NY Post: Pieces Of A Playoff Team Falling Into Place For Mets

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• Alex68 December 1, 2012 at 10:54 am

  Zack Wheeler is already being penciled in as the ace of the team when he finally arrives to Flushing. That’s so unfair to him and you would think most Met fans would have learned their lesson by now. Last night we cut Mike Pelfrey, the first rounder that was also going to be our ace for the next ten seasons”

  THIS.
  With that being said, the optimistic side of me is saying this: “Ike Davis, not the “superstar” we signed to an extension is the guy who will lead this offense, he after having rough 2 months at the beginning of the season came on and was a force, he’ll be our MVP candidate for years to come and he’ll put that in display starting in 2013. In pitching Harvey will lead us and be our ace by june, the kid in triple A will have to wait, but once Harvey becomes our Ace, wheeler come up will have less hype because we already got santana, harvey, dickey, gee which can provide grea depth for us in terms of pitching.

  Now, the pessimist in me will say: “this team is not going anywhere… When you pay a guy who’s a so so player miguel cabrera money, the pressure to perform like miguel will consume the guy. we’ve all seen how poorly he performs undder pressure, if ike davis don’t hit, it’s gonna be yet another loss season IN MAY. The pitching will be okay because of the starters, but the bullpen, arguably the worst in baseball last year remains the biggest culprit. With so many holes and pretty much with the same roster as last year except less confidence and sense of urgency it’s hard to see this team competing at all next year. Unless major slumps and/or phiily, atlanta and in washington, i don’t see this team being better than 4th place, and even then it’ll be a battle for last place with the marlins..
• Matt M December 1, 2012 at 11:02 am

  Pieces of a playoff team my fat, hairy, pimply ass.
  • Hitman December 1, 2012 at 11:29 am

    TMI dude.
• jessep December 1, 2012 at 11:03 am

  The Mets need to find a RF first…. but then the bullpen needs re-tooling obviously.

  Free agents I hope they are looking into are: Burnett, Capps, Howell, Coffey, Myers, and yes KRod.

  I don’t think long term commitments are warranted on any of these guys but they can help the mets.

  I wouldn’t be opposed to Ramon Ramirez or Jon Rauch either if the deal was right and they were surrounded with better talent.
  • TX December 1, 2012 at 11:29 am

    I’d love for them to go after Capps. Also Soria. Soria will be worth the risk. I’d also like to see an incentive deal on Sizemore. Yeah, both are risky, but the upside could be wonderful.
  • Hitman December 1, 2012 at 12:03 pm

    No mention of “The Beard”? He should be Plan B if Soria can’t be had.
• Nathan December 1, 2012 at 11:03 am

  I do agree that there is work to be done but I do feel we are closer than our record shows. Yes every player has a hole. I still do not understand the issues people take with Tejada. People online are quite often wanting to shift him to second and I don’t get it he did a great job at short this year and I am quite comfortable with his defense. Anyway I guess what I am saying is that it is managements job to utilize these players in a way that they will be of the greatest use. I still maintain that Tejada, Murph, Wright, Ike should be the top of the order now it is time to fill out the bottom. This should be easier than filling the top. A crew such as this cannot do it aloe therefore a productive bottom needs to be in place. Basically two outfielders and two bullpen arms and a BU catcher and our team should be set for next year. This team could be surprising; however, I remain dubious as to the motivations of our illustrious leaders. I believe they will not supply the outfield talent that is needed nor the bullpen strength; therefore, we will again be mired in third or fourth place and again people will blame the wrong players for the teams poor performance.
• Sharklady December 1, 2012 at 11:05 am

  I agreed with almost everything you said, even sadly, that this will (probably) be Johan’s last year and that motivation coupled with the heart he’s already got, might be the ultimate combination where he has a better-than-expected year, going 17-6 with a 2.87 ERA, enough to make the Mets think about that option year. I do have an objection in the article in referring to Carlos Beltran as the “greatest centerfielder in team history.” That distinction undoubtedly goes to Tommie Agee. Someone had a liquid lunch the day that selection was decided.
  • Just-Da-Damaja December 1, 2012 at 11:24 am

    Carlos Beltran is one of the best met position players of all time,
    tommie agee was a good player on a great team for his day..

    Its not even close

    http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/ageeto01.shtml

    http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beltrca01.shtml
  • Seligman December 1, 2012 at 11:30 am

    Tommie Agee was my first favorite Met not named George Thomas Seaver. Whenever he connected on one, he absolutely crushed it. I wonder what ever happened to that marker they had at Shea Stadium celebrating the longest home run ever hit that stayed in the park? It might have been the only ball ever to reach the upper deck in the stadium’s history if I recall.
  • TX December 1, 2012 at 11:31 am

    Carlos is under-appreciated for the magic he brought to center field. His D may have been better than his offense, and his offense was awesome. No doubt Carlos was the best CF this team has had.
    • Just_Da_Damaja December 1, 2012 at 1:10 pm

      IMO Carlos was the most complete position player on the entire roster

      Carlos was fast, strong, hit for avg, hit in the clutch, performed defensively in the clutch, I have never seen a player in a met uniform that came close to the total package as Carlos Beltran

      Anyone remember when Beltran ran uphill in Houston…in the 9th inning…with the bases loaded…and 2 outs…in a tie game…and dove catching the ball over his shoulder…( running UP a HILL )

      2 innings later he gets the game-winning basehit

      Or that game in Philly where he climbed the chain-link CF fence and caught the last out of the game with runners on 2nd and 3rd with the mets up by 1 ( bailing Wagner out again )

      Or the game-winning grandslam he hit off Izzy in 2006

      Only in Met land would a monster like that have to take a back seat to a “suit and tie rap thats cleaner than a bar of soap”

      Carlos has been the best player on every team he has been on…

      KC – they moved Damon out of CF to make room for Beltran
      Hou – they moved heaven and earth to make room for Beltran
      SF – they wanted Beltran so bad, they traded their version of Matt Harvey for 6 weeks of Beltran

      St Louis – felt comfortable replacing their franchise player with Carlos Beltran

      Only in NY would Beltran be a soft, selfish clubhouse cancer who hates America

      The folks bashing Beltran were the same folks that are salty that Gerry Coony lost to Holmes in the 80′s
• michael December 1, 2012 at 11:09 am

  This blog is like every blog written about the Mets, too long on words and negativity.

  Their infield is fine offensively. Defensively they could be on of the better infields in the National League. If they sign Dickey,their starting rotation could one of the better ones in baseball. Their closer is shaky but they have some nice young arms in front of him. They need to add an outfielder and hope Lucas Duda can be more productive. They also need to add a catcher. Given than most catchers suck, that shouldn’t be hard to do. There you go. A short analysis of the Mets going into the Winter Meetings.
  • Joe D December 1, 2012 at 9:38 pm

    I wasn’t trying to be negative, but the post was a reaction piece to Ken Davidoff’s assertion that extending Wright is a sign the Mets are playoff bound. Do you think they are by signing Wright alone? I don’t. BTW I like blogs that aren’t too long on words. Feel free to contact us if you’d like to write for MMO. We’d be able to have a basketball team with a starting five all named Mike.
    • jessep December 1, 2012 at 9:54 pm

      ha!
• Just-Da-Damaja December 1, 2012 at 11:13 am

  Missing Pieces:

  RF – CF – Catcher – Middle Relief – Closer

  and 2B stands alot to be desired from a defensive standpoint.

  For the mets to even sniff a playoff race…

  they should upgrade at SS defensively…move Tejada over to 2B…forming a superior defensive up the middle..

  If the mets can trade for either elvis andrus ( in a SIGN and TRADE ) or Jurickson Profur…or Manny Machado….they should do that….

  Hell since we are committed to Mr. Wright for the next 8 years….Wilmer Flores = trade bait…

  I would trade Wheeler + Flores to Texas for Profur or Andrus….

  OR Wheeler + Flores to Baltimore for Machado

  Improving the defense up the middle should be the most important thing on the agenda

  That and getting the 138 million dollar bullseye off of Wright’s back…

  we all see how great Wright does when he puts alot of pressure on himself…
  • jessep December 1, 2012 at 11:25 am

    “I would trade Wheeler + Flores to Texas for Profur or Andrus….

    OR Wheeler + Flores to Baltimore for Machado”

    You would do that – but they wouldn’t.

    Baltimore let Reynolds walk so Machado can play this year and Profur is #1 prospect in the sport and if they deal Andrus it’d be for “now” help in spots of need after possibly losing Hamilton and needing some SP help right now.
    • Brendan December 1, 2012 at 11:33 am

      Why do you think they wouldn’t do Wheeler and Flores for Andrus?

      That sounds extremely fair for both sides.
      • TX December 1, 2012 at 11:34 am

        Dickey for Andrus.
      • jessep December 1, 2012 at 1:33 pm

        Because it does absolutely nothing for them right now. They have a serious lineup hole if Hammer leaves and they need SP help and they are a team built on “win now or die trying.” trading a starting SS without a guaranteed replacement for 2 young players is not in their team’s best interest.

        Profar is 19 years old and just finished AA. He’s not a sure thing – so getting rid of Andrus has to bring them something back they can use now if they were going to put Profar in the lineup.
        • Just-Da-Damaja December 1, 2012 at 5:17 pm

          They already brought up Profur for his first cup of coffee in September

          It is very much on the table for him to be the starting SS

          this is what happens when you draft and trade correctly…

          they traded THEIR version of David Wright for 4 players, 2 struck gold

          they scout very well

          they draft very well

          they dont care if the players name is Cruz, Hamilton, or whatever…

          they dont air out their superstars…the way we did Wright, Reyes, Beltran, Delgado, Ike

          when they had that lil problem with their player not wanting to move to DH, it got handled quietly by the team

          That would’ve been a full blown soap opera in NY

          Its all about winning…simple…

          with the mets its always something else
    • Just_Da_Damaja December 1, 2012 at 12:29 pm

      Either Dickey or Wheeler would be that SP, add Greinke to go along with CJ Wilson and the kid from Japan and u have a nice rotation there

      I would take Andrus only if they can lock him into a long term contract for the next 7 years.

      He is entering his 1st year of arb.

      If you sign Andrus now for 6 years with a 1 year option, u buy out his 3 years of arb, you get 3 years of his free-agency and 1 option year.

      You do the same for Tejada

      You do the same for Ike

      You lock up the infield and let them grow together. You dont play musical chairs.

      At that point, I think u can trade Murphy to an AL team like the rays and get back a reliever ( which we desperately need )

      More than a reliever we need a good pitching coach who knows how to use them.
  • Alex68 December 1, 2012 at 11:26 am

    OR Wheeler + Flores to Baltimore for Machado”

    Good idea.. Wright, Machado, Tejada and Ike Davis.. Best IF in the game by far!
    • Brendan December 1, 2012 at 11:33 am

      I would rather have Andrus.
      • Alex68 December 1, 2012 at 11:42 am

        Good for you.. Wasn’t you the guy who went insane the other day cursing at everyone and basically baiting everyone into some sort of cursing match? How you managed to not get banned??
• Andrew December 1, 2012 at 11:22 am

  I mostly agree with your assessment. It’s critical that this front office remedies at least one third of the outfield situation, preferably center field. I disagree with you on Tejada, he’s not perfect but he’s still young and the best is yet to come. Every year I hope they trade Murphy for something, and every year he’s back. I hope this is the winter where we can move him for a catcher or young and reliable bullpen arm. You look at the other bullpens in the NL East and they are tough to beat. Somehow we need to make this negative a positive for us.
• MetsWatchman December 1, 2012 at 11:24 am

  Good article Joe! I would really hope that no one actually believes the signing of Wright is something more than status quo. I can understand all the hoopla by signing him in that the Mets finally opened their checkbooks and maintained there best player……something that hasn’t been done in the near or distant past. But when the hoopla dies down and the smoke clears, this is the same team. Optimism right now can only be based on a whole lot of “ifs”.

  Here are some:

  1. The checkbook has to remain open to provide quality support to this core especially in the bullpen.

  2. There needs to be a mid-season call up that takes the league by storm…..I’m hoping like hell its Flores supplanting Murphy at 2nd. Or perhaps den Dekker in center.

  3. A major trade involving Dickey and other minor league pitching talent to get an outfielder or catcher that will be productive as the season progresses.

  4. A consistent year from April to September for Ike Davis

  5. Ditto for Wright (no 2nd half fall off)

  6. Harvey and Niese develope further and prove they can be a 1 – 2 starters

  7. Wheeler is a mid-season call up and contributes in the 2nd half.

  I know this is what life as a Mets fan is all about and has been every year…..going over all the “ifs”. But hey, all of the above can actually happen. In the next month or so we’ll have a better picture as to the FO……whether they’re gonna just sit back on the Wright signing or aggressively build around him.
  • Joe D December 1, 2012 at 9:40 pm

    Thanks, I appreciate that.
• Seligman December 1, 2012 at 11:25 am

  We should be celebrating the fact that the Post has written something positive and upbeat about the Mets. This might be a first for them.
  • Brendan December 1, 2012 at 11:32 am

    LOL Ain’t that the truth!
  • Metsie December 1, 2012 at 12:37 pm

    Well seligman I mean it is a NEWS organization not a Therapy publication…..
    It’s hard to knock the Post for doing sour pieces on a team that has been making sour news since 2007.

    Kind of like expecting them to put a positive spin on a Murder story….
    “On the bright side no one really misses the Victim…”
• Little Nicky December 1, 2012 at 11:35 am

  All I can say is that I’m glad Jim Davidorf is not running the Mets.
• jdon December 1, 2012 at 11:40 am

  I think it is reasonable to assume that Harvey and Niese willl improve, if healthy. Wheeler is probably a wash in a half year as a rookie. Gee is limited. Hopefully he will be a .500 pitcher. Will Dickey win 20? No. But he might win 18. Knucklers are hard to hit. The problem is the bullpen. The bullpen can not come in and lose the majority of games they get a lead handed to them. As for catcher, Thole is a joke. Any solid defensive catcher would be a huge upgrade. Outfielders you have to buy, or weaken your pitching to get one I think the mets go nowhere special next year. The year after, if Wheeler comes on in his second year, maybe something. It is all about pitching, guys. That never changes. anyone can cobble together enough lineup.
• Mitch December 1, 2012 at 11:40 am

  I know people don’t like Justin Upton. For the life of me I don’t know why. But I still say he could be a part of the core for us and would take care of right field for the next 5 yrs or longer.
  • Alex68 December 1, 2012 at 11:44 am

    Mitch, there’s a guy here, who don’t like him because he does not fit his agenda. He rather have a mike baxter type player in RF. Hope you get the hint
    • Just_Da_Damaja December 1, 2012 at 12:19 pm

      Baxter is the gritty underdog !

      sidenote: I actually like Baxter too, but i see where ur going with this
      • Joe D December 1, 2012 at 9:41 pm

        Unfortunately, I see where he’s going with this too. Pity…
  • TX December 1, 2012 at 11:48 am

    What realistically brings Upton to NY? Flores, Familia, Fulmer and Murph? Niese + another?
    • Mitch December 1, 2012 at 12:01 pm

      The GM said he doesn’t necessarily need an outfielder in return I read somewhere. But a starting pitcher, bullpen arm, third base is what they need.

      I would think Niese, Flores or Murphy, Familia or Edgin for bullpen would get it done.
  • Hitman December 1, 2012 at 12:05 pm

    I’ll be honest when I say, as good as Upton is, there’s a couple of guys I’d rather have over him in Giancarlo Stanton and Wil Myers.
  • Donal December 1, 2012 at 12:44 pm

    “I know people don’t like Justin Upton. For the life of me I don’t know why.”

    Then you should pay more attention. He’s barely mediocre outside of Arizona. He plays in an insanely hitter friendly park that inflates his numbers.

    Have you seen his home and road splits? We’re not talking the usual drop off everybody has. His OPS drops over 200 points. His BA drops 50 points.

    For reference, Wright’s OPS drops 34 points and his BA drops 4 points.
  • Metsie December 1, 2012 at 12:59 pm

    It comes down to Park Factors….
    Most of his performance comes at home in a Bandbox for a stadium.

    Home 1496PA 245RS 398H 76D 18T 67HR 219RBI .307BA .389OBP .548SLG .937OPS
    Away 1534PA 193RS 341H 71D 10T 41HR 144RBI .250BA .325OBP .406SLG .731OPS

    He is not the player everyone loves once he leaves the friendly confines of Chase Field.

    Chase Field 6th in Runs 1.171, 6th in HRs 1.192, 6th in Hits 1.064,
    Compared to:
    Citifield 23rd in Runs .874, 12th in HRs 1.069, 25th in Hits .918

    If you trade for him you are more likely to get the numbers Upton put up AWAY than all that great stuff that makes him look so good from his home stats.

    Thats talking about getting a .250 Hitter with only 12 HRs. and giving up a ton to get it.
    Thats Jason Bay numbers circa 2011, and Bay missed time in 2011!

    You can’t just look at a players numbers on thier own you have to take into account what conditions existed to allow that player to do what he did.

    Be it protection in the lineup, Park Factors and Home and away splits.

    And in JUpton’s case the away numbers prove that most of what people love about him only happens in Arizona (Chase Field)

    You want to get the same results by trading for him you had better bring that stadium with him.
    Otherwise you will find yourself with just another high priced Jason Bay.
• This is stupid December 1, 2012 at 11:50 am

  Here’s a much better version of the ny post article:
  http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-mets-are-not-that-far-away/
  • srt December 1, 2012 at 11:54 am

    I read this yesterday – agree.
• Hitman December 1, 2012 at 11:59 am

  If I were the Mets, I’d focus on mainly pitching before anything else, rotation and bullpen wise. If we’ve learned anything for the last few years, we need deeper depth. When Gee went down and Johan imploded, it killed us. Some good choices for SP depth are:

  -Shaun Marcum
  -Anibal Sanchez (when his demands get lower)
  -Dallas Braden (even though he won’t be back till the middle of next season, I’d still sign him to a minor league deal. Cincy did the same thing with Arredondo when he was recovering from TJS)
  -Dan Haren (1 year deal wouldn’t kill us and if he does very well, switch him up midseason for needed pieces)
  -Brandon McCarthy
  -Joe Saunders
  -Jair Jurrjens (minor league deal)

  As far as the bullpen goes,

  -Koji Uehara (the first guy I’d sign for the pen. See his 2012 numbers)
  -Cory Wade
  -Mike Adams
  -Scott Atchison
  -Brad Bergesen
  -Todd Coffey
  -Joey Devine (minor league deal)
  -Kameron Loe
  -Brandon Lyon
  -Rich Hill
  -Daniel Schlereth (minor league deal)
  -Sean Burnett
  -Rafael Perez
  -J.P. Howell

  Ultimately, if the pieces of a playoff team can come into place, the talks with KC must continue and the checkbook must remain open.
  • Hitman December 1, 2012 at 3:01 pm

    To add on that list of bullpen guys I mentioned, I forgot to mention Tom Gorzelanny. 2.88 ERA in 45 appearances last season (2.08 ERA away from Nationals Park).
• Alex68 December 1, 2012 at 12:05 pm

  This is off topic, but did anybody read or heard about the KC Chiefs player who killed his GF then commited suicide once he arrived at the team’s facility? Man, what is this world coming to.. Dude just had a baby with her and ws only 25 years old. What a shame.
  • taskmaster4450 December 1, 2012 at 12:18 pm

    Did they ever release the name who it was? The report I read said it was an unnamed Chief.
    • Hitman December 1, 2012 at 12:49 pm

      Jovan Belcher.
  • srt December 1, 2012 at 12:36 pm

    Didn’t read about this. But that’s awful, just so sad.
• This is stupid December 1, 2012 at 12:06 pm

  I’d go after Brandon McCarthy. He’s going to be extremely cheap after that brain surgery. He might be completely done because of the brain problems but he could also come back right where he left off; as a borderline ace. It wouldn’t matter if he sucks if he has a Chris young-type contract.
• taskmaster4450 December 1, 2012 at 12:17 pm

  Always remember that 15 games turnarounds are not uncommon in the major leagues. With the addition of the 2nd wildcard, that would put the Mets in contention. The sad thing is getting one of the wild cards is assures nothing but a one game playoff. Winning the division is critical which you can say the Mets are a fair distance from doing. However, if things fall into place, you never know.

  Here is my assessment:

  Presuming Dickey is there (either extended or playing out his option), he is going to give you the same performance he has the past 3 years. Even though is record was terrific in 2012, his year was not much better than before. 15 wins is not unrealistic. Niese will improve. He is on a nice upward path. Gee is also solid at the back end. His injury is not going to affect his pitching so I would say 12 wins is a given with him. The two questions are Harvey and Santana. The health of Johan is still a bug question mark and Harvey is still unproven. However, I think Johan will be solid at worst and Harvey will easily be a double digit winner.

  The infield is set with Ike, Murph, Tejada, and Wright. I expect Murphy to continue to improve his defense and the rest are already VG-terrific defensively. The lack of power up the middle is made up by the corners although Murphy should provide 40 doubles which helps.

  Catching is going to be Thole and a shoppach like player. Not very good but there isnt much out there anyway. The Mets are basically stuck there.

  The OF needs work and will see some additions. I dont know who will be there but they have to be an improvement since being worse is difficult.

  And the BP has been a nightmare but maybe the Mets finally turn it around. BP can go from awful to good in an off season. The hope is Francisco is at least serviceable as closer and a couple of the others (existing and newly added) step up.

  Washington is still the cream of the east with Philly (I believe they will be active in the next month or so) right with them. I believe the Braves are going to take a step backwards.

  At this point I would say the Mets will be a 3rd place team with a chance at higher if a few things fall into place.
• Metsie December 1, 2012 at 1:18 pm

  Truth is what we need to compete is a power hitting RH batter.
  Even a Beltran would be enough.
  The problem when we had it before was not the hitting but the fact we didn’t have the pitching.

  We do seem to have that now.
  2009 and 2010 we didn’t really have that Power RH Bay as Beltran was hurt. But even if he wasn’t, Pelfrey Santana and a very young Niese was not enough, Dickey came in to help and did well but he is hardly the Pitcher he has been the last two years.
  Niese has since grown, Dickey has perfected, Harvey is better than Pelfrey, Gee has been solid on the backend and Wheeler is an option at the midpoint.

  Mejia and Familia are (or should be closer to) ready.
  And we are still short a closer unless francisco bounces back.

  Yes we need Pen and some Starting depth but it will be for naught if we do not solve the problem of the imbalance of the lefty hefty lineup.

  I doubt highly they can make enough moves to make the playoffs this year unless they really go on a spending spree and truth is there isn’t really that much out there to buy that would get it done. There are a few RH Power Bats to be had but the best ones are trades not buys.

  If they extend Dickey and get it out of the way, Then go after and get that one Power RH Bat to balance the lineup then we could live with a Duda in LF, and a consortium of Kirk/Valdespin/DenDekker in CF.

  We should have talked to Russel Martin which I’m surprised no one has brought up. He might not be worth what he got when it comes down to it but the money would be worth it for getting rid of Thole.

  Let the Rotation solidify this year, Play with the remaining kids in the Pen. See if Parnell can take yet another step to become the closer we all hoped he would and we would be in a good position this time next year to make the moves that could put this team back into the top of the NL East.

  And with Santana coming off the books you could do that without raising payroll at all if you found the right player!
  You can get a lot for 25 Mil!

  So while I think it’s wishfull thinking this year, a good first half like last year, One good Power Righty bat and slight improvement in Niese and Harvey could make us close to or actually competitive past July.

  But we really need that Power RH bat or they will just kill us with Lefties.
• Joey D. December 1, 2012 at 3:15 pm

  Hi Joe,

  First off, glad you are home from your pre-testing and again, best wishes from all of us for what we are sure will be a successful surgery and speedy recuperation.

  We both agree the pressure being put on Wheeler is tremendous due to the build up by the organization to justify the trading of Beltran and before that KRod when we were still alive and kicking in that wildcard hunt. That is unfair to Zack – no matter which side of the fence we are on – and we should all be concerned that being placed under such intense scruiteny could very much hinder his performance in New York.

  But again, I have to disagree strongly with that article as well for the Mets will being going nowhere as long as Sandy has the autonomy on these issues with the owners having to go along with the GM. It is apparent this is the case not only due to the circumstances in which Sandy agreed to come to the Mets but also because MLB took measures to bail out the Wilpons that they never did with others – Selig had MLB take over Texas, Los Angels and Montreal.

  And one thing we do know about the Wilpons is that they never would have traded away their best players in the middle of a wildcard race even with one being in his walk year and the other being overpaid. Both moves went against every mode of their thinking and behavioral patterns.

  Sandy saw it differently. These moves alleviated salaries that would have to be paid in proportion immediately but at the same time there were other alternatives – like keeping both players on the valid chance that they would help keep the Mets in the wildcard hunt resulting in increased revenue by more ticket sales and concession.

  But Sandy is known not to gamble on attendance that could not be guaranteed and for trading off free agents he felt the team could not afford. He cited those as the reasons he traded Mark McGwire (see below) to St. Louis despite the then not known steroid user leading the majors in home run and on a pace to challenge Roger Maris. He said Oakland would have to draw a million more fans in August and September in order to still be able to afford paying him. Same with trying to re-sign him. He also said economic realities no longer allows one to look at decisions in terms of talent anymore.

  The unusual measures taken by Selig which enabled the Wilpons to retain ownership – including his own hand picked general manager (who didn’t even want the job) all lead to a valid conclusion that re-signing David seems was something Sandy had to be convinced was worth doing and not the other way around. It goes against all his principles and past actions. And with the position the Mets are in at the moment, re-signing David was not saber-wise, either.

  That type of fiscal attitude caused our holes in the outfield and bullpen and created the mess we now find ourselves in – and will be until either the ownership and front office are replaced or the ownership finds itself the money to make them independent from needing the services requiring a Sandy Alderson-type to bail them out once again.

  http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/McGwire-trade-may-haunt-A-s-3070724.php
  • This is stupid December 1, 2012 at 4:26 pm

    Are you a public speaker Joey? Even when you say something wrong or stupid (not saying this one is) your posts are extremely coherent.
    • Joey D. December 1, 2012 at 5:06 pm

      LMAO, This.

      I believe that was indeed meant as a compliment – thank you.

      No, I am not a public speaker – just an old time sentimentalist at heart.

      Hey, it’s been fun with the good natured back and forth barbs. Am sure had I won the powerball jackpot I would have gone from that old time sentimentalist to give me the money and leave me alone!
  • Joe D December 1, 2012 at 9:42 pm

    Thank you Joey, I appreciate the kind thoughts.
• Just-Da-Damaja December 1, 2012 at 5:20 pm

  I wonder how the mets would continue pushing David Wright as their marquee player if another younger player came along and grossly outperformed him.

  like if David started hitting like Jason Bay and Jordany Valdespin hits 35 HR…

  what do you do?

  At some point, its going to happen….hell 2012, Ike Davis in a bad year already had more HR
  • This is stupid December 1, 2012 at 5:22 pm

    It’s probably gonna end up being wheeler.
    • Bayonne Mets Fan December 1, 2012 at 5:24 pm

      it’s probably gonna wind up being Ike Davis. Zack Wheeler is down in the minors. Matt Harvey is more likely to do it than Zack Wheeler.
      • This is stupid December 1, 2012 at 5:45 pm

        Could be Harvey. I’m not sure if davis can hit for enough average to be a superstar type player.
        • Bayonne Mets Fan December 1, 2012 at 5:53 pm

          all he has to do is get big hits when they need it the most, if by chance this team is ever in a post season run again. If he (or anybody for that matter) did that he’d be the toast of the town. We remember all the guys who’ve gotten big hits for the Mets in the most important moments of their history and some like a Mike Piazza or a Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter rise to another level because they make a habit of it.

          It has nothing to do with “if he hits enough for average” it’s much more than that, it’s about being able to perform at your highest levels when the situations are the most important and if a player can do that than nobody cares what his numbers are because since it’s all about ONE thing, and that’s winning, than he’s a valuable part of a team.
          • Bayonne Mets Fan December 1, 2012 at 5:55 pm

            i’m looking back at my chat with this kid and it’s old school baseball knowledge where the entire package is looked at and taken into consideration vs……………some kid just looking at stats.

            Pathetic.

            How old were you in 2006?
            • This is stupid December 1, 2012 at 6:02 pm

              The butthurt is strong in your little corner here… Any idiot can see that the guy that has nothing better to do than attack people on the Internet all day is more pathetic than a guy who… doesn’t.
              • Bayonne Mets Fan December 1, 2012 at 6:03 pm

                well i guess this will do since you have no answer.
          • This is stupid December 1, 2012 at 6:00 pm

            They had more big hits because they’re good hitters who hit better than everyone else in every situation. Therefore they do in clutch situations too.
            • Bayonne Mets Fan December 1, 2012 at 6:05 pm

              all good hitters don’t hit better than everyone else in certain situations. Lots of times role players or subs can hit better in an important spot than a starter who’s a good hitter.

              Anyway, this conversation is over because you still need years of baseball experience before you can understand. So in the meantime look at your little stats and keep on believing you can understand a game as vast as baseball just by doing that u little smart alec.
              • jessep December 1, 2012 at 6:34 pm

                why do you think age dictates how much you know about baseball?

                Do you think you know more about the inner workings of the game than Andrew Friedman, Jon Daniels and Theo Epstein because you may be older than them?
                • This is stupid December 1, 2012 at 6:59 pm

                  Nah I mentioned that I’m in high school a while ago and now he uses that against me all the time. or maybe u knew that already.
              • Richard December 2, 2012 at 4:55 pm

                Bayonne,that’s a bit harsh. The seasoned vet. always has room to improve, listening to the young guys sometimes yields you to learn a few things.
                • Bayonne Mets Fan December 2, 2012 at 4:59 pm

                  I highly doubt that. You must be a David Wright fan.
      • Joey D. December 1, 2012 at 10:42 pm

        Definitely believe the next one to be groomed as a marquee player will be Wheeler, at least at the beginning. After all, his trade was the most controversial move that Sandy made and they need him more than ever now to justify Sandy’s wisdom.

        The Mets have already been promoting him every opportunity they could, even televising on SNY minor leagues games he was scheduled to pitch. Again, I sense this is a public relations blitz for until he’s had a valid opportunity to show he can pitch, the Mets can milk him for all the expectations they want. And as Joe D., myself and some others have mentioned the Mets are applying a lot of extra pressure on Wheeler by already proclaiming him as a future mainstay of the pitching staff.
• We Can Win December 1, 2012 at 5:45 pm

  All I can say about Beltran as our best center fielder is Moooooooooooooooooo! But seriously – I still believe that we should sell high on Dickey and trade him for a good catcher and good outfielder. Santana will be solid in his walk year to lead a staff followed by Niese, Harvey, Gee and Mejia (place holder for Wheeler).
• BadBadLeroyBrown December 1, 2012 at 10:03 pm

  “We have to stop calling Josh Thole a catcher. He’s just a nice guy who crouches behind home plate”

  HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thats a good one….funny but true
• Richard December 2, 2012 at 4:53 pm

  If the Mets drop a bomb shell at the winter meetings, I’ll be more inclined to believe that they can become (EXPECTED) playoff contenders. Until then, I’ll keep saying that anything can happen in baseball, and despite the slim odds,they could compete.