9
2010
Spring Training Isn’t What It Used To Be
An article by 
Spring Training is upon us, and as pitchers and catchers are getting ready to report to Port St. Lucie, I just don’t feel any excitement so far. Usually at this time of year I’m looking forward to Spring Training and the upcoming baseball season, but so far I don’t feel any the usual excitement and anticipation stirring inside me.
2009 was just awful to be a fan of the New York Mets. Injuries and incompetence ran rampant and by July we were out of playoff contention. For me October 4th, 2009, the last regular season game, could not come fast enough. The day after the season ended we all know how Fred Wilpon, Omar Minaya (who may or may not be the General Manager) and Dave Howard did a media blitz promising that 2010 would be different. The mistakes handling injuries would not happen again the 3 Stooges promised us. They also promised that they would spend what was needed in improving the season.
Well, it’s February 9th, 2010, and before the new season even starts the Mets already have already embarrassed themselves and us with the handling of Carlos Beltran’s knee surgery. As usual, the Mets made their one traditional big move by signing Jason Bay, and then filling in the rest of the blanks with a bunch of backup catchers, reclamation projects and overpaying bench players like Alex Cora because he’s a nice guy. It’s the same tired script we’ve seen again and again under the Minaya era.
The truth is I wasn’t expecting the Mets to make good on the promises they made after last season ended. My blinders are off, but I was hoping they would prove me wrong. I sit here and see how nothing has really changed from the 2009 season and it fills me with despair and hopelessness for 2010. Will the Mets lose 90 games if everyone stays healthy? Most likely they won’t, but I don’t see them winning over 85 games this year and it’s hard to envision them making the post season. The way this team is currently operates, just doesn’t seeming like a recipe for success.
The Mets are going into the season with two backup catchers who will log more playing time than they deserve, Daniel Murphy who will keep first base warm until something better comes along, an immovable second baseman that the club doesn’t want but refuse to dump his contract, and their fourth outfielder will most likely be their everyday centerfielder on opening day. The problems with the rotation are well documented.
You can call me negative and say that it’s only February, but we were saying a lot of the same things in early 2009. The Mets have alienated me, my hopes aren’t high for 2010, but because I love this team I will be watching and going to games, hoping that they prove me wrong.
About the Author: Greg Pomes
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well in spring training, people never expect teams like the rays and the rockies to make it into the playoffs, but they do. its hard to believe that a player as classy as beltran wont play hard when he comes back and he finds himself on a team thats in the mix. the same can be said of castillo who did show a drastic improvement last year. you cant write off the season before a single pitch is thrown. even pirates and royals fans look forward to opening day. get over the media games and be a fan!
remy, way to go! forget the “ANGST MACHINE” aka NYPRESS, incl SNY and look around you, While no one was paying attention this team got a lot younger. as of today’s 40-man roster here’s some age notes:
OLDEST PITCHER: FIGUEROA (36)
OLDEST SP: SANTANA (31)
OLDEST REG. POS PLAYER: CASTILLO (35)
OLDEST REG OUTFIELDER: BELTRAN (33)
OLDEST BENCH PLAYER: BLANCO (39)
BTW these are all considerably YOUNGER than those answers supplied by our competition in PHL & ATL.
Certainly we’ve got querstions; but questions abound throughout the entire Division. here’s one we needn’t worry about: will 3 sp in the rotation age 35+ hold up? ATLANTA fans must wonder WHILE ALSO CURIOUS IF 3 INJURY RETURNING PITCHERS IN LATTER YEARS CAN REBOUND? (HUDSON(35), WAGNER(39/40), SAITO(40))
Philadelphia must also be curious if a 38 yr old outfielder who declined late last season still has it? (IBANEZ) or if a 35 yr old middle infielder(POLANCO)is as good @ 3B as the natural 35 yr old 3b he’s replacing(FELIZ) QUESTIONS,QUESTIONS EVERYWHERE; BUT ONLY OURS ARE AGED BELOW 30.
Hopelessness and despair? Get a grip, man. This is baseball, not life in Haiti. You have roof over your head, food on your plate. Quit with the dramatics and self-pity in an offseason overrun with whiney Mets fans who embrace and welcome the victim role to the hilt like birthright. Get some real problems. Lighten up.
I posted this on your facebook wall but ill expand a bit here – please be positive – this is a very good team – and its spring training! if youre not positive now then when will you be? YA GOTTA BELIEVE! weve had teams a lot worse than this one. most teams would kill to have a core group like the Mets have. So cut out the negativity and start rooting for Johan and the boys to take us all the way this year!
http://www.metsfanforever.com/2010/02/plea-to-my-fellow-mets-fans.html
Let’s Go Mets! Hope springs eternal! This team, if healthy is certainly an above .500 team.
They didn’t sign some ridiculous over-the-hill has-been for three years and they didn’t mortgage the farm. I’m ok with giving the young guys a shot.
I wish we had more pitching, but this is basically the team that last year SI predicted would win the World Series.