31
2010
Like It Or Not The Mets Do Have A Plan
An article by Former Writers
It’s quite possible that the Wilpons do have a plan. It’s a long term plan and you might not like it because it doesn’t include trying to win at all costs in 2010.
Maybe the main concern that Mets management has is the health of their current star players. Carlos Beltran is hurt and Jose Reyes is coming back from a major injury. Carlos Delgado is not worth re-signing due to his age and chronic injuries. Johan Santana is returning from elbow surgery. John Maine is returning from shoulder surgery. Oliver Perez is returning from knee surgery, plus he is a head case. Nobody including the Wilpons or the players know for sure when they’ll be back and if they will play at full strength.
Additionally, David Wright is coming off his worst year as a major leaguer. Only time will tell whether he can regain his old form and possibly be the comeback player of the year. Mike Pelfrey regressed last year too. At least Wright and Pelfrey have been healthy.
Why spend money on injury plagued free agent pitchers or other mediocre pitchers if the backbones of the team will not perform up to expectations. Ben Sheets, Chien Ming Wang, Erik Bedard, and John Smoltz, “if healthy”, only raise more questions. Can Joel Pineiro succeed without Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan at his side. Are Jason Marquis and Jon Garland enough of an upgrade if our current pitchers aren’t effective and healthy?
No free agent signing will make this ball club true contenders if our injured players do not come back and have successful years. We need Reyes, Beltran, Santana and Wright to be like their old selves. Otherwise we’d be mediocre at best regardless of who was signed.
One proof that the Mets are hedging their bets in 2010 is that they have not made any trades that involve their minor leaguers. Our upcoming stars, Fernando Martinez, Jerry Mejia, Ike Davis, Josh Thole and others have not even been the subject of trade rumors this off season. That is, unless you count rumors originated on blogs.
The second piece of evidence that this dysfunctional behavior by ownership is part of a grand plan is truly an amazin’ one because it hits directly in the pocketbooks of the Wilpons. Ownership seems totally unconcerned about decreased ticket sales. This is an unheard of strategy by the Wilpons. Every season the Mets make a big splash by December so that when that letter goes out to season’s ticket holders, a positive spin can be put on the upcoming season.
Season’s ticket sales are reportedly way down. Many fans have vowed not to support the team financially. But there has been no panic in the front office. There doesn’t seem to be a heir of desperation. No attempt to keep up or catch up to the Yankees. No one could accuse the Mets of risky, fruitless spending.
The Wilpons and Minaya have not been apologizing to fans for this winter’s failures. Fred, Jeff and Omar have said nary a word. They even have the courage to sign Fernando Tatis and “show interest” in Josh Fogg when everyone is clamoring for a major signing. Could the Wilpons be of sound mind to put a long term strategy in place, even at the expense of short term profits? They already take so much heat from fans and the press that this new reason for criticism shouldn’t matter.
Nobody can claim that the Wilpons haven’t spent money on this franchise. Most would postulate that it has not been spent wisely. The economy and the Wilpons questionable financial status might indeed be the impetus for this 180 degree reversal of their approach to running the franchise.
I’m not commending or condemning this proposed new strategy. I’m just offering a possible explanation for concerned and confused Mets fans who only see the answer as blaming our clueless owners and begging them to sell the franchise.
The Mets plan for this 2010 season might not be a bad one. It is realistic and practical. It does not involve throwing money and the farm system away. The grand design is to look towards 2011 and beyond. What’s difficult for Mets fans to accept is that our psyches and hearts are deflated even before the season has begun. But it also doesn’t create false hopes and expectations for this season. Too bad the Wilpons couldn’t have been honest and straight forward about their intentions.
In any case, if the Mets stars do have comeback seasons, the Mets are a competitive team. And if they stay in the race through July, the strategy might change and the Mets might be buyers at the trade deadline. Let’s hope so. Otherwise, our spanking new Citifield will turn into a morgue. Only the most faithful will be there and in mourning.
On the bright side, there will be no waiting at the Shake Shack.
About the Author: Former Writers
42 Comments + Add Comment
Recent Comments
- stick: on Enough Is Enough, Send Ike Down Already: and making those simplifications/adjustments are exactly the...
- DaveUpstateNY: on How Young And Mejia Factor In Mets Starting Rotation Plans: "...things will drastically change in the coming...
- Des: on Enough Is Enough, Send Ike Down Already: Metsie -- You make an interesting proposition...
- Mr North Jersey: on Series Preview: Mets @ Pirates: Agreed Bucs will come out and play...
- Russell Zanca: on Acosta And His 10.53 ERA Survives As Mets Cut Schwinden To Make Room For Rottino: Shoot, we need Murph in there!
MMO Live Chat
Recommended Links
Write Your Own Mets Post
Advertisement
Advertisement
We Appreciate Your Help
Affordable Graphic Design
Great post. Too many fans are stuck in win now mode and damn the future. Thats not the way to build lasting success. I am also glad we hung onto our top prospects.
Yes, because we really need to waste MORE prime years from Reyes, Wright, Santana and K-Rod. I mean, I’m SURE the Wilpons are going to want to re-sign them to big bucks when the time comes.
Also, next off-season, with another 4th place finish under the team’s belt, I’m POSITIVE a number of top-shelf free agent players will just be lining up to become Mets. So much so that the Mets’ usual negotiating tactic of tossing a low-ball number out there and praying that no other team gets involved with the player will totally save them money for 2012, 2013, 2014, and so on…. Cliff Lee will sign for 2 years/12 million. Josh Beckett for 2/10. Albert Pujols, 3/27. It’ll all be so magical.
So, yeah…. I’m glad they addressed ONE glaring team need again this winter. It’s worked out so well in past years.
The point is that in 2011 we may not need any big ticket free agents because Thole, F-Mart, Mejia could be ready to help. Geesh!
They could help anyway… doesn’t mean the Mets needed to pass on filling all the holes they had coming into this season. There were TONS of available free agents out there that signed ONE year deals at very good prices. Murphy and Castillo on the infield? I’m sure our mediocre pitchers will be thrilled, as 4/5 of them hardly strike anyone out.
Stache, the big question is who will be left viable to help? There is a definite price to be paid when redirecting any plan. the Mets biggest issue in my opinion is the total lack of commitment evident to ant specific plan, in 2005 they planned to go “ALL IN” to compete in 2006. They fell a tad short then abandoned the “ALL IN” apptoach. By the time they redirect Beltran & Santana will be aging vets and Wright,Reyes will go from enterring their prime to exiting it.
You, my friend are the bomb. Excellent, excellent, excellent post.
IT WAS SPOT-ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hear that Dave Matthews is lining up to play at Citifield. He’ll probably string more hits than Gary Matthews Jr.
I don’t believe it for a second. If true it would be a welcome sign but then why throw away 2 high draft picks by trading Wagner? What sense does that make?
Excellent post. Is it that they don’t know that the core will come back healthy and effective or they do know there are causes for concern with a few of our better players. Either way, aren’t hey damned for incompetence or cynicism? If they are betting on probabilities of 1 – or – 2 among Santana, Beltran, Reyes, Wright, Maine, Perez, Pelfrey NOT rebounding in 2010, then why didn’t they plan for contingencies, like reshaping the team, like trading for Pierre or Crawford, signing Figgins, or Lackey or Marquis, or trade for the like of Macier Izturis, et cetera.
And the same questions can be asked IF they did have medical reports on several players that raised alarms. WHY haven’t they been pro active? If our core’s effectiveness is, indeed, suspect for 2010, seems to me the case against the Wilpons is even more damning.
Also… wasn’t there a press conference a few days after the baseball season ended where Jeff Wilpon and Omar Minaya explicitly said that the Mets would do EVERYTHING THEY COULD, with no financial constraints, to put a “Championship caliber” team together? Wasn’t Wilpon saying how the losing was “unacceptable,” and that the “fans deserve better?”
I guess their idea of Championship Caliber is Murphy, Castillo, Oliver Perez as your number three pitcher, Fernando Nieve as your number 5, Gary Matthews Jr. as your center fielder, Henry Blanco as your catcher, and two guys who haven’t thrown more than one inning in the major leagues in two years (and one of them, NEVER) as your late inning bullpen guys?
Plan? Come on, folks.
Great post. But with the Wilpons you just can’t trust that they have a plan. It could very well be that they are just so out of touch with the fans that they’re counting on 3 million filing through Citi Fields’ gates in 2010. Granted, this years FA crop wasn’t very appealing and I’m glad that guys like Piniero, Garland, Marquis, and even Molina moved on. So maybe they’ve learned their lesson from years past of throwing huge money at aging players (Luis Castillo anyone?). But then they do something stupid like re-sign Alex Cora for $2 million when other equal players would have been cheaper. And then the Carlos Beltran drama. So, what are we supposed to believe? But like you said, at least they haven’t parted with top prospects in short sighted trades. At least not yet.
Quoteth:
“Everyone at the Mets – our Ownership, GM Omar Minaya, Manager Jerry Manuel, the coaches, players, front office and staff – shares your disappointment with the 2009 season. You soon will hear from Ownership and Omar about how we plan to improve the ball club through a combination of player signings, trades, enhanced player development and continued commitment to one of the highest player payrolls in MLB.”
Ownership is clueless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If they are planning for 2011 and beyond, they shouldn’t have signed Bay or offered Piniero and Molina equal or better money than they signed for (and don’t tell me it was to lure fannies into seats!). And they should have not promulgated the above to their fans.
You see, Jeff lies; yes, he deceives the fanbase all the time.
Well Roy if you’re predisposed to think of them as liars then you will read their statement and see lies in it.
Let’s take that plan to improve the ballclub you quoted point by point.
1- Player signings: They’ve signed Henry Blanco, Ryota Igarashi, Kelvim Escobar, Jason Bay, and others so they said they would sign players and they did.
2- Trades: They traded Carlos Monasterios for cash, and Brian Stokes for Gary Matthews Jr., so they said they would make trades and they did.
3- Enhanced Player Development: Since they said that they haven’t traded away a single minor leaguer, except Monasterios who they had for a bout 30 seconds during the rule 5 draft. By merely not trading away minor leaguers, which is something they’ve done a lot of during the Minaya tenure, they’ve enhanced player development. If by some strange chance they use their protected # 7 first round pick in the upcoming amateur draft on a player they pay over slot they will be continuing to enhance player development.
4- Continued Commitment to one of the Highest Player Payrolls in MLB: According to Cot’s Contracts, which does not yet reflect the Tatis signing, the 2010 payroll is at $120,713,096. By most unbiased definitions that is “one of the highest player payrolls in MLB.”
So they did exactly what they said they would do. You may not like the way they went about it, but they fulfilled every vague promise they made in that statement.
I enthusiastically applaud your comment.
Me too. Well said!!
Very good tongue-in-cheek reply, Mr. Hebner!!! How does JW follow up with an announcement after a similarly failed 2010 season?. I’m scared already!!!!!!!!!!!!
BTW. I’m autonomous too, but my wife told me to say that!
I would think that most of us on here dream to see “Our Beloveds” succeed. However, it is very frustrating when the fans have better ideas about running this franchise than the F.O. does. What’s even more frustrating is when “Our Beloved” franchise is the “Joke of MLB” and the owner continues to attempt to deceive his(otherwise savvy)fanbase.
Danny-
I’m all for a rebuilding effort. I think they should have after the 2008 season. But if they have a long term plan then why sign a free agent 31 year old left fielder?
I think I speak for most Mets fans when I say that we’d be all for a rebuilding effort. But the problem is the Wilpons are not. And if they are they’re doing it half a$$.
Sorry but these idiots have no plan whatsoever. I think the proof is in how they handle free agents on a case by case basis, and haven’t given their GM a budget. And thats assuming Omar is actually the GM?
There is no defending this mess of an organization. I’m actually hoping for last place and an embarrassment this year as that appears to be the only hope that daddy may take the keys away from little Jeff.
Yeah I simply can’t believe that they have their eyes on the future. If you’re thinking about the future you don’t give Jason Bay a 4 year deal.
The fact is they have no clue.
Remember this is the same team that traded away Wagner (and the 2 first round picks that come with him) for a career minor leaguer. And they also traded away the best pitching prospect in baseball, a left handed one mind you, for Victor Zambrano.
I really hope they sell by the end of 2010. Thats my hope for the year.
the Kazmir trade was all cause Leiter, and that POS Franco saying they wanted him out. he was a young guy who liked to listen to his music, didn’t take crap from anyone. and they didn’t like that. so they went to the office and told them they wanted him out. Leiter admitted to having something to do with that during a Yankee game this year. Michael Kay had asked him if that rumor was true, and he said yes. so i say screw Al Leiter, and screw Franco too!!
Yeah but Tim, see I think you’re directing your anger at the wrong people. The point is, Franco and Leiter never should have had a say in front office moves.
Trades and signings should be made by scouts and G.M.s not by players. And thats where the owner comes in. It’s just one instance of many where the owner shows he has no idea how to run an organization. You don’t make trades based on what 2 of your players say. You just don’t. Apparently Jeff Wilpon does.
oh i agree! Jim Duquette had something to do with that too, and Rick Peterson saying he could “fix Zambrano is 15 minutes” had a factor im sure.
Good article and if true then why not be upfront? Saw Omar on Hot Stove on SNY and he says that he addressed, other than pitching, the speed, defense and pitching plan they set out. Huh?
Other than saying “At the end of the day” almost ten times Kevin B. hit him with some good questions and Omar stuck to the company line and basically said what you are saying in your article. Mets are counting on all of last years hurt and under achieving players to bounce back, have a great year, compete and then add at all star break if needed. I agree but why can’t Omar and Jeff say this. We are not morons and I would respect the fact of not spending for over the hill players to please the NY media and irate fans who will turn on you when that signing back fires.
We need to keep what we have in minors for 2011 and beyond and allow them to get at bats, work with pitchers and coaches, maybe Buffalo can be winning team this year to instill a winning attitude in our up and coming youngsters. Thole and Davis in 2011 along with Niese, maybe Holt, Haven in 2012 but save the young players for development and fill in late this year or 2011.
Minor league rosters often change a lot from season to season, especially in the low minors. But at the other end, the changes are usually less dramatic.
Buffalo needs a complete revamping. They were the worst team in the AAA International League last season with a 56-87 (.392) record.
Binghamton stunk out the AA Eastern League. They were also the worst team, with just a 54-86 (.386)record.
Our old friend, Tony Barnyard, really screwed the pooch with his handling of the players, including his divisive treatment of Latin players. So that in part is why we don’t have winning traditions now in our system and especially in our more advanced teams. We don’t have a solid core holding over from last year at those affiliates.
Here’s hoping for good 2010 seasons at Buffalo and Binghamton, but I’m not betting the farm on it. I think our young players will arrive at Citi without a background of playing with winning teams in the high minors.
AAA has been turned into a team of well known career minor leaguers with some prospects on the mound along with Davis, Thole and Fern.
I really like ur post and if we are still in contention at the deadline, which this team could (believe it or not), they can make a splash. I’m not angry nor happy but I will still go to citi this year and see my boys try to win some games. I’m a met fan thru the good and the bad but I’m still very excited to see this team start playing games and see how they have developed as a team. If the marlins can compete into september, there is no reason we can’t. It’ll just have to be in different ways
Ahh but you forget the Marlins actually have a competent front office. If they didn’t have such a cheapskate owner they’d be leaps and bounds ahead of us.
Adam Rubin on the state of the Mets. But yeah he’s probably just trying to sabotage them so he can be the future G.M. In fact I’m surprised the Mets don’t blame more of their problems on Rubin. Like all the injuries.
http://67.72.16.166/wfan/2189259.mp3
The mets are not rebuilding. They are simply failing at what they are trying to do. Omar is back out there claiming full autonomy. To get his million a year, he has to take the blame. He deserves blame, but maybe not for this off-season display of incompetence. The mets collegial, concentrate-on-one-thing-at-a-time approach is clearly not competitive in the FA market. their reaction to all of this is to put him out there to lie for them, because they are tired of lying for themselves. Don’t ever assume that the mets have a plan. They never have had one; they would not know one if they tripped over it.
Another typical popcorn and cotton candy piece from Metsmerized. Have you made plans for the ticker tape parade yet?
Given the question marks around Beltran, Reyes, Santana, and Wright in 2010, I agree that trying a “win now” approach for this year is dumb. So I don’t want any long term expensive contracts given out this year.
BUT…We could still gamble on one year deals with high risk/high reward players like Sheets. 2010 is shaping up to be a big crap shoot anyway, why not gamble on some more injury risk players, as long as we aren’t committing to them for more than 2010.
That would be a cheap way of generating some excitement, and giving us a shot to have a good team on 2010.
This article is completely myopic. There is no such grand strategy for 2011. I am not going to hold my breath for any trading deadline deals during 2010. There weren’t any in 2009, why should I look for a big smash trade this year at the trading deadline? The Mets are simply looking at roster positions from a bottom dollar approach. The only big smash is going to be the team’s final record this year as they play less than .500 ball.
Nobody has commented on how the Wilpons do not seem to be panicking over decreased ticket sales. What’s up with that?
Danny,
Apparently, they’re making enough money on all the team peripherals as well as some of the profits they made selling early in the Madoff scam.
No, it’s not that the Wilpon’s are brain dead, despite the prevailing attitude of most Mets fans.
I think it’s because the ticket prices for 2010 have already been adjusted with ownership’s approval. The value of the seats to fans is now playing out in the free marketplace. Another change and the tickets already purchased will be devalued, causing some purchasers to demand partial refunds.
Mets ownership made the deal and now they’re caught in a dilemma. I think the accountants with the green eyeshades are busy, trying to maximize Fred and Jeff’s numbers, without causing a fan base revolt. Maybe further reducing prices will be more costly than beneficial.
There are some really good ideas about the upcoming season in this posting. Management can not be concerned with keeping up with the Yankees at all. As stated, the team will be competitive if Reyes, Wright Beltran are healthy and rebound depending on the situation. Getting Jason Bay was very good but he is not going to save this franchise. If Pelfrey, Maine and Perez step forward then we have a pitching staff. If not hopefully there will be solid guys available next year on the Free Agent market.
We are gonna have to be patient and forget about the past. Last year’s problems with injuries were an abomination!
Sorry, your premiss is ludicrous. The Mets, like all other big market clubs in every sport, are built to win now or get fired. As Omar will find out by Memorial Day. You don’t shell out $66 mill for a left-fielder who might be limping around in two years to win in three years.
Santana, Wright, Reyes, and even Beltran, are all in their prime and cornerstones of the franchise. They are only going to get older and if you think by not signing the requisite pitching this team sorely needed they are planning for 2011 before spring training, you are delusional.
Omar would rather overpay backups, such as Alex Cora and Fernando Tatis, then risk money on much needed pitchers and the Wilpons still sign the checks. Where did you come up with they are not worried by declining ticket sales? Do you know what the nut is on Citi Field?
It’s astronomical. They surely are worried and need to sell a lot of tickets and can only do it by winning. Unfortunately, they have an incompetitent GM and idiot son running the operation.
Instead of Bay they should have bought three pitchers, because the bullpen will be in shambles and broken down by May.
Doug,
Excellent comments. I agree wholeheartedly with all you espoused except the Wilpons’ corporate balance sheet. I think that the revenue from the team peripherals well pays for the running of the franchise even if the stadium is 1/2 full this year.
Given revenues vs. expenditures for 2009, the Mets organization is somewhere in the middle of the pack in MLB (according to COTS). So their contention about spending all that money on salary is somewhat specious given that the revenues are astronomical.
ROY, let me guess, you are a native NYer who’s never lived outside of the Metro area. BTW if they’re in the middle of any revenue pack they’re lagging behind due to the rediculous higher cost of doing business in a progressive society. Taxes & regulations in NYC increase the cost of doing business more than incidently. for instance any free agent must make about 30% more in NYC to even out overall tax differentials with other locations like Houston,St Louis, KC, FL, Atlanta. The other factor rarely considered regarding NYM ownership is simply its’ makeup nearly mirrors that of Sterling Equities, a Commercial Real Estate Development Company with holdings primarily in Tokyo & NYC. The Tokyo market had just emerged from a prolonged slump in time for the recent crash in Real Esate values of NYC. Mainly my point is to point out the lack of diversity evident in the Ownership group for the Metropolitan Baseball Franchise. While documentation presented at the Maidoff trial does not indicate substantial actual cash losses. the appearance of vast reserves though mirage’s created by MaIDOFF, EVAPORATED THUS WIPING OUT A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY AMONGST OWNERSHIP.
You’re quite wrong about my background. Nevertheless, sans the 30% (seems quite high), FA revenue is more than compensated through commercial opportunities + additional exposure (which further provides incremental financial perks) which do not exist in other towns. Irrespective, my point is that this organization is run poorly and FAs do not wish to come here at present (not always because of the salary constraints), but because of the reputation that is shared among the players and the agents. Our Mets are currently seen as the “Joke of MLB”. They are mocked by other owners, GMs, etc. And if you think that players don’t communicate this to other players and their agents are not aware of this, you are naive, my friend.
Whether Sterling Equities parallel the way this team is run, JW needs to get a clue or sell the team. The dysfunctionality starts from the top and filters on down!!!
ROY, SELL THE TEAM? TO WHOM? Do you really believe Selig & his ownership committee will allow an aggressivly competitive ownership group take control of a Major Market Team? Did u notice the futility, stonewalling that Mrk Cuban faced around the Cubs sale? Selig, a sm mkt used car salesman, is attempting to establish parity, better referred to as competitive parody (lol), which basicly means either be ready to follow former perenial contenders, Reds,Royals,Braves,Pirates into mediocrity or figure a way to get passed the Wilpon infighting. All in All compared to those teams mentioned above, our ownership at least is trying to improve, not necessarily the way many fans prefer; but then again don’t we always know everything? Aren’t we so consistant? Hell, we can’t even agree on what’s wrong half the time let alone how to fix it!BTW, I: don’t live in Metro area anymore; but I do get SNY & YES, I haven’t seen any of those F/A in any of those socalled money making ads you foister as difference makers. I see ads with Jeter, Wright, Howard; but no former f/a, where’s the Santana ad campaign? That proposition seemed to go away along with shaving cream ads & tobacco product ads. I’m pretty certain even Houston gets a fair share of local ad sightings for any number of “Bs” or Fielder in Milwalkee. Time to leave the NY bubble, Roy; I escaped in early 80s landing in So Jersey, Delaware, Georgia, North Jersey, Los Angeles, North Carolina along the way. As someone who has seen more than his fair share of Met games courtesy of oppositional broadcasts,
I’ll tell you that the Fans of NY with their over-the-top booing & TEAM/PLAYER criticisms get much more criticism & made fun of consistantly upfront & broadcast, not whispered by ownerships in nameless quotes. The NY Fan has become the scurge, in my lifetime, NYers declined in the eyes of the sportworld due to this “what have u done, lately” attitude of we DESERVE a winning team because we’re from NY attitude. Funny, for all their ineptitude, I don’t ever recall home fans in Shea ever catawalling a player or error, anytime in the 60s, We reserved that for those other ugly uniforms! While there have certainly been a fair share of players pretensing their way from payday to payday(Bobby Bonilla,Rickey Henderson,Vince Coleman,Roger Cedeno) who most likely deserved public scorn by hometown fans, there have been others who have tried very hard, to their detrinment, yet still screwedup! a discerning, knowlewdgeable fanbase as NYers used to be known for, certainly would know the difference! When did the size of a player’s contract become the bar setter? What Met fans did to Beltran that first year was childish,amateurish and being noticed by every [potential free agent to come. I don’t think STL fans judge contract size over talent/determination (does anyone believe Pujols will suddenly be better because his paycheck will be much larger, STL fans aren’t that naive/gullible). Knowledgeable fans would know upfront that Beltran was a .270 hitter capable of 20-30 HR and to scorn him so vociferously for not providing much more is outlandish poor taste & a detriment for future candidates. Met fans should note that when Gil Hodges went through his horrendous slump in the World Series, fans didn’t whip him verbally, They prayed for him throughout the “Borough of Churches” and extolled him on the field Most realistic fans know everyone rarely succeeds always, the best only more often than most; before these BS stats, What a player did w/RISP was not specifically known does anyone actually believe a career .270 hitter should suddenly be able to jump to .330 just because someone’s on base? reasonably higher due to greater concentration, possibly; but reasonably isn’t 60-70 points! Spome can do it, others can’t. To demand it is ignorant. Why because they play a game for a NY team? what BS!
Doug Branch
My premise isn’t ludicrous. It’s simple to say that Minaya and the Wilpons are idiots. My purpose was to take a different angle on things in trying to comprehend this off season.
And signing one guy like Jason Bay doesn’t ruin the “grand plan. But the plan emphasizes the we (management) believe that our current guys will be healthy and others will step up and have comeback years. So Bay just compliments Wright, Reyes, Beltran.
As far as pitching goes, the Mets seem to believe that Pelfrey, Maine, and Perez are primed for good years, and in house 5th starters are better than the free agents.
Why do I think they are not worried about declining ticket sales? It is because they haven’t made any moves out of desperation. As they lost out on each succeeding free agent, I would have figured that they would for better or worse overpay for the next guy. But that hasn’t happened once.