Once again it’s time to get your daily dose of TRDMB’s Mets in the Papers.
Kristie Ackert, “Mets Finish Weak Season On Strong Note As Players Say Goodbye”
“A failed opportunity,” David Wright called the season. “If you don’t go to the postseason, it doesn’t matter for what reason, it’s a non-successful season. It’s tough to compare them all. They have all been under different circumstances, but this has been tough.”
Kevin Kernan, “Forget Injuries: Mets’ Culture of Entitlement Must Change”
Don’t believe for one second this 4-0 victory over the comatose Astros and final series sweep is anything the Mets can build on for 2010. The Mets’ biggest problem is that they think they are better than they really are. They are not in touch with baseball reality.
David Lennon, “Five Biggest Issues For The Mets in 2010″
OK, so it’s really more than five. Minaya needs to get another front-line starter — if not top free agent John Lackey, then maybe someone like Joel Pineiro – a starting catcher (Bengie Molina perhaps?) and a leftfielder.
Marty Noble, “Mets Have Season To Disremember”
The biggest question heading into 2010 — so many uncertainties developed in 2009 that if the Mets are limited to one question, it must be, “When will it all end?” It applies primarily to injuries and the unconditional availability of Reyes, Santana, Beltran, Maine, et al. But the question applies as well to Wright’s diminished production, Mike Pelfrey’s regress and the regular indications of a stunning lack of fundamentals. The overriding question involving one player concerns Reyes’ leg. A repaired torn hamstring may require months to mend.
Biggest surprise: That the current administration has survived this season. The way the team performed in the final 10 weeks reflects on manager Jerry Manuel and, to a lesser degree, general manager Omar Minaya more than record and standing do. Poor baseball — fundamentally flawed performance and lack of concentration — was pervasive and, though acknowledged, it seemingly was tolerated as well.
Â
Marty Noble, “No Clear Answers, But Mets Seek Fixes”
So who can tell? The Mets believed they were a starter away after 2007 and added Santana. They thought they were a closer away after 2008 and signed Frankie Rodriguez. After an ’09 season in which they were passed by the Braves and Marlins and finished significantly closer to last place than first, they know they need more than a one-player fix. How it all can be accomplished doesn’t seem clear or particularly easy to do.
Mike Puma, “Met Mess Over; Coaches Doomed?”
The Mets, who finished 70-92 — fourth in the NL East — could announce as soon as today if changes to the coaching staff are forthcoming. Pitching coach Dan Warthen and third-base coach Razor Shines are the most vulnerable.
Steve Popper, “Carlos on Carlos”
“If they call me and ask me, I can say he prepares himself,” said Delgado’s friend, Carlos Beltran. “I’m not worried about this guy. He always comes to the ballpark; he’s going to prepare himself, take care of himself. He’s not going to fool around in the streets.
Joel Sherman, “Minaya Might Hire Fired GMs”
Omar Minaya reached out to Kevin Towers and J.P. Ricciardi over the weekend to express his support after the two were fired as general managers and also to lay the groundwork to speak to both soon about possible jobs in the Mets’ organization, The Post has learned.
Let’s Go Mets !
5 comments
wannybackstra
10/5/2009-11:05am at 11:05 am (UTC -4)
Stab in the neck right now because I finally agree with something Marty Noble has said.
CaseStreet
10/5/2009-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
Marty def gets my Must Read of the Day Vote!
Kernan may have something there. What do you guys think? Is the sense of entitlement and denial of their flaws, the Mets real problem?
Kingman 26
10/5/2009-11:18am at 11:18 am (UTC -4)
That article did strike home with me.
As I have expressed, I think everything until the NLCS was WAY too easy in 2006. No matter what happened, they coasted, and then swept in the first round, and the team has not been the same since.
I did not think this way until the end of last year. They DO seem to think that they are just a tinker or two away from being a title team.
Should Jerry be using the word championship? I mean, in the last 6–8 weeks, we have played atrociously, been swept repeatedly, and should have been, in my opinion, at least a little bit better than how we finished the year.
I guess next year will tell for sure. Seems to me that without at least making the postseason, this team gets totally blown up, including maybe even Johan for prospects.
mrbill
10/5/2009-11:35am at 11:35 am (UTC -4)
“The Mets’ (AND A LOT OF FANS)biggest problem is that they think they are better than they really are. They are not in touch with baseball reality”
Kingman 26
10/5/2009-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, I think a lot of us fans are very firmly in touch with baseball reality this morning!
LOL!