Yeah – Long Island is going to get the bulk of the snowfall while us in the outer boroughs only get a light dusting of snow ! As much as I adore Linda Church , meteorologist for WPIX ( she is a MILF!! – sorry Prismo) she dropped the ball with this weekends forecast.Â
So far this current hot stove season for the mets has been well – lukewarm. With the exception of complementary players such as Cora and Blanco , there has been little activity on the Mets front, I have a foreboding feeling that our crosstown rivals – the New York Yankmees might come swooping in and sign Jason Bay right from under us , like they did with Mark Teixeira. And if this happens , I predict that many Mets fans will get their pitchforks and torches and head en mass to Citi Field and burn in down to its foundations, while Jeff Wilpon and Omar Minaya take turns playing King Nero , fiddling while Citi Field burns. But alas most of my predictions and premonitions never come to pass and hopefully Mr. Bay will be wearing a Mets Jersey by the end of the week.
                                                                       Â
                                                                     “Jeff , Omar let this not be your off season!”
Â
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With that said -Â HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!!!
Happy Birthday wishes go out the the current  face of our franchise - David Wright (1982) . May this year be a great year for you, and hopefully we see a return to your old form, Hopefully your belated present to yourself will be a World Series ring !!!
New York Mets traded Jim McAndrew to the San Diego Padres for minor leaguer Steve Simpson on December 20, 1973.
New York Metstraded Juan Samuel to the Los Angeles Dodgers for utility man Mike Marshall and reliever Alejandro Pena  on December 20, 1989. This was the Mets brass’ way of rectifying trading for Samuel in the first place, Marshall didn’t distinguish himself at all while Pena was solid in the bullpen.
Relief pitcher Jeff Musselman granted free agency on December 20, 1990.
New York Mets signed free agent Jeff McKnight of the Baltimore Orioles on December 20, 1991.
New York Metssigned free agent second baseman Willie Randolph of the Milwaukee Brewers on December 20, 1991. Willie had a decent season for the Mets , and as we all know he was the much maligned manager for us after his playing career was over.
New York Mets traded pitcher  Robert Person to the Toronto Blue Jays for first base hitting machine  John Olerud on December 20, 1996. This was possibly the biggest steal of Steve ” Douche Bag” Phillips career.
The Baltimore Orioles re-signed short stop Mike Bordick of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 20, 2000. The Mets acquired him for a young Melvin Mora after Rey Ordonez went down with a broken leg. He homered in his first at bat with the Mets , but he didn’t distinguish himself after that . If my memory serves me right, he commited a couple of costly errors during the 2000 World Series against the Yankees.
New York Mets signed free agent outfielder  Cliff ” Uncle” Floyd of the Boston Red Sox on December 20, 2002. In my opinion he was one of the leaders of that ’06 NLDS championship team.
The Atlanta Braves signed back up catcher , Joe DePastino of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 20, 2003.
 The St Louis Cardinals   signed first baseman  Brian Daubach of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 20, 2005.
Atlanta Braves signed utilityman Chris Woodward of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 20, 2006.
The Milwaukee Brewers signed outfielder/ first baseman Trot Nixon on this date in 2007 .
And don’t forget – There are just 106 daysuntil the Mets open the 2010 season against the Florida Marlins at Citi Field.
68 comments
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-12:53pm at 12:53 pm (UTC -4)
A lot has been made about the satisfaction or dissatisfaction and the plan or lack thereof that Minaya seems to have.
To an extent I find it interesting how defensive people get at expressions of being dissatisfied with Omar at the current point of the off season.
I think if another move was never made this team is close to contending but a lot of question marks need to be answered 1st.
1st base – Can Murphy grow at that position?
Shortstop – Can Reyes come back for a full year and be his old self or better?
Catcher – Who will catch and will they be better than last years bunch?
LeftField – Can we improve on the .276 12hr 76rbi we got from a combined 9 players last season?
RightField – can Frenchy provide over a full season what he provided down the stretch last year?
Starting Pitching – After surgery will Santana come back to be the Ace everyone expects him to be? Will someone step up to be a legitimate #2 behind Santana?
Manager – Can Jerry lead this team to the postseason or will he just get in the way?
GM – Can Omar pull the trigger at the trading deadline and get what this team may need to get them over the hump and into the post season?
Now the whole point of the off season is to eliminate as many of the question marks as possible and acquire players that will increase the chances of the 2010 Mets at reaching the post season as much as possible. All the while knowing no team can ever eliminate all question marks.
Has Minaya done that thus far? My opinion is no.
Can Minaya do something to change that opinion? Yes
Do I think he can? My opinion is no.
I remember last winter after Minaya got Krod and Putz and signed Ollie people said he did a good job. My contention at the time was why did he fail to get a power bat especially when power bats were available?
At that time there was also many question marks like which Delgado were we going to see in 2009? The 1st or 2nd half Delgado of 2008?
Also mentioned was what to expect from Church and Shneider, Can Murphy be an everyday LF, will Ollie pitch good now that he has Financial security, will 2008 be Pelfrey’s year to shine? There may have been more but those were prob the biggest ones.
This winter we still need a LF the same questions still apply to Pelfrey and Ollie and you can add the wait and see on Santana’s full recovery from surgery. Murphy question still applies just at another position.
Now Minaya may sign Bay but until he addresses the starting rotation situation I reserve judgment on him. The easiest way to remedy the starting rotation which was signing Lackey and that has come and gone so we move to plan B which was trying to get Halladay that has failed so now we are on to plan C which is what exactly? I don’t know. Maybe it is Piniero and Arroyo that would be nice but who is to say if Minaya can pull it off. Maybe it is Chapman or maybe it is Sheets and Marquis.
The Mets sense of urgency to address these scenarios gives me great concern. I am admittedly disappointed thus far this off season and just hope Minaya has the last laugh when all is said and done. Nothing would make me happier.
Kingman 26
12/20/2009-1:04pm at 1:04 pm (UTC -4)
Nice post…sorry for the exchanges yesterday, but I was only quibbling with the idea that Omar “doesn’t know what he is doing.”
Yes, I guess I get defensive, having lived through so many rotten Met years since the mid-70s, as Omar has given the Met fan a lot.
The Mets were largely a wreck when Omar took over, and he made us contenders practically overnight, brought many big stars here via trade and free agency, and also signed Jose and DRod to extensions which were great ideas and very affordable, and Omar gets far too little credit for this I believe.
Let’s hope we both are happy come spring.
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-1:23pm at 1:23 pm (UTC -4)
It’s ok King other than the los mets thing I am cool with everything else.
We don’t have to agree just have to respect the fact that we have different opinions and I for one am just fine with that idea. I historically find my opinions are not part of the main stream. It’s no big deal other than the curiosity at how quickly some try to prove why my opinion must be flawed.
trs86
12/20/2009-1:29pm at 1:29 pm (UTC -4)
That’s what we do on blogs NJ. Otherwise we would just have a straight comment section like what MC switched to last year. It’s not that we think you should not have your opinion, we are just challenging you on it the same way that our opinions get challenged. That is what makes this site great.
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-1:45pm at 1:45 pm (UTC -4)
I never said you can’t challenge it and I welcome it but once I have explained to you my opinion and we have expressed our differing points of view you have to get to a point where you move on.
I can’t help it if you fail to comprehend my point of view nor do I expect you to. It would be nice sure but you have to move on at some point and you have yet to do so.
trs86
12/20/2009-2:02pm at 2:02 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, when you come back with that same view point in every post that everyone questions you have to expect it.
If you want to come on and trash Omar for things that he has not done yet then don’t you think that others no matter if they understand your point of view will call you on it?
Do you honestly think that after this discussion in the very next post I praised Omar for his patience you would not be right there to call me on it?
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-2:27pm at 2:27 pm (UTC -4)
TRS I expect others may wish to that have yet to do so but not you and Kingman for example you already know where I stand and why and you don’t agree and that is fine.
But you can’t let go.
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-2:38pm at 2:38 pm (UTC -4)
Do you have any idea how many times you and many others have made posts that I don’t agree with?
Yet you don’t see me constantly asking to keep explaining your same viewpoints over and over again.
I asked you recently once why did you debate endlessly a trade scenario that you believed it wasn’t realistic.
You gave me your reply I didn’t agree with it but you know we hardly ever do and yet do you find I constantly am asking to explain your opinions?
I think not because I know what they are and don’t need it explained but maybe someone else doesnt and they may ask and that is just fine by you I pretty much believe.
trs86
12/20/2009-2:45pm at 2:45 pm (UTC -4)
Again, if I came on the next post and spoke about how I thought Omar was doing a great job of being patient. Are you saying, even though you know my position, that you would not challenge me on that?
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-2:50pm at 2:50 pm (UTC -4)
Yes Trs I have already done so in the past when you have expressed your satisfaction at not overpaying for Lackey or not trading for a player if it required a b c minor leaguer to do so.
trs86
12/20/2009-2:59pm at 2:59 pm (UTC -4)
I can’t think of any player that I have said don’t go get for a B, C minor leaguer.
Like I said, if I make a post supporting Omar I expect others to challenge me over and over again. If I were to make a post supporting Jerry all hell would break loose for days.
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-3:05pm at 3:05 pm (UTC -4)
I wouldn’t ask a question that while I may not agree I already know the answer to.
Unless I wanted to mess with the person which I have been known to do.
You simply view things differently.
trs86
12/20/2009-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
I guess so or I am too tired not to. Have a good day.
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-3:09pm at 3:09 pm (UTC -4)
trs86
12/20/2009-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
“Can Minaya do something to change that opinion? Yes
Do I think he can? My opinion is no.”
And I am the one confused?
“Now Minaya may sign Bay but until he addresses the starting rotation situation I reserve judgment on him.”
Does not seem like you have reserved anything.
I also find it funny that not knowing what it would take at all you have proclaimed that signing Lackey would have been easy.
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
I understand your confused and I am sorry you are.
I wish I could help but it is obvious I can’t.
trs86
12/20/2009-1:26pm at 1:26 pm (UTC -4)
“Can Minaya do something to change that opinion? Yes
Do I think he can? My opinion is no.â€
You said he could then said he could not.
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-1:40pm at 1:40 pm (UTC -4)
LoL you really are having trouble letting go aren’t you?
stickguy
12/20/2009-1:00pm at 1:00 pm (UTC -4)
Rusty, if you want to look at the flip side (glass half full?) to your Yankees signing bay scenerio, doesn’t that take another major (deep pocket) player out of the Holliday sweepstakes? Hence making it that much more likely that the Mets end up with him instead, for a way less than Teix contract?
I personally think that the Ynaks swoop in and grab Holliday instead. Just seems to be more their type of player.
And NJ, of all your points, I wil lcontinue to vote NO on Jerry being the man for the job.
I do disagree with their sense of urgency. You can’t force the market. If you want things to happen too fast, you end up aking dumb moves (palanco and Figgins for 4 years at pretty serious $$s? Really?).
Those are the types of singings that happen quick. IMO, to an extent, Lackey was the same kind of deal (beter player, but still a top of the market contract).
Forget Halladay. Don’t see the Mets in that one.
So, relaly all you can base the feeling on is what the press (with a seemingly strong anti-mets bias) reports. And Omar traditionally keeps his cards close to the vest, so we really have no idea how hard he is working behind the scenese to get deals done.
Kingman 26
12/20/2009-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
I vote NO on Jerry at every chance, and should we miss out on Holliday and Bay, I really, really like your idea for how to handle 2010. Very creative, and could result in positive surprises.
And next year’s FA class is indeed SO much better than this year’s.
trs86
12/20/2009-1:07pm at 1:07 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed about the antiMets press. They see a fanbase that will react to everything because they are desperate and they just keep pushing it out.
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-1:08pm at 1:08 pm (UTC -4)
I am basing it on results so far and for a GM that said he was going to be aggressive this off season I am sadly disappointed thus far. Again that can change within 24hrs but until it does I am dissatisfied.
jaydh
12/20/2009-1:12pm at 1:12 pm (UTC -4)
Just because nothing has materilized doesnt mean he isn’t being aggressive
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-1:16pm at 1:16 pm (UTC -4)
-sigh
I don’t share your opinion but that is ok we can just agree to disagree.
jaydh
12/20/2009-1:19pm at 1:19 pm (UTC -4)
like most met fans these days, i dont like omar…but what moves have happened that you are saying, why couldnt omar have done that?
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-1:38pm at 1:38 pm (UTC -4)
It is the fact that he has yet to accomplish any move at all that bothers me. The fact that he could not sign the one player that would not require draft picks or a trade that would immediately improve the rotation. All the while teams around him are doing what they can to improve ie: Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, and Seattle.
Again in 24 hours all this may be moot but until it is I am dissatisfied.
jaydh
12/20/2009-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
So basically you want omar to overpay. i get it now.
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-1:53pm at 1:53 pm (UTC -4)
OMG, I give up.
jaydh
12/20/2009-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
you just have no patience, thats all this comes down too. what, overpay molina for 3 yrs? give lackey more than $82.5mil over 5 yrs? thats basically what you are saying omar should have done by now just to satisfy you.
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-2:00pm at 2:00 pm (UTC -4)
OK Jay, I see this is going nowhere.
I just have no patience. That is what it is.
jaydh
12/20/2009-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
All you give is generalizations and can’t name anyone, so how do you think you come off?
Kingman 26
12/20/2009-2:03pm at 2:03 pm (UTC -4)
Mr North, we have been here and at Metsblog together a long time, and I really do not want to offend you, but your argument is–at BEST– very poorly timed.
The offseason has months to go, and there are loads of good players still available via free agency and trade.
if you say on Dec 20 that Omar doesn’t know what he is doing and is not being aggressive (this point neither you nor I have the slightest idea about) you are, most likely, going to be aggressively challenged.
Sorry pal, that’s life on a site like this.
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-2:04pm at 2:04 pm (UTC -4)
Again Jay I see this is going nowhere.
Let’s just agree to disagree it is clear You to are now being consumed by my views and opinions.
jaydh
12/20/2009-2:07pm at 2:07 pm (UTC -4)
agree to disagree about what? i’m just trying to understand what you think you are talking about. this is the conversation.
NJ:oh its over, omar hasn’t dont anything yet.
J:what moves have been accomplished that omar should have done by now?
NJ:i dont know.
J:ok, good point.
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-2:20pm at 2:20 pm (UTC -4)
King,
I understand my opinion is not a popular one.
I understand my opinion will be challenged.
I don’t expect agreement with my opinion nor do I seek it.
I am also not offended if people don’t agree.
I simply seek to express it.
I have tried to explain my reasoning only because I been asked to over and over again.
I think it is safe to say that we must agree to disagree when it comes to my opinion.
I am perfectly content with that.
My opinions for the most part only confuse those that attempt to understand and once again I am sorry for that.
trs86
12/20/2009-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
Who is the one one player that would not require draft picks?
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
My bad when I used draft picks I meant to say that we could of signed a player that by doing so would not have required the trading away of draft picks (Holt, Davis, etc, etc) to get a comparable player had we not signed him.
jaydh
12/20/2009-1:59pm at 1:59 pm (UTC -4)
name names, if you can.
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-2:00pm at 2:00 pm (UTC -4)
???
Kingman 26
12/20/2009-1:21pm at 1:21 pm (UTC -4)
Jay, I totally agree.
No matter what the armchair experts demand, you don’t overplay your hand in public, so for all we know Omar could be burning up the phone and email and text lines to Bay, Molina, other FAs, Cinn about Arroyo/Harang, etc.
trs86
12/20/2009-1:29pm at 1:29 pm (UTC -4)
But… but the media said that no one wants to come here and Omar is not trying….
Kingman 26
12/20/2009-1:49pm at 1:49 pm (UTC -4)
LOL! You know how much I revere Heyman, Olney, and Klapisch….
trs86
12/20/2009-1:24pm at 1:24 pm (UTC -4)
Actually he has been aggressive he has made the highest offer to Jason Bay and was in on Lackey and has let Holliday know that he is interested as well.
Where we differ is thinking that any of these guys are worth vastly overpaying for.
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-1:39pm at 1:39 pm (UTC -4)
-sigh
trs86
12/20/2009-1:42pm at 1:42 pm (UTC -4)
He is on my basketball team, not very good but he tries hard. Now what does he have to do with it?
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-1:12pm at 1:12 pm (UTC -4)
Mind you I also vote no on Jerry but he was a Minaya decision so if he fails Minaya fails also and nothing less than the firing of both Jerry and Minaya will satisfy me.
trs86
12/20/2009-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
You won’t find that much overall Omar support for me. He did a great job getting us to competitive but has not pushed us over the edge. If we struggle this year I will be right there pushing the cart with him, Jerry, Hojo, Razor and Super Dan all over the silent ledge.
trs86
12/20/2009-3:11pm at 3:11 pm (UTC -4)
Interesting facts from MLBTR comment section.
Free Agent Spending (Past 3 Offseasons):
2006-07
12 Contracts of $40+ million
$1,594,345,000 Spent by teams other than the Yankees
$61,250,000 Spent by the Yankees
$1,655,595,000 Total
2007-08
7 Contracts of $40+ million
$670,650,000 Spent by teams other than the Yankees
$396,150,000 Spent by the Yankees
$1,066,800,000 Total
2008-09
5 Contracts of $40+ million
$543,932,500 Spent by teams other than the Yankees
$441,000,000 Spent by the Yankees
$984,932,500 Total
This 2009-2010 offseason will mark the third consecutive year of contraction in spending. The proverbial golden goose has been cooked. Whether it was killed by a greedy player’s union, foolish owners who caved to outrageous demands or fans whose lack of perspective drove them to buy an increasingly overpriced product is subject to debate. One thing is for sure though. We have yet to reach bottom.
Kingman 26
12/20/2009-3:34pm at 3:34 pm (UTC -4)
And these numbers so perfectly show exactly what I said last night.
The 2009 Yankee title is a title in spending, not a title in baseball excellence.
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-3:35pm at 3:35 pm (UTC -4)
Tell that to the Yankee fan and see if they savor it any less.
Kingman 26
12/20/2009-4:03pm at 4:03 pm (UTC -4)
It is still true regardless.
The Yankees cannot make the postseason without being the top spending team and they cannot win the title without outspending the number two spender by 50%.
I never ever want the Mets to be like that.
The 86 Mets were like the 7th or 8th highest spending team.
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-4:18pm at 4:18 pm (UTC -4)
It may be true but Yankee fans can care less.
They won plain and simple and to the victor goes the spoils.
History won’t put an asterisk because they spend more money than everyone else to do so.
It’s not like they cheated they won by the rules.
Anything else is sour grapes.
I’d rather win like we did in 86 also but if the Mets spent 100 million more than the next team and we won the W.S. I wouldn’t enjoy that win any less than if they won it with the lowest payroll in baseball.
But that’s just me to each his own of course.
Kingman 26
12/20/2009-4:30pm at 4:30 pm (UTC -4)
I would enjoy it less.
It is most definitely not sour grapes.
And again, they win by outspending, not by outscouting or outtrading or outplaying.
They could not compete with the Phils if they spent an equal amount.
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-4:39pm at 4:39 pm (UTC -4)
OK, your opinion has been noted.
Kingman 26
12/20/2009-4:44pm at 4:44 pm (UTC -4)
As has yours!
Now we can both move on!
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-4:46pm at 4:46 pm (UTC -4)
Nice.
trs86
12/20/2009-3:17pm at 3:17 pm (UTC -4)
Lets see if we agree with this one:
Mets should overpay for Chapman.
Looks as though the Marlins and Redsox have both offered in the neighborhood of 5 years 13/15 million. Chapman is a young fireballer that would instantly transform the Mets minor leagues. Offer him 6 years 24 million and give Buffalo something to cheer for for a few months.
Mr North Jersey
12/20/2009-3:21pm at 3:21 pm (UTC -4)
I am of the opinion that if you are going to overpay for an unproven player you do so for players that have a high ceiling and Chapman fits that description to me.
rustyjr
12/20/2009-3:22pm at 3:22 pm (UTC -4)
marlins allegedly offered him a 4 year contract – thats insane for a unproven comodity
jaydh
12/20/2009-3:25pm at 3:25 pm (UTC -4)
when pelfrey signed, he got a 3.5mil signing bonus plus a 4yr 5.3mil guarenteed contract. chapman has a much higher ceiling and a lot more talent.
rustyjr
12/20/2009-3:27pm at 3:27 pm (UTC -4)
forgot about that
Kingman 26
12/20/2009-3:36pm at 3:36 pm (UTC -4)
Pelf was hugely successful at a major college program.
That counts for a lot today.
And Pelf has loads of talent and throws in the mid-90s; he just has not harnessed the talent, except for that great stretch in 2008.
rustyjr
12/20/2009-3:39pm at 3:39 pm (UTC -4)
so true – i just woner if the mets are going to let neise and that spanish chap who pitched well for us before getting hurt vie for the 4th or fith spot in the rotation
trs86
12/20/2009-3:29pm at 3:29 pm (UTC -4)
It is but you also have to understand what it immediately does for your team. How much would you pay for the #1 pick in the draft? To me if you are the Mets this is where you should be throwing your money around. This immediately allows you back into the Padres discussion or other trades because now guys like Mejia and Holt are much more available.
jaydh
12/20/2009-3:22pm at 3:22 pm (UTC -4)
I definately would.
rustyjr
12/20/2009-3:22pm at 3:22 pm (UTC -4)
well at least we dont have Aaron HEilman any more lol look I admit I am impatient – but I wont kill this team until opening day if the roster hasnt improved greatly – remember jeff said” championship caliber team” if they then go into this season with a bunch of question marks in the rotation , angel pagan in lf daniel murphy and nick evans/ chris carter in the 1b platoon and omir santos and henry blanco behind the dish, and the mets use the excuse that haveing all the players coming back healthy is like signing talented free agents – then and only then will i call bull sh&t on this organization
trs86
12/20/2009-3:29pm at 3:29 pm (UTC -4)
we all will.
rustyjr
12/20/2009-3:38pm at 3:38 pm (UTC -4)
but i dont find it unfair to critisize this organization either – they have to change their perception that they are a day late and a dollar short with their approach