Comments on: Mets Can Still Get Back On Track This Winter

By: jerseymet

jerseymet — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 23:02:42 +0000

2013 is not our year. Gut the team. Stop jerking Wright and Dickey’s chain and trade them. We are going the Oakland route so lets stop pretending. We have at least 10 open roster spots. Lets use them all on Rule 5 picks. Start the season with them. As they fail get rid of them. Start Duda, Kirk, Turner and Baxter in Las Vegas they may find some altitude assisted pop there. Promote the proven AAAA types as the Rule 5 wonders sink or swim.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 15:22:36 +0000

So, I was thinking about what I would do if I was in Sandy’s shoes. I think I would try to work out an extension with Wright hopefully backloaded a little and with no trade protection outside of 10-5. I would sit on Dickey. I would also be hoping that Flores continues raking and allows for me to trade Wright. I have been against this from the word go but if Flores forces hi way to the majors and can replace Wrights production than it would work.

By: Just_Da_Damaja

Just_Da_Damaja — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 06:43:05 +0000

Well being that Wright said he would take LESS money to be on a WINNER ( aka a team unlike the NY METS )

We either trade them…or let them walk as free-agents

By: ray sadecki

ray sadecki — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 05:07:05 +0000

as to your comments on dickey and wright. how do you know trading them helps the team? lets see now…… hmm trade my two best players…………my 2 all stars………..and it helps the team, ok im a little slow. please help me with that logic.

By: ray sadecki

ray sadecki — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 05:03:59 +0000

why indeed

By: TruthsaboutMurphy

TruthsaboutMurphy — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 02:31:02 +0000

I’ll take it. Let them have great yrs!!! Gee surgery was a success and he was on a mound pitching in Sept. dickey…trade him or not, it helps the team. Nobody has any reason to think a healthy Santana won’t be great. He already showed that last yr until he threw 135+ pitches….he’s going to be stronger and better this yr. Wright….trade him or not, it helps the team.

Dave: you’re right about the Wilpons, but unfortunately because they are allowed to use every other means off revenue other than attendance to pay their debts, the Mets get shafted because of a dwindling attendance.

Other teams are spending big bucks because of television cash. Not the Mets. That cash is being funneled to other places and not the payroll.

Frank McCourt wanted to use the Dodgers new television deal to help keep the team afloat. Because Selig knew Frank was also going to use funds to pay his divorce, Selig stripped the team from him and he had to sell.

So, how come the Wilpons are able to use the TV money for other purposes. It sure isn’t going towards payroll.

By: juan

juan — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 00:35:18 +0000

Just heard that Santana and Bay are planning to have a hell of a season since it is their walking year.

By: ray sadecki

ray sadecki — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 00:34:45 +0000

murph, dickeys a goner. leaks that mets are concerned about his age and he throws the knuckler harder than others is the writing on the wall. Who knows what santana has left? gee is also coming off surgury. The outfield was already the worst and now the one producer is gone Dont be so sure wright is coming back either. sorry.

By: DaveSchneck

DaveSchneck — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 23:29:47 +0000

Well,
Now it’s showtime for the suits led by Sandy. I am already sick of this “Met fans need to temper expectations for 2013″ and “2014 will be our year”. This is Wilpon propaganda garbage. I don’t care about dollars, this team needs to be significantly improved for 2013 or anyone buying a ticket will just be making a charitable contribution to multi-millionnaires, who just happen to won a billion dollar sports franchise and a billion dollar TV station in the largest market in the US.

By: TruthsaboutMurphy

TruthsaboutMurphy — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 22:24:23 +0000

Familia and Mejia could dominate in the pen and they’ll both get the chance this season. Having those two, along with Parnell, Edgin, and Fransisco will give this team a chance at finally having a dominating bullpen that is much cheaper then years past.

Then, look at the rotation. Dickey, Santana, Niese, Harvey, and Gee will be a great start. Having Gee or even Harvey as the teams fifth starter puts them well ahead if most major league rosters. Remember, they also have the major’s number 8 best prospect waiting to come in as we’ll sometime in July.

So, the pitching just might be enough for then to stay afloat. Now they need to score runs.

The good: Wright, Davis, Tejada, and Murphy
The bad: Bay, Thole
The question marks: Duda, Kirk, whoever they get to play in the outfield.

Hopefully, Sandy can find a good outfielder who can hit AND is cheap to trade for. That’s the only way it works… The guy must be cheap, which means he probably has to trade someone. This is where Sandy will earn his paycheck. Who is Sandy willing to give up? I hope it’s not Davis or Niese, but I also hope he doesn’t trade the good young arms. To me, Fulmer, Wheeler, and Montero are off limits.

I wouldn’t be shocked to see Familia or Flores traded, especially if Wright and Dickey are extended.

Sandy said that Bay’s and Santana’s buyouts are part of 2013 payroll which really gives then zero wiggle room unless the Wilpons stop choking this team to death.

By: ray sadecki

ray sadecki — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 16:42:29 +0000

Robert, I appreciate your optimism. However you are talking about being competitive in 2-3 years. Most of us are looking for a competitve team in 2014. thats what we have been promised. Hairston wouldnt cost a boatload to resign. 2 years 7 mm would do it. But the RH platoon in LF is being reserved for Bay.
Dickey is an Ace and possible cy young winner. Knuckleballers last a long time and I am sure there are plenty of teams that would love to have him. The return better be more than a good RF.
If wright goes thats a huge hole.
for what? prospects. If he goes its because he knows the mets are NOT going to be competitive in 2014.

By: Joe Gomes

Joe Gomes — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 16:39:07 +0000

The Mets can and should go with an outfield of Duda LF, Kirk CF and for possibly 5M for 2 years, re-sign Hairston. 20 hrs in 400 at bats is nothing to sneeze at. Such an outfield would cost the Mets a around 3.5M.

The Mets could also sign a lead off type like Juan Pierre to play CF and keep Kirk at AAA or if no Hairston, move him to RF.

Take a chance on a low salary with incentives deal for Grady Sizemore?

Or perhaps if they trade Dickey, that brings back the OF needed. Time will tell.

By: Robert Patterson

Robert Patterson — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 16:10:23 +0000

Ray,

Let’s not pretend that Hairston was an all-star. Yes, he crushed lefties, but he’ll never be an every day player and no team should be in the business of giving out expensive multi year deals to bench players.

As long as the Mets get solid return for Dickey, any trade becomes a wash. RA isn’t young and probably won’t be an ace caliber pitcher in 2-3 years when the Mets are ready to contend. Get something while his value is high.

I don’t see Wright going anywhere, but if he does you’ll get a package of players back. Again as long as its a good trade..on the field it becomes a wash.

The roster isn’t as bad as you think…

By: Robert Patterson

Robert Patterson — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 16:04:09 +0000

Bullpens are so year to year for every team. That’s why I didnt factor them in here, but yes an obvious concern going forward.

By: ray sadecki

ray sadecki — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 16:01:41 +0000

add in losing hairston who was the mets cleanup hitter against lefties.
add in losing dickey who is almost certainly a goner.
maybe add in wright as well, It looks like he is not going to offer a hometown discount.
also throw in your fifth starter in young
also throw in half of your catching platoon.

never mind the bullpen FAs

For this you get back an outfielder for Dickey.

Thats just great. just great!!

By: hotstreak

hotstreak — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 16:00:13 +0000

Robert: You mention 2014. The albatose contracts are done. 100 M- 50 M = 50 M payroll plus kick in for extended players if any and salary arbitration. Lets make a big assumption and say we now have 50M financial flexibility. “They (the Mets) can still make 2014 the year they find themselves back on the map.” Don’t forger hopefuly Niese and Ike are still here to continue developing and Harvey and Wheeler are solving their expected growing pains .

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 15:55:14 +0000

Finally some optimism. We hear this line alot these days in a non baseball sense. It took more than four years to build this mess and it will take more than four years to fix it. Small steps, good signings, and keeping true to core team building values from within will bring us back soon.

By: Met Maniac

Met Maniac — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 15:51:44 +0000

I’m not as sold on Familia and Mejia as some are. I think Edgin will be solid and possibly Hefner in long relief role. Otherwise I wasn’t very impressed with the other farmhands that were forced into duty.

The collapses were disappointing, no doubt, but those teams were good enough to win and failed, more the fault of the players than the GM who put together winning and competitive teams.

By: Robert Patterson

Robert Patterson — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 15:48:16 +0000

I’d argue that 2007 and 2008 were more disappointing than those more recent seasons bc of the collapses. While they were better in terms of wins without questions, they left little to celebrate.

Your also right that the team has other needs. I think you’ll see Mejia and Familia in the pen for much of this year.. They could greatly help that cause…

By: Met Maniac

Met Maniac — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 15:40:30 +0000

Well written piece, but I do have a couple of issues with what you said.

1. On the heels of their sixth consecutive disappointing season, the Mets entered this offseason with another set of tempered

We missed the post season by one game in both 2007 and 2008 and both seasons, were relevant and hard fought but we just missed. On their own they were solid seasons that I dont believe we’ll ever see under this current regime. You cant compare those two season with what happened in 2009 and 2010 when we were besieged by injuries and 2011 and 2012 when we were besieged by incompetence.

2. So while I’m sure none of this excites you for the 2013 season, we can only hope that the team makes the moves necessary to continue a path towards contention. Making at least half the major changes needed to do so is certainly within the realm of possibility this winter.

You’re right, making half of those changes would be a heck of an accomplishment. But it wont happen. Most Mets fans judge acquisitions or potential acquisitions like drones. There is no one player that can fix this mess or change anything. That’s how they thing and that’s how Alderson thinks. They disengage from any player that can help because they are looking for this super stud who will fix everything in one fell swoop. Idiotic concept, I agree, but that’s how they look at any significant fixes and so does this front office who sees how clueless the fanbase has become.

The evidence lies in the fact that we have more areas to fix now than we did in 2011, a lot more. In addition to the same areas that needed to be addressed. We have needed help at catcher, closer and one starter for three offseasons now. Add to the list right field, left field, centerfield, setup man, long man and LOOGY.

We are going in a new direction. Reverse.