Paul had no regrets not having Jose any more or that he is with a division rival. He said:

- “this is New York!!! There would be no better place to do something special than right here, and that’s our focus.”

How many out there said let Jose walk for the sake of a new challenge?

Then when it came to the issue of money:

- “A lot of the reports on our finances have been exaggerated.”

We weren’t the ones who said we could not go after more costly free agents due to $70 million in losses and losing money since 2009.

Then when it came to investing more in the draft picks Paul mentioned:

- “Ownership allowed us (even encouraged us) to be as aggressive as ever last year in the amateur market, and they continue to support our long-term vision.”

The Mets were 14th (middle of the road) with signing bonuses this past draft spending
$6,782,500. Thats about 33% more than the $4.72 million in 2010 with Omar. Glad to see that, but aggressive?

The average team spent $7.6 million. Many “rebuiding” clubs paid more than we did in 2011 and spent more than they did the previous year., i.e., the Cubs doubled the amount they spent the previous year. The Padres and Mariners both spent 2.5 times more and even the pirates spent 80% more.

That doesn’t mean their draft picks were better than ours, of course, but compared to other teams needing to rebuild, that’s not a hell of a lot in comparision.

And then about his years in San Diego and his draft picks based more on analysis after starting out in Cleveland:

- “That said, while I was scouting, I was acutely aware of my lack of experience. Because of that, I was trying to make sense of what I was seeing and attempting to somehow contribute to the conversation. The analysis allowed me to do that.”

Well, since Paul joined the Padres in June of 2006, look at the results of the team as he took it over and then in the framework of the time he had to place his stamp on it with both draft picks, trades and signings (around 2008 and forward):

2006: 88-74
2007: 89-74
2008: 68-94
2009: 75-87
2010: 90-72
2011: 71-91

The Padres were a one year sensation in 2010 but other than that, even the Mets the past three years have faired better in the won-lost column.

This does not evoke confidence, at least in me, that I could be wrong about those who depend so much on analysis to build a ball club.

But good luck tonight anyway.

Man the Omar lovers are so sensitive.

Jeez.

No Bias there either right?????

No bias here obviously.

Two HS kids who will not be up here until 2014-2015 is just the nature of the draft. Minaya only had Pelfrey come up here by this time in his tenure.

Plenty of people here have given Minaya many accolades for guys he got that are on the Major League roster like Murphy, Parnell, Thole, Niese, Davis, Tejada, Pelfrey, even Pridie and Turner as well as the prospects in the system right now.

Harvey does look like a great pick, no question and everyone here is excited about him but it took 5 drafts before Minaya got him. Alderson got Wheeler after he was only here for 9 months. Personally I’m excited about both of them as I am (and have stated many times) about many of the kids Minaya brought in.

In your use of double negatives you actually spoke the truth for once. Nice job.

Frankly, unless the Mets change the way they DEVELOP talent, nothing will change. The odds are that Harvey, Mejia, Familia, Wheeler… one of those guys won’t make it, and 1 will be a bullpen arm.

But, the more prospects you have the greater chance for success and the Mets haven’t exactly had many pitchers that were highly touted by the majority of the league/scouts etc. Which is why people like Wheeler, because it gives them more hope. Scouts etc do not like Wheeler because Sandy traded for him. They liked him before when he was with SF.

Prospects are about hope. Hope for a brighter future. It doesn’t matter if Sandy, Depo, Omar, Phillips or Duquette brought them here. It matters how high their ceiling is and whether they develop into the player they “should” become.