The idea we need to shred the team down to bits is stupid. That plan never works. You have to spend money on top talent and bring up better players from the minors to replace the average guys. We have average or below average @ C, 2B, CF, LF. We have average or below average @ #2, #3, and #4 hitters in the batting order. I feel confident Ike can hold down #3 or #4 in the future. Not sure if he can right away. Where are our #3 and #4 hitters coming from? David Wright has proven he cannot handle either spot with great success.

When I made the prediction, I took into account that Beltran and K-Rod would be gone before the end of the season. I also took into account that the Mets would not take on any more payroll to fix the bullpen or the starting rotation.

Having said that – I really thought about a month ago that I would be proven wrong – that we would finish at .500 or above and I was delighted. Of course, predictably, the wheels came off.

My problem now isn’t with this season but with next season. Financially, the team is arguably worse off because of the ownership mess then before. I read that we may be looking at a budget of 100 million next season meaning that all the bad contracts that are coming off the books will go into the ownership’s “Save the Wilpons” fund.

Whether they sign Reyes or not, this team will not be a playoff team next year – and that’s depressing.

It’s not “Wait Till Next Year” but more like “Wait”.

but to watch the mets is nothing like that movie, that movie is awesome!!!

All I could come up with was “The level minded logical thinkers” salute you.

Doesn’t have the same pizzazz though

We have learned that using the trade of KROD and Beltran and an excuse as why this team is in the crapper now perpetuates what little we have learned, should learn or will learn

We have NOT learned by that Jose Reyes is the best player on the franchise, a little more then half of a year with MVP numbers does not a superstar make when the other half is spent on the DL

We have learned that some fans have different standards for different people, Wright slumps and he’s called a bum, Reyes on the DL and we want to give him 20M

We have learned that by repeating over and over and in caps that this was the worst off season in the NY Mets history proves that just because you own a keyboard does NOT mean you own a clue. It means you know nothing about NY Mets history, current events or pay attention to a damn thing.

We have learned how many people don’t know a damn thing about Moneyball or sabremetrics yet continue to misuse it and overuse it in the wrong context.

I think we always knew Angel Pagan sucked

you mean AFTER 1973 right?? lol, 2014 here we come is more likely, since it seems the alderson’s followers have given up on the next 3 years..

It takes hitters out of the game, no matter how hard the position players fight.

Hello late 1970s!

biggest offseason need beside reyes is a CF.

We’ve learned that no park can contain Lucas Duda

We’ve learned that Terry Collins is great with young players

We’ve learned that although Parnell has great stuff, he’s still a step away from being a great reliever (come on, just a little spin on the fastball. Please?)

We’ve learned that some people get needlessly upset about people mentioned in a book they’ll never read, that was written almost a decade ago, about a situation that doesn’t really apply here.

He’s right. Over the last 13 years we’ve given away FOURTEEN 1st, 2nd and 3rd round draft choices (and failed to take back two more # 1′s when we traded Wagner) and what do we have to show for it? Three seasons with 90+ wins, one Division championship, one World Series appearance and 6 losing seasons.

We’ve watched as our competitors in the NL East have over the last couple of years brought up all around sound position players with the potential to dominate for years to come like Heyward, Freeman, Stanton, Espinosa, Ramos, Brown and Mayberry. Starting pitchers like Hanson, Beachy, Minor, Teheran, Delgado, Worley, Zimmerman and relievers like Kimbrel, Storen, Venters and Vizcaino.

We’ve learned that Duda might hit enough to risk him in RF, Tejada and Valdespin could form an effective platoon at 2B. Reyes is indespensable, Murphy is a terrific hitter and will probably always be a “hold your breath” defender, Turner can “hold the fort” at 3B or 2B if need be for a few years, Thole’s ceiling is capable platooned catcher and we are about 3 years away from having a real catcher through our system, Bay was yet another **** signing in an attempt to patch a hole on a bald tire, Pelfrey is never going to take that step, Pagan’s mind is elsewhere, Fundementals are still not being taught in the minors, Niese can be a real good part of the rotation and despite spending two 1st round picks, a supplemental, two 2nd rounders and three 3rd rounders the best relief pitcher we’ve developed is in Cleveland and the next best is Bobby Parnell.

We’ve also learned that Familia, Harvey Gorski and Wheeler are doing great at their respective levels, Puello and Flores continue to show promise after struggling a bit in leagues in which their among the youngest and that Lagares gives us the chance to provide our own potential future All Star LFer since we signed Cleon Jones way back in 1966. We’ve also learned that prospects like Mejia, Kirk, Fern and Havens just emphasize the point that you need MORE prospects, rather than less prospects, not just to ensure that you get competent or better results out of your young players but also that you have the ability to trade the excess for an immediate need. We don’t even have enough well regarded prospects for ourselves let alone to ship out for an ace.

We’ve also seen a net increase in talent entering our system this year both in terms of strike outs and athletic position players and that’s what our more successful competitors have been doing for a long time now.

We’ve also learned that there is a segment of the fan base that would like to continue to patch the bald tire and limp along the breakdown lane more often than not as opposed to biting the bullet and picking up a new set plus a few spares even if that means having to take the train for a while.

What we should be focusing on is the very way our two World Championship teams were built, through the farm, a couple of shrewd trades (some of them similar to the Beltran deal, (Darling, Fernandez and Hojo) Others that were opportunity like Hernandez, Clendennon then, a well fitting free agent or a 4 prospect for one superstar type deal.

When we have the talent working it’s way up to the Majors players will want to come here again. Right now the talent that’s made available through trades or free agency all comes with question marks attached. Those players with options aren’t going to ride in a car with bald tires. They don’t have to, they have better options elsewhere.