Our friends over at Metsblog have a report on long-time non-Met Orlando Hudson today. In it, they mention how the gritty Mr. H apparently told WFAN this morning that he does not want to be a platoon player; he wants to start, and might be willing to split time when he is 40.
Well, this may not be serious news, but let’s hope he does not gain the ear of the new Met GM.
Hudson is about to turn just 33, but his stats show clear signs of decline, and let us hope that we do not finally see him in a Met uniform as 2011 approaches.
During the year, Hudson and others like him (Adam Dunn? Victor Martinez? David Eckstein?) may have seemed appealing–the thought process being that a couple of pretty productive veterans signed to short-term deals might help the Mets contend in 2011 while lessening pressure on the kids, and hopefully providing the production needed to be a winning team.
The feeling here now is that the combination of injuries to older players and promise showed by youth suggest that it is time for some patience.
As many commercials for some of our nation’s finest law firms often state in small print, past results do not guarantee similar future outcomes. While this indeed may often be true, the Met record at free agent signings has been pretty awful over the last half-decade.
Yes, the Omar era is now receding into history, but when one looks back at Pedro, Beltran, Alou, El Duque, Wagner, KRod, Bay–what does one see? A hell of a lot of hope and even more time on the DL.
It’s time for youth, for better or worse. The approach we have seen year after year of bringing in that one big name and hoping he will lead us to the promised land just has failed dramatically. Fans as old as this writer do remember that while it took a while, there was a lot to root for in the early 1980s, as each year saw more and more interesting young players. Not all of them became Darryl, Doc, Mookie, and Wally–some became Bruce Bochy and Ron Gardenhire. Good managers yes, but pretty bad players.
Still, the youth movement ultimately paid off.
The group of youngsters we have now is not exactly filled with blue-chip, can’t-miss types, but there is a lot of talent there and a lot of hope. In addition, should Johan, Bay, and Reyes recover most of their past all-star form, if David Wright continues to be himself, if Pagan continues to produce, and if Dickey and Pelf have a few more years in them like 2009, the team will not need Thole, Ike, Tejada, Mejia, Niese, and Gee to be all-stars–should they all simply become competent everyday players, this team can be formidable in 2012 and beyond.
These kids will not develop by sitting behind more aging free agent imports, and we must hope that our new GM does not delude himself into going for the quick fix and thinking that, as many fans believe, the team is “one player away.” It isn’t. it is almost certainly 1-2 years away.
The new GM must accept a program akin to an accelerated version of what Frank Cashen began in 1980. Let Jose take the time needed to become the old Jose. Let Johan rehab at his own pace. Let Jason Bay regain health and confidence. Let KRod ease back into becoming dominant.
This is not to say that 2011 should be written off; no year should be. But if the team is going to contend in 2011, it should be because Thole hits .300 with 40 2B, Ike hits 30+ HR, Niese wins 16, Gee wins 12, Takahashi becomes one of the game’s best setup men, Tejada hits .250 while playing Gold Glove defense (or Murph hits .280/20/80 while playing plausible defense), and Evans and Duda become excellent bench players. Is this likely? Perhaps not.
But the point is, these players must be allowed playing time without looking over their shoulders. Sure, there is something to be said for having gritty, experienced, successful veterans around to teach the youngsters how to play the game. But this group may have enough of those types in Johan, Dickey, KRod, Bay, and Wright.
The feeling here is that the 2011 Mets, while perhaps headed for another roughly .500, non-playoff finish, are going to potentially lay the groundwork for the next era of serious success for the franchise. Some players take a year or two at the highest level to develop; Thole, Ike, Tejada/Murphy, Niese, and Gee, and possibly Mejia, FMart and/or Duda need to be given free reign to sink or swim in 2011.
It’s time for a patient approach that stresses homegrown talent. The team has a large, varied group of players with potential. 2011 is the year to see how they can fare as everyday players. In a year’s time, we will have infinitely more information on which to base the longer-term plans for the team. We also will have seen the expiration of the contracts known as the Three Stooges of the Albatross which go by the names of Slappy, Ollie, and Beltran. Depending on the success of the young players individually and of the team as a whole in 2011, next fall may be the time to look for another big name and/or a veteran or two to fill a hole or two.
The time is not now to shop for this era’s version of Keith or The Kid, or to bring in older short-term veterans. Next fall may be that time. Let’s hope the new front office denizens show the patience and foresight often lacking in their more recent predecessors.
Or rather Wright?!? } – 
9 comments
njstuckintx
10/22/2010-2:51pm at 2:51 pm (UTC -4)
Other than the font size, nice article. I, too, would rather see the kids play it out than bring in MrGrudson.
And it’s a shame the kids didn’t get a chance to play as much as they should of when the Gansta was at the helm. He should have been canned with 3 weeks left in the season, but that’s an old debate and now in the past.
metsfan4decades
10/22/2010-2:58pm at 2:58 pm (UTC -4)
Other than needed a magnifying glass to read this (yes, my middle aged eyes are that bad), I largely agree with points made here.
It’s way too soon to know what this team will look like next year.
How many of the newbies might be up for trade bait?
Just who is going to play 2nd (and just say no to Hudson)?
Will Taka even be back?
Will Gee be one of the starting 5 out of the gate?
The only point I don’t agree with is labeling Beltran’s contract an albatross. If those multi years are what it took to bring him here at 29, then I was willing to take that chance. Up until 2009 I believe he was as advertised – especially since I didn’t buy into the hype that he was also being paid to be some type of ‘leader’.
Maybe he’ll return to form first half of the year and they can do something at the trade deadline – especially if we’re not in contention.
Prismo
10/22/2010-2:59pm at 2:59 pm (UTC -4)
AGREED. And this goes for pitching too. *glares at a number of fellow commenters*
Great piece Kingman. I’ll have more to say after I *EAT*.
TRS86
10/22/2010-3:07pm at 3:07 pm (UTC -4)
To me it really depends on if the Mets believe that future player is ready to contribute at the MLB level or is even a future candidate there. 2B I think we have plenty of options so I can see letting them fight it out and see what happens. However, pitching we have other issues. I would much rather have a one year stop gap pitching for 2011 than to rush Mejia or another pitching prospect that is just not ready. To me that does not help the future but has potential to damage it.
stickguy
10/22/2010-3:11pm at 3:11 pm (UTC -4)
certainly the pitching staff is the best lace to do this. You can decide to let a guy like Tejada or F Mart somewhat learn on the job, but it is much scarier to have someone in the rotation trying to do it.
stickguy
10/22/2010-3:10pm at 3:10 pm (UTC -4)
Not sure if you are making an arguement against every getting ST vets to plug holes, or just not this off season. But, it is a perfect way to fill in the gpas (getting the infamous “better compliemntary players”) without glogging up the team ongoing, or wasting a bunch of prospects.
I have more hope than many for 2011 (Knog included it seems), and if they get toward ST with a gaping hole and no obvious future regular to plug it, them hell yeah they should look for a stop gap.
Hudson may not be the guy worth doing it with of course. But conceptually, if they get deep into the off season and don’t feel that any of the in house options are going to be ready for 2011, and taht a FA vet like Orlando has enough in the tank for 1 more year, then it makes a ton of sense to get him, instead of running out someone that is likely to be overmatched.
Unless a prospect absolutely dominated a full season in the minors the year before, or showed a ton of promise in a decent sample size in the majors, I don’t like pencilling them in for a starting gig before ST even starts.
GravediggerHebner
10/22/2010-3:20pm at 3:20 pm (UTC -4)
While I largely agree I think both that sometimes the short term stop gap is precisely what’s needed and that it shouldn’t be forbidden but rather more judiciously employed.
If the Mets have no clear candidate in-house candidate to fill a position I think the type of player this article denigrates might be best.
And the other situation I think the short term stop gap player works is if the alternative is giving a big long term contract to the wrong/a bad player. Would much rather have had some old stop gap than Oliver Perez for example.
What I think is more problematic is when these stop gap players succeed (perhaps against odds) and then are re-signed. The organization needs to realize lightning already struck and the odds of it striking with the same player again are slim and should move on.
metsfan4decades
10/22/2010-4:31pm at 4:31 pm (UTC -4)
Would that last paragraph include the likes of RA Dickey?
I realize he’s 35 and could be at the tail end of his career but I think it’s worth bringing him back.
Unless you’re saying give him the arbitration raise but don’t give him a new, multi year contract.
njstuckintx
10/22/2010-4:48pm at 4:48 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. For the type of pitcher he is, combined with estimated salary it will cost to retain him, he’s a no brainer. I’d resign him with a 1 & 1 or a flat out 2 year deal. I don’t see him making more than 2.5 per. More likely less?