Over the past week the Mets have been relatively quiet with the exception of a few minor moves. These moves included the signing of outfielder Jaimie Hoffman; pitchers Scott Rice, Carlos Torres, and Wanel Mesa; and yesterday’s trade with Oakland for backup middle infielder Brandon Hicks. The Mets also signed rehabbing middle reliever Tim Byrdak to a minor league deal.
So of course every time one of these transactions was announced a flood of sarcasm flooded the Twitterverse. Venom and nastiness were bandied in the direction of Mets G.M. Sandy Alderson for making these moves while the cries for just getting David Wright and R.A Dickey signed grew even louder.
Note to my fellow Mets fans – PLEASE STOP !!! The moves that were made in the past week are minor moves – moves to help round out the Mets minor league rosters, and quite possibly to find that diamond in the rough like Dickey was. Remember R.A Dickey was a nobody before he came to the Mets?!? I was one of the many who ridiculed the signing, and look how that turned out.
Look, I want to see the Mets get the ball rolling on improving the team, but in regards to the Wright/Dickey contract talks, well that’s going to take as long as it has to to resolve itself – and it might not resolve itself with the outcomes that we desire.
I want to see the Mets fill the holes behind the plate and in the bullpen as well as in the outfield also but like I have said on many of occasion of late – don’t expect the Mets to either sign or trade for a long term solution unless Dickey is dealt.
This team in still on teetering on a “fiscal cliff” and even though they have freed up much needed money with the restructured Jason Bay buyout, it just wont be enough to get the caliber of player we desire.
So please just take a step back, take a deep breath and relax. We are just one week away from the Winter Meetings, and hopefully by next Thursday there will be a clearer picture on how next season’s roster will look. And if the Mets are quiet or if they are not able to lock up either Wright, Dickey – or both, then don’t blame Alderson – he’s doing his best with the resources he has been given .
Instead blame Fred and Jeff !!
And with that said… HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes:
Middle reliever from the ’68 season Bill Short is 75 (1937).
Reserve outfielder from the ’87 season Randy Milligan is 51 (1961).
Middle reliever from the ’10 season Raul Valdes is 35 (1977).
The New York Mets traded pitching prospect Bill Denehy to the Washington Senators for manager Gil Hodges on November 27, 1967. This is definitely one of the most important moments in Mets history.
The New York Mets traded left fielder Tommie Agee to the Houston Astros for reserve outfielder Rich Chiles and pitcher Buddy Harris on November 27, 1972 .Harris never would go on to play for the Mets.
The New York Mets traded middle relievers Brent Strom and Bob Rauch to the Cleveland Indians for middle reliever Phil Hennigan on November 27, 1972.
The Boston Red Sox signed closer Skip Lockwood of the New York Mets as a free agent on November 27, 1979. Could you really blame Skip?
The New York Mets signed free agent first baseman Eddie Murray of the Los Angeles Dodgers on November 27,1991. Although Murray played well in his two seasons with the Mets, his signing was the unofficial beginning of “The Worst Team Money Could Buy” era.
The New York Mets traded middle reliever Jerry Dipoto to the Colorado Rockies for starting pitcher Armando Reynoso on November 27, 1996.
New York Mets traded Rico Brogna to the Philadelphia Phillies for Ricardo Jordan and Toby Borland on November 27, 1996. Exactly one year later, Jordan would sign as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds.
Mo Vaughn is a genius of himself!!!
12 comments
gategem
11/27/2012-6:08am at 6:08 am (UTC -4)
Back in the Middle Ages (i.e. when I was middle aged) these types of moves were carried out in relative obscurity. If the truth be known it was better back then. We all know the reason these types of moves have caused what in some cases appears to be mass hysteria at some blogs is the ownership and the team’s recent history. It will not improve until the product on the field improves significantly. If you read the blogs expect to see the whining continue. The best solution I always found is to just make light of it. Humor is always the best medicine.
Stick
11/27/2012-8:57am at 8:57 am (UTC -4)
poking the bears is always a fine source of enjoyment too.
Stick
11/27/2012-9:02am at 9:02 am (UTC -4)
A voice of reason and rationality in the Mets blogsphere. Very rare these days. I expect you are going to be thrown out of the Union Rusty.
At this point, from reading around various sites (hey, it gets boring during the day!), it seems that more and more people (authors/site owners, not just commenters) have lost all objectivity, and are completely agenda driven at this point. And man, that takes all the enjoyment out of internet discussions.
debating the merits of a move, or a plan, or anything is fun, but not when the other person is an obsessed with an agenda. Or of course is a blithering neanderthal idiot. Just not worth wasting your time talking to clueless people that will never change their mind.
Kind of like politics now!
TRS86
11/27/2012-9:12am at 9:12 am (UTC -4)
” it seems that more and more people (authors/site owners, not just commenters) have lost all objectivity, and are completely agenda driven at this point.”
Sometimes I wonder if it’s agenda driven against the FO or is it an attempt to pander to the base or to drive up views? Maybe it’s just good marketing.
Stick
11/27/2012-9:21am at 9:21 am (UTC -4)
Well, IMO, for at least 1 blogger (owner?) it is more business driven, since when you are trying to make a living out of it you need to drive hits and pander to the vocal folks (stir up trouble?). But some are just obsessed with 1 particular guy it seems.
the group of commenters that are (IMO) ruining a few sites are just lost in their obsessive hatred of Sandy. Though there are some that I refuse to have any virtual interaction with, even if I agree with their particular opinion. because I have standards!
TRS86
11/27/2012-9:23am at 9:23 am (UTC -4)
LOL, yeah there certainly is starting to be a very political feeling type divide in the Mets fanbase. At least the ones that blog.
I guess here we are followers of Gary Johnson and Ron Paul.
Rustyjr
11/27/2012-9:39am at 9:39 am (UTC -4)
I voted for Johnson lol
TRS86
11/27/2012-9:28am at 9:28 am (UTC -4)
LOL:
” Guys, just give him the seventh year? He’s earned it in sweat and off-field capital, I’d say. Also, put a C on his jersey while you’re at it…”
kingman 26
11/27/2012-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, and let’s hope that C is for Cardinals or Cincinnati or something like that.
srt
11/27/2012-10:29am at 10:29 am (UTC -4)
Good article, Rusty.
Some fans just have no patience.
I’m excited though to see what takes place next week at the Winter meetings.
If they can’t come to an agreement with Wright especially, will we see a trade?
How many Rule V guys might we pick up – if any?
kingman 26
11/27/2012-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
Nice work as usual my friend.
I think it is partly what Gate says–these moves used to be barely noticed, but now with the blogosphere being what it is, and being starved for content, every time a team signs a 28-year-old career minor leaguer, it is reported on by 27 sites.
In addition, the Mets making these moves is more noticed and commented on because they are so mediocre and have so many major holes, so when they do this, the obnoxious and the aggressively ignorant will use it as a rationale to scream and whine on the Internet.
Stick
11/27/2012-11:35am at 11:35 am (UTC -4)
one thing I can guarantee (and as we all know, my guarantees are money in the bank!).
pretty much all the same people that are whining and complaining that Sandy is not “doing anything” but nothing player moves, are going to scream the loudest if he starts wheeling and dealing to remake the team, because he is going to trade some of their “untouchables”