As I have been reading through a lot of postings and responses to signings, lack of signings – it is the same general theme that is occurring. The Mets fanbase being up in a stir over the lack of big signings.
When the Mets signed Jason Bay for 66 Million dollars, it didn’t seem to be enough. When they signed K-Rod for 37 million with that sneaky vesting option, it didn’t seem to be enough. When they signed Oliver Perez for 36 million, it didn’t seem to be enough.
The mediocrity isn’t caused by management refusing to open their wallets but rather when they opened their wallets they purchased lackluster players. They overpaid for market premiums (LF bats, unsure pitching options, closers) because they played every year since 2005 like a win-now year. The only problem is, if a team doesn’t win-now with said team – when it wears off, your left with a payroll of albatross contracts that leave no financial flexibility. If the Mets would’ve signed Carl Crawford, the response would’ve been great – until year 5 of his deal when his legs, which are directly tied to his value would’ve decreased and made him look like, I don’t know…Carlos Beltran with less power?
Look, I as well as every blogger on MMO, blogger on the web and commenter read, write and live the Mets and live through them. Does it hurt to not see them dishing out contracts and being involved with the latest big free agents? Of course. But realistically, i’d rather they be patient and find their mark.
Anyone who has watched the Knicks over the last five years knows – when the ship is sinking, it sinks fast. Bad contracts to Jared Jeffries, Eddy Curry, Jerome James and Jamal Crawford left the franchise in disarray and it took nearly two seasons of cleaning house entirely to even bring them back to playoff level.
The Mets have to be thorough, find players who fit their style of play and for an effective cost. If they had a less-expensive closer, that money could’ve been re-allocated to another position. If Ollie Perez wasn’t signed for so much money, and a lesser starter was instead, for fewer years, then it would be substantially better.
It’s either they can’t win because they overpaid under performing players, or they can’t win because they aren’t overpaying players, period. That is what Omar Minaya knew and attempted to achieve, pleasing the fan base with players who weren’t of the highest caliber but giving them top-dollar contracts.
If not breaking the bank this year does anything, it will prove that restructuring a franchise and changing ideologies takes time, and that time is sadly not seconds.
