“When you have a trip like this,†Minaya said, “you have to sit down and assess how you’re going to get it right. What needs to be done to get it right. We’re not just going to just sit back.â€
That is a quote from Omar Minaya after the (season turning) 2-9 road trip that pretty much put the front office in a tough spot going into the trade deadline. When the Mets got home, Omar Minaya offered reassurance that they will re-asses the Mets coaching situation after the home stand. The Mets just lost 14-1 against a last place team, going 3-3 over their much anticipated home stand. This is of course after the Mets did not do ANYTHING at the trade deadline.
You see, I can understand the Mets not wanting to part with prospects for a temporary piece because I think they realize that there is no “silver bullet” that will fix this team. Not to mention the prospects we DO have that are of value in a trade are either playing on the big club now or represent the few potential stars in our farm system. Prospects should serve one of two things, they should either offer cheap production at a thin position on a club or they should serve as trade pieces. Right now, we seem to only have the earlier scenario and I hope if this trade deadline has done anything, it would have been to open the Mets eyes and have them more focus on getting the BEST talent available at the draft…at any cost. If they feel uncomfortable spending that kind of cash on an unproven player(a.k.a prospect), then get a better scouting department.
However my rant today has nothing to do with the draft(we can debate that another time), my rant has to do with Oliver Perez continued employment on the Mets. This man now has only 43 innings pitched and is sporting a 6 plus ERA. Prior to today, the manager flat out said he wouldnt play him at home, although we saw just why today. Oliver Perez needed just about 50 pitches over two innings, has never topped 86 mph on any pitch and gave up 4 earned runs.
It just amazes me how the Mets cannot see what Oliver Perez is doing. With his 5th rejection to accept a minor league assignment to IMPROVE himself(or try to), Oliver Perez in this authors opinion is DARING the Mets to fire him. He is the prime example of a selfish player that is holding the Mets organization hostage at HIS will…not the other way around as it should be. What is the point of paying a player 12 million dollars if he doesn’t want to be here and has ZERO aspirations to improve himself. I dont believe there is an organization in baseball that would put up with what Oliver Perez is doing. Granted, releasing Oliver Perez is not going to turn this team around but its one hell of a good start. The Mets are playing with 24 guys instead of 25, is this the team they want the fans to keep paying to support? An organization who is more preoccupied with what a player makes than to field the best team to win? The Mets realized the difference when they switched out Mike Jacobs for Ike Davis and Chris Carter for Gary Matthews Jr, why is it so hard for them to move on from Oliver Perez to someone who can actually CONTRIBUTE to the team.
Im tired of the Mets putting the team in the middle of their ridiculous politics. THE TEAM IS SUFFERING WITH EVERY DAY OLIVER PEREZ IS STILL HERE! You are sending the wrong message not only to the fans but to the players on the team. The contractual obligations to a player is more important than winning ballgames. Now I have never been much of a Jerry supporter but I will respect him for at least trying to make a point to the front office. If the continued employment of Oliver Perez and the non moves at the deadline is part of some passive aggressive way to get Jerry Manuel fired then please do us and him a favor…just fire the guy. Stop acting like high schoolers trying to run a professional organization. There is a reason you should be worried about ticket sales. The fans are not oblivious to whats going on and have had enough.
We cannot go back in time to right the wrongs of the last few years. I would say the Mets have had the worst stretch of 4 years that any organization in sports have had to go through given our market. It is clear that a change is needed and while they may not be so inclined to fire their manager, they should at the very least start with Oliver Perez. Send a message that you are trying to get back on track because the only message you are sending all of baseball is this organization cannot be taken seriously. If Oliver Perez somehow reinvents himself in another organization, so be it. That may just mean he needed a change of scenery as so many players have needed in the past to find success. Oliver Perez has had chance after chance to prove he has changed and each time he has failed to convince anybody. I should rephrase, anybody but the Mets organization. So again I ask…after going 5-12 since the all star break with a huge series against the Braves and Phillies, are you going to stay pat? Or are you going to wait until we are completely out of any race to do a move that should have been done along time ago? You want to know what your fans are thinking…just re-read this post, theres the “pulse” of the fans.
37 comments
rustyjr
8/1/2010-6:07pm at 6:07 pm (UTC -4)
truer words have not been spoken – btw has jerry been fired yet?
rustyjr
8/1/2010-6:08pm at 6:08 pm (UTC -4)
btw as per mlbtr
•Jim Callis of Baseball America (via Twitter) thinks it’s very likely that the Mets will sign their first round selection, pitcher Matt Harvey. However, Callis doesn’t feel that the pitcher is worth going over slot for.
stickguy
8/1/2010-6:16pm at 6:16 pm (UTC -4)
some site had a piece recommending they pass, and take the extra pick next year in a deeper draft.
in abstract, that might make sense, but especially now with the agitated fan base, and no SP depth in the system, that would go over like a lead balloon.
stickguy
8/1/2010-6:14pm at 6:14 pm (UTC -4)
well, it is hard to argue they are still in the race. At best, they are in that dark horse, Rockies area where a once a decade run can put you in, but I don’t think they have the horses to pull that off.
And dirty, I am a little fuzzy here. Are you pro or anti Ollie? You should try harder with your pieces, it really was not clear!
dirtysanchez
8/1/2010-6:25pm at 6:25 pm (UTC -4)
lol..ill keep that in mind for my next rant
oleosmirf
8/1/2010-6:26pm at 6:26 pm (UTC -4)
my question is why don’t the media just flat out ask Omar, why is Ollie still on the roster when its clear he can’t get anybody out????
i really want to hear his response…
rustyjr
8/1/2010-6:42pm at 6:42 pm (UTC -4)
Omar will say that Ollie got 6 outs – and only issued 1 walk – he will neglect to say anything about the 4 runs
asod75
8/1/2010-6:54pm at 6:54 pm (UTC -4)
My dream scenario would have Ollie and Castillo being DFA’d and Jerry fired, but I’d take one of the three. At least do something. Would be nice to have the team show up for these road series against the Braves and Phillies. They pretty much have to go 4-2 to stay on the periphery of the race, 5-1 or better to climb back in it. At the very least would like to see them put up a fight. And cutting dead weight like Ollie would be a step in the right direction….
metsfan4decades
8/1/2010-7:01pm at 7:01 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t care at this point in time, if the Mets FO thinks we’re still in this race or not.
Ollie is part of the problem and he must go. Now. Today. He shouldn’t be on the plane to Atlanta.
There isn’t one good reason, even far fetched, to keep him here. It’s a sunk cost. Everyone has seen enough to know he’s not anywhere near the pitcher he was…and that’s saying a lot. Don’t care if he somehow finds some success next year. It will be fleeting at best and at worst just a repeat of this year.
Admit the failure, tell Ollie he wins, and release him.
oleosmirf
8/1/2010-7:20pm at 7:20 pm (UTC -4)
+3
trs86
8/1/2010-7:52pm at 7:52 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah they gotta do something with Ollie. Where I always differ is why they are doing what they are. Nice article. I disagree about the worst 4 year stretch. We had had 1 very bad year and some bad weeks. Much easier to be into the games and entertained than during the dark ages of my Met fanhood when we actually did suck.
metsfan4decades
8/1/2010-8:01pm at 8:01 pm (UTC -4)
For us long time fans…don’t you agree though this is the most bipolar season we’ve ever had?
I’ve never seen such reversal’s of fortunes in such a short period of time.
Not so good April, a May that had us believing, June that started out O.K., then last month right back to what we were experiencing in April.
In the past, it’s either we were very good and competed for a good part of the season or were very bad and were out of it almost from the get go.
trs86
8/1/2010-8:20pm at 8:20 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah this one is strange.
Kingman 26
8/1/2010-9:05pm at 9:05 pm (UTC -4)
I completely and totally agree.
In fact, TRS and Mr N even called ME bi-polar for my reactions to the season! Never been called that before…and these guys probably know me about as well as people who I have never met could.
And they were right!
Hazmet
8/1/2010-10:35pm at 10:35 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve said this here before but “what only 2 poles?, amateur”
Hang in there, lets see what hot ‘lanta holds in store.
Hazmet
8/1/2010-10:40pm at 10:40 pm (UTC -4)
It’s been said that a team takes on the characteristics of it’s Manager. Bipolar, yeah that seems about right…
GravediggerHebner
8/1/2010-8:00pm at 8:00 pm (UTC -4)
Like TRS my only argument would be about the 4 year stretch but in a different vein.
What I think you’re getting at with the 4 year stretch is after 2006 expectations were reasonably high and yet we’ve got 2 years of gut wrenching near-misses with the post season followed by the lost 2009 and now what’s rapidly deteriorating into a lost 2010. So yes in that context this 4 year stretch has been rough.
But for me having lived through it not as rough as 1987-1991 when considering the same context of expectations and results. My expectations for 87-91 were even higher than mine for 07-10 and what should have been IMO a dynasty with multiple WS championships got only 1 and a punch in the gut from Kirk Gibson (deja vu).
Given my higher expectations the post 1986 Mets were more disappointing (to me) than this group today. I thought this 2010 team was probably a 3rd place team so being in 4th is not as crushing to me as thinking they’re going to win a WS and them not even getting to it.
metsfan4decades
8/1/2010-8:04pm at 8:04 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed.
1987 was the one and only opening day game I’ve ever attended. I had such high hopes, certain we had a dynasty even though the FO sold off some parts.
And ’88? Everytime I saw Gibson in the dugout this series or walk to the mound all I kept thinking about was how that ’88 post season ended….
trs86
8/1/2010-8:15pm at 8:15 pm (UTC -4)
It’s just 2007 and 2008 had me on the edge of my seat all season. 2009 was in deed lost. 2010 looks to be a very troubling year trying to figure out what happen. However, it is no where near has hopeless as some of the years in the past.
Mr North Jersey
8/1/2010-11:15pm at 11:15 pm (UTC -4)
Comparing what is the worst 4 year stretch in one’s opinion is like people comparing scars. My 4 years was worse then your 4 years.
In time this 4 year stretch may be nothing compared to another one down the road but since this is the now this definitely hurts.
I think we can agree that this past 4 years have not been great but in the end does it really matter which were worse?
Who knows maybe for some these past 4 years have been great. I don’t know why but still maybe it is for someone. Yankee fan most likely
GravediggerHebner
8/2/2010-12:06am at 12:06 am (UTC -4)
Sorry. I’ll stop comparing my hopeless apples to your hopeless oranges even though my hopeless apples are more hopeless to me than your hopeless oranges are to me but I can see how my hopeless apples might be less hopeless to you than your hopeless oranges are. Banana?
Mr North Jersey
8/2/2010-12:08am at 12:08 am (UTC -4)
Hahahaha
Now I’m craving a fruit salad.
Kingman 26
8/1/2010-8:50pm at 8:50 pm (UTC -4)
Dirty, I think this is the very best piece I have ever read of yours.
Well thought-out, outstandingly written, and I agree with just about everything.
And while I think Chris Carter is a terrible and useless player at this level, even THAT sentence made me take a look at Matthews and damn was he BAD! 65 PA, 1 RBI, and 24 Ks?? OMG.
Great piece Dirty; thanks for writing it.
gonzowill
8/1/2010-9:03pm at 9:03 pm (UTC -4)
Rusty, again right on the money. As everyone knows, I hate Perez on this team but I think his antics might hurt him once he is relaeased. Do you think he now has a rep of being a selfish player? Question 2, what does this say about Boris, obviously Perez isn’t smart enough himself to make some of the decisions.
Do you think his contract along with Castillo’s stopped Omar from making any moves? Maybe, just maybe, the only reason Omar didn’t pick up another reliever is because he has no room for him. New releiver=release of Perez=NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
Kingman 26
8/1/2010-9:03pm at 9:03 pm (UTC -4)
Forgive me if this has been said; have been in and out all day, but the DBags are 5–12 since their last game prior to the AS break–with all 5 wins coming against us.
Vomit.
gonzowill
8/1/2010-9:08pm at 9:08 pm (UTC -4)
I say we not only sign HoJo for another year, but hell, let’s give him a raise! How many hits did the Mets manage to get today?
johan4cy
8/1/2010-9:27pm at 9:27 pm (UTC -4)
I played volleyball against Frank Catalanotto today, and let’s just say he should stick to baseball….wait, never mind he already tried that.
CaseStreet
8/1/2010-10:15pm at 10:15 pm (UTC -4)
Since the Mets seem to be following a one month on one month off plan, I expect the Mets to go 18-10 in August. They face ATL, PHI, COL, PHI, HOU, PIT, FLA, HOU, ATL. They have winning records against ATL and PHI and should be able to beat the PIT and HOU. FLA and COL will beat us.
CaseStreet
8/1/2010-10:17pm at 10:17 pm (UTC -4)
71-61 by end of the month good enough?
gategem
8/2/2010-2:54am at 2:54 am (UTC -4)
Bet your house on that! Not mine, mind you, but your’s. LOL
metsfan4decades
8/1/2010-10:25pm at 10:25 pm (UTC -4)
Amazin Ave Five Ways To Improve The Mets (And Restore Some Sanity To The Fanbase):
http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/8/1/1600112/five-ways-to-improve-the-mets-and
1-4 I’m on board with. I think you’d be hard pressed to find many Met fans who were not.
#1 DFA Perez (Duh) pick up Chan Ho Park (I don’t know about that one…)
#2 DFA Franceour, bring up Evans
#3 DFA Cora and bring up one of Tejada, Turner or even Satin
#4 Bat Reyes/Pagan/Wright 1-2-3 in the order.
#5…I can’t relate. Probably because I’ve never been to a game at Citi Field and don’t know who Artest is.
trs86
8/1/2010-10:32pm at 10:32 pm (UTC -4)
Well I could be on 1 if they did not include Chan Ho Parkinglot.
2 makes no sense at all. Why DFA our 4th OF? Is he hurting the team? Perhaps he gets dealt in a waiver deal.
3 not very popular and basically does nothing.
4 yeah I agree
CaseStreet
8/1/2010-10:36pm at 10:36 pm (UTC -4)
I can only agree with #4.
No reason to DFA Francouer. Even if he’s just serving as a defensive replacement, he still seems to be a good clubhouse guy and w/ Carter on the team, Evans is redundant.
Also, as long as Bay is out, would you rather have Evans or Frenchy playing the field. As horrid as Frenchy’s been at the plate, I’d much rather have an outfield of Pagan-Beltran-Frenchy than Evans-Beltran-Pagan.
trs86
8/1/2010-10:39pm at 10:39 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed Case.
metsfan4decades
8/1/2010-10:51pm at 10:51 pm (UTC -4)
IDK…Franceour just flat out cannot hit and doesn’t get on. The fact that he hacks at just about every pitch means every once in a while he connects with one. But I don’t think it’s enough to justify keeping him in the lineup.
I like him, his enthusiasm, he’s got a good arm, but he can’t hit. And he’s slow, he’s certainly no Pagan or Bay in that OF. Keeping him in the lineup means the bottom of the lineup is a black hole of nothing.
I’m sure he’s here until the end of the year and I certainly won’t be angry about it – not like Perez – but I just don’t see the point. I’d probably have less of a problem with it if the rest of the lineup 1-6 was raking and we were still in the race.
trs86
8/1/2010-11:54pm at 11:54 pm (UTC -4)
Problem is there is even less of a point to have Evans running/strolling around out there. I guess you could start Jesus full time
.
CaseStreet
8/1/2010-10:56pm at 10:56 pm (UTC -4)
Release (promote) Pat Misch.