With the season pretty much officially over(just waiting on mathematical elimination from post season play), the Mets have some some very important decisions going into the offseason. These decisions I believe will dictate how this decade will play out for the Mets. On average, the Mets make the playoffs at least once every decade. While this is an encouraging stat, I feel what the Mets do THIS offseason will make the difference on how soon we get there.
While there is no surprise who the fall guy will be(Jerry Manuel), im sure most Met fans would agree the Mets need to dig much deeper. Howard Johnson and Dan Warthen also need to see the door. I have always felt “Hojo” has more than outlived his tenure on the Mets. Some debate over the importance of a hitting coach and unless your a major league player, as a fan you can only guess but as a poster put it on another site…if they have been around this long in major league baseball, they must have some importance. Dan Warthen at times seemed at a loss when it came to the pitching staff. While he credited himself on fixing Oliver Perez a few years ago, he some how forgot how to fix him again. Granted, thanks to his uselessness…we would have never been witnessed to R.A. Dickey. Last but not least, Omar Minaya can no longer remain as the Mets GM. While it is at times difficult to assess his tenure as totally horrible(it was under his watch that we have Ike Davis and Jonathan Niese), there has not been enough positive to outweigh the negative. Not to mention his bottom line that is FACT, the Mets have only one divisional title in the 5 years Omar has been the GM along with the highest payroll in the National league up until last year. Its an extremely hard argument to justify Omar keeping his current position. There are several reports that indicate he most likely will be reassigned…which I guess is the best thing for both sides.
Its funny though…as Omar may be on his way out, the Mets find themselves in pretty much the same position they were in when they signed him. The Mets, like they were ending the 04 season are in a transitional period. The Mets are looking for some revival to the franchise after 4 years of heartbreaking ends to the season and a decrease in attendance despite a brand new stadium. The difference between those two transitional periods boils down to one word…youth. The Mets are finishing 2010 with one of the youngest infield in the game as the oldest players on it are 27 years old(David Wright and Jose Reyes….wow time has flew by). The starting rotation has two young and promising pitchers(even though the have had some inconsistencies) and a third who has all the tools to become a star. This is a youth movement probably not seen since the 80′s and theres alot to be excited about.
While there is alot of youth going into next year, that also means alot of inexperience. This is why the offseason is going to be such a transitional period, we cannot afford to mess this up. In my opinion, the NL east will become the toughest overall division in baseball starting as early as maybe next season. To have talent like a Steven Strausberg, Jason Heyward, Hanley Ramirez, Roy Halladay, Josh Johnson and Brian Mccann all in the same division for the next few years….you can get lost VERY quickly. Thats not to say the Mets dont have talent because they do, its just the gap between all the teams is closing. I will leave the speculation as to who the new GM will be to more knowledgeable people than me(Grave) but whoever the new guy is needs to understand that this team has an very slim opportunity to hang tight with all the other teams in the league. The new GM needs to bring in the RIGHT people for the job, not the most popular. I cannot stress enough that the Mets CANNOT afford to mess up this offseason. Along with the right management, they need to bring in much better supporting players. The likes of Gary Matthews Jr and Frank Cat will not get the job done. One of the biggest strengths of the 06 season was great role players like Jose Valentin. Im not going to say its easy to find but the Mets need to make more logical roll of the dices.
As a surprise to no one…the Mets need to cut some dead weight. There is no defensible reason to have a pitcher that is occupying 12 million dollars of your payroll NOT pitch for almost a full month. Yes, he may be terrible but in a lost season, I believe there is no reason to not pitch him. Granted, Oliver Perez cannot put himself out there to pitch but at the same time, he did not help himself by declining opportunity after opportunity to put himself in a position where he can take his time and work on whatever he needs to. Whether Oliver Perez gets cut or traded, the Mets cannot afford to have him as even an option for next years rotation. Another guy, Luis Castillo cannot be here next year. Luis believes he is a starter and ill let others debate that but his constant sulking about playing time is a distraction the new manager just doesnt need. The same situation applies to Castillo, traded or cut he cannot be an option for the roster next year. If the Mets finances are as bad as some have reported, perhaps the last domino to fall will be Carlos Beltran. Carlos gets alot of crap from just about all angles but whats undeniable is he is one of the BEST center fielders in Mets history. I know it sure doesnt feel that way sometimes but truly he is one of the best. The Mets will most likely have to eat some of his contract but I believe he can be traded.
Last but definitely not least, the Mets must improve their public relations. As an organization they need to find a way to reconnect with the fan base. Whether that comes via more face time by the Wilpons or winning, they need to find a way to convince Met fans that they do have a plan and are willing to see it out. Ive said this many times before, this organization is NOT embarrassed and this is one of the key issues that needs addressing. Its almost on a yearly basis that there is SOME drama out of the Mets organization…and usually its not the good kind. This cannot continue to go on. They need to get a tighter leash on what goes on day to day and get out of their own way. I feel like its hard sometimes to take this organization seriously and I think that has an impact going forward in alot of areas. Sure the Mets can just keep throwing money as an incentive to play here but they way they go about treating some personnel im sure turns off very helpful players form coming here. The argument im sure against this will be that Omar has always gotten the guy he wanted but at the same token, when was the last time Omar got a guy at real market value or lower? Playing in NY sure its one thing but im sure you would be hard pressed to find someone that thinks the Mets got enough bang for their buck. All im saying is that we need a drama free organization going forward. They need to restore an image for this franchise and im sure it will take some time but in the long run im sure it will be worth the effort.
28 comments
stickguy
9/13/2010-2:44pm at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
MC actually has a post up this afternoon discussing FO options (from his insider discussions. Yes, he is a “playa”).
basically came down to Keep Omar but bring in a Sr. BB guy (which seems to mean someone to replace or bump upstairs Jeffy). Or, reassign him, and just get a new GM. Or 3, blow up the whole FO sturcture, and get a serious force in to rebuild it the right way (the nuclear option).
Note, I am winging this out of memorey, but that was the gist of it.
Certainly I think most everyone votes for the full rebuild model.
But, if nothing else, it seems (per him) that the FO foks fully realize what a mess it is, and that the current model does not work, and needs to be changed. So hopefully, that happens.
metsfan4decades
9/13/2010-2:46pm at 2:46 pm (UTC -4)
Wow, that’s a mouthful, Dirty. Well said. I especially agree with the last paragraph.
Omar, coaches, Perez, Castillo must go.
MC just put up his ‘insider’ information on this subject – for whatever it’s worth:
Buzz: Three Options for the Front Office
stickguy
9/13/2010-2:49pm at 2:49 pm (UTC -4)
at this point, I thin Omar is toast. For many reasons, and maybe not the right ones by the Wilpons, but end result, he is gone.
and absolutely Jerry and the gang have to go.
Beyond that, I agree that Ollie and Slappy need to be excised, even if just to keep the fans with pitchforks calm.
metsfan4decades
9/13/2010-2:52pm at 2:52 pm (UTC -4)
LOL. A mob with pitchforks can get ugly.
njstuckintx
9/13/2010-2:56pm at 2:56 pm (UTC -4)
I hear you on pacifying the crowds, but really, I don’t want a crowd pacifier. I would like smart baseball operations that will make the right move, regardless of what the crowds would like. Similar to the proverbial “trading a player 1 year early vs. 1 year late”.
Now, cutting those 2 would prob. be best for both BB operations and making the masses happy…
stickguy
9/13/2010-3:13pm at 3:13 pm (UTC -4)
yeah, that is the right move.
I guess my side point was, that sometiems the team does the right thing, even if it is for the wrong reason!
Mr North Jersey
9/13/2010-3:03pm at 3:03 pm (UTC -4)
Saw that and unless he is holding off on a bigger announcement I don’t see much here that wasn’t already speculated other than,
Mets are “in a serious self-evaluation mode since losing three of four to the Braves in Atlanta to start this month.”
I would of thought they were in evaluation mode when they got back home from the 2-9 road trip back on July 26.
Omar Minaya stays on as GM with someone else possibly getting “installed above him to offer differing opinions and communicate with Ownership”
Don’t recall seeing this scenario described before.
njstuckintx
9/13/2010-3:06pm at 3:06 pm (UTC -4)
Omar Minaya stays on as GM with someone else possibly getting “installed above him to offer differing opinions and communicate with Ownership”
Doesn’t that basically mean, no Omar, you are no longer GM?
Mr North Jersey
9/13/2010-3:12pm at 3:12 pm (UTC -4)
Well He is still Gm just that now they would create a position that supercedes his title as GM. Call it “Super GM” if you must. LoL
On another note Cerone just posted the rest of his interview with so-called higher ups.
http://www.metsblog.com/2010/09/13/buzz-jose-reyes-the-roster-and-the-future/
Let me know if you find any new piece of intel from that post.
stickguy
9/13/2010-3:16pm at 3:16 pm (UTC -4)
nothing exciting in there, other than only 5 guys being locks to be back next year (johan, DW, pelf, Neise and Bay).
OH, and that Reyes is leaning toward playing out his option, but that is the opposite of what was reported last week!
and in that situation, it actually sounds like Jeffy would be getting replaced, with the new guy takin gover much of his BB side role (along with some pieces of Omar’s job, making Omar more of a GM lite or asst. GM)
stickguy
9/13/2010-2:47pm at 2:47 pm (UTC -4)
also, for anyone that has spent time in the business world (looking at you , MF), you have spent a lot of time in meetings and on project teams.
and in both cases, if it is truly a open collaberation, chaos will ensue and nothing valuable will get down.
The reason is, someone has to be in charge, to set the tone, make decisions, and vitally important, hold people accountable.
from many reports, the met FO just does not have this. So, communication does not happen, or people realize there is a problem and something must be done, but always figure that someone else is responsible and will do it!
“when everyone is in charge, no one is in charge”
njstuckintx
9/13/2010-2:51pm at 2:51 pm (UTC -4)
For God so loved the world, he did not send a committee.
metsfan4decades
9/13/2010-2:54pm at 2:54 pm (UTC -4)
Absolutely agree. I think there are very few times that ‘managing by committee’ can be successful. Usually, that just results in everyone spinning their wheels, going off on their own agendas and sometimes the worst – back stabbing anyone who gets in the way of your agenda.
Ceetar
9/13/2010-3:11pm at 3:11 pm (UTC -4)
I’m not advocating either way here, but I think the case can be made that Omar might be on the right track:
http://www.ceetar.com/optimisticmetsfan/2010/09/13/omar-could-stay-for-2011/
My biggest thing right now is that I hope they haven’t decided anything (beyond who they think should leave) If they’ve made a replacement decision, get them here. If not, spend a _lot_ of time thinking about it and interviewing.
ignore public relations. That is 95% win-loss record anyway.
ignore the fans. 95% of the time they aren’t actually willing to put their money where their mouth is. Again, that’s winning. More fans will spend money on the Mets if they’re a winning team with Oliver Perez than a mediocre to okay team without him. (Not to say he doesn’t have an influence on if the team is good or bad, but that the decision should be made based on what he can (not what he could’ve) contribute for 2011, not what the fans feel about him)
make smart decisions, hire smart people, and be prepared. Even the smartest people and best decisions backfire and there is a lot of luck involved either way. Hire people you think can handle this.
stickguy
9/13/2010-3:19pm at 3:19 pm (UTC -4)
like th eold chicken egg arguement” what comes first, wins or clubhouse chemistry?
WIll look at your piece later, but even if omar has managed to cobble together some kind of viable plan (starting with hoarding th efarm last off season), I would still like someone better to actually executue it!
also, there is a huge part of the GM job beyond just roster creation. Managing the organization, PR, medical staff, minor leagues, etc. And that for sure does not seem to be omar’s strength.
Ceetar
9/13/2010-3:22pm at 3:22 pm (UTC -4)
That’s the crux of the post I’d say. I think Omar’s done the job assigned to him pretty well, but it’s fair to argue that he’s not the best guy to finalize it.
I’d want him to convince me. I’d want a replacement to convince me. Only one question needs to be asked. “How do the Mets win in 2011?” Omar probably has a leg up by having more knowledge about the team in general, but if the roadmap doesn’t lead to the canyon of heroes, he can peddle it elsewhere.
metsfan4decades
9/13/2010-3:30pm at 3:30 pm (UTC -4)
Ah…I was waiting to see who would be the first to present a side for possibly keeping Omar. Well thought out, Ceetar. Can’t say I agree (as you’ll see from my comments) but I guess it’s one perspective.
Mr North Jersey
9/13/2010-3:30pm at 3:30 pm (UTC -4)
Very good article Ceetar. I want to commend you on accurately highlighting the good things Minaya has done as GM.
Still Ceetar the bottom line to me is has he built a winning team? The answer for me is no.
Has he developed the minor league system adding promising talent? Yes and maybe that is what he really is best suited for. Developing and finding Minor League talent but building a winning team is something he has failed at.
Eventually like a hitting coach being held responsible for an entire team’s struggles where the coach understands that when the team struggles his job is at risk. The GM eventually has to be held responsible at the team’s failing to get into and win in the post season.
Ceetar
9/13/2010-3:35pm at 3:35 pm (UTC -4)
I do agree with that. It’s why I was reluctant to say “Omar SHOULD be the GM”. I’m honestly not comfortable making that determination. I feel like there are unknowns, quantifiable unknowns, that people (Jeff/Fred) can look at that go beyond the results.
We probably don’t lose anything by firing Omar as long as he’s replaced by someone talented. Who knows, maybe it’s even better. Bring in someone with no attachment to the draftees. (Such as the perception that maybe Omar really has a soft spot for seeing Fernando Martinez succeed as a Met, versus a cold statistical analysis of his value that someone else could bring)
But the Mets are in prime position to make something happen in 2011, given the right direction and decisions made in the offseason. it starts with picking, or sticking with, those decision makers.
GravediggerHebner
9/13/2010-4:12pm at 4:12 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks for the shout out Dirty but I have no idea who the next GM should be. As difficult as it is (at least for me) to learn about and form an opinion on field manager candidates it is 10 times harder to do so with general manager candidates.
As far as the relationship between the Wilpons and the Mets public relations my personal opinion would be LESS face time from the Wilpons. Ideally I don’t want to know they exist. I think of sports owners like I do referees, umpires or 3rd base coaches – if I’m not thinking about them, not talking about them, it’s likely because they’re doing a good job. I don’t want to see Jeff Wilpon anymore. OK that’s not entirely true – I want to see him once more, when he introduces his new GM. Then I want him to go into hiding and let that GM do his job.
Ultimately I guess I believe the Mets are at a crossroads because if I didn’t believe that I would have to think they had reached the worst place they could go and I don’t think that. I think it could get worse. So there’s that.
My non-specific outline (not player X, manager Y) for Mets ownership is this: stop considering the public relations aspect, positive or negative, of anything you are thinking about doing, and related to that stop trying to manipulate public opinion; and figure out who it is you truly trust in the sport of baseball and gather their opinions on who good “baseball men (or women)” are and hire those people and let them do their jobs.
stickguy
9/13/2010-4:23pm at 4:23 pm (UTC -4)
word up.
IMO, as long as they pick from a pool of qualified applicants, the actual GM is much less important (for this team, at this time – Hey, that sounds like a catchy slogan!) than what they ask them to do.
If they want to directly replace Omar in the disfunctional chaos (apparent) that is the met FO, with Jeff kibitzing on every move, then it is not worth making a change.
If, however, they take the opportunity to change the way the FO operates (give the new BB GM/VP actual “buck stops here” control and authority, with Jeffy stepping into the background), then they will be in way better shape.
GravediggerHebner
9/13/2010-4:33pm at 4:33 pm (UTC -4)
I agree I just wish I knew whether his ego (Jeff Wilpon’s) is prepared to deal successfully with that setback. Because if it is the correct turn at the crossroads could be a fun trip to a great place. Otherwise I’m just going to use an ellipsis…
stickguy
9/13/2010-4:46pm at 4:46 pm (UTC -4)
well, assuming he has a PC and knows about the internet (hell, assuming they get the news or post delivered), he most know that he is becoming a laughing stock (personally), and is taking heat for being unqualified.
so does his ego make him take over entirely (“I’ll show those bastards!”), or smart enough to bring in someone else to do the job, while “promoting” himself upstairs to do more important things?
IMO, his best move is to pin th erap on Omar, and bring in a heavy hitter, and publically hand over the keys to the kingdom, then step back into the shadows. From which, of course, he will likely continue to meddle where he can!
GravediggerHebner
9/13/2010-4:50pm at 4:50 pm (UTC -4)
Unless he’s a complete fool he has to know that the team winning a lot will reflect well enough on him whether he is actually pulling important strings or not.
Even if he hires a good GM then disappears the perfect time for his reappearance is the parade through the Canyon of Heroes. 99% of Mets fans (there’ll always be a holdout or two) will love him that day.
kingman 26
9/13/2010-6:24pm at 6:24 pm (UTC -4)
Nice piece Dirty.
Omar simply must go. We have to remember that the only reason we had/have Pedro/Beltran/Johan/KRod/Bay is that we either were the only serious bidders or we outbid others in years and/or $$$. We don’t have them do to Omar’s brilliance. That is just not reality.
The annual big-game hunt has not panned out.
I also think things may get worse, as other than the Nats, everyone else will be very good next year. And as much as I want to believe in the kids, none of them has shown that they will be a star. Niese–maybe.
I think they are going to keep Omar and hire someone cheap like Wally, wait things out for one year while Ollie/Slappy/Beltran’s deal expire, and while they see which of the crop of kids has serious potential.
I approve of all of this except keeping Omar. I am willing to wait a year. I was thrilled for all of the big money free agents, but 2006 is all we have to show for the entire Omar era.
Wait a year, no rash moves, and then we can see what we have in Thole/Ike/Tejada/Duda/Mejia/Niese/Parnell etc., if Pagan can sustain what he did this year, if Bay will come back, etc. Then we can make trades and decide where we need to spend on free agents after many of these questions are answered.
stickguy
9/13/2010-7:24pm at 7:24 pm (UTC -4)
Knog, you do realize that FA is basically like a big auction, right? And generally, the high bidder wins?
so of course Omar got players by outbidding everyone else.
the same exact way that other teams (including, or especially, the yankees) get players. Make the best damned offer.
and keep in mind that NY is expensive, so the $ amount atually has to be higher to net as much as you would get in many other states. and to offset the joy of having idjits like Sherman in your face all of the time!
kingman 26
9/13/2010-8:32pm at 8:32 pm (UTC -4)
Sure Sickt, I do realize that, but my point is just that this is really the only major feather in Omar’s cap, and anyone with his budget could have done this.
stickguy
9/13/2010-10:54pm at 10:54 pm (UTC -4)
maybe. being able to write the checks is a major plus, but you still gotta be sure to write them to the right guys.