mets mishandled the injury.
Boras said that Dr. Steadman spoke with Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek on Monday and again after Beltran was examined in Colorado on Tuesday, and that Steadman obtained Altchek’s consent for the surgery.
“Since the beginning of November, he was feeling discomfort and pain,” Boras said. “They found some fragments in there that had to be removed.”
Last night, Boras also said that he called the Mets on Monday to tell them Beltran was going to see Steadman and that they should keep in touch with Altchek.
“Dr. Steadman has represented to us that he spoke with the Mets’ physician and he received consent to go forward with the plan and the surgery,” Boras said. “Dr. Steadman has told us that his office contacted the Mets trainer and obtained the appropriate insurance forms and received approval for payment to go ahead with the surgery.”
The initial reaction from the Mets seemed like one of shock and surprise, but with these new revelations, the question now becomes, is this the same pattern of misinformation we saw last season from the Mets regarding player injury updates?
Is this just another case where the Mets were oblivious to the medical condition of one of their players, even in the case of a core player who needed surgery?
As I repeatedly said last night, the speculation from Sherman and others that the Mets are pursuing some sort of legal action is quite silly, and comes off as a smoke screen to mask the team’s own incompetence and the glaring fact that the players mistrust their medical team.
One last item of note. Dr. Steadman pioneered micro-surgery and is the foremost expert on micro-suregery in the world.
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.
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Joe, you can’t be more wrong in asserting that somehow Carlos Beltran has the upperhand in a legal battle. As an attorney in Virginia I cannot say with any degree of certainty what the law is in New York, however, I can say that it is extremely unlikely that Boras definition of “elective surgery” is correct. Boras is just trying to garner public support for his client. As someone who has had his left knee operated on 3 times I was very concerned with this whole “bone bruise” story last year and fully expected Beltran to have surgery. The problem is we don’t know what the extent of the surgery was and until we get further clarification there is no need to panic. Microfracture surgery is not the answer. Microfracture surgery in some instances regrows cartilage but it is not the same cushioining cartridge that is needed so I for one hope that he did not have microfracture surgery and this a more minor procedure.
Thanks for weighing in Mark. Here is what I reasoned, before I posted this I closely examined the Mets press release and noticed that they used the following to describe the situation.
“He elected to undergo arthroscopic clean out of the arthritic area of his knee by Beltran”s personal physician Dr. Richard Steadman today in Colorado.”
It’s an interesting way to put it. They didn’t say he underwent surgery, but that he “elected to”. It indicated to me that this was posturing for a potential legal action.
I also added Boras’ statement in which he too strongly emphasized that this was “not elective”. He of course also made clear that the language in the contract only warranted permission for elective surgery.
I’m not an expert, but if Beltran was in pain, it would seem surgery was necessary and not elective.
Medicine has advanced well past microfracture surgery. Beltran could potentially be eligible for a procedure where cartilage is actually regrown. The problem is that medical protocal now dictates that the knee cannot suffer from osteoarthritis so it is possible that this procedure was designed to clean up Beltran’s knee to make him potentially eligible for a surgery that has more long term success. Microfracture surgery still has its place but only in knees that are not eligible for some of the newer procedures. I suspect this is probably a stop gap procedure to try to get Beltran through the season. The Mets would not be reacting like this if it was simply a normal scope so let’s all wait and see how this developes. By the way, great website keep up the good work. How do you think this impacts Delgado’s return? I always suspected along with his potential numbers the main reason Mets wanted him back was to placate Beltran. The Mets may be less inclined to bring Delgado back if Beltan’s health is going to be an issue all season.
Thanks again Mark, it’s always a pleasure to have a professional point of view.
I think this news will hasten the return of Delgado although I’m not supportive of such a move. That said, the options are thin, and much of what’s left in free agency comes with their own set of problems. I keep hearing Rick Ankiel’s name from other readers and bloggers, and I wouldn’t mind that, but there hasn’t been any legitimate rumors indicating any Mets interest that I’m aware of.
I suspect the Mets will sit tight, go with Angel Pagan, and maybe see if Bay can play some CF as he did in Pittsburgh. This may also guarantee Chris Carter, who we received for Billy Wagner, a spot on the 25.
Is Chris Carter (alas our Chris, not Oakland’s) ready to ontribute…? Maybe we should get Alfredo Amezaga?
Joe, here is the thing that people keep overlooking. Steadman is whom Beltran went to LAST YEAR, this is the same guy whose diagnosis was rest AND then said Beltran could go back and play in September in utterly meaningless games.
How did the Mets alone mishandle this? When someone can explain that I’ll buy into the Mets being in the wrong. At this point, who cares if Beltran demands a trade.
Good points. I suspect that the decision to rest far outweighed micro-fracture surgery which many feared would end his career. If there was even a small chance that rest could help, they had to take it.
Patrick, very astute of you; but all of this is certainly understandable as Dr. Alcheck is actually a ‘contracted worker for the Mets’ franchise & certainly not an employee; my point is that in no leggal way can a non-employee be considered a binding decision maker for a Corporation. I fully understand Carlos’ position of distrusting a Medical decision system that he believes mistreated him in ’09; but aren’t we informed that an extensive investigation btought about changes to last yr’s system? it appears Carlos didn’t properly give that revised methodology an opportunity to function properly. BTW any issue involving Scott Boras must immediatly be considered suspect from a contractual maneuvering viewpont. Any “trade demand” would have to incorporate a waiver to his NO TRADE PROTECTION. this could very well bw Baras’ manipulating his way into inserting what he failed to get included in the initial contract; his famous “OPT OUT CLAUSE”.
Again lets blame the medical staff. He had pain since November and waited until January 13th, that is DEFINATELY the medical staff’s fault even though Beltran went to his OWN doctor on his OWN, I can’t see how this is NOT the Mets fault.
Stupid question: Why wasn’t this done 2 – 3 months ago? The knee just acted up after months of rehab? If so, that raises issues with the rehab process and the decision to do rehab and not surgery earlier. These, to me, appearr to be more disturbing questions than whether the Mets knew, didn’t know, et cetera.
I think it’s funny that Matt Cerrone was creating all this drama last night with his comments about Boras planning this, or the Mets voiding the contract. Last night on Twitter everyone was in a panic. A few moments ago he posted a blog that pretty much up sums up what you said all along last night and in this post. It was a complete 180. Good job..
Kevin Burkhardt said it best, this is an absolute disaster.
Timing is said to be everything in life. If so, the Mets negotiation with Jason Bay might have taken on a different tone if Bay’s agent knew about the Beltran situation.
It likely would have cost the Mets some more $$$$$$$.
Why is it only our team that seams to have this trouble diagnosing injuries? I just don’t get it. The latin word for incompetence = Mets.
And can we just agree to rebuild now. Seriously Mets, just rebuild. Keep your eye on 2012 and get rid of everyone other than Reyes and Wright.
NOSH? HAVE U NEVER HEARD THE PHRASE “GUARANTEED CONTRACT”? THIS ISN’T THE NFL WHEREBY U CAN JUST CUT PLAYERS WITHOUT FORFEITING MILLIONS & DRAFT PRO-CAPABLE REPLACEMENTS. I MEAN NO AFFRONT BY THIS; BUT I SIMPLY MUST ASK IF U ARE 12 OR THEREBOUTS. Gee, u are frustrated so u’ll toss away Santana, Beltran, Bay,Francoeur,K-Rod? and then what? sit out the 2010 season? Did u not get enough of a starless team last year? Should Citifield be allowed to fall into default? What shoyuld Reyes & Wright do in the meantime? By the time u get artound to rebuilding sufficiently around them they’ll both be at the tail of their primes. I’ve got an idea, why don’t u just pretend all of that happened, pull the covers over your head & go back to sleep in Fantasyland where u can pick & choose whhich seasons u want to participate in.
Please don’t insult me old timer. The Mets should have rebuilt after the 07 and 08 collapses when it became clear this current group of core players didn’t have the talent/leadership to win in a big spot. And the last year we’ve just been watching a train wreck.
I, unlike you, don’t need star power. I want to see good baseball, something I haven’t seen since 2006. Keep Reyes and Wright because they’re young and monstrous talents. But this team is going NOWHERE the next 2 years, so why bother keeping guys who aren’t part of the mets future.
KROD is overrated look at the stats and his decline the last 3 years. With his inability to locate his slider and dip in velocity, if he gets hurt this year no one should be surprised. And Johan is no longer a top 3 starter in the NL. Yes I would trade all of them and had I been in charge this Beltran thing wouldn’t have been an issue because I would have moved him after the 2008 season.
Mark my words: The New York Mets will not make the playoffs in 2010 or 2011. I am a real fan and can accept this. You on the other hand seem to be nothing more than a Mets cheerleader. Sorry to ruffle your pom poms.
Nosh? Insult you? u insult yourself by ignoring the enire decade of the 90s when we did it your way, excellent defense, mediocre pitching one superstud in the lineup(Piazza). Was that fun? If I’m the “old timer”: why is it I’m the only one of us who seems to realize today’s baseball is all about the BRAND the LOGO do u ever spend any time outside of metro area? If u do, which is more evident the overlapping or the interlocking NY? BTW “fannies in the seats” makes for a nice TV backdrop; but it no longer pays a significant part of the bills. do the math, what do u project as a fullseason attendance @ Citi for your uninspiring team? multiply it by avg ticket price. Now, with an avg club playing good overall baseball your road attendance will be middle of the road & not one that stimulates sales as an opponent. You also aren’t likely to be near the top in souvenier sales, caps,shirts,unis,etc. u know the REAL BIG profit makers.
Also I find it interesting that you only respond to my one or 2 line posts. Yet when I wrote a good 2-3 paragraphs about my stance last night on other threads you said nothing.
P.S. Given what transpired last season with injuries it should surprise no one when June 1st rolls around and Beltran isn’t in uniform.
I am not pessimistic. I simply recognize incompetence when I see it. The Mets organization is incompetent.
Completely agree 100%. Its time to exorcise this team once and for all. Bring in as much young talent as possible and field a young, hungry team like the Marlins. From that young foundation, supplement the talent with some veteran free agents. You’ll end up with a much much better situation and a far superior team. Why trot out this crap year in year out when everyone and their mother (except a bunch of delusional fans apparently) know that this team isnt going anywhere. I’d much rather see that team than the hopeless teams that have done nothing but anger and frustrate me over the years.
sINCE YOUR SAME INCOMPETANCE WAS NOTED BY MADDEN IN HIS “FRAT HOUSE” COMPARISON BACK IN ’02, HOW WOULD U FIX IT? TRY TO REMEMBER ANY & ALL OWNERSHIP CHANGES MUST BE APPROVED BY SELIG’S OWNERSHIP COMMITTEE! YOUR CHANCES AT MORE AGGRESSIVE OWNERSHIP IS QUIIVILENT TO YOUR HITTING LOTTERY JACKPOT IF NOT WOERSE!
Heres how I’d fix it. First we need to dispel the Myth that you can’t rebuild in a big market like NY. That simply isn’t true. If anything you can’t afford to rebuild in small markets like KC, Pitt, and Florida. Met fans are one of, if not the most passionate fans in baseball. Right up there with Boston and the Yankees. Just look around the blogsphere. I think theres something like over 50 mets blogs out there. Also in a big market like NY, there are plenty of us to go around. And finally lets remember Met fans are some of the smartest fans in baseball.
Now if ownership were to come out and say “look this current team just doesn’t have it, we need to retool this group.” Then trade everyone other than Wright and Reyes (again this should have been done after the 2008 season). Also it’s not like you get only prospects back. Your telling me we can’t get a good major league ready player or 2 for Johan, Beltran, and Krod. I mean if they’re as good as you say they are we should def be able to get good talent back.
Then save money until you find the right free agent to pounce on (guys under 30) Texiera would have been excellent, and next year Mauer would be the guy. There was no one worth spending big $$$ on this year. Also the money you save on the Beltran/Johan contracts we can start using in the draft instead of the penny pinching we have been doing. Face it, unless you can afford to spend like the yankees (We can’t) baseball in 2010 is all about trading and developing your own talent. Anyway this is what I would’ve / Would do. And I think if ownership was ever honest to fans they would accept a small rebuilding process.
As I logical fan I recognize that you can’t compete for a championship every year, but you should always be moving in that direction. So when it’s clear a team doesn’t have “IT” (this team does not) they should break some of it up and start building a team that does.
I find it amusing that so many on here claim I’m a bad fan, yet, it seems many would have a problem with a rebuilding effort, ie they wouldn’t have the patience. Which is my definition of a bad fan.
The underlying point is…….when you have a team you KNOW won’t make the playoffs (like the 2009 and 2010 mets) why would you continue to band aid the roster instead of building a team that in the future can compete for the playoffs. I don’t buy your idea that a starless team in NY won’t do well.
I honestly do not see the big deal here. If Beltran wanted the surgery, he should have it, if he knows it would make him better on the field and batting. The only worry the Mets have is if the surgery makes Beltran worse in anyway, which is improbable because the surgery was only to get small fragments of cartilidge out of his knee or whatever the blockage was in his knee.
I dont recall anyone coming out and saying exactly what the procedure was. We’re still hearing microfracture surgery from one side, minor arthroscopic procedure from another side and others. We don’t even know what the time-frame is. I suspect we’ll get little to no production out of Beltran this season and I doubt he’ll be worth the money in the future. It really is a shame that baseball has guaranteed contracts.
Exactly
I meant my reply to be to Nick. It’s Carlos’ knee, Carlos’ life. Yeah the timing is sick but only a doctor who has examined him and has expertise in this injury could determine if Carlos could have waited. The Mets position seems to be the player can always play but we know that’s not true and even if he could play gingerly I’d rather see him back 100%. Maybe a month last year would have saved a whole year. That’s the real shame. That and the fact there is never anyone ready to bring up and fill in.
Agee, I’m tired of this BS being tossed around about these players (Beltran,Maine) & others who made it back late should’ve been kept inactive until ST since I’m certain it’s not in the players best interest to be left unknowing regarding his ability to return or ever play again for moths of isolation in the offseason. for years I’ve always believed getting a player back on the field after an injury as proof he is healed & can still perform is what’s optimum regardless of standings & W-L record. Players tend to have fragile makeups & after injury a ton of doubt creeps in during rehab. We’ve all experienced that neither Beltran nor Maine are Gen Patton regarding self-confidence in their own anilities.
Nick, it’s called ANARCHY. What stops any player from any surgery if they ignore this. Cnsidering the diversity of national backgrounds with many from impovershed areas, the number of quacks & witch doctor remedies out there are mind bogling. This entire situation smacks of a Bore-Ass caper designed to embarass the Mets as revenge for ignoring him this offseason. I doubt there’s any coincidence that the 2 most logical F/A available as replacement CF options are Damon & Ankiel, both whithering on vine from lack of interest & both reped by Scott. I see an A-Rod level fiasco orchestrated by the great mamipulator with the Ego as large as THE SUN; but that’s just me! Scott Boras is the epitome of the “LIPS MOVING = LYING punchline.
This is one huge clusterf=*% orchestrated by Bore-ass(perfect name for agent preferring his customers touch their toes) who was pissed NYM opted to ignore him this offseason despite his reping one of the 2 premiere lf options. We all know Sott porefers a big mkt involvment & though he did get Holliday a reiculously high contract for yrs longer than prudent; he’s greedy enough to believe the Mets screwed him by sitting out. Don’t let the fact that the 2 premeire CF options left available, Damon & Ankiel are both in his stable without much interest out there. This quote;
“Since the beginning of November, he was feeling discomfort and pain,” Boras said. “They found some fragments in there that had to be removed.”
is certainly REDICULOUS as Ive just, last night, seen taped interview with Beltran from MID-NOV. PROCLAIMING HIS EXCELLENT HEALTH & READINESS FOR START OF ST TO BURHARDT’S PAIN QUESTION, BELTRAN ISUED A RESOUNDING N O!!!
If played right, i believe we may still come out of this stronger for the complete season than otherwise as I shared with some personal friends the following thoughts on this subject:
I FIGURED THIS BELTRAN MESS MAY GIVE BENGIE MORE CAUSE TO REMAIN STUBBORN @ 2Y INSTEAD OF NYM OFFER OF 1+1. BELTRAN’S ISSUE ACTUALLY MAKES, IN MY OPINION A MURPHY SOLUTION @ 1B UNTENABLE & HELPS DELGADO’S CASE FURTHER ALONG. FOR THE RECORD PAGAN BATTED OVER .300 LAST SEASON IN A SEMI-REGULAR ROLE & HE PLAYS A REMARKABLY CLOSE TO CARLOS CF DEFENSIVELY. PAGAN IN CF, HAIRSTON AS @4 OUTFIELDER WITH MOLINA @ C, DELGADO ON 1B SHOULD MANAGE OK FOR A MONTH TO MONTH & HALF TO BEGIN SEASON
Any solution that includes adding Hairston as a utilityguy is a BIG PLUS in my book as I believe he can competantly play 7 of the fielding positions. for a Mets’ fan that’s never paid him much attention I’d describe him as a Backman/Dykstra type hitter & a McEwing type fielder & clubhouse presence. If the Mets actually add Hairston for 3M or less, they can truly continue to ignore Boreass clients this yr.
Judging only with openning day comparisons(thohgh any loss of Beltran is very unfortunate) I do not believe we are catasrophicly hurt fielding an openning day outfield of BAY,PAGAN,FRANCOEUR in 2010 compared to a MURPHY,BELTRAN,CHURCH from 2009. A mid-May return would not be a period we couldn’t cover & compete during. Not optimum; but sirvivable.
BTW folks, in writing, not in writing, a Trainer is in no way empowered to override executive demands for nore conversation/intel neither is a non-employee Dr. capable of representing a corporation he is contracted with as I’m certain the limitations of that contract do not empower him as a decision maker. I in no way consider the frontoffice as innocent regarding this matter; but once more played nearly perfectly by the devil incarnate, Scott Boreass. Back in 2002, Bill Madden referred to the inept meethodology of NYM decision making as “THE FRAT HOUSE” If Jeff weren’t a Wilpon & minority owner, he’d be unemployed.
62, If there was any degree of business control in the Mets organization, the front office would have instructed the trainer not to send the documentation until the additional medical insight was obtained. If the trainer checked with them and they didn’t instruct him, then they are full of it. If, on the other hand, he failed to inform them of what was taking place, then the trainer should be replaced by someone who will keep mgmt informed. In any event, it is all symptomatic of poor operational controls within the organization and falls in the lap of the director of operations. If I’m not mistaken, the fiasco is in JW’s court. the only way to fix this is to sell the team and bring in ownership that actually knows how to run a business.
Mask, your post re. ineptness in frontoffice vis a vis the trainer’s forwarding of forms hasn’t hit yet; you make all excellent points; but since both Omar & Jeff are out of pocket attending ownership meeting, I can understand missed communication connections; but Boras has to know who is & who isn’t empowered to speak for the franchise. Under no circumstances do I believe Boras felt he had the required approvals. I believe he is fully aware of the Met’s frontoffice incongruities fashioned by Jeff deliberatly. Since the difuse style foisted by Jeff was first highlighted by, I believe, Bill Madden when in ’02 he castigated the Mets for their “Fratrernity House” decision making process. Jeff’s degfensive position for it is his belief that the “best” decisions are arrived at by everyone having a voice. I believe, this deliberate obsfiscation serves as his cover from direct responsibility for anything tyhat goes wrong. Jeff, in my opinion as u know, is the most blatant culprit in most NYM incompetancies and as such my primary reason for defending Omar as I belive NO ONE could do better under the circumstances created by the Wilpons.
Star CFer, best offensive player, best defensive player. feeling pain in knee that was injured last year. gets MRI. Show’s damage. Wait’s while tickets get sold. Wait’s while LFer gets signed. Doesn’t wait for single game tickets to go on sale or would miss 1/2 the season. Ergo the hunt is on to blame the star CFer with “communication” being the fall back. Really? In this day of instantaneous communication? Please. Carlos you don’t need this crap. Just get healthy, have a bang up 1 1/2 years here and go play for a proffesional Organization. There is no chance of a getting a ring with these clowns in charge.
Agee, while I’d never attempt to defend the Jeff Wilpon designed decision machinizations, I believe your “SMOKING GUN” will be found by CSI to have Boreass’s fingerprints all over the trigger & bullets. Regadless of reason for delay, Beltran was interviewed by Burkhardt in late Nov. where Kevin inquired into Carlos’ pain getting the absolute response “There’s no pain”. Follow up question was about ST. Carlos stated emphatically “I’ll be ready for ST.”
Keep watching SNY, I’m sure they’ll replay it.
AT THIS POINT RICCO WAS THE OBVIOUS BEST CHOICE FOR REBUTTAL SINCE HIS DOMAIN IS LEGAL CONTRACTUAL LANGUAGE & INTERPRETATION. Seems that’s where all this is certainly focused & if Mets withheld public statements to be better positioned to negotiate with Bay and/or Molina. Bravo! They got one right. Fantasy Leagues not withstanding, this info in offseason is noone’s business outside the organization. If secrecy strengthened their negotiation position, that’s good! Anyone choosing to not buy tickets because of Beltran’s knee is an IDIOT! If this alone decides the outcome of the season. Forget it! We’re in bigger trouble than anyone can fix.
’62, We are in big trouble. We have just pissed off the least assuming lowest maintenance superstar on the planet. Think other players didn’t notice?
Agee, I think not, since this, in my opinion, was a Boras creation. by all accounts he’s handlewd the communications, getting so called permission or not, if Beltran knew of any Met concerns, I think, he would’ve thought more than once before defying the teams request. That’s a Boras move.
It certainly wouldn’t shock me at all to find out this was a totally designed FUBAR by Boras just as the A-Rod fiasco with NYY during Playoffs a few yrs back. A scenerio, that had the Col. Dr. pointing to the condition, indicating it could be addressed or handled with a Beltran saying to his advisor,”I’d love to put this behind me if only it wasn’t so close to ST” and having Boras say, “That’s understandable, I’m sure the team would feel the same way. I’ll take care of it, leave it to me…”
Meanwhile Boras indicates to Beltran, he’s got team approval & go do it
Why would Boras do that? He knows the risk is low for the Mets to actually be able to void the contract. He doesn’t care squat about his client’s reputations, never,ever has. He also has two CF clients in Damon & Ankiel needing homes & getting very little interest with one being lowballed by the NYY.
No. I don’t believe Carlos was at fault. I also don’t blame the Mets. Both are being publicly manipulated by a master puppeteer.
That doesn’t typically result in the parties angry at each other; but both at the Cause. Once both Carlos & the Frontoffice sit & review what’s happened the air will be cleaned up & all will be well.That’s my opinion & observation. I’m also not 100% sure the pain level was all that bad to begin with since Carlos in late Nov. declared readsiness for ST & not experiencing pain from his pre-ST workouts!
Nosh, your “HERE’S HOW TO FIX IT…” comment was unreplyable; but it isn’t as if this methodology hasn’t been tried throughout NYM history BTW Free Agency has been a factor in MLB since 1975. The Mets signed their first big free ageny, George Foster, after the 1981 season. There wasn’t another for some years acquiring the majority of the ’86 star imports, Mex,Kid,HoJo, via the traditional trade route. Historically, from 1962-1968, the Mets languished at or around the bottom of MLB’s standings allowing them prime choice in Amatuer Drafts, supplying them with the high quality talent that eventually perculated to the Majors forming the basis for “The Miracles”(’69) & “The Believers(’73). Throughout most of the 48 yr history of the NY Mets the word “rebuilding” has been abused & over-used incessantly with repeated attempts typically abandoned as response to demands made by your so-called patient fanbase.
REBUILDING? HISTORY: in the 70s we appeared in postseason once(’73) & finished in the bottom half of NL standings seven times(’70,’71,’72,’74,’77,’78,’79)
in the 80s we appeared in postseason twice(’86,’88) & bottom half of NL standings for times(’80,’81,’82,’83)
in the 90s we appeared in the postseasion once(’99) and bottom half five times(’92,’93,’94,’95,’96)
in the 00s 2 playoff appearances(’00,’06) and bottom half four times bottom half five times(’01,’02,’03,’04,’09)
The point behind showing bottom half finishes is to indicate years where we’ve enjoyed better than avg amateur draft positioning. Other key years to note: ownership changes occured in ’75,’80,’02 indicating changes in approach or frontoffice direction. changes in field mngt & GM can be found: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_New_York_Mets_managers
Nosh, it isn’t as if your rebuilding suggestion hasn’t been done to death in this franchise; but I’ll grant you this; most stopped too soon or changed direction midstream mostly at the impatient insistance of the mob you call patient, just as now, the attempt to refocus based on pitching-defense-speed is being challenged by those crying to; “trash it all & start over”. This isn’t Fantasy Baseball or schoolyard baseball card dealings. There typically are a myriad of reasons why fans’ “dream scenerios” aren’t realized or acted upon. You disagree with the Castillo deal? who was the better 2B option available at the time? not Hudson or any better name being bantered about. Was Luis’ deal sweeter than it should’ve been? probably because he’d already spurned the Mets’ market offer yrs ago that prompted getting Matsui. FYI not every player wants to play in NY. Stop fooling yourself it isn’t MECCA TO EVERYONE & SINATRA WAS FEEDING YOUR EGO. Take it from me, that line of “I can make it anywhere” is nearly 100% wrong if your job entails getting along with others since my experience in managing within a multinational corporation reflects just the opposite that nearly 90% of employees from NYC asssigned to manage outside of NYC failed miserably. THE “TUDE” doesn’t translate well BTW local income taxes(NYC,NYS) makes a sportsfigure in NY needing to earn considerably more than his peers just to net equal pay. No other city in this country imposes an Income Tax, not even LA & there are many states without Income Taxes at their level. So basicly, the 6M Luis is paid buys about as much as say 3-4M in Fl & Tx.
I’d truly love to hear you expound upon your perceived market willing to absorb the contracts of Santana,Beltran,Castillo,K-rod in addition to buying out the COMPLETE NO-TRADES of the first 2? Perhaps 2 or 3 teams? certainly not an overwelming DEMAND for our SUPPLY, typically a factor in driving prices down! Therefore your visions of grandeur re. exceptional young talent return has little basis in fact.
Sorry to pop your balloon; but I truly thought a REALITY CHECK was in order. Last thing, the other huge “so-called mistake” is the perception that Omar chose Perez over Lowe. This is a media creation and has no basis in fact, as u may recall both Lowe & Perez were represented by Bore-ass and he wanted 4y for Lowe, based on age, ability Omar balked & offered 3Y/36M, no mention of Perez at this point. The next bid came after Atlanta lost Smoltz & just as we had to Boston over Pedro in ’04, Atlanta made an unsurpassable offer of 4Y/60M. Is there anyone out there who believes we should’ve improved on that offer? Atlanta did what a fourth place team looking to improve should do, take a huge risk to get a player needed to improve upon fourth just as the 4th place Mets did to get Pedro. and just like Boston, we moved on, it is arguable, raw talent wise which is the more talented between those that were left available Perez, Garland, Sheets, Wolf. Note I’m not saying more accomplished; but more raw talented. f healthy, obviously Sheets was the pick of the litter; but he wasn’t & couldn’t pitch at all. What most lose sight of is that it seemed as if the Warthen adjustments to Perez’ delivery in late ’08 would minimize the mechanical failures that had derailed the talent all of his career. No one could have known or anticipated that Perez would discard the Warthen changes in the WBC & get injured participating in it.