First off I would like to thank the New York Jets for making the last few weeks bearable. If it was not for their exciting run through the playoffs , I would have probably committed myself to the psychiatric ward at Bellvue Hospital. But as we all know now that the dust has cleared from Sunday nights loss, the Mets and the perceived futility of their off-season will once again be under a microscope. Have the Mets made some good move? Yes Jason Bay and Kelvim Escobar ( if he is healthy) should be able to improve this team by a moderate amount. But a moderate amount is not what is going to make this team be able to compete with the Philadelphia Phillies for the N.L East pennant this year. I am trying to be patient here but my memory still goes back to that day on the Mike Francesa Bloviator Show, in which Jeff Wilpon said that they would do everything that they could into making this squad into a championship caliber team again. Honestly so far I am not so enthusiastic. Yes no one could see the Beltran injury rearing it’s ugly head again – ummm sorry but that’s a lie! The general consensus of everyone but Omar, Wilpon, and the Mets training staff thought that Carlos should have gotten season ending surgery last August/ September – when it was obvious the team fell out of contention. But here we are six months later drinking bottles of Maloxx trying to ease our twisted stomachs and the Tylenol for our bruised egos while this team fails to sign or trade for the best available talent to improve this team. And every time I hear the company line that ” well our best players will be back and healthy” I have to cringe, because in my gut I feel that they have no clue or game plan in which to improve this team. Am I hoping that all goes well and this team can return to respectability ? The answer is a resounding yes . But alot of things have to go right in order for this team to become winners again. And I have to admit that I am shocked that the Mets front office at least in perception are sitting idly by waiting for a good deal to fall in thir lap. Speculation is it won’t be Ben Sheets. So if the middle of July comes and the Mets are a sub .500 team fighting for the distinction that is fourth place and Citi Field looks and feels more like a morgue than a ball park. Jeff, Fred take a good long look at yourselves in the mirror , for the onus is on you my friends.
Sorry had to vent.
                                                                                    
                                                                         “I am pulling my hair out this off season !!”
And now … ON WITH THE INFAMY !!!!
On this day :
New York Mets signed free agent utility infielder Kurt Abbott of the Colorado Rockies on January 26, 2000.
New York Mets traded middle reliever Jaime Cerda to the Kansas City Royals for minor league pitcher , Shawn Sedlacek on January 26, 2004.
New York Mets traded first base prospect, Ian Bladergroen to the Boston Red Sox for the man with the hardest name to spell in the big leagues - first baseman, Doug Mientkiewicz on January 26, 2005. Doug was all glove no bat and warmed the first base bag for a season until we acquired Carlos Delgado from the Florida Marlins.
New York Mets signed free agent pitcher, Jon Switzer of the Boston Red Sox on January 26, 2009.Switzer pitched in all only 4 games this past season to a E.R.A of 8.10. He was promptly demoted to the minors, never to be seen in a Mets uniform again.
And don’t forget while you are pondering the meaning of life in your office cubicle -there are just 69 more days until the Mets open the 2010 season against the Florida Marlins at Citi Field.
5 comments
darknova306
1/26/2010-6:16am at 6:16 am (UTC -4)
I hear ya, Rusty. It’s hard to follow the company line of ‘our guys will be healthy so things will get better’ when you never know when Reyes will take that one wrong step and tear something. Or when (insert the plethora of other injury worries). I know I’ll feel a whole lot better once I see these guys all play in an actual game so I at least know who’s gonna be healthy to begin the year.
I have a feeling that every step Reyes takes this season will be followed by a cringe from me. Please stay healthy, Jose.
metsfan4decades
1/26/2010-9:09am at 9:09 am (UTC -4)
Same here.
Since we’re all shell shocked with last years injuries, I’ll be holding my breath for a while into the season hoping we don’t start a repeat of last year.
stickguy
1/26/2010-7:52am at 7:52 am (UTC -4)
I said in an earlier thread that the “plan” this year (which some people claim doesn’t exist) might just be to let the farm have another year to mature, add 1 big bat through FA, and hope that the talent base on hand has a rebound/recovery year. Although they probably expected (and likely still do) to add another SP (at this point, a trade still seems likely).
and, given the weak FA class, and all the screaming about the Mets needing to build up the farm, I am fine with that approach. They do have some intriquing prospects finally, and it will be interesting to see if they can take that next step (which would be Queens by 2011 in many cases).
I also look at the off season as bigger than what trade or FAs came in, but also who left (frankly, nobody), and most importantly, who is coming back. So, I do look at the Mets as having added Reyes, Maine and Beltran for nothing (well, Beltran once he makes itback now!). So, add that haul to Bay, escobar and that Japanese dude, and heck yeah, they improved the talent level significantly.
The injury issues also put the FO and off season somewhat in Limbo. If the “calvary” all come back helathy and have big years, they will be fine. If they all go right back to the DL for the season, there wasn’t enough that could be done to make up for the loses. And it would have also really put a premium on keeping the higher level prospects.
I know Omar hasn’t shown an affinity for huge mid-season deals (but to be fair, in his tenure, they haven’t always been called for), but this year it is much more likely to happen. Why? Well, let me tell you!
I don’t think even the FO has a good feel for what they have, and what this team could do. So, they need a couple of months to settle in, and see if the are contendors, also rans, or somewhere in the middle. Then, they can use the payroll money saved and the prospects not traded to add the missing links (when they know what they actually are). Or if they fall out of the race early, you get another taste of the future!
trs86
1/26/2010-9:32am at 9:32 am (UTC -4)
I agree. I think Omar was quoted about how bad this FA class was. It really was putrid.
I think the Mets set out to get one of the best 3 FA and then wait and see what happens with the scrubs. If you could get one on your terms so be it. If not…
I think early on the identified Lackey as that best player, as evident with all the reports of our interest and possible offers. However, either Lackey did not want to play here or the Mets wisely did not want to go 5 years on a guy who has missed time each of the last 2 years. Next I think it was Holliday but when Boras and Holliday were playing games I think the Mets moved on and got Bay for what I think is a very Mets friendly deal.
We can gripe that they have to fixed the staff, I do it all the time, but fact is no one besides Lackey could fix the staff and they could not get him because of the reasons above. After that, who is the sure fix worth rushing for?
GravediggerHebner
1/26/2010-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
No one is the sure fix. I agree that Lackey was the closest thing to that, and I still maintain that despite his injury issues due to his high ceiling Ben Sheets is the closest thing that remains on the market. A team obviously flawed and in need of fixing should not eschew all opportunities at “close to the sure fix” just because they’re not “the sure.” Bringing in Sheets would show me they feel similarly about that concept as I do. Not bringing in Lackey or Sheets shows me they feel differently than I do.
Rusty as an example of what it’s like to be a Met fan, I can recall my distress when Jaime Cerda was traded.