Hope not but yes, we have to see how the bullpen holds up.

As far as demoralizing, R.A. Dickey said it was hard to accept and that even though he understood the front office was saying it did not believe they could do it, to a man that was not what the players in the clubhouse felt. Getting rid of two overpaid players who were nonetheless contributing to the team playing so well (not matter what you say about KRod, he was doing a decent job) is not the same as bringing overpaid players in.

There is no “book” (as Ron Darling would say) what would have happened but they players who had so much confidence and desire in themselves had changed to a team playing out the string and it showed by going 22-34 after a 50-37 clip. They still played well for a short stretch after losing first KRod and Beltran so if those two were retained (and we did not have injuries) was this team not then capable of going 33-23 (eleven games above .500 for 55 games, which would be less than the 13 games over .500 for that stretch 87) and finish at 88-74? That it didn’t is only looking back at hindsight – nobody knows how they would have done with both those players.

I for one think they could of. And for a team to have started at 5-14 and perceived to be having a long, long season ahead of them, to then go 83-60 or thereabouts would have been a great, giant step in rebuilding.

But since your take is that they were not capable of doing so, we will never know whose projection was more on target since the ingredients I said would be essential to have helped them were taken out of the recipe.

K-Rod was at best the 6th best reliever in the NL East last year and wouldn’t even be the best relief pitcher on 2/3rds of MLB bullpens so what’s the big deal? And that was playing almost half his games against weak offenses in his division. I’m thrilled we’re not paying him 17 M this year, it was a great move getting rid of that vesting option especially in light of the fact that some of that savings went into LH starting pitching for the next 7 years.

Starting pitching. the thing that sunk us in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and would have in 2009 as well if we didn’t suffer so many position playing injuries.

Wheeler for the last 2 months of Carlos? Beats trotting out Brian Lawrence, David Williams or Chan Ho Park the next time we are in striking position.

As for demoralizing young players what could be more demoralizing then bringing in yet another wildly expensive and soon to be in decline former All Star to come here and under perform?

Wonder what the prospects think to see this happen over and over again too. Must be really confidence inspiring for them.

Well maybe it beats one thing. Maybe making the 2010 team play a roster spot short because ownership wouldn’t just eat Perez’s contract and that team actually was within striking distance being just 6.5 GB of the division with only 2 teams to catch, not 6.5 GB with 6 teams to catch and no chance at a Division.

Glad to see that you are sticking to that position for it does show that while we might disagree we both have convictions that we adhere to. And again, that we’re talking in terms of baseball and not the financial end which, in better financial times, would not have entered the equation.

I just disagree a bit with the take on Beltran – not that he wasn’t go take a walk at the end of the season – but that, just like the Giants and other teams in races felt, he would have been worth having for the rest of the season even if it was a rental. But that comes down to our differences in what was best for the team.

Catch ya

Also, I really think closers are a waste. Not to say that they are bad pitchers, but confining them to that role wastes their talent to almost inconsequential, so the Mets weren’t even using Rodriguez at his fullest. So, getting out from under that vesting optionm was a must.

Beltran was going to walk away at the end of the season for nothing. Wright and Santana are both still in Mets control, plus they can get draft picks when they leave.

If they get blown away by an offer, sure, make a deal.

Know we’ve been down this road before, but since this is basically the same core as it was last year when you believed – with Beltran and Krod – the team was not going anywhere, could not have competed with other teams down the stretch, I can understand why you project this being just an 80 win season.

But as you know, I could have been echoing your exact words last July: “With a little luck, they may find themselves in the playoff hunt come September. Even if they don’t make it to October, they are going to give us one hell of a ride.”

You agreed Sandy was right to throw in the towel, and trade Beltran for Wheeler despite (a few days after the trade) and said this team could not compete with the Braves, St. Louis, etc., even with the Mets having played at a 49-36 clip and pulling within six games of Atlanta in the loss column. I respect that perspective.

But if the same situation faces us again (six games out of loss column, six teams ahead of us, etc.) and Santana and Wright are helping give us that ride, should we be “realistic” and trade them to get top prospects since neither is seen as part of our future two or three years down the road, just like KRod and Beltran were? Or should we heed “with a little luck, they may find themselves in the playoff hunt come September. Even if they don’t make it to October, they are going to give us one hell of a ride.” and give them a chance unlike last season, as R.A. said the front office didn’t.

Ciao,
Joe

I don’t think a few optimistic posts are going to have Met fans saving up for their playoff tickets just yet.

But then you have a weaker bench, then what happens if Turner goes down for even 2 weeks? All I’m saying is depth is the issue

There are 2 big things that are different from 2012 over 2011:
1) No distractions of when/if Beltran, Jose or KRod being traded
2) We can add a player this year; if Torres doesn’t work out, and the team plays over .500 I see the Mets getting a player like Byrd or someone else to play center and bat leadoff