Sometimes I wonder why I even read some Mets related posts on Facebook or Twitter. If you were to gauge the Mets fan base on the way General Manager, Sandy Alderson has run the team, well you would think that this team was based out of Miami.
Yes, I realize that the lunatic fringe faction of our fan base ( a small – yet loud minority) will never be satisfied with Alderson until this team finally turns things around and starts winning more than it loses. They are unhappy when Alderson doesn’t spend money… Although those among us who are remotely sane understand that is the burden of Mets’ ownership who either willingly or unknowingly (depending on whose accounts you believe) lost a ton of dough in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme.
Alderson got eviscerated when he finally did sign a player to a big money multi-year contract… Yes… it was Frank Francisco… And yes… we know he made Bobby Bonilla look good by comparison… But at least Alderson did try to fill a need by signing a proven closer … who ended up failing.
But lets take a look at some of Alderson’s other successes which has undeniably put this team in a better position than it was before he took over after the 2010 season. He was able to obtain Zack Wheeler – the San Francisco Giants best pitching prospect for seven weeks of Carlos Beltran – who was about to hit the free agent market at the end of that season and had no compensation picks attached to him.
He was able to trade R.A. Dickey, the 37 year old 2012 Cy Young award winning pitcher as well as roster fillers; Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas to the Toronto Blue Jays, in return for stud catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud, minor league pitching phenom Noah Syndergaard, low-level outfield prospect Wuilmer Becerra and veteran catcher John Buck.
This past week Alderson was able to repackage Buck along with outfielder Marlon Byrd to the Pirates for second base prospect, Dilson Herrera and the recently announced player to be named later in the deal – closing prospect, Vic Black. By the way… Herrera is off to a great start since being traded to the Mets, and has batted .385 with 4 RBIs and a OBP of .438!
Lastly, this past June, Sandy was able to obtain outfielder, Eric Young Jr. from the Colorado Rockies for minor league starting pitcher, Collin McHugh. Since his trade to the Mets, Young has been a catalyst out of the leadoff spot. Am I saying that Young is the answer to the Mets’ outfield needs? No, but he could be an asset off the bench if Alderson isn’t able to find a power bat that this team desperately needs in the offseason.
So here you have it a bunch of god reasons to be happy with Sandy, and I really do believe that this team will be one to reckon with in a very short period of time.
Your thoughts ?
And with that said….
HERE COMES THE INFAMY!!!!!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes:
The only Mets coach to be born in Canada, Tom Burgess would have been 86 today (1927).
One time top Mets pitching prospect, David West is 49 (1964). West was one of the players that was sent over to the Minnesota Twins for one time Cy Young Award winning pitcher, Frank Viola.
Middle reliever from the ’96 season, Derek Wallace is 42 (1971). Wallace appeared in 19 games for the Mets during the ’96 season. He finished the year with a record of 2-3 with 3 saves and a 4.01 E.R.A.
Some other notables:
The New York Mets traded reserve outfielder, Rod Gaspar to the San Diego Padres for middle reliever, Ron Herbel, on September 1, 1970.
The New York Mets traded minor league pitcher, Kyle Kessel to the Detroit Tigers for journeyman reliever, C.J. Nitkowski on September 1, 2001.
The New York Mets signed free agent pitcher, Alay Soler on September 1, 2004. Soler was the Mets first foray into signing a Cuban defector. But as the Mets luck had it, he was a bust , going 2-3 with a 6.00 ERA during the ’06 season. He was released during Spring Training of ’07 and never resurfaced with another team.
Mo Vaughn is slated to open the first ever Fatburger franchise in New York City. The burger joint known for its tasty burgers of beefiness will only be allowed to serve him and his huge appetite!!!
