It seems like everywhere I turn – whether it is the television, radio, sports blogs or social networking sites I see the same questions popping up .
“Why are the Mets so quiet?” or ” How come the Mets haven’t signed any player of note by now ?”
Trust me when I admit that I often get discouraged ( and go to my unhappy place) when I see a player who could potentially help the Mets signs elsewhere. Would I have liked to see the Mets go after Paplebon, Nathan or Broxton ? Sure I would – just not for the type of cash laden contracts that they signed for. Do I want the Mets to end up signing Matt Caps, Francisco Cordero, Ocatvio Dotel or a Jon Rauch ? Not really but who knows maybe they have enough in the tank to help the Mets get somewhere close to .500 next season.
The painful fact is that payroll is being slashed by almost 50 million dollars. The Wilpons are either unable – or unwilling at this point to field a team with a higher tier payroll. You want to cry bitch and moan that the Mets are a big market team with a mid market payroll – don’t blame Alderson , he’s doing the best he can with the limited resources he has been given. The blame has to fall on ownership – who were either unwillingly duped by a hedge fund king or were knowing participants in his scheme( that is for the courts to decide). The fact of the matter is for the foreseeable future this team will have very little payroll flexibility, and unless either the young guns on the farm develop quickly enough to help this team in the next few seasons, or a acquisitions of low risk/high reward players help this team to surge in the standings- well Citi Field will remain the latest incarnation of Grant’s Tomb.
And all of us fans will be on the edge.
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes:
Mets ace starting pitcher from the late ’70′s to early ’80′s, Craig Swan is 61 (1950).
Mets pitcher from ’78-’80, Juan Berenguer is 57 (1954). He had a long career in the majors. It lasted 14 years and he played on six different teams.
Mets hitting coach from ’01-’02, Dave Engle is 55 (1956).
Reserve outfielder from the ’01 season, Matt Lawton is 40 (1971).
The New York Yankees drafted reserve outfielder, Duke Carmel from the Mets on November 30, 1964.
The New York Mets traded outfielder, Joe Christopher to the Boston Red Sox for utility infielder, Ed Bressoud on November 30, 1965.
The New York Mets released middle reliever, Ralph Terry on November 30, 1966.
The Washington Senators drafted third baseman, Joe Foy from the Mets on November 30, 1970. Yes the Joe Foy era” only lasted one season – but unfortunately the “Jim Fregosi era” was about to begin !
The New York Mets traded reserve outfielder, Dave Marshall to the San Diego Padres for pitcher, Al Severinsen on November 30, 1972. Severinsen never pitched a single inning for the Mets.
The New York Mets signed free agent outfielder, Elliott Maddox of the Baltimore Orioles on November 30, 1977. This would be the Mets second foray into the free agent market. While the Yankees were signing players such as “Catfish” Hunter and Reggie Jackson, the Mets signed Maddox and Tom Hausman.
The New York Mets traded second baseman, Fernando Vina and minor leaguer, Javier Gonzales to the Milwaukee Brewers for middle reliever, Doug Henry on November 30, 1994.
The Baltimore Orioles signed Chad Bradford of the New York Mets as a free agent on November 30, 2006. And so Omar made the first in a series of missteps which would end up sending the Mets into the abyss in which we find ourselves now.
The New York Mets traded outfielder, Lastings Milledge to the Washington Nationals for outfielder, Ryan Church and catcher, Brian Schneider on November 30, 2007. Not that Lastings was destined to be a breakout star, but this trade had the earmark of being a disaster which ended up coming to be.
The New York Mets signed free agent middle reserve infielder, Argenis Reyes on November 30, 2007. He was good in a limited playing role, but when he started to falter when his playing time was increased .
Mo Vaughn wishes that he was “Hermie” from ” Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” !
5 comments
Darknova306
11/30/2011-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
Forced by financial reasons or not, I’m happy the team isn’t tossing money around just because it’s expected to by a whiny big market fanbase.
As for “being on the edge”, speak for yourself. I’m happy to see the change in organizational philosophy in player scouting and development. It’s also nice to see the Mets not going after high priced free agents while not being “just one player away”. Do I expect the team to become a winner soon? No. They don’t have the talent, and developing that talent will take time.
Getting back to contention will take time, but I’m content because they seem to be moving in the right direction (and hopefully that positive direction will include the Wilpons selling the team).
Also, things happen slowly in the offseason. Relax and give it time.
Anonymous
11/30/2011-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
I’m with Nova. If not spending big FA $ means not getting stuck for years with a Castillo or Bay, then I am all for it!
The only sad part is they seem unable to even spend moderate money on ST deals for upgrade talent (and even if you are waiting on prospects to get ready, you still need to field a team on the ML level and try to compete).
To me, considering how much work the foundation needed, I don’t look at it as much being a “mid market” payroll as being a “rebuilding team” payroll. Plus, while they could certainly spend some money on upgrades here and there (like the pen), outside of Reyes, there really isn’t a big name FA that makes sense for them now.
Though of course, trading for a guy that comes with a heftier contract should (but now of course probably isn’t) be on the table.
The real advantage of being a “big market” team, to me, is that you can rebuild/retool quicker, since you can also take on younger/core type guys by absorbing salary. Spending does not have to just be going overboard on FA deals to guys not worth it (Bay, Werth).
MetsFan4Decades
11/30/2011-4:38pm at 4:38 pm (UTC -4)
The bigger picture at work here is the deal between Selig and the Wilpons, one that includes MLB allowing the Wilpons to try and climb out of their financial mess and hold onto the team. In return Selig’s legacy won’t include the NY Mets declaring bankruptcy his last year in office. All you need to do is look at that 25 MIL loan – now over a year old and not paid back – to start connecting the dots.
IMO, everything else is secondary behind that. Alderson was brought in – probably for a couple/three years – to straighten out minor league development, drafting, slash payroll and try and field some semblance of a major league team while doing so.
Don’t get me wrong – outside of the Wilpons holding onto this team, I’m happy they’re no longer signing away draft picks and spending like drunken sailors on over priced and/or over the hill FAs. Restocking the minors is a good thing. Not spending money just b/c it’s burning a hole in your pocket is smart as well. Building a franchise to compete year after year should be the goal.
My problem with all this is I just don’t see it happening under the Wilpons.
They need increased revenue to have one chance in hell of keeping the team and that’s just not happening with the team we’re likely to be watching the next few years. And when the bottom falls out, the Wilpons will have to sell and it’ll be that many more years wasted for us NY Met fans.
Ah…..with all that said, I still won’t be jumping ship or boycotting the team – as the lunatic fringe have been calling for. Been a die hard fan for over 40 years and that won’t be changing. I mean after all, walking away now and not coming back until they’re on top is the definition of a bandwagon fan, right?
Anonymous
12/1/2011-1:20am at 1:20 am (UTC -4)
good stuff here. Should be a post. It would be better than most of what shows up on the other blogs these days!
Lito0408
12/3/2011-2:37pm at 2:37 pm (UTC -4)
Hello Rusty’s illegitimate son – Too bad Nelson Doubleday sold his half of the team. He probably got sick and tired of the Wilpons’ bullshit, and wanted out. The wrong half sold….Fred Wilpon is a Dodgers fan. He probably bought the team for his son to have, you know, as a play thing….I can’t wait for them to sell out….maybe someone who actually loves the team will buy it.