11
2013
Where There’s Black Smoke…There’s Nothing
An article by 
It seems like for the past, I dunno, five eon’s, we’ve been discussing whether or not the New York Mets were going to sign free agent outfielder, former Atlanta Brave, Michael Bourn. Some of us thought it was all a ruse to begin with, that the Mets were playing with our fragile hopes and dreams just to keep the team relevant and to keep selling tickets. Some of us thought it would be a great signing considering the outfield was as bleak as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s post Governorship acting career. While some of us saw an aging player whose career relied on speed and who struck out more times than your average 15 year old high school nerd.
So of course we find out that Bourn was signed by the Cleveland Indians to a 4 year deal at $48 million with a vesting 5th year if he gets 550 at-bats, totaling the deal to 5 years and $60 million. Somewhere Jason Bay was gritting his teeth and giving himself a self-induced concussion upon hearing the news. I was never on the lets sign Bourn boat to start with and the least of which had to do with losing the draft pick. First off, why sign a player whose game is all about speed, to a long term contract and roll the dice that he stays healthy. No I’m not talking about Jose Reyes because Reyes was and is about 100 times more talented a player than Bourn.
Sure both are leadoff hitters, but Michael Bourn is a leadoff hitter by default – only for his speed. He struck out 155 times last year. Reyes did just about that over a three season span. Both of their on-base-percentages are relatively similar – something that should wake Reyes up I would think, but Reyes is just a better all-around player than Bourn ever has been. So what was so incredibly desirable about Bourn to Mets fans?
Yes, I know we’re probably going to see more faces in the outfield than Lindsay Lohan has DUI’s so a little certainty would be nice but at what risk? Are we ready to bring in yet ANOTHER player closer to the back end of their career to plug a hole only to lament the decision in year 3 when we’re paying a guy 12 million “who tries hard” and that’s about it?
I get it. It would be nice to have a warm body out there with some pedigree that didn’t require a background check with the Department of Homeland Security. Guess what –been there, done that and I’m sick of the Mets being burned in the process. Michael Bourn wasn’t the key player to take us to the next level. He’s just a name and Mets fans need to stop this love affair with names. The “next” star, if that comes from any of the young talent the Mets currently have, will not be a household name or a name the rest of us baseball wonks know of easily. It will be another Edgardo Alfonso. It will be another Todd Hundley. It will be another Jon Niese. It won’t be a Michael Bourn.
Sorry Mets fans…no white smoke this time.
About the Author: Joe Spector
I'm just your regular Joe. Staff writer @ Metsmerizedonline.com. Happily married and a father to a baby girl. I attended my first Met game at the ripe old age of 3 where my father scored a foul ball and had it signed by Lee Mazzilli, Joe Torre and Joe Pignataro. It was my Holy Grail - 'till I buried it in the backyard. I have my own website where you can read my drivel at your leisure @ www.thespectorsector.net
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 25 | 18 | .581 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 21 | .523 | 2.5 |
| Phillies | 21 | 23 | .477 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 17 | 24 | .415 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 12 | 32 | .273 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/19/2013
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‘no white smoke this time.’
We could use a little divine intervention right about now.
No doubt the strikeouts are glaring. The plus about Bourn was having a 2 time Gold Glove center fielder that is a career leadoff hitter at what turns out would of been $12M a year for 4 years.
Bourn though despite the strikeouts batting 1st he posed a .346/OBP that was better than the MLB .324/OBP posted last year and the .323/OBP the Mets posted last year in the same category. He also brought speed. He stole 41 bases when batting 1st. The Mets as a team stole 14 when batting 1st.
He lacked power though as well which is somewhat weird then to see him strikeout so much.
Bourn really did have his pluses and minuses Probably more so than any free agent I’ve see sign this off season.
Sad reality of our present day scenes as Mets fans – even with all his flaws, Bourn would by far be our best OFer.
“He stole 41 bases when batting 1st. The Mets as a team stole 14 when batting 1st.”
And was caught 13 times. That is almost 25% of the time.
This was just never going to happen. Never felt real.
Agreed.
Reyes has 100 times more talent?!?! Thats just plain silly!
mets are losers
Actually no, but trolls like you are.
Agreed from the beginning that Bourn would not be a good fit for the Mets for all the reasons stated above and that is why I was so surprised about all the speculation that the Mets were serious about him. Yes, they spoke with Boras, flew down to meet him, which does show sincere interest. But teams have been known to play these little games with fans before – wine and dine a player and make an offer that’s not to be taken seriously.
Again, Sandy was explicit about not wanting to lose that protected draft pick. Understood and not questioning that. What has to be questioned is why never submitting a petition ASAP instead of waiting. What were the reasons? Why is it they never did? Where they prepared to sign Bourn and then wait for a ruling on the decision after that? Did they believe Bourn would sign an agreement with them contingent on a future ruling?
And there is the question of what would the Mets then do if the ruling went in their favor? How would it look for them not to seriously pursue any type of big money free agent after working hard to get the decision in their favor? Would that put them in the corner to make good on their promises?
It’s because of so many questions and so little action that one has a valid point to suspect what we read about the last few weeks – including the dealings with Boras – as simply being another charade.
The worst thing about this is that the Mets didn´t get their ducks in a row first. By waiting to file a challenge to the draft-pick rule until they had an agreement, in fear of giving Boras more leverage, they postponed the process until MLB was in the midst of arbitration hearings. So all the arbitrators were busy and what might have taken 2-3 days instead would have taken 2-3 weeks. So, while Bourn reportedly preferred the Mets, with ST starting he chose the Indians rather than wait until March to either start ST or choose another team (based on the ruling). E-Mets.
Bourn would have been a good fit. And the 4-year, 48 million $ deal he receives is absolutely alright, considering what other CF – some of them lesser players than Bourn overall – have received this winter.
That said, this was a case of the Mets potentially buying “early”, i.e. before they have to “buy”. They probably served as a nice fallback for Boras, had he not received comparable offers elsewhere, then being worth the wait on a decision on the 1st round pick.
But this certainly was the safer choice. And the Indians – having already signed Nick Swisher -will only lose their “competitive balance” extra 2nd ound pick (along with their regular 2nd round pick) and still have their protected 1st rounder and their regular 3rd rounder to work with.
As for the Mets, they are still probably two fulltime outfielders short of having a solid to good major league outfield. One intriguing idea could be going after Brantley or Stubbs with CLE, one of which seems relegated to bench duty for now but would probably be an upgrade over Nieuwenhuis in CF, allowing Captain Kirk to shift to RF and Baxter to the bench where he belongs.
Another option could be a “salary clearance” trade for CLE next winter, sending both Swisher & Bourn to the Mets if CLE doesn´t contend in 2013 and finally starts a true rebuilding.
Sandy Alderson SUCKS