Mar
12
2013

A Little Mets In The Tropics

An article by Paul Zinn

I spent last week on Lanai, a beautiful and remote Hawaiian Island. Sports, for the most part, was far from my mind. To say that is a rarity for me, is a major understatement. Still weeks from Opening Day, I considered it an opportunity to relax before the frenzy of another baseball season began.

Wearing my Ike Davis shirt the last morning, I was approached by an individual asking if I was an Ike Davis’ fan. We immediately struck up a conversation and realized we were both diehard Mets’ fans. He was a 15-game season ticket holder and we would both be attending Opening Day this year.

Suddenly whisked back to the baseball world, we started discussing the Mets and the upcoming season. As the conversation wore on, we both agreed the tide needed to start turning for this franchise soon. After returning home, I continued to think about the discussion and noticed Joel Sherman’s column in the NY Post, in which he calls this season Sandy Alderson’s final mulligan. The conversation I had with the fan in Hawaii was directly related.

He agreed that things needed to change soon for the Mets but didn’t feel that would occur with the Wilpons still owning the team. I found myself taking a more positive approach – that with the likes of Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler, the future was bright. However, I added that the direction of this team did need to start turning this season, leading to an offseason where Alderson finally opens up the wallets, all en route to at least a semi-competitive team in 2014. Later on, I realized that in essence I was saying this is Alderson’s final mulligan.

And the 2013 season should be Alderson’s final mulligan. However, take it a step further. Since Alderson took over in 2010, the debate regarding the direction and quality of his approach has raged at Citi Field, sports bars and on sports radio. This is the year when we can finally at least start to answer that question Do the young pitchers and prospects continue to develop? Does Alderson add a couple players for the outfield? Does he begin spending some money at the Winter Meetings this offseason?

That question will definitely be answered in 2014 and beyond. However, by this time next season, I think we’ll have a much better idea of whether the Alderson is plan is working or not. And the question at that time will be, “Can you see this team being competitive this season (2014)?

About the Author: Paul Zinn

Paul Zinn is a lifelong Mets fan, with experience as a sports writer at three daily newspapers. He has also published two books with his Dad, John, "The Major League Pennant Races of 1916" and "Ebbets Field" which you can learn more about at www.zinnbooks.com. Paul is also an avid traveler and photographer, and enjoys spending time with his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Sophie. Follow him on Twitter at @paulzinn.

5 Comments + Add Comment

Alex68 March 12, 2013 at 8:11 am

Paul, good article, i get what you guys are saying, but it is hard fo have a GM for 3 straight years to be saying changes are a coming, yet he took a 79 win team and made it a 77 win team then a 74 win team to what possibly what a lot of people are projecting and predicting a 70 win team, he could’ve made this team better, yet he’s chosen not to, his “I’m smarter than you” aproach to things haven’t paid divident as of yet, and unless wheeler turns into a CY and darnaud a HOF the mets chances to be good for years to come will be on the shoulders of the same players that were here prior to him coming in, Harvey, Ike, Tejada, Wright, etc.. 3 years is enough for a GM to show what he’s done, and so far, he’s done NOTHING to help this franchise and somehow he still makes a mockery of the fanbase, a guy likes that doesn’t care, he’s here to work for the wilpons, and we all know the wilpons #1 priority right now.
- oleosmirf March 12, 2013 at 9:16 am
  
  other than the Yankees (and even they are debatable) no team has been able to be a contender without any contribution from young players.
  
  I know its frustrating to sit here and watch the Mets rebuild while letting go of two of your favorite players, but rebuilding was necessary.
  
  The Mets are developing a dynamite farm system with a huge surplus in pitching (Yes Omar gets credit for some of that). Dynamite farm systems mean future productive players and possible stars that are cheap and controllable. That leaves money left over to overpay for free agents and trading surplus prospects for trades.
  
  It doesn’t work backwards though. You don’t go after free agents and big trades until you have an established young core to build around, because if the prospects you anticipate, don’t work out, you might have Justin Upton, but you still have crap surrounding and this isnt the NBA or the NFL where a star player automatically means playoffs…
- Pburke March 12, 2013 at 9:55 am
  
  I’m not sure what I’m more impressed by with you Alex, your illogical comments or their frequent consistancy.
  - LA Met Fan March 12, 2013 at 10:13 am
    
    He happens to be right in this case. Alderson has done exactly what Alex has said. The truth hurts sometimes.
    - oleosmirf March 12, 2013 at 10:42 am
      
      that’s what happens when you rebuild though. You trade top players for prospects and after sucking for a few years you start to win again with good young talent.

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