I agree that Colorado is what it is, but its not his fault. And regardless, by that account David’s #s on the road should be much better than they are at home… and they are not.

The shame of the whole situation is that we drafted so poorly, spent so many draft choices on RIGHT NOW, that we simply don’t have the young, cost controlled talent base to support extending both of them beyond 2013. When you think about it, the production and salary of Jose and David is what supported our additions of Pedro, Carlos, Carlos and Billy but after that it got out of hand. A first round pick for Alou, a trade of two first round picks for a DH, another first rounder for K-Rod, a second rounder for Bay. It left us at a severe disadvantage talent wise.

Now if we were picking up guys like the Braves with Hanson (22nd round) Venters (30th round) Kimbrel (3rd round), Heyward (1st round) Freeman (2nd round), McCann (2nd round), Prado IFA, we could support that salary structure but we’re not. We have a couple of talent advantages over the Braves but there not huge. The Braves have some serious talent advantages over us and as good as our young pitchers have been doing in the minors they have 2 for every one of ours.

Reyes skills are more difficult to replicate than Wright’s and resigning Reyes at 28 is a different thing entirely than resigning Wright at 31 and would allow us to play them together for another couple of years. 3B is a very possible landing spot for Flores while as you point out we have no SS.

That’s the way I’d go sad as it is. Like I said it’s the failure to get and develop young talent after those two that it’s come to this.

I disagree with some points on this post; what has Sizemore done lately plus though he is leading off for Cleveland now he is a 3 hole hitter with more power than Jose. Ichiro might get on base more but when he gets on base you don’t have what happened last two games agaist Snakes, two balks by pitchers worrying about his stealing, whether he does or not.
There is no other leadoff hitter like Jose that can hit, run, occasional power, threat and game changer on base and a plus defender.

He does make some bone headed plays at time but I believe most are due to his enthusiasm, speed and his constant want to do something to help his team, at times not thinking the situation through but it is not for lack of trying.
His couple of times when he didn’t hustle I say relate back to his frustration and not being completely mature at the time but it has not been a problem.

His injuries were mostly mis-handled but Mets and medical staff, including the oblique injury last year in PR

Jose loves this town, this team and has been part of team since his signing so I believe it is time for Mets to start keeping it’s home grown stars especially with Santana coming back, Gee getting better, Mejia and Harvey on the way; why can’t Met compete and win after this year when Carlos leaves?

The plusses out weight the minuses, same thing with David.

I say some way or somehow Mets need to keep both Jose and David long term.

Elvis Andrus and Castro will be better than Reyes. They are just much younger.

I agree with you that SS is a depleted MLB position, however teams like SF-PHI-CIN-BOS-MIN etc all seem to do just fine without a big time SS.

Because they have a better team around them and don’t rely on a SS who puts up average offensive #s to carry them. Reyes isn’t a franchise player, he just isn’t. He’s fun to watch especially when he’s in your team’s uniform but he’s done nothing in his career to warrant a huge contract from a team who is destined to need a major overhaul

I think if you’re a Mets fan you’re a fool if you do not enjoy watching Reyes play. With that said, there is no logical reason to give him more money than Hanley Ramirez makes. None. Hanley is signed to a 6 year $70m deal. It is spread out to the point that he gets $15m+ from 2012 through 2014.

You cannot sit there and tell me that talent for talent, Jose Reyes is worth more $ than Hanley. You just can’t. And if the Mets were told it will cost them nearly $100m to sign Reyes, then I’m sorry you need to pass on that.

Reyes has shown 0 leadership ability as he’s grown older, he’s never really performed big in key spots, he’s ALWAYS a risk for injury. How many times do you watch him run the bases and hold your breath because you’re afraid he’ll hurt his leg etc? What $100m player is that big of an injury concern?

Reyes if you’re being FAIR, has never hit the potential we all expected him to. It’s not going to happen, as he gets older, you can already see he’s slowing down.

I will agree with you that trading Reyes leaves little to no option at SS for 2011, 2012. I would counter that with, if the Mets DO trade Reyes… it’s an attempt to build the farm. That’s a move you do if everybody becomes available. They aren’t just going to run Reyes out of here and sit back and trade nobody else.

Some falsehoods in your post, that I feel are driven solely by the fact he wears a Mets uniform.

“the top leadoff hitter in the game today” — I’m wondering what makes you say this?
“as the most dynamic player in baseball”

Is he better than Grady Sizemore? Ichiro? I honestly don’t take much stock in being a “top leadoff hitter” because in most cases you bat 1st, one time on average in an inning, so if being a “top leadoff hitter” gets you $100m, then that’s terrible business.

“one of the best shortstops in the game today” — Probably the 3rd maybe? You could make a serious argument that he’ll never catch Tulo or Hanley and that Castro and Andrus could one day catch him.

“five tool player” He is? When did power not count?

“No matter what he says, he doesn’t want to leave. The Mets signed him at 16, his whole career has been to help us.” —- Okay that’s nice and all but if you’re telling me his agent is telling him he can get $100m in lets say Anaheim, and the Mets offer him $80m… that 16 year old kid is leaving.

“I’ve cheered him on through the minors, the early slump when he was first called up, the hamstrings, the aknkle, the oblique, the thyroid” — You just summed up right there why Jose Reyes cannot get a long term deal from the Mets

“Why separate the two faces of this franchise.” — I’m on record as wanting them both gone. Start over. It didn’t work, trade them while they still have SOME value. Build a farm system.

Right now, he isn’t as good a player as Reyes, MAYBE in a year or two he could be, but as of now, Reyes is a better hitter and fielder than Castro. In a few years that might change, but as of now Reyes is the better player.

Wright has been the most dependable player on this team the last 6 years and if you don’t know that you should stop watching baseball immediately.

His team won 5 World Championship titles – TEAM not Jeter………….he just was part of the TEAM.

You realize that
A) Comparing David Wright to Derek Jeter is a joke. Derek Jeter’s a hall of fame player. David Wright is not.

B) If the face of your franchise is a good but not great player, doesn’t that mean somethng is wrong with your franchise?

First of all, how are you judging Wright? It’s not 2007, 2008 anymore. If you think Wright is ever going to be that hitter, I’d love to hear the evidence.

2009:
Tulo: .297AVG, .377OBP, .552SLG, 32HR, 92RBI, .930OPS
Braun:.320AVG, .386OBP, .551SLG, 32HR, 114RBI, .937OPS
David:.307AVG, .390OBP, .447SLG, 10HR, 72RBI, .837OPS

2010:
Tulo: .315AVG, .381OBP, .568SLG, 27HR, 95RBI, .949OPS
Braun:.304AVG, .365OBP, .501SLG, 25HR, 103RBI, .866OPS
David:.283AVG, .354OBP, .503SLG, 29HR, 103RBI, .856OPS

And you cannot even use Wright’s 2011 start for his defense because Tulo & Braun are FAR exceeding him.

So explain to me how Wright by using stats is as good as Tulo or Braun? Both of whom by the way are younger than Wright.

Part of the story was about going out and replacing the individual parts of Giambi’s game when he signed with the NYY. Those skills would be useful if we lose Reyes and Wright but they wouldn’t have CAUSED us to lose them. That would be Maddoff, Perez, Castillo, Wagner, Alou, El Duque, Pedro, Church , Schneider, Schowenweiss, Mota and guys like that. Guys he got so much less of a return on than he was expecting or paid for.