In an article for Comcast Chicago, JJ Putz reveals “the truth” about his Mets endeavor. (hat tip to Andrew Marchand for the link)
“It was a mess from the beginning” said JJ, who doesn’t appear to have any hatred toward the organization. It sounds to me like he’s just trying to be honest, which may be what this organization needs as a catalyst for change.
“When the trade went down last year, I never really had a physical with the Mets. I had the bone spur (in the right elbow). It was discovered the previous year in Seattle, and it never got checked out by any other doctors until I got to spring training” Putz claims. This is pretty damning – he has no reason to lie about this. He’s not filing a grievance against the team from what I can tell, and he already has a contract with a new club.
Why wouldn’t the Mets have given him a physical? I can’t think of one explanation aside from complete and utter negligence. Making matters even worse, we know that the Wilpons decided to stick with last year’s medical staff including everyone’s favorite guy, Ray Ramirez. I hate to put this out there, but could the Mets have not given him a physical because they were so eager to please the fans, all that mattered was getting the player? It disgusts me to even consider this possibility, but I don’t see how we can’t. The alternative notion of not giving a player a physical who you know has a bone spur is beyond moronic.
“I knew that I wasn’t right. I wasn’t healthy. The toughest part was having to face the media and tell them that you feel fine, even though you know there’s something wrong and they don’t want you telling them that you’re banged up.” Ah, there’s the evil intent from the organization that I was looking for.
I don’t even know what to think of this all. Completely disgraceful. As much as I try and stay positive about this team, crud like this always gets in the way. The Wilpons need to respond to this and clear their family name, or there will be a lot of heat to take in Flushing.
UPDATE: Mets released the following statement: “In our review of the player’s medical records in the acquisition of J.J. Putz, we were aware that he had a bone spur before the trade. He had the same condition in 2008 and was able to pitch with it. J.J. underwent an exam during Spring Training and an additional exam and MRI before he was cleared to play in last year’s World Baseball Classic. Unfortunately the spur did flare up again in May, and he missed the rest of the season. We are happy to hear he is feeling well, and wish him success with the White Sox.â€
236 comments
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-11:25am at 11:25 am (UTC -4)
I’m with you, I don’t even know what to say. Other than I’m not all that surprised.
What’s probably even more sad is all the stories that will eventually come out concerning that 2009 team from other players – when they’re no longer attached to this organization. That’s the one thing I don’t understand in this whole thing. You can’t keep covering up issues – it ALWAYS comes back to bite you. You see it from politics to sports to heck, the local school board.
Didn’t any of these geniuses ever read the definition of insanity? It’s doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result….
fongy2
2/1/2010-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
Thank You!
I watched game 6 ’86 and game 7 ’06 over the weekend….
talk about euphoria and heartbreak!!!
But I also thought, jeez ’86 is so long ago….I’d settle
for ’06 right now.
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
I saw those games too – and watch the MLB ’86 season special earlier this morning. I thought that very same thing – ’86 was so long ago and 2006 is starting to feel like a distant memory….
fongy2
2/1/2010-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
Indeed!
njstuckintx
2/1/2010-11:26am at 11:26 am (UTC -4)
I very much want this team to act all “growed up” and to become respectable again. But it seems to happen without fail that this type of stuff comes up. Consistently. Automatic even. Heavens to Mercatroid.
What’s done is done. No tears over spilt milk. At some point, though, you have to think someone is going think “so, we’ve spilled the milk, yet again. Might be a good idea to figure out how this keeps happening…”
prismo
2/1/2010-11:29am at 11:29 am (UTC -4)
If it’s a one time thing, I agree – don’t cry over spilled milk. But when there’s a pattern, and the problem doesn’t seem to be addressed, that’s when you SHOULD cry over spilled milk and changes should be demanded.
fongy2
2/1/2010-11:31am at 11:31 am (UTC -4)
The logical move for The Wilpon’s in October would have been
just to clean house. New GM, new Mgr, new Coaches, new training
staff etc..I have always defended Fred Wilpon BUT this really
screams “I don’t care as long as we’re turning a profit”.
GravediggerHebner
2/1/2010-11:35am at 11:35 am (UTC -4)
It would be logical from almost any perspective except theirs IMO because they are part of the problem.
GravediggerHebner
2/1/2010-11:34am at 11:34 am (UTC -4)
Every time I find some reason to think that in some instance the Mets FO has done the right thing (the latest being the character of the guys brought in this off season), it doesn’t take very long for something to come up which shows them doing the wrong thing (this Putz no physical thing). The at best ‘yo-yo’ nature of their activities is frustrating.
I’m just so sick and tired of the front office and ownership of this team.
For the foreseeable future I am going to just focus solely on the players, because I just can’t stand to look at/think about the ownership and management anymore. They make me feel physically ill with their continued ineptitude and as MF4D noted above, their insanity.
njstuckintx
2/1/2010-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
It’s the same attitude down here in TX about the ownership. At least the Astros look like they are for sale. No dice with the Wilpons…
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-11:39am at 11:39 am (UTC -4)
I swear, I’m really starting to hate this team.
Not the players or the Mets franchise, but the idiots running it and disgracing it’s name.
Of course, the Mets will say there was no need for a physical because they reviewed his records.
Still, why tell the guy not to say anything.
Man, the Mariners really did great with this trade. They acquired Gutierrez who just got a contract extension, Vargas who started 14 games for them, Mike Carp who hit .878 in 65 PA and .818 in 490 PA in AAA, Endy Chavez who was playing good until he got injured, and Maikel Cleto and outfielder Ezequiel Carrera. All this for a guy who was very likely to be out for the season.
Man, there’s a new King in Seattle and his name is Jack Z.
fongy2
2/1/2010-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
Good post Case! BUT you know its only a matter of time
before a few of the blind Omar defenders come back at you
with “whats he won,etc,etc????
GravediggerHebner
2/1/2010-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
Your first two sentences sum it up for me.
I need to just wrap myself in a Mets-front-office-and-ownership-free hibernation cocoon for the next 17 days. Someone wake me when pitchers and catchers report.
njstuckintx
2/1/2010-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
I think the Mets front office would like a cocoon as well, minus Steve G. and the old people.
17 days can’t come soon enough.
stickguy
2/1/2010-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
well, we did get shawn green too, didn’t we?
OK, sorry, that wasn’t really funny…
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
No, we got SEAN Green, which makes is even less funny…..
fongy2
2/1/2010-11:56am at 11:56 am (UTC -4)
And Jeremy Reed!!!!
Yeah, he was good when he finally got a chance b/c of all the injuries!
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-11:43am at 11:43 am (UTC -4)
This is revolting, and let us not forget the possibility that the same doctors/trainers who so questionably handled everything else last year may very well have done the cursory exam JJ mentions then cleared him….or maybe they cleared him without even a cursory exam.
This lies entirely on the medical/training staff, which many of us were calling for an overhaul of last year.
I cannot blame Omar for this—he has a million things to do, but I can blame him for not revamping the medical staff after 2009 though.
I also am afraid that this episode might shine further light on the Beltran situation, and the utterly ridiculous and seemingly unique situations with Delgado and Reyes last year, when we never really received honest info about their progress towards returning.
THIS is an issue that the Positivos and the Nabobs clearly can agree on.
fongy2
2/1/2010-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
C’mon Brock….Omar was in charge!
So, he’d have gotten credit if Putz worked out and last season was a success in any way BUT doesn’t get blame
for making the deal when the first thing given Putz’ ’07
history should have been…Lets make sure the guys healthy????
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
“I cannot blame Omar for this—he has a million things to do, but I can blame him for not revamping the medical staff after 2009 though.”
You know Omar made the decision not to have Putz examined and put a gag order on him.
I think we also need to learn who actually did the cursory exam. Was it the Mets medical people on the team or the doctors at the Hospital for Special Surgery.
Sherman made a good point in his article today. The Hospital also services the Giants, Knicks and Nets, yet they don’t have the injury issues the Mets do.
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
Actually Case, as I follow the Nets much more than the others you mention, the Nets HAVE had lots and lots of nagging injury issues the last couple of years…..
stickguy
2/1/2010-12:09pm at 12:09 pm (UTC -4)
mostly recurring cases of “theysuckitis” though. Must be something in the swamp water.
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
I stand corrected
wannybackstra
2/1/2010-1:30pm at 1:30 pm (UTC -4)
The doctors can’t look at anyone until the player or the team present to the doctors.
This one is on Omar.
fongy2
2/1/2010-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
My final word on this is that, THIS further confirms (to me)
why I just don’t want Omar/The FO to do anything else BUT
sign a couple more Fogg/Catalanotto types to Minor League deals.
No trading our youngsters/prospects,some I like,some I don’t
for anyone.
I’d rather just see this group try and get/stay healthy and go
out there for the first half the season and see if we’re better
than the .500/4th place team they look to be on paper.
If God forbid Beltan doesn’t come back a few weeks into the season or if Johan isn’t right or suffers a set back or we
lose Reyes again for any time, we won’t even be that good and
the noise will be so loud that The Wilpons will have to let Omar
go no matter how much the love him.
Then we can move onto the next phase in Mets history.
stickguy
2/1/2010-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
i agree with your general concept, but cutting slappy for a 1 year replacement I can still support! Omar created that mess, let him fix it.
not to get too political here, but it is almost like when congress and the white house are devided. Nothing actually gets done, but it is usually a positive time for the country, since sometimes, doing nothing is better than doing something wrong!
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
Fong—Letting Omar go is not going to fix the mysterious and horrible medical/training staffs.
Jeff Wilpon must do something, right? Fred, maybe he is aware of this? I mean, it is fun and easy to blame Omar for everything, but Omar cannot be there to make sure the trash barrels are emptied and the lights are turned off—Met management has more than one employee.
I am pretty much crushed by reading this story, which I suspected from last February, as JJ never once threw with the speed or movement he had with the Mariners.
Yeah, Omar should have taken the bull by the horns, but for all we know he may have tried to and been overruled.
This one HAS to be laid at the feet of the Wilpons.
After this story, on top of the Beltran fiasco, if nothing is done by ownership to revamp the medical staff, then the Wilpons are far, far more out of touch than I ever could have imagined.
fongy2
2/1/2010-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
i pretty much agree BUT lets not revise history.
Omar didn’t lose any of his power until DURING last season. Was it not him who made this deal???
Again, wouldn’t your first thought when even considering this deal “lets make sure this guys healthy give his missing a third of ’07″?????
stickguy
2/1/2010-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
I will sign on for nabobism about the FO. And of courwse if you are getting potential damaged goods, you go the extra mile of a physical. But, he may have passed anyway (being one of those injuries you can try to pitch through), but even so, you gotta do it.
But, I am not sure if I (or others) are interpreting this statement wrong: ‘I knew that I wasn’t right. I wasn’t healthy. The toughest part was having to face the media and tell them that you feel fine, even though you know there’s something wrong and they don’t want you telling them that you’re banged up.â€
I think the them referred to is the media. So, it seems like Putz was being a macho man, and trying to suck it up and pitch through the pain. Is there any specific quote that says he went to the team and said he was hurt, and they told him TS, lie about it, and go pitch?
SOmetimes you do have to blame the players for not fessing up about being hurt. But with the Mets, it is entirely possible that they knew it was a risk, but once they were stuck, they wanted to get something for their 1 year pay.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
He said they knew he had a bone spur and that he had an injection for the bone spur last year.
On top of that his velocity was down. what else do you need?
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-12:02pm at 12:02 pm (UTC -4)
right before that statement, the writer says:
“Especially when the Mets told Putz not to talk about being hurt with the media.”
stickguy
2/1/2010-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
Well, if I had read that part, I would have known..
But I do think it is common for all teams to tell players that, right?
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
For me it’s not that he was told not to tell reporters. All teams tell players not to discuss things with the media all of the time. It’s that the Mets chose to ignore his complaints of discomfort and told him to pitch through it.
It’s like they didn’t have the players best interest at heart. Rather because they didn’t have a huge investment in him long term they rather have him pitch through it and get what they could than losing him for the season and get nothing at all from him.
It makes all the rumblings about Beltran and how mad he was at how the team dealt with him last season to be more fact than fiction. It also makes you wonder if the Mets wanting a 3rd opinion before Beltran had his surgery merely an attempt to convince him to hold off and play through the injury.
stickguy
2/1/2010-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
I still am fuzzy on why in Bletrans case, they would want to, since all of the medical opinions were that it wasn’t getting better, and the liklihood of him playing through it were slim? COnsidering he is here for 2 more years past this one, what incentive is there for the Mets to make him a total cripple, or wait until ST to finally bite the bullet?
Maybe I am looking for logic in a place it won’t be found (the met FO)?
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
I couldn’t agree more with your comments concerning Beltran. I made a similar statement on the last thread when this story broke:
If it is true, it’s a no wonder Beltran took matters into his own hands this winter and had that surgery.
I’ll never forget Omar in the SNY booth during one game being interviewed, trying to do some damage control. He actually made things worse by saying, ‘we believe in our doctors (etc.) but we have to weigh the medical advice against having one of our core players on the DL for an extended period of time’.
Putz must be telling the truth b/c I heard the same mindset straight from the horse’s mouth last summer.
********************************
I thought that comment out of Omar that night in the booth was a really incredibly stupid thing to admit to the masses, even if it was their mindset. And I cannot help thinking Beltran probably thought this winter enough is enough. Gonna have the surgery now instead of this wait and see attitude so he can be back relatively early and healthy enough to help this club.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
Here’s a little something from the article.
“They wanted to do a physical right away,†said Putz. “They took an MRI. The elbow looked clean.â€
Which was exactly what Sox GM Kenny Williams wanted to see.
“When our doctors finally got their hands on him, he passed his physical with flying colors,†said Williams after the signing. “We couldn’t be happier with what was communicated to us by our doctors.â€
“We couldn’t be happier with what was communicated to us by our doctors.†Communicated, something that is lacking lately in Queens.
prismo
2/1/2010-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
Com…commu…communiii
I’m sorry, what word is that? I can’t seem to recall it’s meaning.
stickguy
2/1/2010-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
I have an honest request for a post from one of you fine authors.
Can someone actually describe or diagram the “met medical staff” and/or how it works?
I know they have the HSS, which has some of the best docs in the country, who I am sure are perfectly capable of evaluating and diagnosing normal injuries like bone spurs, tears, etc.
And you got Ray Ramirez (who I always forget and call Romano), the trainer, but isn’t the trainer just supposed to do the daily prep and oversee rehab programs (make sure they stretch, ice them up, that kind of stuff)?
Somewhere in the middle is the mythical “met medical staff” that is making decisions (taking input from the docs, telling Ray what to do, deciding when to send a guy for cutting). But, is there actually a medical person involved, or is this just Omar or one of the other FO minions (Jeffy?) making decisions where they are totally unqualified?
Hard to blame the docs if the FO is overriding their recommendations, and Ray is gotta just be doing what he is told.
at this point, if I represented the HSS, I would quite the Mets, since they keep getting made look like fools (rightly or wrongly) in all these stroies!
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
Isn’t the Mets personal doctor, Dr. Alcheck (not sure of the spelling)?
So he would be the expert voice of opinion between the HSS tests/doctors, giving his take to the Mets FO? Also giving his treatment guidelines to the trainers, etc.?
stickguy
2/1/2010-12:37pm at 12:37 pm (UTC -4)
But isn’t he one of the doctors at that hospital? Or is he more of a on-site team doctor, who I guess would be the interface with the mother ship?
Bottom line, docs can recommend all they want, but the FO has to be making the decision.
GravediggerHebner
2/1/2010-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
Stick, it’s not even clear that the Mets know the order of operations of their medical situation, how should we?
It would be a fantastic article that would probably give us our most views ever because it would undoubtedly be an exclusive. I just don’t think any of us have that type of access.
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-12:09pm at 12:09 pm (UTC -4)
oh, you have to watch the video:
re: biggest lesson:
“That it’s my career, and when you know something doesn’t feel right, and they want to take these little sidesteps to do something, and just wait and wait and wait, you got to get it taken care of instead of trying to prolong the inevitable.â€
I have a few choice words for the Mets F.O., any guesses on which ones?
GravediggerHebner
2/1/2010-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
As a fan of many sports, the first two weeks of February have always been the worst time of the year for me unless my favorite team is in the Super Bowl. Baseball is essentially packing trucks for trips to spring training, pro hockey and basketball are coasting rather meaninglessly toward their All-Star games, the college basketball conference tournaments are a ways off, the Winter Olympics only come once every four years and not for 10 days or so yet, I even enjoy Nascar and the Daytona 500 is still a couple weeks off, about the only thing I have to look forward to over the next two weeks is tonight’s and next Mondays Beanpot Tournament for the Boston area college hockey teams (which if you like hockey at all is well worth checking out).
So annually this is the worst time of year for me as a sports fan. To have this sort of news come out now is really piling on during an already depressing time.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
Here is Ceetars take on it.
Ceetar February 1, 2010 at 11:11 am
Putz is looking for a scapegoat for why he sucked last year. In one part of the interview he seems to criticize the Mets for being too aggressive shutting him down when he returned from the injury the first time, and then for being too lax for not getting him surgery the second he reported pain in April.
Could it be he’s pissed they declined his option and he had to take a 66% paycut?
doesn’t really matter though, he’s not on the team. Bay has had multiple physicals declaring him healthy recently, Beltran’s surgery was done by the best, Santana was throwing with no pain and Reyes can sprint just fine.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-12:19pm at 12:19 pm (UTC -4)
You can make an argument that Putz could be mad at the Mets for not picking up his option after he tried pitching through the discomfort he felt in 2009.
I still say the bigger picture is this trend that last season players that were 1st diagnosed with a minimal injury that would have them out a few weeks at best kept having setback after setback and in some cases ending with a much more serious injury than was 1st diagnosed.
So if Putz was an isolated incident I can see the pissed factor so I’ll blame them but when you look at Beltran and Reyes also and add them to the mix it makes it seem that Putz id being truthful in his remarks.
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-12:17pm at 12:17 pm (UTC -4)
The Mets FO have no one to blame but themselves here. They’ve been ‘caught’ too many times in the past couple of years when a story broke, trying to give their take – for them to get the benefit of the doubt. It has to be earned now.
Look at how that Bernazard debacle went down. That wasn’t a recent problem Rubin just discovered with Bernazard. There were stories going back a couple of years.
You just cannot keep operating in the ‘reactive’ mode. How about being a little ‘proactive’? Sure would go a long way towards earning the trust of us fans….
fongy2
2/1/2010-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
Holy moly!!! A true voice of reason and experience!!
No wonder you’re not welcome on mattsblog!!
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-12:25pm at 12:25 pm (UTC -4)
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-12:26pm at 12:26 pm (UTC -4)
LOL !!!!
trs86
2/1/2010-12:32pm at 12:32 pm (UTC -4)
That makes sense but how come I am not?
fongy2
2/1/2010-12:38pm at 12:38 pm (UTC -4)
C’mon!… You’ve at least questioned Omar’s
He likely now considers you a traitor at this point 
competence once or twice!! That’s a no, no
over there!…THEN while on suspension you
started THIS!
I know I was banned at least twice for
saying ” Omar should be running a bodega
in East Elmhurst rather than running The
New York Mets “…..Ouch!!!!……..BUT
C’mon, it’s kinda funny…..
trs86
2/1/2010-12:41pm at 12:41 pm (UTC -4)
That was more of a play on our discussions because I am sure you view me as a constant searcher of sunshine.
It’s hard when stories like this come out.
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-12:54pm at 12:54 pm (UTC -4)
I laughed right out loud at this.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
The good thing is it is SuperBowl week and this story will soon be forgotten so people like Francesa will not give it much time in an attempt to fan the flames and make it a bigger story.
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-12:31pm at 12:31 pm (UTC -4)
You think? I expect a full week of Met bashing. Not that it would be something new.
GravediggerHebner
2/1/2010-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
At least this guy is some other team’s problem now:
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2010/01/baseball_player_lawsuit.php?page=1
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-12:33pm at 12:33 pm (UTC -4)
Just shaking my head…..
trs86
2/1/2010-12:35pm at 12:35 pm (UTC -4)
“He’s taken his shirt off, he takes a running start from Ivan’s left-hand side, punching Ivan in the left side of the face, knocking him out. It broke his orbital socket, broke his cheekbone…shattered his nose, detached his retina….”
Did Tony B mentor this kid?
GravediggerHebner
2/1/2010-12:37pm at 12:37 pm (UTC -4)
Clearly the one positive impact Bernazard had on Mets minor leaguers was something they should’ve learned from their mothers: don’t get blood on your nice shirt.
fongy2
2/1/2010-12:40pm at 12:40 pm (UTC -4)
And wear clean underwear????
…..Or even, wear underwear????
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t know, I think we could use a guy like this on the team.
“He’s taken his shirt off, he takes a running start from Ivan’s left-hand side, punching Ivan in the left side of the face, knocking him out. It broke his orbital socket, broke his cheekbone…shattered his nose, detached his retina….”
Sorrels said that McGuire kicked Pinney in the face after he had dropped to his knees. Afterwards, according to Sorrels, a brawl broke out and Broadway punched several women, knocking one out. (A Dallas Police Department spokesperson told Hair Balls that an investigation is ongoing).
“Right now, he can see motion — he can’t see people out of his left eye,” Sorrels said. “….They’re not certain if he’s going to regain any eyesight….His retina has a risk of being detached [again] and losing all eyesight. He is facing three more eye surgeries, one more surgery for his cheekbone, nose and teeth area — his teeth may be cracked in the…upper left jaw.”
stickguy
2/1/2010-12:49pm at 12:49 pm (UTC -4)
not quite so funny if you look at the pictures of the guy. Nasty.
DNDJohan aka kistics
2/1/2010-1:09pm at 1:09 pm (UTC -4)
I read this piece while eating lunch.. and clicked on page #2… yum…
trs86
2/1/2010-12:45pm at 12:45 pm (UTC -4)
A’s traded for Willie Taveras. Can someone help me understand why the A’s are collecting OF’s?
stickguy
2/1/2010-12:46pm at 12:46 pm (UTC -4)
waiting for the mets to realize they need another one, so they have to come begging?
trs86
2/1/2010-12:55pm at 12:55 pm (UTC -4)
I like these from MLBTR:
Moebarguy [Moderator] 26 minutes ago
Does Beane not like OBP anymore?
\
kevinhua [Moderator] 26 minutes ago 2 people liked this.
Is there gonna be global center field battle and the A’s are just stockpiling so they can win…
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-12:55pm at 12:55 pm (UTC -4)
simple.
they pick these guys up on cheap contracts and parlay them mid-season for some prospects.
trs86
2/1/2010-12:58pm at 12:58 pm (UTC -4)
Taveras is not on a cheap contract.
trs86
2/1/2010-1:03pm at 1:03 pm (UTC -4)
The A’s have taken a $3MM hit on Taveras and given up Jeff Gray, Ronny Morla, Matt Spencer, and a PTBNL or cash to get Jake Fox and Rosales.
trs86
2/1/2010-1:04pm at 1:04 pm (UTC -4)
To add something they already had.
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-2:05pm at 2:05 pm (UTC -4)
UPDATE: The team has just announced that Tavares has been designated for assignment. Assuming the team doesn’t manage to turn around and deal Tavares (unlikely with his salary), that means in essence that the A’s paid $1.3 million for Rosales, because Miles, who is from Antioch, was making $2.7 million. He was obtained in the same deal that brought Jake Fox to Oakland, so Miles won’t wind up putting on an Oakland uniform.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/athletics/detail?blogid=21&entry_id=56411#ixzz0eJRdVbNR
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-2:07pm at 2:07 pm (UTC -4)
Susan,
Sorry – I quibble with your trade math:
The A’s have already received $1mil from the Cubs for taking on Miles.
So, we have your equation MINUS $1mil = $300K + the player to be named later,
for Adam Rosales and now apparently eating Willy Taveres. Maybe there will be more details?
Taveres will join the Giants, now?
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/athletics/detail?blogid=21&entry_id=56411#ixzz0eJSSLr0F
trs86
2/1/2010-2:27pm at 2:27 pm (UTC -4)
OK let me see if I can figure this out.
Taveres cost 4M. Miles cost 2.7M. We don’t know if the 1M was included in the deal with the Reds as is often the case.
No matter what the A’s still took a 4M hit on Taveres unless the Reds are paying them. It may only end up being a small increase from what they were going to pay Miles and the cast but….
stickguy
2/1/2010-12:45pm at 12:45 pm (UTC -4)
a small attempt at devil’s advocacy here, and while it may not exactly apply to Putz, it does tie into that statement from Omar last year.
Injuries aren’t always cut and dried, especially something like a bone spur say. Even different doctors wil have differing opinions on how best to handle an injury, and even 1 doctor will give options, depending on your circumstances.
So, quite often, the answer might be they will need surgery eventually, but could still play if they can tolerate the pain.
And if that is the diagnosis, what do you do? does it matter if it is a star on a LT deal, vs. a guy with no contract past that season? And if you know it is going to be season ending, doesn’t it make sense to try the see how it goes approach before jumping right into cutting the guy up?
although a key aspect the Mets seem to fail at is trust and communication. And players have to take a part too by being up front about what is going on, and not trying to hide injuries (either from being macho, or more likely, trying to not jeapordize their next contract, right Mr. Sheets?)
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-12:57pm at 12:57 pm (UTC -4)
Good points.
I’m not going to pretend to know better than the doctors. But the Mets communication to the media, fans, etc. is extremely poor lately. They’re causing their own heartache here….
trs86
2/1/2010-12:52pm at 12:52 pm (UTC -4)
“I think we often look at potential acquisitions in the same way we look at Fantasy Baseball, and we certainly often see them as one-way negotiations, set up only to serve only our favorite team’s needs.
The thing is, I don’t think it matters.
I mean, so much of being a sports fan, especially a baseball fan, is about being emotional and talking and debating the game with other fans. The details, in some cases, are irrelevant, since, most likely, the average fan is going to react a certain way, and think certain things, regardless of whether a potential acquisition is made or not. In some ways, the team must win that battle in their actions and words prior to the transaction, or lacktherof, when managing the expectations of their fanbase. ”
Uh no Cerrone that is just you. Accuracy and rational thought DO matter and we should not jump to conclusions every time a rumor comes to the front. Also, in your position MR.C you are much more than just a fan reacting to rumors. That may have been what you started as but now when you say things like “people in the Mets organization” “from what I gathered” you have left the seats and went into the actual game and will be held to higher standards than just another blogger.
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-1:01pm at 1:01 pm (UTC -4)
The details are irrelevant???
No, the details are exactly the point. Debates, observations, proposed trades, trades, acquisitions and all opinions tied into that should be based on fact – as much as possible.
I’m not even sure exactly what it is he is trying to say.
trs86
2/1/2010-1:03pm at 1:03 pm (UTC -4)
That the debate is more important than the facts or in his case the views are more important than rational thought.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-1:31pm at 1:31 pm (UTC -4)
TRS that post has been removed. I was 404′d lol
trs86
2/1/2010-2:28pm at 2:28 pm (UTC -4)
Gnarly dude.
trs86
2/1/2010-1:07pm at 1:07 pm (UTC -4)
MR. NJ get out your card you are going to need it.
The Mariners and 29–year-old free-agent 1B-OF Ryan Garko agreed to a one-year, $550,000 deal, according to the Associated Press.
DNDJohan aka kistics
2/1/2010-1:11pm at 1:11 pm (UTC -4)
Garko too expensive at $550k. Mets will only sing minor-league deals.
stickguy
2/1/2010-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
they already made their decision and got Tatis. Obviously liked him better than Garko.
But why single out the Mets. Must be something wrong with the guy if this is the best he could do.
DNDJohan aka kistics
2/1/2010-1:18pm at 1:18 pm (UTC -4)
MC points out that he’s one dimensional and can’t hit RHP. Sounds kinda like Tatis, no? Cheaper though
wannybackstra
2/1/2010-1:44pm at 1:44 pm (UTC -4)
Tatis has more positional versatility than Garko and hits right handers just fine (264 .343 .439 v. righties and .272 .351 .457 v. lefties).
njstuckintx
2/1/2010-1:15pm at 1:15 pm (UTC -4)
550K? Here’s exactly what everyone was complaining about 2M is too much for Cora. Spend a little less there and the Mets could have gotten Garko, even for 750K.
Sigh…
trs86
2/1/2010-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
Cora’s 2M has nothing to do with Garko. The Mets either liked Tatis more or Garko wanted to stay out west. Again, not every deal or signing is “Man why couldn’t the Mets….”
njstuckintx
2/1/2010-3:05pm at 3:05 pm (UTC -4)
I hear you. Not trying to perpetuate the cycle. Just had a good feeling concerning garko back when Cora signed. While I liked Cora, I thought for 2 mil, that was a little excessive. I thought that a cheaper Cora could have been found and Money would be spent elsewhere, such as pitching.
Not crying at “losing” out on Garko, just would have been nice. More of a sigh on my offseason preferences going elsewhere. My offseason plans and buck will get you a coffee off the dollar menu from McDonalds, minus tax.
stickguy
2/1/2010-1:12pm at 1:12 pm (UTC -4)
put me down for a seat on the “can the season please start and can the FO just go into the witness protection program?” train.
Window seat please. Shotgun if it is free.
man, we need some actual baseball.
and as much as I hate to root for my team to lose, how about this for a scenerio:
Team starts out slow. Jerry makes some bone head move, then says something stupid about the wilpons. Omar tries to defend him, and makes it worse. Jeffy actually tries to speak in public, and shoves his foot firmly in some orafice. Team becomes more of a laughing stock in the media than it already is.
Fred finally wakes up from his coma, and sends Jeffy out to the hamptons for the summer to oversee planting some new hedges at the estate. Installs the best BB mind (barring that, the dude form Cinci) as interim president, and cans Omar, Jerry and any dead wood tied to them.
New guy opens the windows, and blows some fresh air on the place, makes a couple of minor but shrewd moves, everyone relaxes, and the team takes off and makes the playoffs.
Simple, right?
Man, that train needs to come soon…
DNDJohan aka kistics
2/1/2010-1:15pm at 1:15 pm (UTC -4)
sounds about right up to the Fred waking up part.
njstuckintx
2/1/2010-1:16pm at 1:16 pm (UTC -4)
Sign me up for some. In fact, I’ll take 2!
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-1:24pm at 1:24 pm (UTC -4)
Nice. Not that I would ever root against the Mets. Actually, I don’t think it need go that far. Lots of valid reasons right now, before the season starts, to make these changes.
I thought for sure come last Oct., that’s exactly what would happen. Still surprised it did not.
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-1:40pm at 1:40 pm (UTC -4)
Some good news on this day. Burhardt watched Reyes do some fast sprints and said he looked great.
Reyes’ quote: ‘“That’s how I do it,†Reyes said, upon finishing his sprints. “I’m ready to play baseball.â€
You go, Jose.
DNDJohan aka kistics
2/1/2010-1:52pm at 1:52 pm (UTC -4)
knock on wood x 1,000,000
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-2:14pm at 2:14 pm (UTC -4)
Anyone worried now that there may be some truth to the whole Boston was concerned w/ Bay’s health? Did Bay really have a physical or was it one of our guys rubber stamping the report?
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
The plot thickens, lol.
wannybackstra
2/1/2010-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
He apparently had two other physicals before the one with the Mets that were used to follow the one from the Sox docs. So 4 total. There was one with a physician he chose after the Sox’s exam and then there was one with a physician the team and he agreed upon. And then the Mets purported exam.
stickguy
2/1/2010-2:37pm at 2:37 pm (UTC -4)
I got it. Virtual physicals, so they can save on paying for the doctor.
THe mets FO is now running entirely for free using internet sources! They read the various sites all day, and find out what they need to know.
Probably doing the same thing with the draft. Just read the draftnik blogs, and save all that overhead of having scouts, etc.
trs86
2/1/2010-2:40pm at 2:40 pm (UTC -4)
This sounds familiar:
Everything about this team and its off season moves bespeaks second class citizenship in the American League West.
stickguy
2/1/2010-2:42pm at 2:42 pm (UTC -4)
where did that come from? Is it referring to the A’s?
trs86
2/1/2010-2:50pm at 2:50 pm (UTC -4)
Yup. A’s fan after the Tavares trade and release.
stickguy
2/1/2010-2:41pm at 2:41 pm (UTC -4)
quick poll:
Assume the worst, and the mets stumble out of the gate, make some serious faux pas, and play like crap. To the point that the FO gets exposed comepletely as being unable to handle things.
the poll question is: WHen the inevitable bloodletting comes, does Jeffy get to wield the ax (canning Omar, and whatever liutenants he has left) and assorted riff raff, but keeping his job (and probably expanding even more into base ball operations)? Flip side being, of course, he gets exposed as a major part of the problem, and somehow kicked “upstairs”, and removed from any real contact with the BB ops side.
trs86
2/1/2010-2:49pm at 2:49 pm (UTC -4)
Hmmm….
I did read that Bobby V is still interested in the Mets. I wonder if he would come on in management instead of manager? But I expect Wilpon to remain in place.
trs86
2/1/2010-3:00pm at 3:00 pm (UTC -4)
Still no offer for Damon. Why not bring him in and then trade someone when Beltran returns?
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-3:07pm at 3:07 pm (UTC -4)
I just love the Mets, don’t get me wrong. But this FO…..Had to laugh right out loud on Amazin Avenue with one poster’s comment on the whole Putz issue:
OMAR’S TOP TEN EXCUSES FOR PUTZING AROUND ON THIS ONE
10) “That was Tony B’s job.â€
9) “Look, he could be missing his arm, and he’d still be better than Aaron Heilman.â€
8) “Seriously, who cares. We figured we could sell $15MM in ‘Putz’ jerseys. That’s why we traded for him.â€
7) “Adam Rubin wanted a job in baseball, so we hired him to vet medical records of recent acquisitions, and then he quit to go back to that blog of his.â€
6) “Bone spurs are what cowboys wear, right?â€
5) “We gave him a complete workup. Dr. Spaceman was in charge, assisted by that Dr. Nick Riviera guy.â€
4) “Putz’s shoulder was scanned the same time I had a brain activity scan done, and I guarantee you, there was nothing on either. Nothing at all.â€
3) “Did you hear that Mark McGwire used steroids? Did you? DID YOU!?!?!â€
2) “Look, baseball isn’t played with a spreadsheet or a calculator, just ask Marty Noble. So why would it be played with an x-ray or a scalpel? Jeez, man.â€
and the number one reason Omar Minaya failed to give J J Putz a physical…
1) “We only had enough money in the budget to give him an eval or sign Alex Cora, and man, that Cora guy is such a good teammate, we didn’t really need to worry about no bone spurs.â€
by DanDotLewis on Feb 1, 2010 2:23 PM EST
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-3:10pm at 3:10 pm (UTC -4)
And the Mariners sign Garko for half a million.
On top of the JJ news, I am seriously considering turning in my Positiviality card.
What a rotten day to be a Met fan.
(Insert projectile vomit noise here.)
If the season starts off badly, I honestly think we are in for a disaster, as I doubt the Wilpons will bring in a free thinker like Bobby V.
Spring training, please HURRY.
trs86
2/1/2010-3:13pm at 3:13 pm (UTC -4)
Not really concerned about the Garko signing. I think Tatis deserves that role added to the fact that role needed to be someone who could play more than just 1B and LF.
mrose
2/1/2010-3:21pm at 3:21 pm (UTC -4)
There has been much more rotten days.. so today we had the putz news and missed out on a signing of another borderline bench guy (yes, maybe in that regard Tatis was paid too much, but he plays a number of positions)
also, Reyes sprinted full speed… that to me… GOOD day for Mets fans.. plus Kelvin Escobar was cleared to pitch for spring training..
I’d tilt the scale in the positive today for the Mets.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-3:25pm at 3:25 pm (UTC -4)
Yea but Escobar was cleared by the Mets team doctors and lately that just doesn’t carry a lot of weight.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-3:35pm at 3:35 pm (UTC -4)
I think we can all agree the only way to get past all this is to have the Mets go out and win. Winning cures all.
We can and have talked here about the moves or non moves the Mets have made and it is clear what fans views are. All that is left is to see who is right and who is wrong.
For the record I hope I am dead wrong and Minaya restores his name.
DNDJohan aka kistics
2/1/2010-3:36pm at 3:36 pm (UTC -4)
me too. but chances are highly unlikely
trs86
2/1/2010-3:25pm at 3:25 pm (UTC -4)
Right now Tatis is being paid only slightly more than what Garko got. If he hits his incentives it will go up. Have to wait and see if Garko also has incentives.
trs86
2/1/2010-3:11pm at 3:11 pm (UTC -4)
Help me out with this one UZR guys? Castillo’s numbers looked at below. Looks as though using all of these stats his numbers are career average. However, UZR has him as very bad. What other factors go into his UZR that is not being measured here?
Sylow59 February 1, 2010 at 2:50 pm
I may be missing something here but:
RF/9:
4.80 for 2009
4.58 for 2007-09
4.78 for career
His assists per 9 innings for the past four years have been: 2.75, 2.45, 2.43, and 2.70 last year.
Fielding Percent:
.982 for 2009
.986 for 2007-09
.987 for career
the difference is about 4 errors over 162 full games.
He doesn’t seem to be that putrid relative to his career..
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-3:25pm at 3:25 pm (UTC -4)
Anyone see Madden’s column?
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2010/01/30/2010-01-30_mets_omar_minaya_fans_asking.html
trs86
2/1/2010-3:36pm at 3:36 pm (UTC -4)
I did see this one and I may go out of my mind:
http://www.metsblog.com/2010/02/01/buzz-these-are-your-pre-camp-2010-mets/
“however, i hope Ownership knows that, because they were unwilling or unable to make significant changes to the roster, there are lots and lots of fans who are going to feel they are unwilling to unable to go out to Citi Field or watch SNY, at least until the team can give them reason to do so… ”
Uh, nope. Most of us rational fans understand completely why certain moves were made and were not made. While we may have wanted that elusive pitcher we don’t sit here complaining that the Mets have not turned over their roster. In fact besides adding one guy to the rotation we realize that was not going to happen anyway.
“however, the Front Office needs to think real, real hard about what life might be like beyond this current group of talent, because Mets fans are not confidence in the direction of this organization, and that is putting it lightly…”
How the hell does he know if we are “confidence” in the direction of this organization? Because of some incredibly subjective fan confidence poll that has always reacted to the tone of the media since he started doing it.
I am sorry guys but this junk is becoming too much.
DNDJohan aka kistics
2/1/2010-3:38pm at 3:38 pm (UTC -4)
So… I take you don’t like MC….
trs86
2/1/2010-3:39pm at 3:39 pm (UTC -4)
I like MC just fine. In fact I appreciate everything he has done. However, right now I think either he has been reading the anti-mets media too much or has also decided the best way to get hits is to pander to the mood of the readers. That is not the MC I remember.
DNDJohan aka kistics
2/1/2010-3:53pm at 3:53 pm (UTC -4)
Well.. to give you a flip side of the coin, perhaps you are too pro-Mets? Some of us are more rational than others, and personally I think you are one of them. But, 10% confidence rating is a representation of a lot of people’s opinion. Meaning that it’s just not couple Alexes voting. I’m sure the media has a lot of power in what the people think, and the media hasn’t been very friendly to the Mets. But 10% confidence rating cannot just be ignored.
I have been down on the Mets too recently. My confidence is much higher than 10%, but honestly, I haven’t seen anything from the Mets that give me much confidence this year.
trs86
2/1/2010-4:17pm at 4:17 pm (UTC -4)
Perhaps, but again if you have watched that fan confidence poll over the years it goes up and down based on MC’s tone as well as the media’s tone.
How about this one:
Putz reveals Mets told him to lie about injury
Next post:
Rate your confidence on the direction of the Mets.
As for my pro-Mets. I bash them when I see appropriate but it has nothing to do with what guys like Bill Madden have to say.
trs86
2/1/2010-3:45pm at 3:45 pm (UTC -4)
Why Ceetar post there instead of here????
Ceetar February 1, 2010 at 3:19 pm
They don’t owe us an explanation. Win games and we’ll come, lose them and less of us will. April attendance is always a little sparce due to the weather, but if the team is successful and winning in summer time, people will come out regardless of what they’ve done in the offseason, how they’ve handled things now, who they’ve flipped off, or what the newspapers are writing.
trs86
2/1/2010-3:47pm at 3:47 pm (UTC -4)
OK last one:
kjclinks February 1, 2010 at 3:19 pm
I strongly feel that the Mets DID give an explanation of there Offseason moves and non-moves. Omar spoke on SNY Hot Stove and said the following:
Molina was offered a 1 year deal from the Mets, that was greater then the deal he took from the Giants. But since the 2nd year was not guareented; he stayed on the West Coast with his family.
Lackey WAS offered a contact; but he took a significantly larger deal from Boston (and his wife is from New England)
Pitchers (Wolf, Pinero, Garland) – the Mets scouting did not rate them as a significant upgrade from their current starters (rightly or wrongly)
Catchers (Barajas, Torrealba) – after Molina, the Mets scouting did not rate them as a significant upgrade from their current starters and future catcher (Thole).
I think fans (and we all do this) and the media just hear what they want to hear. Since most are not ‘happy’ with the off-season and they wanted to see more ’stuff happen’ they are asking for reasons.
Well, I repeat, whether you like the reasons or not, Omar did give the fans reasons.
DNDJohan aka kistics
2/1/2010-4:04pm at 4:04 pm (UTC -4)
My frustration is the fact that the Yankees were able to get guys like Vazquez or Granderson. But why can’t get the Mets do the similar thing? It doesn’t have to be the FA signing to get the team better.
All the Mets were willing to do was dangle Castillo in front of every trade scenario to get rid of him. In that regards, Mets FO have not done their job IMO.
It just seems that Phillies, Yanks, and RedSox make necessary moves (via FA or Trades) to make their team better. Mets FO on the other hand sits on their hand and say “we don’t think these guys are worth it and therefore we don’t want to overpay them”. How about some creativity? And instead of working one case at a time, I’m sure you have enough resources to work multiple deals at a time.
trs86
2/1/2010-4:21pm at 4:21 pm (UTC -4)
You mean like adding Johan Santana? or uh… bad day for this but trading bunch of nothing for Putz?
The Yankees gave up a lot for Granderson and at the time the Mets did not need him. The Braves were not going to trade us Vazquez but that is not your point. Why not get someone? That’s a good question that I am not sure any of us can answer. Perhaps the trades would have required us dealing some of our top prospects and the Wilpons insisted that would not be done this off-season? Also, the media is the one that pushes the one case at a time thing. The Mets had offers out to Bay and Lackey at the same time while talking to Molina and trying to work out a deal for Castillo.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-5:18pm at 5:18 pm (UTC -4)
I just want to add that the Mets always seem to have a reason for what they don’t do.
They say they would like to add a starting pitcher then when they don’t add one they say well, we think if our guys perform up to past expectations we will be just fine.
I mean come on if the Mets felt that these guys would be OK then why submit an offer to Lackey to begin with? While were at it what was the offer again they submitted for Lackey anyone know?
They go after Molina and Piniero 2 guys that I can live without. When they don’t sign them what do you hear? We feel Blanco is a great addition defensively to our team.
If Bay would of signed somewhere else they would of had a reason to explain why he was not that big a deal also and would tell us why x,y,z player will be good.
trs86
2/1/2010-5:22pm at 5:22 pm (UTC -4)
I guess we just look at it differently. Imagine that…
But I see it as we want Lackey be that did not work out because either he did not want to play here or the Mets would not go over what the Sox gave. So at that point we have pitchers that are decent but question marks if we can get more of a certainty on OUR terms then fine. If not then we will go with what we have. Same with Molina, if we can get him on Mets friendly terms he will be an upgrade but if not we are happy with what we got.
I think that is responsible.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-5:28pm at 5:28 pm (UTC -4)
Your right of course we see things differently.
trs86
2/1/2010-5:33pm at 5:33 pm (UTC -4)
You lost me after “Your right of course”
ceetar
2/1/2010-9:57pm at 9:57 pm (UTC -4)
I wouldn’t say _instead_..it’s just habit and whatever, and Metsblog is more active via twitter, etc. I’ve popped in here from time to time, just don’t usually comment.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-10:01pm at 10:01 pm (UTC -4)
Do my eyes deceive me? lol
I recognize that avatar. Wait arent you that dude that likes deserts?
trs86
2/1/2010-10:02pm at 10:02 pm (UTC -4)
I understand the habit. I would be right there with you, IF I COULD. LOL.
But it seems as though your logic is often wasted over there for sure.
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-4:02pm at 4:02 pm (UTC -4)
What bothers me most about his posts are not necessarily his opinions – which I don’t often agree with but hey, that’s O.K….
It’s his style of commenting now. Along with the incorrect spelling and such, it’s the style of the big, one long run on sentence. I often have to read it 2 or 3 times just to try and figure out what he’s trying to say. And sometimes, I don’t bother….
trs86
2/1/2010-4:26pm at 4:26 pm (UTC -4)
My problem is that he now is seen as a voice of Mets fans in general. Yet he admits earlier today that facts are not that important?
I like the old MC better, the one that was not trying to make a living doing this. I can’t prove it but I think if you put his opinions up side by side from when he was in our spot compared to now and they would be completely different.
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-4:16pm at 4:16 pm (UTC -4)
“Mets fans are not confidence”
Nuff said.
You read it, you DESERVE to be angry about it.
Why not read restroom walls instead? There, you will find better grammar I am sure.
trs86
2/1/2010-4:27pm at 4:27 pm (UTC -4)
I know Kingman, but I can’t help it. I read his, Madden’s, Sherman’s, Rubin’s, etc. I think however, his turn upsets me more because WE were reading him when he was in our position and he was completely different.
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-5:10pm at 5:10 pm (UTC -4)
And I of course know you are right too…..damn, this is the most annoying of offseasons!!
trs86
2/1/2010-3:38pm at 3:38 pm (UTC -4)
If I were the Mets I would take a screw you mentality towards the media and any bandwagon fans now jumping off. Forget the PR campaign and go the other direction.
DNDJohan aka kistics
2/1/2010-4:13pm at 4:13 pm (UTC -4)
The idea of ‘we offered them what we can, but these guys didn’t want to sign with us’ just does not fly with me. Sure Molina chose to stay in SF even if the Mets offered him more. So… what? You’re just going to sit there and blame him all the while you’re just back to square one? C’mon. Do something about it. If you really wanted Molina, I would try like hell to get him to Flushing. But obviously, the Mets FO didn’t want him that much (and many of us agree). So what’s your next plan for the catching position? I mean you just can’t sit tight and do nothing about it.
Same thing with the SP issue. Lackey signs elsewhere and you don’t like Pineiro (and many of us agree here too). But you just can’t sit on your hands either. Do something about it. You just can’t blame the market for your bad rotation. You just can’t sit there and hope some day the right opportunity will come by. You gotta go out there and find those opportunities and that’s what I think the Met FO lacked this off season. And that’s why I’m frustrated.
trs86
2/1/2010-4:24pm at 4:24 pm (UTC -4)
Why should they not set a price and stick to their guns? Should they have went 2 years for Molina? Their next plan may very well be to go with Santos and Blanco while waiting on Thole?
As for the rotation, what if the only guy they saw as a sure improvement was Lackey and when they did not get him refused to overpay for average or trade top prospects for average?
fongy2
2/1/2010-4:31pm at 4:31 pm (UTC -4)
Dont wanna argue today w/you TRS BUT you always
make it sound as if Omar/The NY Mets were playing
from strength heading into the off-season.
Like, we really didn’t NEED much help so we can
play hardball when dealing w/FAs and possible trades. If they thought Santos/Thole was good
enough to start, why spend two months pursuing
Molina??…And if the rotation was strong enough
already, why not say so during the post season interview tour???
trs86
2/1/2010-4:37pm at 4:37 pm (UTC -4)
Why would they?
I am sure they wanted Molina but not at 2 years? What is wrong with that idea?
Why shouldn’t the Mets set limits to how much a player should cost in relation to the upgrade?
Example Pineiro. They view him as an upgrade but how much of an upgrade is he over what they have? Is he worth 16+M for that upgrade.
Molina. Upgrade but is he worth 2/12 over Santos?
I think they have taken a responsible and rational approach to a bad off-season.
Again you and I are going to disagree on this. This team was in 1st place last year and with in striking distance well up into the season regardless of all the injuries. They had the best May EVER for the Mets. I don’t see that as a team that is in desperate need.
fongy2
2/1/2010-4:40pm at 4:40 pm (UTC -4)
ALOT has happened since last May
my friend…ALOT!
Can you honestly say this team, right now looks to be better than
a .500/4th Place team????
trs86
2/1/2010-4:43pm at 4:43 pm (UTC -4)
YES.
What has happen since last May? Injuries. If they are still injured then we will suck and it won’t matter anyway.
fongy2
2/1/2010-4:46pm at 4:46 pm (UTC -4)
Really!…
Just injuries?
trs86
2/1/2010-4:51pm at 4:51 pm (UTC -4)
On the field fongy what else has happen? If you want to talk about all this off the field junk then sure. But again you continue to discount the fact that they were winning games last year until the injuries. Sheer luck I suppose.
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-5:01pm at 5:01 pm (UTC -4)
I have to agree with Real here. Yes, lots has happened since last May but mostly FO embarrassment and such. I still believe the talent level is more or less the same as last May.
Beltran aside right now, we swapped Church for Frenchie, Bay for Delgado. Yes the SP rotation is basically the same. We were in contention with that talent level through June. I have no idea if we would have stayed in contention had we lost only Reyes and Delgado.
I’m going into 2010 cautiously optimistic. A large part of that is the other teams in the division.
trs86
2/1/2010-5:16pm at 5:16 pm (UTC -4)
I look it as something even more different with regards to Delgado and Murphy.
We exchanged a very bad LF and unhealthy 1B for a much better LF and healthy 1B.
fongy2
2/1/2010-4:27pm at 4:27 pm (UTC -4)
Dont you know….Omar dont do multitaskin’!!!!!
Its…”Focus on this guy and if we cant get it done,
well then, we move onto the next”!
What!!??… You want him to have a Plan B, C or D????
b/t/w…Good thing Ryan Garko and Kevin Millar couldn’t
have been of any help to us!….Seeing how they signed
so cheaply today.
I wonder if Omar et,al were too busy tryin’ to figure out
how to respond to JJ Putz……”Liar,liar…Pants on
fire”….Maybe????
trs86
2/1/2010-4:29pm at 4:29 pm (UTC -4)
Gotta put some more bait on that hook today. Frustrated enough after reading the other bashing today.
fongy2
2/1/2010-4:35pm at 4:35 pm (UTC -4)
Not fishing any more AND no need for you
to con’t to defend this clown (Omar) and
the rest of The FO. Facts are facts…
We know too much already and at this
point almost nothing hes done the past
couple years is defensible.
Its not the media’s fault almost everyone
out there thinks this team has again
become the butt of jokes and snickering.
trs86
2/1/2010-4:39pm at 4:39 pm (UTC -4)
Fongy I wanted him fired after the Tony B incident but the junk that’s going on now is ridiculous. These moves are not worth the venom they have produced.
fongy2
2/1/2010-4:41pm at 4:41 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, but Omars prob is that
every time the fire starts
to die a little….more fuel
trs86
2/1/2010-4:42pm at 4:42 pm (UTC -4)
True. I agree. I hope he is fired tomorrow. But then what would you do? Become a sunshiner?
fongy2
2/1/2010-4:45pm at 4:45 pm (UTC -4)
At least for
a day
saltygary
2/1/2010-4:46pm at 4:46 pm (UTC -4)
Absolutely correct, the venom is coming from 3 years of frustration and people are having a hard time separating the two.
As depressed as I am about the team it is not the offseason that I have problems with. I think the team showed great restraint for once and not blowing everything on mediocre short term fixes.
On paper the team is worse then last year but there wasn’t much available though FA and we don’t have enough value to produce a trade.
This could be a long season but I am more positive about the future recovery.
trs86
2/1/2010-4:49pm at 4:49 pm (UTC -4)
I am not sure the team is worse than last year on paper. IF so it is because of injuries and what they might do this year.
I agree that fans are frustrated and have a right to be. I just think directing it towards a decent off-season is not productive.
saltygary
2/1/2010-5:03pm at 5:03 pm (UTC -4)
2009
1. Jose Reyes
2. Daniel Murphy
3. David Wright
4. Carlos Beltran
5. Carlos Delgado
6. Ryan Church
7. Brian Schneider
8. Luis Castillo
2010
1. Jose Reyes – down due to injuries
2. Daniel Murphy – down due to lost hype
3. David Wright – Down to to bad season I look at is as a one off
4. Carlos Beltran/Pagan – Who knows what the hell is going on
5. Jason Bay Big up for this slot
6. Frenchy Better than church but we’ll see
7. Omir Santos wash with Schneider
8. Luis Castillo YOUR 2009 METS MVP
I just threw 2010 together this is not necessarily how I envision the lineup. Too many injuries to value the guys as high. I think it’s a lot of wait and see.
trs86
2/1/2010-5:04pm at 5:04 pm (UTC -4)
IF so it is because of injuries.
trs86
2/1/2010-5:06pm at 5:06 pm (UTC -4)
As for Murphy I am actually up on him more now than I was last year coming in. He did better than I expected.
jaydh
2/1/2010-4:31pm at 4:31 pm (UTC -4)
We could win with what we have, but this could also be seen as a transition year. We didn’t get a #2, but outside of that i like what we have going. I’m content with Santos/Blanco until Thole is a better catcher. I’m also fine with seeing how Murphy will improve as I know he can. We greatly improved the back end of the 25man roster bringing in interesting arms for the pen and high character solid players to compete for the bench. We have options for the #5 spot in Misch, Nieve and eventually Niese.
Most importantly, the lack of spending now allows for a big acquisition midseason or next offseason. All this while keeping our rising farm system in tact.
trs86
2/1/2010-4:33pm at 4:33 pm (UTC -4)
Yup, the only thing keeping this off-season from being great in my opinion was not getting a #2. However, there was only one of those on the market so I am fine with what we have done so far.
Now if guys like Brandon Webb get traded and the Mets still need a SP and miss out on the playoffs due to SP then I will be upset. For now I think the Mets took a rational approach to a very bad FA class.
fongy2
2/1/2010-4:37pm at 4:37 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah good thing there were no trades made this off-season!
trs86
2/1/2010-4:40pm at 4:40 pm (UTC -4)
Such as….
Halladay? LOL
Vasquez? LOL
Who else would you have wanted that has been traded?
fongy2
2/1/2010-4:44pm at 4:44 pm (UTC -4)
Millwood wouldn’t have helped?…Any part of the
yanks/tiger/dback deal?
I’m sure theres more…its been a very busy off season
except for us that is.
Oh BUT we got Escobar….
I’m sure he can be counted
on!..When was the last time
he pitched again???
jaydh
2/1/2010-4:45pm at 4:45 pm (UTC -4)
I can’t fault omar for wanting to hold onto some of our prospects. I doubt that our midlevel guys would have gotten anything done.
trs86
2/1/2010-4:48pm at 4:48 pm (UTC -4)
I am sure there is more… OK more away.
Millwood would have been fine, however, is he that much better than what we got? Is he worth 12M? 200 innings 1 time since 2003. 5+ ERA for 2007 and 2008 he did rebound quite nicely last year. Again, is he worth getting upset about?
fongy2
2/1/2010-4:56pm at 4:56 pm (UTC -4)
More of a sure bet than Ben Sheets!
And b/t/w,
Who’s upset?
I’m at peace with this mess.
I look at The NL East and it appears The Phillies,no doubt…The
Braves,likely
And The Fish
50/50…Are
all better teams than us.
I don’t expect much this season.
Like I said
.500,maybe a
few games over and a 3rd or 4th place finish
depending on how quickly
the next bunch of Marlins mature.
trs86
2/1/2010-5:04pm at 5:04 pm (UTC -4)
How have the Braves or Marlins gotten better? Again do you just pretend that our record through early June was luck?
fongy2
2/1/2010-5:08pm at 5:08 pm (UTC -4)
You do know that we actually played until the end of September.Right?
trs86
2/1/2010-5:14pm at 5:14 pm (UTC -4)
I do Fongy and after all the injuries we sucked. Are you seriously going based on how we played from June through September?
jaydh
2/1/2010-4:43pm at 4:43 pm (UTC -4)
agreed. it seems that most available players in trade this offseason were other teams problems. Our farm system is starting to get respect, next season it could be top10. Depth in the farm is how great teams are built.
trs86
2/1/2010-4:45pm at 4:45 pm (UTC -4)
I agree, besides those 2 pitchers there was not a pitcher I would have used any of the top ten prospects for even on the market. I like Arroyo but could you imagine trading Mejia and more for him?
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-5:04pm at 5:04 pm (UTC -4)
I,for one, am happy the panic button was not pushed and we didn’t trade away the promising guys we’ve got in the minors.
jaydh
2/1/2010-4:39pm at 4:39 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed about the #2. I would have taken a chance on Sheets, but i can see why they would pass taking price and injury history in consideration. But outside of that, I can’t complain. I would be complaining more if they actually got some of their targets(molina,pineiro).
trs86
2/1/2010-4:41pm at 4:41 pm (UTC -4)
I think I might have but lets think that coming to the Mets he most likely wants more money to pitch in a higher pressure environment with higher cost of living. So lets say 1/12 for a guy who has not pitched healthy in a long time. I can’t fault them at all.
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-5:11pm at 5:11 pm (UTC -4)
Same here. I really wanted Lackey but it wasn’t to be, for whatever the reason. From everything I’ve read I have to believe Lackey truly did not want to come here. Normally agents will listen to all offers and go back to preliminary teams and see if they want to beat the current offer on the table. Lackey gets an offer from Boston and promptly signs on the dotted line.
Unless Omar was given that consideration and wouldn’t top it, it might have been Lackey liked the Boston offer, wanted to play in Boston and/or the AL and didn’t waste anytime taking it.
whataputz
2/1/2010-4:32pm at 4:32 pm (UTC -4)
what a fu**ing putz.
trs86
2/1/2010-4:34pm at 4:34 pm (UTC -4)
LOL.
mrose
2/1/2010-4:48pm at 4:48 pm (UTC -4)
i loath Buster Olney…
via a tweet from him “the Mets have indicated they don’t have any money available to make something happen.”
How about… this Buster.. WHO ELSE IS AVAILABLE TO SPEND MONEY ON THAT WOULD MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN? OR… What Trades are there to take on large salary that make perfect sense both ways? UGh
how about realizing it PROBABLY meant “we aren’t gonna spend money when we can’t guarantee it makes the team better”… which is likely what they meant you tool who just wants to stir the pot more..
trs86
2/1/2010-4:54pm at 4:54 pm (UTC -4)
“The expectations within the Mets Front Office is that the team is finished spending money for now.â€
Sounds a lot different than they don’t have the money. I am sure he is just making inferences that just happen to get a lot of hits.
saltygary
2/1/2010-4:55pm at 4:55 pm (UTC -4)
Poor Buster, he is just reporting what the FO told him. Your frustration should be more pointed to the FO. Their actions this offseason have proved that statement but they indicated there was money to spend. They weren’t gonna say otherwise because of season tickets. So they went out looking like they were going to be big spenders to keep the fans on board when really they just pulled the wool over our eyes. As stated above I am glad the money wasn’t spend mediocre short term fixes but as time goes on you can see that wasn’t the plan. The plan was to make it look like there was big things and blame the misses on something other than their empty wallet.
mrose
2/1/2010-4:59pm at 4:59 pm (UTC -4)
umm…nope.. my frustration sits squarely on a dude trying to get hits and stir up controversy. I may not love the Mets offseason, but they didn’t overspend on multiple people who won’t help the team, and they at least tried to get multiple people. I am one of the people who was against Bengie getting 2 years, or Piniero at all (unless real cheap) and same with Sheets. So.. bottom line is they spent where they could, tried to spend a little more, and now they obviously have money to spend, but where are you gonna spend it now? You need to wait until midseason salary dumps or next year. I’d rather not plug up the payroll now.
Oh and to circle back, hes absolutely reporting what FO told him, but in his own words because it sounds better than what trs put it as above
saltygary
2/1/2010-5:05pm at 5:05 pm (UTC -4)
still time to get creative and get the O-Dawg.
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-5:19pm at 5:19 pm (UTC -4)
Why do NO teams want him AGAIN?
The Legend of Gritty McHudson [(c)Stickguy] is truly one of the great enigma-wrapped mystery riddles of recent years.
When someone decodes the truth behind the encoded, fog-enveloped mythology, there will be a great feature film in it.
Don Cheadle can play Gritty McNonsense.
Joe Mantegna can play Torre benching him.
Luis Castillo can break into acting by playing Ronnie Belliard.
Jake Gyllenhaal can play the up-and-coming rookie who causes Gritty to get benched at his next stop.
Joe Morgan can play the future Gritty receiving his HOF plaque in the dream sequences.
trs86
2/1/2010-5:24pm at 5:24 pm (UTC -4)
I am beginning to revert back myself. Only because after looking at Castillo’s defensive stats last year other than UZR his stats improved over the year before or are right along with career averages. I admit I don’t completely understand UZR but if every other defensive metric has him at his career averages then how bad is his defense really?
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-5:54pm at 5:54 pm (UTC -4)
TRS–
Why do no teams want Hudson two straight years?
Seriously man, there is something REALLY weird about this guy.
trs86
2/1/2010-6:05pm at 6:05 pm (UTC -4)
Why do teams not want Adam Kennedy or Lopez? OR Cabrera, Dye, etc. I think that teams want him for sure, just not at the price he wants. So if you are him why not hold out as long as you can to get the best offer when you know there will be a market for you?
trs86
2/1/2010-5:13pm at 5:13 pm (UTC -4)
He’s not even reporting what the FO told him. “Heard this:….” “Mets have indicated”….
trs86
2/1/2010-5:09pm at 5:09 pm (UTC -4)
This is the first Tweet: Heard this:The expectations within the Mets’ FO is that the team is finished spending money for now.
Now the 2nd:
the Mets have indicated they don’t have any money available to make something happen.
So did he go back and talk to the METS again or is he just reposting the above with a twist that will get more views?
These 2 statements mean completely different things.
fongy2
2/1/2010-4:58pm at 4:58 pm (UTC -4)
Well what happens if The Reds still wanna move Harang, etc
??…Maybe he meant that as well.
mrose
2/1/2010-5:00pm at 5:00 pm (UTC -4)
maybe he will.. but those rumors appear dead for some time now. I’m sure ownership would listen to that idea, but they aren’t gonna come out and say “give us your large contracts! We need to spend for the sake of spending!”
fongy2
2/1/2010-5:07pm at 5:07 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed!…Then again, its a little hard to sell the informed fan that “It was just injuries” AND “This group after what we’ve
witnessed when healthy can be a serious
contender”…BUT we all know, The FO isn’t
worried about longtime,well informed fans
but rather Corporate interests and those
fans you wanna come out to see the shiney
new ballpark.
trs86
2/1/2010-5:11pm at 5:11 pm (UTC -4)
Again why do you continue to ignore the record and place in the division for the Mets last year before the injuries? I posted them for you the other day. Best May in team history, 1st place with injuries. Incredible injuries and still within 1-2 games in July? Seriously? Even with all their faults they were very much in the race before the injuries.
trs86
2/1/2010-5:19pm at 5:19 pm (UTC -4)
1 game back on July 1st. No Delgado, No Beltran, No Reyes.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-5:25pm at 5:25 pm (UTC -4)
I just want to say that you are doing a great job at making my arguments on why I am so down on Minaya last year with the waiting for the cavalry crap.
Thanks TRS
trs86
2/1/2010-5:31pm at 5:31 pm (UTC -4)
True NJ. But to that, I think there is the story that the Mets knew that those guys would not be coming back and there were no trades out there that could have saved the season with those guys out.
Now they could have told us that they were going to be out but that would not be a good business decision at all would it?
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-5:41pm at 5:41 pm (UTC -4)
Where did you read that again? I’d like to see how much is speculation and how much is someone reporting according to sources.
In any event If you are saying that even though they were within 1-2 games in July because they knew those guys were not coming back they decided not to do nothing then that is a epic fail on Minaya as far as I am concerned. And if you are saying that they couldn’t do a trade then show me where they tried in the 1st place.
trs86
2/1/2010-5:44pm at 5:44 pm (UTC -4)
Can’t do either. However, what trade could they have done to save a team that was missing Reyes, Beltran and Delgado?
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-5:58pm at 5:58 pm (UTC -4)
Hmm, I am clueless good thing I am not the GM of a Major League team because I suck. LoL
I guess Minaya could not do a move because if I couldn’t come up with one why should I expect him to.
trs86
2/1/2010-6:04pm at 6:04 pm (UTC -4)
Again NJ, lets say they brought in Halladay, does that win for them with those guys missing? Agonz? There’s no way a team can trade for enough to make up for those 3 guys AND then Putz and Johan too?
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-6:09pm at 6:09 pm (UTC -4)
You know that no move assures you are going to win anything. If you know of one let me know. It is the failure to act at all that disgusts me.
trs86
2/1/2010-6:11pm at 6:11 pm (UTC -4)
I understand but again, what if the Mets knew those players were out for the year. Should they have traded prospects from our weak system to go for a shot at something that most likely was moot?
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-6:18pm at 6:18 pm (UTC -4)
what if the Mets could of added a bat and arm for what amounted to a salary dump should they have done it?
What if’s are just that what if’s I am looking at actions and the Mets failed to act.
trs86
2/1/2010-6:24pm at 6:24 pm (UTC -4)
What if those salary dumps still cost prospects and would not have made any difference except for losing those prospects and the money spent in a down economy?
What if they did act by staying responsible instead of making a bad trade like they did with Kazmir.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-6:32pm at 6:32 pm (UTC -4)
What if those salary dumps didn’t cost prospects? What if they were being irresponsible by not acting and making a good trade like they did with Santana?
Again, “What if’s are just that what if’s I am looking at actions and the Mets failed to act.”
trs86
2/1/2010-6:34pm at 6:34 pm (UTC -4)
We can go in circles all night. I trust that they did not make a move because they felt like it would not have been worth what the cost would have been. You feel they just did not try.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-6:42pm at 6:42 pm (UTC -4)
Finally you get it with the what if’s.
One can what if forever.
Now you choose to believe “that they did not make a move because they felt like it would not have been worth what the cost would have been” and that is fine.
I feel that they had to act and didn’t.
I hope it never comes out to be true that they actually knew the whole time the players were gone for the season and just lied to their fan-base for business purposes.
trs86
2/1/2010-6:50pm at 6:50 pm (UTC -4)
I very much believe that IS what happen NJ, including the lying to the fanbase.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-6:54pm at 6:54 pm (UTC -4)
I am glad your ok with that then because clearly I would not be if I found it to be true.
trs86
2/1/2010-6:57pm at 6:57 pm (UTC -4)
Not really ok with it. I just understand that is how businesses work.
Example the Panthers and Delhome’s mysterious injury when it was apparent that if he started another game the fans would have not shown up.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-7:03pm at 7:03 pm (UTC -4)
Again if you are telling me they purposely lied to the fans by telling them they expect their star players back when in reality they knew all along they were gone for the season all so that fans could come out and fill seats.
Then there is nothing they would not lie about and how could I ever give a team that would so blatantly lie to sell a seat the benefit of the doubt when they say they tried to do anything to improve the team?
I hope I never find that to be true and if I do that it is when they are no longer part of the team be it Minaya or the Wilpons.
trs86
2/1/2010-7:07pm at 7:07 pm (UTC -4)
I really expect that to be true NJ. Again, you see it all over the sports and business world. It’s not pretty and no one likes it but it happens.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-7:15pm at 7:15 pm (UTC -4)
I can’t say if that is a common practice in sports or not to lie about star player injuries to their fan base to sell tickets. I simply am not that knowledgeable on the subject.
I will continue to say I pray I never find out that is what happened in 2009 with the Mets.
trs86
2/1/2010-7:20pm at 7:20 pm (UTC -4)
What do you think the purpose of the NFL injury report? Betting.
Don’t you think that teams use that injury list as part of business. Get fans in the seats, throw off other teams, whatever. I think it happens all the time.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-7:33pm at 7:33 pm (UTC -4)
If you say that is the purpose of the injury report to get fans in the seats and throw off other teams I won’t argue with that. I was never aware of that being the case.
I thought there was NFL rules against lying or providing false info or failing to report a player injury. I am not as avid a fan of football as I am in baseball.
I learned something new but that still does not change what I expect from the Mets as a franchise to act and pray they never report that is what they did in 2009.
trs86
2/1/2010-7:43pm at 7:43 pm (UTC -4)
I doubt THEY ever will. Why would they?
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-7:47pm at 7:47 pm (UTC -4)
LoL, now you made me chuckle. I’m sure they would not do it voluntarily.
trs86
2/1/2010-5:38pm at 5:38 pm (UTC -4)
“I hope the Wilpons anticipate empty seats & lost viewership on SNY. While I will root for the players, ownership turned it’s back on fans.”
Really? So because they did not get Pineiro the owners turned their back on the fans? Would we have been ecstatic if that had happen? Or perhaps Marquis? Or just anyone right? IF they did not overpay an average or mediocre pitcher then they have turned their backs on us. LOL.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-5:49pm at 5:49 pm (UTC -4)
It’s obvious that the Mets have had trouble selling tickets mainly due to what has transpired in the past than what they did this off season. This off season didn’t do much to help but a great Spring training will go a long way in starting to make people believe.
trs86
2/1/2010-6:02pm at 6:02 pm (UTC -4)
I am sure the economy has a lot of teams down and the last 3 years for the Mets did not help. Win games people show up. Lose a lot of games and people don’t.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-6:03pm at 6:03 pm (UTC -4)
agreed
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-6:04pm at 6:04 pm (UTC -4)
Funny because a team that has been in 1st place so often the last 4 years you’d think tickets would not be a problem.
trs86
2/1/2010-6:06pm at 6:06 pm (UTC -4)
Fans only remember what happen last.
trs86
2/1/2010-6:07pm at 6:07 pm (UTC -4)
Take the Celtics, Lets say Allen gets injured, of course Garnett gets injured and then lets say they miss the playoffs. Don’t you think their ticket sells would be down the following year?
fongy2
2/1/2010-7:49pm at 7:49 pm (UTC -4)
Umm, recent Championship banner
hanging in The New
Boston Garden…..
I’d say helps with the good will….
Slight diff than 1
playoff birth in a
decade and 2 in more than 2 decades.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-6:11pm at 6:11 pm (UTC -4)
i was being sarcastic on that one.
trs86
2/1/2010-6:14pm at 6:14 pm (UTC -4)
Damn, see this is what I am talking about. Onley makes one tweet that says one thing, then spins it anti-Met on the next and now every blog on earth comes in with anti-Mets articles about how the owners have turned their backs and fans are going to revolt and life is ending.
GravediggerHebner
2/1/2010-6:29pm at 6:29 pm (UTC -4)
I was going to blame “us” for being one of 100 parrots that repeats what Olney says, because that’s really what this is – it’s one guy saying they are broke, and 100 people repeating it which apparently makes it so.
But then I realized the only reason “us” exist is because the official blog in charge is so bad at what it does, so I blame the official blog for being so bad at what it does and so disinterested in discourse via comments that 100 spin-offs exist and parrot Olney and his ilk. Had the official blog been good at what it does, most of “us” wouldn’t exist and Olney wouldn’t have 100 little voices that combine in a loud chorus parroting what he “hears.”
trs86
2/1/2010-6:33pm at 6:33 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. I just think there has to be some changes in general in reporting and even blogging. There seems to be no one to hold people accountable anymore. If I were the Mets I would come out and say “I have no idea what Olney is talking about and he must just be looking for hits. He has not spoken with us and we have no clue where he is obtaining his information.”
What’s the worst that could happen? The media not like the Mets? Sometimes I think it’s a conspiracy and these guys are after Omar and the Mets because of the Rubin situation. Notice how he mostly stays out of it now?
GravediggerHebner
2/1/2010-6:42pm at 6:42 pm (UTC -4)
The worst that could happen is that Omar butchers the press conference.
There are plenty of valid reasons to fire him, not the least of which is his inability to properly handle press relations in a city where it really matters a lot. This isn’t a city with only one beat writer who sometimes doesn’t go on the road with the team. There are 4 big daily newspapers and 4 network affiliated TV stations, countless smaller newspapers, TV and radio stations, and “us.”
If anything leading up to it didn’t convince anyone that Omar just can’t handle the press, surely last weeks “I have full autonomy” fiasco did. They guy just isn’t cut out to handle adversity from reporters and it’s time to mercifully for all concerned put it to an end. Oh and in case anyone important is reading this, John Ricco isn’t good at it either. I have no recall of any Wayne Krivsky press conferences but I can’t imagine he could be any worse.
trs86
2/1/2010-6:49pm at 6:49 pm (UTC -4)
I have not heard enough of Ricco to determine yet.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-6:51pm at 6:51 pm (UTC -4)
The media are like piranha when they smell blood they go crazy and the Mets have been oozing blood for a long time now. The media will go after anyone today it’s the Mets tomorrow it may be the Yankees. Where there is blood you will find the media feeding. It’s trying to filter through the feeding frenzy for a rational objective post that gets hard.
trs86
2/1/2010-6:59pm at 6:59 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. Right now those stories get the most clicks.
Obviously the answer would be to stop clicking but I think our job here is different than the normal fan.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-7:10pm at 7:10 pm (UTC -4)
clicking is not the problem it’s simply do you believe it? Heck I like Francesa but I know a lot of what he says is to get a rile out of fans but it’s filtering and looking past that and listening to a very knowledgeable sports guy when he wants to be that I enjoy.
Some days are hard to listen but still Francessa is a very smart sports guy, people just need to look past his desire to rile fans up at times.
trs86
2/1/2010-7:23pm at 7:23 pm (UTC -4)
You make a good point. I listen to some political talk radio and I know their purpose. Going there for NEWS would be insane. The problem is those guys don’t really push themselves as honest newsworthy guys. They have an agenda and everyone knows it. A guy like Mike you know what you get. I guess for some of these guys you expect them to be a little more non-partial and responsible in what they do. Or at least be upfront about it.
rustyjr
2/1/2010-7:10pm at 7:10 pm (UTC -4)
look its hard – we love our team and our appetite to see them win is voracious – it is a let down when they make moves that we deem small and week – other than bay that is
trs86
2/1/2010-7:23pm at 7:23 pm (UTC -4)
But I think we over analyze all the small moves. ALL teams make those kind of moves.