28
2011
Some Cold Hard Facts And Survival Tips For Mets Fans
An article by 
I can’t stand it when people beat around the bush. I prefer straightforward and truthful responses to straightforward questions. Once a person lies to me, there’s little chance that you will ever catch me in the same room with that person ever again.
My thoughts on leadership is simple; Say what you mean and mean what you say.
It’s been two months since Sandy Alderson appeared before reporters at Citi Field and said, “We’re not going to punt 2012 if Jose doesn’t re-sign.”
I wish to God I knew what that meant?
It sounds a lot like a variation of something Alderson said last offseason before he left for the Winter Meetings, “2011 will not be a throw-away.”
We all know what happened then.
Believe it or not, in 2 days it will have been two months since the Mets season ended, and not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse.
I’ve read a few opinions on this weird calm that has enveloped Flushing as Fall turns into Winter. One prominent blogger says it’s because we were waiting for the new CBA. Another said that we are too busy doing everything we can to re-sign Jose Reyes who is the number one priority for Sandy Alderson. And still one other blogger said that no teams have made any moves yet.
Are we all watching the same hot stove season?
In a post I wrote on Saturday, I conveyed what I expect the Mets game plan will be for the Winter Meetings:
The truth is that this offseason will most likely have even less flexibility than the last one.
Sure, Sandy Alderson confirmed that the payroll budget will be $110 million bucks for the 2012 season, but how much do you want to bet that the payroll number will be closer to $85 million? Any takers out there?
When the Mets get back on that plane from Dallas to La Guardia Airport in ten days, they will return much in the same way as they did last year – with a haul that will include two players from the Rule 5 Draft and not much else. In fact they already pared the 40 man roster down to 38 just to make room for them.
These two players will soon become the talk of the town. Words like “genius”, “jackpot” and “phenom” will be tossed around and fuel the Mets blogosphere with countless posts for about two-weeks or longer. Some sites will even re-do their Top 10 Prospect Lists to include one or both of these players just like they did with Brad Emaus last year. Remember him? Fun times.
We may also get another memorable quote from Sandy telling us that while the Mets weren’t able to complete any trades at the Winter Meetings, they did “engage in some conversations to discuss the potential framework and parameters of some deals.” That line was borrowed from last December. It turned out the framework was for the deal that eventually brought Chin-Lung Hu to the Mets two weeks later.
There is nothing happening to suggest that the Mets will do anything but punt the 2012 season no matter what they tell yoiu That is just an indisputable fact and I just wish they would stop insulting our intelligence and keeping up this pretense that we’re making an all-out effort to put a competitive product on the field next season.
Again, I don’t blame Alderson for this muck and mire we find ourselves in, but if nothing else can’t we at least get some transparency and a State of the Mets Address that doesn’t wreak with false hope and pretenses?
It’s no secret that we find ourselves in this situation because of the Wilpons, and by the way, what the hell is it with the Wilpon Love-Fest this past weekend? I’m not about to forgive 25 years of dysfunction just because they are bringing back Banner Day and are painting the walls blue. Are we so easily appeased these days?
You know what, here are some facts:
- We’re broke, don’t expect a payroll over $90 million in 2012 and $75 million in 2013.
- The Wilpons have presided over 25 years of dysfunction that began long before Omar Minaya came onto the scene.
- Window Dressing is cool, but Championship Caliber Baseball is better.
- Sandy Alderson is here to fix the Mets and he will, but we’re talking about a purely financially viable fix and nothing more. He’ll move on after 2012.
- Brandon Nimmo is not a future savior and is no better or worse than any of the other first-rounders that were drafted last June. Remember that scouts loved Fernando Martinez infinitely more. My point is, hope is not a strategy.
Those are the facts they way I see them. But no matter how bleak things appear, support the players who bust their asses for you day in and day out and give it their all.
I’ve seen dark times like this three times before in my many years of following the Mets. I can assure you that they will pass, they always do.
The real problem is that the good times never last more than a couple of years at a time. Alderson supporters keep saying that will change, but their only evidence points to a couple of salary dump deals and a draft that was no better or worse than any of the other 29 MLB teams. It’s a crap-shoot and in the Mets case it’s a bigger crap-shoot than all the other teams because their top two picks were high schoolers, one of which didn’t even play for a baseball program. If that’s your evidence, it’s pretty flimsy at best.
Here are some survival tips for you… Don’t expect any big trades, don’t expect any significant signings, and don’t believe any of the hype.
Just root for the team, keep expectations low, and hope for the best possible outcomes.
The greatest thing about baseball is that anything can happen once the season starts. The unpredictability is sublime. The best thing about being a Mets fan is that miracles do occasionally happen so keep watching.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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We would not have to pray for a miracle this year and the next if the Wilpons did not destroy the NY Mets.I’m passing on tickets till they are gone.I hope everyone else on this site does the same.They need to sell, leave or disappear for us to be a viable franchise going forward.
BOYCOTT ! BOYCOTT !
Just a suggestion, why not sell the team to a team headed up by Jerry Seinfeld and Kevin James. Install George Costanza as GM (remember, he once wanted to be hired as the Mets scouting director), Cosmo Kramer as manager and Elaine Benes as PR/Marketing! Couldn’t be any worse than what we’ve got now!
LOL
86:
the problem here is that Fred will never sell Jeff’s toy.
it will take the league’s intervene here.
Mack
Once again you hit it right on the head Mack! Get rid of the Wilpons=Success for the franchise. We as fans, need to kick them when they’re down. We should make some noise about how we won’t put a penny in the Wilpon’s pockets, and if we are true to our words, as fans, we will starve them out like rats!
is there any truth to what i am hearing about jack wilson?? he has said the mets are interested in him… if so… can sandy do a press conference and tell us why??
Hey Joe what is not to understand about the “We are not Punting” statement…
Seems pretty plain to me in fact…
A PUNT is not giving up on the game in football. A Punt is what you do when you have faith in your team to do well later on in the game with better field position.
We are NOT going to punt in 2012!
We are going to GO FOR IT on 4th and 30!
Because thats more in line with the lets just get the pain over with quicker!
Punting is an act that says maybe something might happen in the future to help you win.
Going for it on 4th and 30 means you know you can’t win and just turn the ball over to someone who can!
We are definitly NOT punting!
We are merely rolling over on downs!
Statement makes a lot of sense when you look at it from that perspective doesn’t it?
Punting is what you do when you think something good might happen eventually!
Sandy knows that is not going to happen!
Cause he is not going to MAKE something good happen!
And anyone who has showed he might make something good happen is being showed the door or available via trade!
Cause it’s 4th and 30 and Sandy know no point in punting might as well just run an offtackle run and wind the clock down to end the misery sooner!
We are merely rolling over on downs!”
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gloom, gloom, gloom. The perceived indecision in the front office may be because they know that if they sign Reyes to a $20 M contract in 2012 they will not be able to resign Wright after 2013. Maybe Alderson is trying to keep interest in Reyes low by not jumping in until the end, when other teams have spent some already and remove themselves from the Reyes hunt. Maybe he is taking the only approach he can to try and keep both Reyes & Wright long term given the financial constraints he has inherited. Bottom line is that we shouldn’t confuse a lack of “action” with “no plan to try & win” and not one person outside Alderson’s inner circle knows what the real plan is. Alderson is no boob, if you think he is and you somehow are better equiped to handle the current Mets roster development then you are delusional.
Maybe Alderson is trying to keep interest in Reyes low by not jumping in until the end, when other teams have spent some already and remove themselves from the Reyes hunt.
Maybe there wouldn’t be any other teams if Alderson had simply signed him when he had the chance. It was Alderson who said he wanted other teams to set the market and not make a preemptive offer to Reyes. So now you cant blame the other teams for what’s happening now.
Or if Reyes had negotiated during the season. It does take 2 people to agree on something.
Or if sandy would’ve negotiated with reyes in 2010… second guessing much? why is it ok for sandy to negotiate with reyes whenever he wants and is not ok for reyes to do the same!
No, not second guessing. pointing out a fact.
” why is it ok for sandy to negotiate with reyes whenever he wants and is not ok for reyes to do the same!”
I have no issue with Reyes trying to put himself in a position of greatest leverage. Why is it wrong for the Mets to do the same?
Reyes could have negotiated when the Mets wanted to, but he decided to work from a position of strength, which is his right.
Unlike certain parties, I try to avoid double standards.
For everyone else that is keeping score….
Sandy leads Reyes in the “I Don’t want to negotiate right now” by a score of 2-1!
Sandy passed last off season and this offseason.
Reyes passed only DURING the season!
Thems the facts and I can prove it because Donal posted the opposite and we all know he is truth adverse!
Alderson has a limited budget. Bidding against himself to keep a player was likely not an option. Troy Tulowitzski would be worth paying the premium that comes with this but Reyes had already decided he wasn’t going to negotiate a contract during the season and was coming off an injury riddled two years. The situation came about because Jose Reyes was injured so often the Mets were not prepared to commit to him long term with high $$$. So your the GM and you give Reyes $20 M/ season for 5 or 6 years to prevent him from reaching the FA market, then Wright has a .290/.390/.500 season, plays in 155 games and you can’t sign him because all your money is in Reyes, who plays 130 games a season with diminishing returns as his leg injuries continue as they have the previous seasons. If your goal is to ignore reality and just complain about Alderson, move to the head of the class.
I am sick and tired of hearing about Nimmo. Until he picks up a bat and bats .260 in Bingo can we please stop mentioning him? Also, what the heck are you talking about regarding the Wilpon lovefest, what Wilpon lovefest???? The one thing all Mets fans singularly agree on is that the Wilpons are to blame.
I agree on your other points especially about payroll going south of $100 million for the next two years. But I think it will go up again when the time is right and we are 2-3 players away from winning a division..
I am sick and tired of hearing about Nimmo”
carefull bro, nimmo is the answer to our prayers.. or so say some sandy lover’s in this blog… the man hit 211 and NOONE even mention him after articles were written about how GREAT this pick up was…
hey spongbob, i don’t think the mets will ever be 2 to 3 players away from being a winner cause bay is not going to get us anywhere and if reyes leaves then the coupons will either trade wright or he will leave as a free agent cause the coupons will fake a lame effort to sign him. wright and reyes are career mets who became allstars and welcome on any team in the big leagues so what do you think ike davis, lucas duda, matt harvey, juerys familia and zack wheeler will do after a good season or two and have proven their value ? THEY ARE OUT OF HERE ! the coupons would not pay them to stay. whats the use of having good prospects if you are not going to keep them once they become really good players ? once again as true fans of the mets we should boycott until the coupons sell the team to someone who really cares about bringing a winner to ny. i love them and have been a fan for 40 years but i can’t support what the coupons are doing and they need to go.
MLB all stars always play in wyoming at a high school with no baseball team like Nimmo.Don’t you guys know anything?Sandy and his all star front office have the facts.Nimmo is 18 and in 10 years has a good chance to be 28 to quote the “old perfessor”
Well put as usual Joe.
The facts are out there. Last year the Mets payroll went down 10 million. We were told that that 10 mil was going to be used during the season to invest in players we would trade for.
It didn’t happen.
For two years now, the press has been talking about the tens of millions of dollars that were coming off the books that the Mets would re-invest in the team.
That ain’t happening.
We are in the number one baseball market in the world – that’s a fact.
Wilpon hired Sandy who has a ton of experience running small market teams and a reputation built on being the first GM to embrace Moneyball. He was Billy Beane’s mentor.
What is not a fact but a real fear is that Sandy is here to break the Mets up so as to get a better profit margin for Fred so he can keep the club. I agree that once Sandy gets the payroll under 100 million his job is done and he will move on.
The foundation of this mess is that Fred got a bit greedy with a sure-fire investment return and was in turn hoodwinked.
His problem became our problem.
I’m not trying to criticize the fans who believe the team is heading in the right direction.
I just don’t buy it.
It went down 10 Mil and we invested it into 12 Mil worth of crap instead!
I think it is going to take a lot more cutting than down to 100 Mil to solve their financial issues. Especially if they are doing at the expense of Wright and/or Reyes.
The Target payroll Sandy mentioned includes money for signing draftees. So the 100-110 Mil is actualy 85-95m for MLB talent.
They had a 140m Payroll and lost half that due to attendance.
So they aren’t solving anything unless they don’t spend a dime and don’t lose attendance while doing so!
The attendance last year supported a 70m Payroll and they are as I said at around 66-67m without Reyes!
They will lose any attendance from Reyes which means they didn’t solve the money losing just reduced how much they lose with no chance to FIX the problem without spending money current attendance can not support!
In the end they will simply have to spend their way out of it and hope the fans buy into the purchases.
Sometimes, the truth hurts and in the case of our Mets it is clear that there will be little or no player movement in or out until the Jose Reyes situation is settled. If he is resigned then Ruben Tejada is our second baseman along with Justin Turner. Daniel Murphy’s injury puts him in limbo for now. If Reyes signs elsewhere, Tejada is the new shortstop and we need a leadoff hitter. As a diehard fan I know that if Reyes stays he makes us a team fun to watch but he can’t pitch for us too and pitching is the main missing ingredient. The decision is to build a pitching staff in the minor leagues case closed…..
The waiting game continues but should be settled before Christmas!
I agree that they are going to wait untill Reyes gets an offer they feel they can reasonably refuse to put it all on someone else being the reason he isn’t here…
If that offer never comes then they will have a hard time explaining the refusal!
If by some Miracle Reyes resigns Tejada and Murphy will platoon at 2B (Pending a healthy Murphy). They will take offers for Murp but it actually makes much more sense to hold onto him until the Wright situation is sorted out.
Especially if we keep Reyes he is going to be more likely to trade Wright to get the Salary he doesn’t want to spend on Reyes.
Doing so would make Murphy our 3B in 2013!
TO ALL TRUE METS FANS : (hoping 25 years with the coupons won’t become 26):
BOYCOTT ! BOYCOTT ! BOYCOTT ! we have become an underachieving penny pinching organization that you cannot be proud of. don’t buy tickets, don’t buy t-shirts or hats, don’t watch their games and PLEASE,… DON’T BUY ANY CITIFIELD BRICKS !!!
In other words, become a band wagon type fan.
I’m not going to pass judgment on those of you who feel the need to do this. But as a die hard fan going back to ’68, I’ve followed this team through some pretty dark years. Logistically, it’s difficult for me to attend games but since the advent of SNY, I’ve watched all but 1-2 games every season. And I’ll be doing the same next season as well, even though we’re likely to end up finishing last in the NL east.
It’s baseball, it’s my team. In my opinion, bad NY Met baseball is still better than no NY Met baseball.
perfectly said MF> And I will be right there discussing with you in the dugout.
Ha! Looking forward to it. At least I’ll have someone to commiserate with….
And this is why you are truly the First Lady of the Mets Blogosphere.
hey srt, i respect your loyalty. i was the same as you but even compared to losing ryan and then losing seaver, losing reyes is worse. losing tom terrific did not break the franchise and did not affect attendance the way losing reyes will. he is a core player that would be welcome on any team. he brings excitement and production that can be felt in many aspects of a game. no one can replace him. we already had diminishing numbers at the park but after this the numbers will drop even lower and even for special games like against division leaders and against the yankees. the coupons are opening a revolving door for the very players who could help us win. wright has already hinted he may leave (he knows if reyes won’t get paid then he won’t either). and what do you think will happen if ike davis puts together a couple of seasons as a power hitting gold glove first baseman ? come negotiation time he is GONE ! and the same for duda, harvey, wheeler, familia, reese havens (if he makes it) and any other of our pretty good farm system. whats the use of having a good farm system if you will only keep them for a couple of years while they are still cheap ? and when will we EVER win if our farm system is working hard to produce players for other teams ? this is all the coupons fault and because i really love the mets it breaks my heart. i won’t stand for it. they will do without thousands or maybe even millions of dollars from mets fans like me until the coupons sell. they won’t keep a business that does’nt make money. once we have new owners who actually care about running a team with pride and concern for the product on the field, the numbers will come back and there can be joy in mudville again.