"At number 8 - JOSE JOSE JOSE .. JOOOSEEE JOOOSEEEE !"
There should be little to no disagreement on the player who ranks at number eight on this countdown, He is possibly the most explosive shortstop this team has ever had. When his mind is in the game he is just as good defensively as Ozzie Smith, Bud Harrelson and Rey Ordonez. Hell he sure hits better than the three of those luminary infield All Stars ! Thats right I am talking about current Mets shortstop, the team catalyst himself, Jose Reyes .
José Bernabé Reyes was born in Villa Gonzalez, Dominican Republic on June 11, 1983. As a child, Jose was very active. He played a lot of soccer and baseball in his youth. In 1999, Jose tried out foe the Mets at a open clinic in the town of Santiago in the D.R. There he caught the eyes of Mets scouts, Eddy Toledo and Juan Mercado. The Metsoffered him a contract and assigned him to play the ’00 with the Kingsport Mets of the Appalachian League. That was a departure from the Mets usual protocol which dictated that player like Jose were to play for the Mets Academyin the Dominican Republic.Jose finished his first season of professional baseball with a .250 batting average in 49 games.
In 2001 , Jose was assigned to theMets single A affiliate, the Columbia Bombers. He dominated the league, both in the field and at the plate. He finished the ’01 season with a .307 batting average with 42 extra-base hits. Jose would go on to win the leagues Player of the Year award.
In 2002, Jose was given an invitation to the Mets big-league spring training camp. The Metsfelt that their star prospect needed more time to mature in the minors and sent him to play with their Florida Stae League affiliate, the St. Lucie Mets . In just three months there Jose proved that his skills were way beyond that league , so the Mets promoted him to their Double-A team in Binghamton. Jose finished the year strong in Binghamtonwith a .287 average, with 27 steals and 26 extra-base hits through 65 games.
In 2003 Jose started the season with the Mets Triple A affiliate in Norfolk , Virginia. In his three months there Jose batted batted .269 while stealing 26 bases in just 42 games. By the time Jose arrived to the Mets in June of ’03, the team was in shambles. Players, Mike Piazza and Mo vaughn were out injured, and then manager, Art Howe managed like a man who didn’t care about his job. Jose was called up just a day shy of his twentieth birthday. Jose would play only two months for the Metsthat season, because he sprained his ankle midway through the season. This would start the much perceived ” endless cycle” of leg injuries for Jose. Jose ended his brief rookie season withthe Mets witha batting average of .307 with 32 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in just 69 games.
In 2004, the Mets stupidly switched Jose to second base after signing Japanese League star shortstop Kaz Matsuias a free agent. Jose was not happy to say the least withhis position change, but he still played hard. Early that season, Jose injured his hamstring and was on the disabled list for a month. Throughout that season Jose dealtwithbothleg and back injuries which left him withbelow average numbers. He finished the season witha batting average of .255 with with 14 RBIs and 19 stolen bases in 53 games. By August the Mets were totally out of the playoff race and Jose went back to his old position on shortstop while Matsui took charge at second base.
In 2005, Jose played his first full season with the Mets. He was 21, and was penciled in as the Mets full time leadoff hitter – to take advantage of his speed and base stealing abillities. Jose played in a career high 161 games, batting .273 with 7 homers, 58 RBIs, 48 extra-base hits as well as 60 stolen bases. Reyes led the National League in both stolen bases and led the entire Major Leagues in triples.
The 2006 season is when Jose would come into his own. He was the first Met to win back to back Player of the Week honors since Jesse Oroscoin 1983. Reyes became the ninth Met to hit for the cycle that season. The Mets also introduced ” Professor Reyes” to the world that season. These segments had Jose teaching the Metsfans via the Diamond Vision board how to say words and phrases in Spanish. It was a hit withthe fans, as was his intricate handshakes and his youthful exuberance . Jose had become along withthird baseman, David Wright , a true face of the franchise. Towards the end of the regular season. Reyes signed a four-year, $23.25 million contract extension with the Mets, in order to avoid arbitration. The contract also included a a $1.5 million signing bonus. Jose finished the the regular season witha batting average of .300, a career high in homers with 19, 81 RBIs and 64 stolen bases in 153 games. Jose even won a Silver Slugger Award that season, and was selected to his first All-Star Game.
The Mets made their first postseason appearance in six year. They swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in four games before succumbingto the St Louis Cardinals in seven. Jose struggled against the Dodgers batting .167, but against the Cardinals he batted .281 with a pivotal homer that forced a game seven.
In ’07 Jose had a decent season, He batted .280 with 12 homers, 57 RBIs and a career high 77 bases ( Metsrecord). But in the final two months of the season , Jose along with much of the teams offense as well as their over taxed bullpen struggled. As we know the Metswent into the monthof September up seven with 17 games to play and collapsed epically. This would be the first ( but not the last ) time Jose heard boo’s from the Mets faithful.
2008 was pretty much of a repeat og the ’07 season – weak bullpen , lack of clutch offense late in the seson. Manager Willie Randolph was replaced mid season by bench coach, Jerry Manuel. Both Jose and the Mets played well until another swoon in August and September. Reyes finished the season with a batting average of .297, 16 homers,68 RBIs and 56 stolen bases.
Just before the ’09 season started , Jose had a minor feud with then manager, Jerry Manuel who wanted to utilize Jose in the third spot of the batting order. Jose resisted, and Jerry dropped the matter.In 2009 , Jose was limited to just 36 games with a misdiagnosed hamstring injury. The Mets kept promising the fans that Jose would come back and finish the season withthe team, but he needed surgery instead. In limited duty that season, Jose hit .279 with two homers , fifteen RBIs and eleven stolen bases.
During the ’09/’10 off season Jose had healed well, even appearing on television to show off his new found health. He came into Spring training in great shape, but he was kept out of games for a month when they found that he suffered from a hyperactive thyroid gland. Jose was ordered shutdown spring training activity. To start the season, Jose was placed on the 15-day disabled list. He missed the first two weeks of the season. Upon his return, Jose started off slowly. He started to hit well by the beginning of May. This past season, Jose was selected to his third All-Star Game, but he could not go due to injured oblique. Rafael Furcalwould go on to take his place. Jose finished last season playing 133 games. He batted a respectable .282 with 10 homers fifty four RBIs as well as 30 stolen bases.
Jose is in the last year of his contract with the Mets, and his future here is uncertain. I know that we have some great prospects in the minors, but I think it would be an egregious error if we let Jose – the spark of this Mets team go elsewhere .
So far in his Metscareer that has spanned eight years, Jose has a .286 batting average with 74 homers, 379 RBIs. He is currently the Metsall time stolen base leader with 331.
Tomorrow we will profile at number seven, one of the biggest fan favorites in recent Mets history.
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni celebrating birthdays today include :
Today would have been the 95th birthday for the man who got us Tom Seaver – Bing Devine (1916).
Spot starter/ middle reliever from the ”91 team, Tony Castillo is 48 (1963).
The most hated middle reliever this side of Doug Sisk, Rich Rodriguez is 48 (1963) .
Darth Tater himself, back up catcher from ’06-’09, Ramon Castro is 35(1976), Ramon at times showed that he could have been a everyday catcher, but there were rumors that he was content with being a back up catcher.
The New York Mets signed free agent middle reliever, José Santiago on March 1, 2005.
The New York Mets signed free agent middle reliever, Willie Collazo on March 1, 2006. He was one of many relievers who helped blow the Mets chances of making the postseason in ’07.
And while you are waiting for Mike Francessa to declare himself Warlord of the United States, just remember that there are just 31 Mike Piazza days left until the Mets open the 2011 season against the Florida Marlins in Miami, and just 38 days until the Mets 2011 home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
Mo Vaughn thinks he can play second base better than Luis Castillo !!!
43 comments
metsfan4decades
3/1/2011-8:10am at 8:10 am (UTC -4)
Jose Reyes, in my opinion, is the best shortstop the Mets have ever had.
I believe he was brought up just a little too young. No denying his talent but few 20 year olds are ready for a full time gig in the majors. As you pointed out it was a brief stint as he sprained his ankle. Even so, he held his own for those couple of months.
2004, switching him to second base….I’ll just defer to your description ‘stupidly’. Couldn’t agree more.
In 2009 with Jose’s first injury, I believe he fell victim to some really poor medical decisions across the board. He wasn’t alone though – re: Beltran. Reyes, as well as others, was jerked around b/c as Omar put it ‘we have to weigh the medical advice vs. putting our best players on the DL’. The night he said that in the SNY booth I could only think ‘WHAT??’.
Unlike some Met fans, I feel a healthy Reyes has many good years ahead of him and if they trade him or let him walk at the end of the year, it will be a big mistake. I’m looking forward to watching a healthy Jose play this year and believe he’ll prove the naysayers wrong about his best years being behind him.
rustyjr
3/1/2011-8:13am at 8:13 am (UTC -4)
I agree with you 100%
fongy2
3/1/2011-9:24am at 9:24 am (UTC -4)
Spot on!…..A large part of my feeling so disinterested in this upcoming season is that I’m trying to accept the likelyhood that
this is Reyes’ final season as a Met AND once he’s allowed to
walk the TRUE rebuilding begins. B/T/W, good to see Mgmt and
Beltran get together and have him move to RF. This would never
have happened under our former off&on field mgmt team.
metsfan4decades
3/1/2011-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
Agreed concerning Beltran.
Treat these players like adults, they’ll act like adults – for the most part.
kistics
3/1/2011-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
under formal mgmt team, this issue would have dragged on all freakin season.
kistics
3/1/2011-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
and gm saying one thing and a player says another and a manager says something different.
kingman 26
3/1/2011-9:32am at 9:32 am (UTC -4)
My family followed Jose in the minors with as much or more excitement and anticipation since maybe anyone since Doc, Darryl, and Tim Leary. Yes, Tim Leary!
From 2006-2008 Jose was a top 5 all-time Met, really just behind Seaver, Piazza, and Keith.
Despite my vocal disappointment with Jose, I hope my optimistic friends here are right, and it has all just been to the overwhelming pressure of two years filled with injuries and surrounded by mediocrity, bad management, and a terrible atmosphere.
Let’s hope Jose gets back to where he was from 2006–2008 when it looked as though he and Wright would be the co-cornerstones of excellent Met teams for the next 10 years.
kistics
3/1/2011-9:41am at 9:41 am (UTC -4)
Here’s something I wonder. I really wonder if team/manager’s policy affected Jose’s discipline. During Willie’s tenure, Jose was great. But when Jerry took over, he became ‘mediocre’. I know the injuries had a lot to do with lack of performance, but I also think he needs a firm manager that will guide him in the right direction. Maybe Terry’s policy would change him back to ’06-’08 form.
metsfan4decades
3/1/2011-9:49am at 9:49 am (UTC -4)
Good point. For instance, that thyroid scare for Jose last ST I’m sure was weighing heavily on his mind, after working so hard to get his legs healthy and start the year off raring to go. In the midst of him worrying about that, Jerry decides to start him off batting 3rd when he did get back. GIven the fact that he had no real ST, and got off to a slow start, wouldn’t it have been better to ease him back as leadoff, then when he was back strong, revisit the idea of moving him down to 3rd?
Did I say how glad I am that Jerry is not back??
kingman 26
3/1/2011-9:50am at 9:50 am (UTC -4)
I really think you may be right.
No one can argue that Jose is the most mature player, or the most focused player. He is not.
But, on the 2006–2008 teams, in addition to the obviously superior atmosphere Randolph created, Jose had players like Delgado and Valentin and LoDuca around him.
I totally agree that better leadership and a better atmosphere around him can very possibly help Jose’s game.
Let’s just hope some sort of leadership emerges; I do like Collins and this is why I really wanted either he or Backman as manager.
ajgmets
3/1/2011-1:24pm at 1:24 pm (UTC -4)
The 66-1/3 IP for Mets Tim Leary ? ..LOL.
kingman 26
3/1/2011-2:15pm at 2:15 pm (UTC -4)
Well, he was a hugely promoted prospect and his debut in chilly Wrigley in 1981 was about as anticipated as ANY Met farmhand.
metsfan4decades
3/1/2011-10:11am at 10:11 am (UTC -4)
On another note, just a little premature as Carlos Beltran has not been revealed yet on this list, Joe D. over on MMO has a great read:
‘The End Of The Carlos Beltran Era’
He couldn’t be more right.
http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/03/the-end-of-the-carlos-beltran-era.html#comment-136240
ajgmets
3/1/2011-1:28pm at 1:28 pm (UTC -4)
Beltran was # 19
stickguy
3/1/2011-10:26am at 10:26 am (UTC -4)
Jose is easily the best 2-way SS the Mets have ever had.
And I think he is in shape and going to have a huge year. Classic 27 YO about to rip off a streak of prime, career years.
However, if he does it for another team because the Mets can’t afford to keep him, it is going to be ugly, to historic 1977 levels, as the remaining fans turn on the team and GM. It will be the Egypt of sports teams, and quickly, since it will signal a white flag, trip to the bottom. But at least payroll will get nice an low!
We know beltran is gone. If they punt reyes too, Bay better go for $.10 on the dollar. And once you are in that deep, Wright is an unneccesary luxury, so trade him too since he should bring back actual good prospects.
I’m sure the more vocal fan types that troll the message boards will like to see a line up next year of davis, havens, tejada, Lutz, Duda, Pagan, thole and F Mart. Oh wait, screw that. Pagan will be 30 and making “real” money, so trade him too!
OK, I think I am being facetious here. But, I am not quite sure…
TRS86
3/1/2011-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)
There will be no situation where the Mets can’t “afford” Reyes. It may be (like the Cards if they do incline) that they decide the money better allocated elsewhere. I know it’s hard for us to comprehend but again it’s not cut and dry.
It’s not if they can afford him they keep him and if they can’t they trade him.
It’s if they believe he and his contract will be best for the Mets future or not.
stickguy
3/1/2011-11:05am at 11:05 am (UTC -4)
conceptually, you may be right. But right now, I suspect that they can’t afford him. And if this season goes bad and attendance drpos more, they easily won’t be able to afford him next year either.
I just can’t see them having the moey available, and making a value decision to let him walk. Just ain’t happening. He is too hard to replace, and a rare commodity, to let that happen because they won’t go an extra couple million per year.
If he goes, it is because they had to cut back on money. Not sure what the spin will be, since odds are they won’t add any other high priced guys instead, so it wil be a de facto rebuilding project.
and that goes back to me saying if they let him go, trade all the expensive guys and anyone over 29. Don’t half-ass it.
TRS86
3/1/2011-1:03pm at 1:03 pm (UTC -4)
Lets say the Mets decide to cut payroll to 115M. That means that they would only have around 25M to spend this off-season. Perhaps they believe that the 25M would be better spent else where besides 18M to Reyes.
njstuckintx
3/1/2011-1:36pm at 1:36 pm (UTC -4)
Would that be the $25 mil on loan from MLB? ;P
TRS86
3/1/2011-1:37pm at 1:37 pm (UTC -4)
LOL.
stickguy
3/1/2011-3:43pm at 3:43 pm (UTC -4)
so like I said, they couldn’t afford Reyes. especially since you don’t seem to be saying he isn’t worth it, just that it is too rich for their blood to get the other guys they need, and him.
kingman 26
3/1/2011-11:39am at 11:39 am (UTC -4)
“There will be no situation where the Mets can’t “afford” Reyes.”
???
Have you been following the news?
The team is looking desperately for an infusion of at least $200 million and had to borrow $25 mil from MLB recently to pay their bills.
I mean, you get mad when people say you are “in denial” but come on Chief; of course there could be a situation where they cannot afford a contract of 6–8 years and $100 mil+, which is what Jose will get if he has a year like 2006–2008.
TRS86
3/1/2011-1:00pm at 1:00 pm (UTC -4)
Kingman, you think they will slash their payroll to 75M?
If not then they can afford Reyes. Again, they may chose to spend that money else where but to think that the Mets with 60M coming off the books can’t afford 18?
TRS86
3/1/2011-1:02pm at 1:02 pm (UTC -4)
$65.830M committed for 2012. No way do they go with a 75M payroll.
kingman 26
3/1/2011-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
Well, that is a pretty irrelevant number.
If they intend to have payroll be significantly lower than it has been–as Alderson has openly stated–then we may see a payroll of maybe $110–120 mil.
Which may or may not be high enough to afford Jose if he has a really good year. Let’s not forget big-money extensions are coming for Wright and Reyes; not to mention the nearly 40 mil a year owed to Johan and Bay.
Come on; the $75 mil thing is a tad much, no?
TRS86
3/1/2011-2:20pm at 2:20 pm (UTC -4)
No but my point is that lets say they do decrease payroll to 110-120M. Kingman that’s still more than enough to afford Reyes IF they believe he is a good use of resources. They only have around 70M committed for 2012.
TRS86
3/1/2011-2:22pm at 2:22 pm (UTC -4)
As I have said all along even if they have only 25M out of the 65M coming off they would have to decide if 18M to Reyes is a good use of that 25M.
The only way they could not “afford” Reyes’ 18M is if they slashed payroll by more than 50M.
saltygary
3/1/2011-4:14pm at 4:14 pm (UTC -4)
2012 Payroll is already at 63.7 for Wright Bay Santana, Carrasco and Dickey plus a potential 17.5 option for KROD. Now add 20 more starters around that. They will still be at 100m without adding anything if value.
Right now the Wilpons are focused on how they are going to come up with enough money to keep hot dogs in stock. Reyes’s contract extension is a pipe dream right now.
kingman 26
3/1/2011-4:48pm at 4:48 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah Gary, exactly.
I mean, I respect the hell out of TRS and know he always looks for the brightest avenue from which to view things, but add Pelf in there–a good year for him just at 2008/2010 levels, and what will his salary be?
There’s just no way right now that we can be sure that the Wilpons can afford another huge, long-term deal without getting that huge influx of dough from someone buying in to the team, or until we know what the Madoff settlement will be.
Or just buying it outright.
Bottom line is the difference between, let’s say, $110 mil and $125+ mil in 2012 could be Reyes.
Unfortunately, it is very far from a slam-dunk that they can afford him right now, assuming he has a comeback year.
stickguy
3/1/2011-5:13pm at 5:13 pm (UTC -4)
If they don’t have to have a “make the rent fire sale” at the trade deadline, at least they have quite a while to go before having to worry about coming up with the money. Even signing the contract, they don’t have to start paying until April, 2012!
and the ownership situation will have to have stabilized by then, at least to the extent of getting whatever % piece sold off. If not the whole thing!
the real wild card though is when the dumb lawsuit gets settled. Evne if they sell 33% now say to get funds to operate, if they get hit with 500mill (or some such huge number) judgement, the rest of the team probably goes right after it!
oleosmirf
3/1/2011-5:19pm at 5:19 pm (UTC -4)
the Wilpon’s money problems are completely overblown. I see no realisitic scenario where the Mets wont be able to afford Reyes.
Castillo, Beltran and Perez account for around 36 million. Considering the Mets have no other needs that can’t be filled internally, all the Mets have to do is spend 18 mil or so on Reyes and fill every other position with guys on minor league deals.
To think the Mets cannot afford a 125-130 mil payroll next season is crazy talk.
kingman 26
3/1/2011-6:05pm at 6:05 pm (UTC -4)
Wilpon’s??
Try WILPONS’ or WILPONS’S
And their problems may be worse than currently suspected:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/de_perate_mets_in_new_relief_pitch_3Sp88YVWEvp3QZH8q8HwtO
Prismo
3/1/2011-6:43pm at 6:43 pm (UTC -4)
Overblown!?
The Mets have NO cash. They can’t even operate day-to-day activities (such as paying their staff) without borrowing millions of dollars from the MLB.
And let’s ask, why do they need that money? They haven’t even gone to trial yet for the Picard stuff, where’d all the money go?
We have a new stadium, and about average attendance in the league (in 2010). Where’s the money going?
I don’t get it. But the team’s pretty much broke at the moment, it seems.
hazmet
3/1/2011-7:55pm at 7:55 pm (UTC -4)
It’s not just where’s the money going. The other problem is in addition to the Madoff non-existent profits they had a very real $270M or so in debt as of 2009 that was real debt, as opposed to fictitious profits. Fictitios profits they were probably counting on using some of which to pay off their real debt. So it’s part where’s the money going but where are they going to get the money they thought was to pay their debts, if that makes sense. Also, the bond rating for the building of Citifield just got downgraded in combination with their drop in gate receipts last year further costing them. Thereby the “short term” cash issue. Which I don’t necessarily buy as being short term but these are factors for needing the infusion.
kingman 26
3/1/2011-8:42pm at 8:42 pm (UTC -4)
Ah, Prismo to the rescue.
Well, a large part of the problem is that their credit has dried up.
The Wilpon’s have been operating with massive debt’s for year’s.
As the court document’s show, for year’s they met their daily operating expense’s by withdrawing fund’s from Madoff account’s.
When that dried up, and before the scandal broke, they operated by borrowing from bank’s, while their credit was good.
Then they operated by borrowing tens of million’s from MLB.
When that dried up and after the magnitude of the scandal broke, the problem is that they are now a bad debt risk.
Hence, they are finding it very difficult to borrow.
They have to service massive debt on the bond’s issued to pay for Citi Field, and they have to meet a massive payroll.
Now that there is no Madoff money, no more MLB loans, and banks are very reluctant to lend to them, they are having severe trouble simply meeting day-to-day expense’s.
That’s the way economics work when you have completely exhausted your avenue’s for easy cash (Madoff), easy loan’s (Bud and MLB) and when banks won’t give you any more.
People like the very rich Wilpon’s don’t keep 100 mil in the bank. They operate on debt and more debt. That’s America today.
When the loan’s dry up, you are in big, big trouble.
Average folk’s have to lose their home’s.
The Wilpon’s have to see at least a chunk of their one very sell-able asset. The Met’s.
TRS86
3/2/2011-8:03am at 8:03 am (UTC -4)
Again with 60M coming off the books I see no reason they can’t afford Reyes. If the Wilpons are suddenly going to have a payroll under 100M from 145M then baseball and the union will step in and force them to sell regardless.
Lets assume that they stay around 115M. That’s 30M less than this season and easily absorbed with all the money coming off the books. Now again they may have to chose Reyes or a solid pitcher but lets not think they will not have the money to spend even 20M next off-season. Spending ONLY 20M would be a drastic cut in payroll as is.
kistics
3/1/2011-1:16pm at 1:16 pm (UTC -4)
Is it just me? Rich Coutinho is kinda creepy… He sounds like a nice guy and all, but just a tad bit creepy…
fongy2
3/1/2011-9:06pm at 9:06 pm (UTC -4)
Thank you for the intelligent discussion fellas!
It’s been worth while to sit here and read up on what I’ve missed
since my quick post this morn.
I too have great respect for TRS, BUT this continued notion that everything will be fine is absurd. Following 9/11, the bottom fell out of much of the commercial realty market in the boros. This greatly effected Fred Wilpon. No matter what he says or how many times
he does, Wilpon obviously was flipping funds back and forth b/t The
Mets and his other biz interests. If not, how can we (The Mets) be broke? TRS was on this same kick last yr, “we won’t spend now, but
rather wait for something REALLY good to come along to spend it on”. Same storythis off season….And now very, very likely to lose Reyes. Have to borrow $$$ from MLB just to pay bills, need to find
a minority buyer….AND Madoff’s rip-off didn’t effect The Mets????
AND….Part2, We’ll be able to keep our player payroll somewhere close to where its been???….And even if I played along with TRS’ rules and said “alright we have $25 Mil to spend next season and don’t want to tie up $18 w/Reyes, we’ll use it elsewhere”……..
I’d say “REALLY??!!”….”WHERE??!!”….AND….”On who??”….How do you improve the team w/ $25 Mil…Less Jose Reyes??? HOW?!
njstuckintx
3/1/2011-11:21pm at 11:21 pm (UTC -4)
I’m in your school of thought. If they’re borrowing money now, how can we expect to see an influx of money to the roster. This team needs an investor and STAT! Fortunately or unfortunately, investors smell blood in the water. Why invest in a minority share when you can wait the Wilpons out and force them into a majority sell.
I’m going to be one pissed hombre (they do say that down here) if Reyes goes elsewhere due to money. There is little else this team needs (barring another 1A pitcher) and if the team can’t spend to keep Reyes, this team is, uh, rhymes with Duct Tape, minus the tape.
PS, PIT needs an O line.
fongy2
3/2/2011-8:27am at 8:27 am (UTC -4)
I’m with ya. We need 3 things big time in the draft, an OT, a CB
and a DL. The line issues I think aren’t as bad as some think. Mes think our interior is gonna be pretty good.
Pouncey is already an Allstar, Kemeotu is a solid G and both
Foster and Legursky have shown they can play, but I think
they’re both RGs. We have no OTs though.
We’re likely to lose Ike Tayor @ one Corner AND the other Corner was already weak. McFadden just isn’t very good and Gay isn’t the answer. On the DL, Hood is gonna be real good,
Keisel and Hampton still have some life but are aging quickly
AND Aaron Smith is done. So, we need to find a NT and likely
also a DE in this draft. Every other position is in pretty good
shape, so………….
njstuckintx
3/2/2011-9:38am at 9:38 am (UTC -4)
should be interesting, with the draft prior to FA signings. I hope they get the other Pouncey in the first round.
TRS86
3/2/2011-8:07am at 8:07 am (UTC -4)
I like how I am the example of the day.
The Wilpons financial issues are real. No doubt. Enough to where they may be forced by MLB and the union to sell the team. That there is no doubt. They have mortgaged the hell out of the team and now that profits are down can’t pay their bills. It happens. My point remains however, that even in the face of all this I do not expect the payroll to go below 115M. If it stays at that amount then they have enough to “afford” Reyes. I have also stated that I have NO idea if that is how Sandy will want to use his limited resources.
kistics
3/2/2011-8:44am at 8:44 am (UTC -4)
How is this related Rich Coutinho?