I'm Fed Up With The Mets (Old Post)

Originally Posted On Tumblr

It’s July 27th 2010 and just a few weeks ago I wouldn’t have imagined I would be writing this. Just a few short weeks ago my beloved New York Metropolitans were just three games out of first place, and were right in the middle of what was supposed to be an exciting second half of the baseball season. However, yet again the Mets have proven to me that they are nothing but a tease when it comes to the pennant race. The Mets have just finished an embarrassing 2-9 west coast trip that has sunk them even deeper in the NL East, and has all but eliminated them from any sort of playoff contention. Just yesterday the Mets brass decided to have a meeting to discuss the “direction” the team should go in. I’ve got a direction for them – wipe the front office clean.

Now, I have always been a supporter of Omar Minaya. He truly changed the franchise when he was hired way back in 2005, and he made the Mets a true playoff contender. Hell, he even built the team that had the Mets within one hit of the World Series in 2006! If the Mets had made it to the Fall Classic that year, there is no doubt in my mind that they would have won it all. But, it is all but clear that the magic he once had has finally sputtered and emptied. After the two embarrassing collapses of 2007 and 2008, and the hellish 2009 season, one would think that a change would occur – I mean how much failure can one team endure?

I have always backed Minaya, throughout the collapses, and even last winter when everyone was screaming for him to get fired. I always pointed out for every failure (Heath Bell) that he had some great trades such as acquiring Roberto Hernandez, John Maine (the 2007 version) Xavier Nady, Paul LoDuca, Carlos Delgado and even Oliver Perez (circa 2006). Minaya always had an eye for raw talent. But, enough is enough. After watching the Mets miss every single potential option open to them to upgrade the team as the non-waiver trade deadline looms, I have to officially declare that Omar Minaya, and the rest of the Mets front office be fired and replaced with new and more progressive baseball minds.

The ineptitude and lack of fundamental and progressive baseball knowledge the Mets organization seems to show has me thinking that me, a devout baseball fanatic and student of the game, could run this team better. The Mets are run like they are a small market team, except they play in the world’s biggest market, and have one of the biggest revenue streams in the league! I can only imagine what Jed Hoyer (Padres GM) or Andrew Friedmen (Rays GM) would be able to produce with the amount of resources the Mets have. But alas, the Mets continue to squander and fumble every potential upgrade the team could have, not to mention desperately need.



Who knew running a team would be this hard?

What finally sent me over the edge into thinking a drastic change was needed was Arizona’s former staff ace, Dan Haren, being dealt to the Los Angeles Angels for a package of prospects that contained no one off of Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospect List. All season the Mets, and their fans, have been saying they need another front-of-the-line starter to put at the top of the rotation to compliment Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey. First – much like every other contender – the Mets engaged in talks for Seattle’s former ace Cliff Lee. On the outside, getting Lee was a smart move. Lee is undoubtedly one of the best pitchers in the game, and would have given the Mets the best 1-2 punch in the National League, if not baseball. But, Lee’s contract expires at the end of this season, and he has said on numerous occasions that he intended to test the waters of free agency at year’s end. So in essence, Cliff Lee would be a 2 month rental for the team who acquires him. Eventually, Lee was shipped to the Texas Rangers for a package of impressive prospects, and I was happy the Mets did not send the Mariners what they were asking for.

However, Dan Haren is different. Haren, while having an off year for the lowly Diamondbacks (can I really call them lowly? The Mets just got swept by them…) is a front of the line starter, and has dominated hitters for years in Arizona. Not only is Haren younger than Cliff Lee, he is also under contract through 2012, and has a club option for 2013, giving the team who acquires him assurance that he will be playing for them for a considerable amount of time. Dan Haren must have made TOO much sense for the Mets to acquire him. He was exactly what the team needed, and there was not even so much as a rumor connecting the Mets to the trade talks.

However, the Mets cross-town equivalent was heavily in talks to acquire the ace, and their plan was to have him shore up THE BACK of their rotation. This only epitomizes the Mets ineptitude. The Yankees only kind-of-sort-of needed a starting pitcher and in response they almost acquired two aces. The Mets DESPERATLY needed a front-end starter and were connected to the Ted Lillys and Brett Myers of the world.

Instead, Haren was shipped to the Angels at the last minute headed by a package of Joe Saunders who is currently 6-10 with a 4.62 ERA this season, and two prospects. One prospect, Patrick Corbin, was ranked as the Angels 12th best prospect and projected to be a middle of the rotation starter. The other, Rafael Rodriguez was ranked 22nd in the Angels organization. In contrast – that would be like the Mets sending Hisonori Takahashi, who has a 4.52 ERA, and third basemen Jefry Marte (their 12th best prospect according to BA) and outfielder Sean Ratliff (their 22nd best prospect according to BA). Losing Marte would be a hit, but have you even heard of Sean Ratliff? The pros STRONGLY outweighed the cons of making that deal.



“This guy’s too good, lets get Brett Myers!”

While the comparison is rudimentary at best, the message is still the same. The Mets could have easily beaten out the Angels deal without giving up any of their highly touted prospects. Even if they were to give up someone like Fernando Martinez or Wilmer Flores or Ruben Tejada or Dillon Gee, it’s not sacrificing the Mets “future” (I use that word dubiously, as prospects, especially Mets’ ones, are notorious for being busts) if the future is an established pitcher we have anchoring our rotation for the next three seasons! Omar- just because the Bartolo Colon deal didn’t work out for your Expos, does not mean that every prospect is going to become Grady Siezmore.

This lack of foresight brings me back to my original intentions of this angry diatribe. The Mets need a change, and fast. It’s obvious that the current ensemble of Jerry and Omar is not working with the Mets and a new direction is needed. So, I’m going to play armchair GM. If I were in charge of rebuilding the Mets this is what I would do:


1. Hire Kim Ng as the new General Manager – Boston’s assistant GM Ben Cherington and San Diego’s front office assistant and former Dodgers GM Paul DePodesta were also on my short list for the new Mets GM, but Ng would clearly represent a new clean slate the Mets need. Ng would be the first female GM in any sport, and would be a bold move for the Mets to make. Ng has been an assistant GM for the Yankees and Dodgers, and has been making waves in baseball as a potential future GM. Ng was almost named the Dodgers GM in 2005, and interviewed for Seattle’s opening in 2008 and San Diego’s vacancy in 2009. However, what I think is most impressive on her resume is the fact that she was the American League’s director of waivers and records. Ng’s ability to handle negotiations and contracts could mean an end for the Mets seemingly endless ability to offer gargantuan and overpriced contracts. Ng is supposed to be able to gauge a player’s market value which steers away from the Mets scouting driven front office, and Ng has actually beaten Scott Boras in an arbitration case. Plus, she grew up in New Jersey, which means she would be coming back home to put together a new fresh team. She deserves a chance to manage a roster, and would instantly bring fresh ideas to an otherwise stagnant team.



She’s from NJ, she knows whats up.

2.Hire Wally Backman as the new Manager – This one was tough. It’s a risky move, and potentially could backfire. I had to think long and hard about the idea of the Mets hiring Wally, but in the end, I think it be an excellent choice. It’s another bold move, but I am tired with the Mets going with the safe, yet unspectacular choices for everything. Lets try something new, eh? What stuck out most in my mind is that Wally reminded me of Bobby Valentine. He is a fiery guy who wears his heart on his sleeve, which is the exact opposite of what we have had since Valentine was fired. Art Howe, Willie Randolph, and Jerry Manuel have been calm, mostly mellow, managers who have been “the nice guys.” We’ve seen how far the “nice guys” can take us, and well…it isn’t far. As for Backman and his potential hiring, I think the Mets need a jolt of energy, and I can think of no one who would give them anymore energy. However, the two things that stuck out most in my mind about Wally were: Backman hates losing and Backman knows how to win. It seems at times that the Mets are almost ok with losing a game. For example, the incident after the Mets loss to the Diamondbacks last week when Alex Cora called out his teammates out for being rambunctious after a loss would NEVER happen under Backman. There have been numerous accounts of Backman screaming at his team for underperforming. Can you even imagine Jerry Manuel doing anything but quietly talking to someone about their performance? Another thing that struck me about Backman was the loyalty that his players seem to have when they play for him. “Backman wins everywhere he goes, and his players fight for him,” is what has been said. Backman’s track record is almost flawless, and he is currently leading the Brooklyn Cyclones to an amazing start to the season. If you surrounded Wally with a strong group of coaches (Rudy Jaramillo? Mike Maddux?) you could have something potentially brilliant on your hands. Unless we can get someone extraordinary to manage the Mets, I think it’s clear that Wally is the guy to go with.


He’s crazy…but a good crazy.

3. Trade Carlos Beltran – This would be the start of what should be a simple redesign of the Mets roster. Not an overall, but the core needs to be shaken, and Beltran should be the start of it. Now that Beltran is back from his seemingly never ending injuries, he has some trade value. If teams are interested, I would listen, but would settle for nothing less than major league ready pitching. If we could get someone like Clay Buchholz or someone around those lines, we should jump at the chance. Maybe the Rays might be willing to part with some pieces if we pick up part of his contract? Who knows? What I do know is Beltran has never really been a favorite of Mets’ fans, and he certainly should not come back once his contract expires, so we should trade him while we still have a chance.

While a lot of this might just be me pipe dreaming and pretending like I’m in charge, it all COULD happen. The Mets are ripe for a change in the guard, and should jump at the chance to do so. They are perpetually stuck in a state of settling for second best, which should not be the status quo. They play in a market where spending (wisely) and upgrading the team should not be a hassle like it is now. Mets fans are passionate, they might even be the most passionate fans in the game, and the Mets should start showing them that they mean business. “Meaningful games in September” should not be acceptable anymore. Failures such as Omar and Jerry’s current Mets squad should be fixed, not simply taken note of and continuing onward. Change is good, and no team needs it more than the kings of queens.

Just Metsing Around To Recieve A Ressurection

Sorry about the lack of updates, I've been quite busy. But, now that the Mets season is slowly coming to a close I think it would be a good time to start writing again.

Mets Bullpen Could Be Interesting..

All offseason I have been talking about how the Mets bullpen will hold the key to the 2010 season. But, between the recent additons the Mets have made and the strong showing of certain pitchers this spring, I actually think the 'pen may be a huge strong point for the Mets.

When we look at the 'pen as it is now, we know a few things. K-Rod will be closing out games, Feliciano will be in there, and Kiko Calero and Ryota Igarashi will both be shoreing up the middle relief. The Mets are currently talking to Free Agent left-hander Joe Biemel, whom I have advocated signing all offseason.

If all of those players are signed, or are not injured, that leaves about two or three spots left, with a large number of players competing for them.

Bobby Parnell, Sean Green, Fernando Nieve, Nelson Figueroa, Hisanori Takahashi, and Jenrry Mejia all are in the competition for the final spots, all of whom who have their pros and cons.

I hope Mejia is not rushed, and is sent to AA to continue to work on becoming a frontline starter. After hearing all of the talk about Mejia being "electric" and having amazing natural movement on his pitches, I cant help but salivate over the possibility of being a starter rather than a reliever.

Takahashi has impressed, as has Figueroa, however I don't think either of them will be making the Opening Day roster, and could be excellent depth options at AAA. However, I feel bad for Figgy, who continues to be solid as they come, and gets no recognition. As for the others, I believe Green is all but finished as a Mets, and will either be cut or sent down to AAA to forever rot. In the end, I think the Mets will continue to groom Parnell to be a future set up man, and Nieve will be the long man because he is out of options.

Sorry For This...

Sorry for the lack of updates recently, I am currently writing a Mets column in the New Paltz Oracle, which has been draining most of my time.

I hope to start updating more frequently in the coming days.

Sherman's Plan Is Interesting...

By now many of you should have come across the recent article written by Joel Sherman of the New York Post. While I normally try to avoid Sherman's articles, this time he does bring up an interesting point. The Mets were willing to commit 12 million dollars too two lackluster free agents (Pinero and Molina) both of whom can be compared to some remaining free agents on the market who could be had for much less.

Sherman says signing Rod Barajas, Russell Branyan, Felipe Lopez, Kiko Calero and Jarrod Washburn. I however, think the Mets should invest the money a little differently.

Barajas is an obvious need. If he can be had for a cheap one year deal, this seems like a no-brainier. Barajas is no superstar, but he is better than Omir Santos. Barajas will put up 10-15 HRs and 60 or so RBIs, which would be a welcome addition to the end of the order. He apparently handles staff's adequately and would serve as a nice stopgap for Josh Thole.

Kiko Calero is an interesting option. He was lights out last year. However, I would rather the Mets sign someone like Joe Biemel, because he would instantly solve our second lefty vacancy.

I would stay away from Russell Branyan, he does have a lot of raw power, but he really seems like someone who will not repeat that success. Plus he has some injury trouble...

Felipe Lopez would be an excellent signing in my opinion. He has been constantly solid at the plate over the last few seasons, and would be a more than adequate replacement for Louis Castillo should (or when) he craps out this season...

The real question mark is Jarrod Washburn. He was superb for the Mariners last season, but when he was traded he fizzled out. That is what truly scares me. I don't think he has much left in the tank. I would honestly be more comfortable signing someone like Pedro Martinez, who proved he still can pitch well, to fill out the back of the rotation. Pedro is also a great clubhouse presence.

How About Jason Jennings?

The buzz around the blogosphere recently is that the Mets are open to adding another starter "if the price is right." While looking at the remaining free agent starters one may ask who is actually worth signing? The list is made up of mostly lackluster and uninspiring names who probobly will not amount to much in the 2010 season. However, there are a few names that have promise and could be serviceable as a back end starter. Names the Mets have been linked to are Jon Smoltz, Jarrod Washburn, and Chien Ming Wang. However, one name that strikes me as interesting is Jason Jennings.

Jennings was never much of a name during his career in Colorado, despite winning the 2002 Rookie of the Year award, mostly posting ERA's in the 5's. However, in 2006 he had a stellar year, in which he posted a decent ERA of 3.78 in Coors Field, and wound up with Houston. Jennings was a pretty solid pitcher while in Colorado, posting a combined 4.81 ERA and went 28-21 for what was a pretty horrendous Colorado Rockies team.

He played one season of pretty horrific ball in Houston in 2007, and then ended up on the other Texas team, the Rangers for the start of the 2008 season. The pitching hungry Rangers envisioned Jennings being a solid arm for their rotation, however his first season was riddled with injuries and Jennings became all but forgotten.

Last season however, Jennings came back from his injuries, and pitched pretty admirably for the Rangers. He posted a 4.13 ERA in 61 innings pitched, and had 44 strike outs during that period.

Now, he is not a name to write home about, and by no means am I advocating a major league contract, but I believe Jennings could be a solid pickup to compete for a rotation spot should the Mets not sign anyone who locks up a slot. Jennings was a decent pitcher for the Rockies earlier in his career. It could be argued that much of his stats were inflated by Coors Field and it's hitter friendly tendencies. Jennings has proven that he has the ability to win 10+ games, which would be a welcome addition to the back end of our rotation.

Mets Should Sign A Few Guys To Minor League Deals

While reading my twitter feed, I stumbled across an interesting one from Joe DeMayo.

"I think a couple good minor league deals for Mets to give out would be BJ Ryan,Joe Beimel to compete for 2nd lefty and Rich Aurilia for bnch"

I happen to think signing those players would be extremely smart. All of them would be signed to minor league deals and would at the very least offer the Mets some depth at AAA if they did not make the majors.

BJ Ryan - The once dominant Toronto closer had a tough season last year, but was 2-4 with a 2.95ERA and 32 saves in 2008. As a low risk addition to compete for a second lefty job, this seems like a no-brainier.

Joe Beimel - Beimel is a player I have advocated the Mets signing all offseason. He was 1-6 with a 3.58 ERA for the Nats and Rockies last season, and has consistently shown that he is a great arm for the pen.

Rich Aurilia - Aurilia isn't much of a flashy name, but he does offer the Mets a potential leadership position off the bench. The NY native wants to play at home for the last year of his career and I think that him competing with Chris Carter and Frank Catalanatto would make for a solid Spring Training competition for the Mets.

I Have Hope: A Mets Fan's Mannifesto

The 2010 New York Mets are a team many people within the baseball world seem to have written off as a blunder already. I however, have a different view. I truly think that the Mets have a chance to make the post season this year.

Now before you call me crazy, hear me out. The Mets were picked by Sports Illustrated before the 2009 season to win the World Series, and the way I see it, the Mets have only gotten better since the beginning of last season. The Mets have talent, and a potentially lethal team.

The problem with the current team is that there are a lot of questions regarding the HEALTH of the team. If healthy, the Mets have a powerful lineup and with a few small additions to the club, have a well rounded core with strong players who surround them.

The thing people tend to criticize the most about the Mets is their rotation. I think the Mets have a potentially strong rotation. Now, don't get me wrong, there are a lot of question marks, but if all of those questions are answered with positive outcomes, the Mets have the makings of a very solid rotation. As Mike Pelfrey said, the Mets were picked to win the World Series with essentially the same rotation in 2009, but everyone got hurt. It's not like all that potential and talent suddenly dissipated in one year. Lets look at each of our projected starters best seasons:

Johan Santana: 20-6 with a 2.61 ERA (2004)
John Maine: 15-10 with a 3.91 ERA (2007) and in 2008 he wasnt horrible either
Mike Pelfrey: 13-11 with a 3.72 ERA (2008)
Oliver Perez: 15-10 with a 3.56 ERA (2007) but again, I would take 2008 Ollie any day
Jon Niese/Fernando Nieve both showed signs of being solid pitchers in 2009.

All of these pitchers have had excellent seasons within the last few years. This essentially means that the Mets have a rotation with the potential to each win upwards of 10 games. Not many teams can say they have rotations that are able to achieve that. Maine has been dominant at times, Pelfrey has shown that he has the ability to be a front line starter, and at points Ollie has pitched in huge games for us and delivered.

Now, of course just because they have the POTENTIAL to be great doesn't mean they will be. I'm just pointing out that maybe, just maybe, things will go right and all of our starters will reach their potential and deliver.

As for hitting, I was a huge fan of the Mets signing Jason Bay. His hitting will be felt in the lineup and give them a huge jolt in the cleanup slot. The lineup looked a lot more threatening with a healthy Beltran in it, but Angel Pagan should fill in admirably while Beltran rehabs. However, with a healthy lineup of Reyes Pagan Wright Bay Frenchy Murphy Barajas?/Santos/Blanco and Castillo the Mets will need to fight on until Beltran gets back, and everyone can get shifted down in the lineup. If they score (again a question mark) they should have enough pitching to win.

Finally, I think the bullpen is what will make or break the Mets in 2010. While some members are sure things:
- K-Rod will make the game interesting, then get the save.
- Feliciano will continue to do amazing.
- Sean Green will suck.
There are a few options that could really make the difference. Kelvim Escobar's signing was a low risk high reward kind of deal that has the potential to be a great signing. Escobar was filthy at points in Anaheim, and has an arm that can shut down opposing batters. If healthy, he has the potential to be the lights out set up man we envisioned JJ Putz being last year. The other huge wildcard in the pen will be the Japanese import Ryota Igarashi. Igarashi supposedly has been fantastic for Japanese teams, and if he continues he could be a valuable 7th inning man for the Amazin's. However, I am a bit wary of Igarashi. The Mets have not had the best of luck with Japanese imports (Kaz Matsui), but for what ever reason I think Igarashi will be different. Who knows?

Overall, there are a million question marks with the Mets. But, if the Mets reach the potential that many of them posses, they could have a very great season in 2010.

4 Mets Farmhands Crack ESPN's Top 100 Prospects

Four Mets prospects were on Keith Laws "Top 100 Prospects" over on ESPN. SP Jerry Mejia ranked #23, SS Wilmer Flores was #41, 1B Ike Davis came in at #64 and most surprisingly OF Fernando Martinez was ranked at #73.

Mejia has electric stuff, and the potential to be a staff ace at some point in the VERY far future, which led me to thinking his spot on the list is justified. Mejia is still only 20 years old, and if the Mets let him develop his command in the minors, they may have a very special prospect on their hands.

Flores will one day be a 1B or a corner OF, but for now settles in at SS. He also has extreme power potential, which makes me think of Miguel Cabrera.. Flores is also still too young to get overly excited about, but he certainly has the makings of an excellent prospect.

Davis is the Mets 1B of the future, which was solidified by the Mets not signing a REAL 1B to at least platoon with our incumbent 1B Daniel Murphy. Davis has been hitting the ball extremely well since last season, and the Mets seem to be excited by him.

However, F-Mart's decline on the list is most shocking. Martinez has been widely regarded as the Mets top prospect for years, but now after a ill-fated cup of coffee in the majors it seems as if fans and the media alike have lost faith in him. I expect Martinez to be a solid major league player in the future.

Frank Catalanotto Now a Met

The Mets have signed FA UTL Frank Catalanotto to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training according to multiple sources. While he has put up solid numbers for a part time player, Catalanotto is known for his intangibles. Catalanotto is considered to be an excellent clubhouse guy and has been described as a playing hitting instructor, which could be a nice addition to the Mets bench. Overall, I think this signing has a nice upside.

Josh Fogg Is Now A Met

According to Troy Renck of The Denver Post, the Mets have signed SP Josh Fogg to a minor league deal. The 33 year old pitcher logged a 3.74 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 45.6 relief innings for the Rockies last season, which isn't too shabby.

As far as I see it, this deal is inconsequential. Fogg at best will compete for a bullpen slot, and as you can see, he is not too bad at that. Fogg offers the Mets some pretty solid bullpen depth.

Smoltz and Mets Gaining Momentum

Ken Davidoff of Newsday has reported that the Mets and FA starter Jon Smoltz are getting closer to a possible match. While no offers have been made, the Mets would like to use Smoltz in a mentor role for their younger starters.

Smoltz does not particularly excite me. However, at this point, no free agent starters besides Jarrod Washburn really offer anything at all. Smoltz at best could offer some experience and mentor Jon Niese and our younger starters. Other than that, Smoltz basically is someone you cross your fingers and hope with.

Tatis Officially Signed

According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets have re-signed Fernando Tatis to a 1 year $1.7 million dollar deal. The double play machine will reportedly platoon with Daniel Murphy at 1B. He will also fill in in other positions such as LF and 3B and basically every other position.

Why the Mets didn't sign 1B Ryan Garko to platoon with Murphy is beyond me. The most likely reason is that Garko made too much sense to sign.

Breaking News! Rockies Sign Tim Redding!

According to Rotoworld.com former Mets superstar Tim Redding has signed with the Colorado Rockies! Redding will serve as nothing more than a backup for the Rockies starters should any of them get hurt over the course of the season. Now he will waste the Rockies money instead of the Mets.

I for one am SO sad to see Redding pack his bags. Plus, I really am going to miss the muskrat that seemingly lived on his face all season.

TWITTER RUMORS: Torrealba or Barajas Coming Soon? Washburn Maybe?

According to Joe DeMayo's re tweet on Twitter:

I'm hearing from my source #Mets are talking to Torrealba and Barajas agents. Very likely to end up with one of them. Could be offers out.

Now, because this rumor is coming from Twitter, I would take this with a grain of salt, but nevertheless I would be happy if the Mets were to acquire either of them. Both Torrealba and Barajas are experienced backstops and would present an upgrade over the incumbent Omir Santos. My personal preference would be Barajas who put up 19 HR and 71 RBIs last year. He could provide a bit more pop that this lineup needs.

Also, Andrew Marchand tweeted that the Mets may be rethinking their strategy and might make a run at Free Agent SP Jarrod Washburn. While I was totally against making a run at Washburn earlier this season, at this point he is just a body to stick in the rotation. And who knows? He could be pretty decent if pitching in the spacious Citi Field...

Ben Sheets No Longer An Option. Signs With The A's

It has been confirmed by Jeff Fletcher of AOL FanHouse that the Oakland A’s have signed free-agent SP Ben Sheets to a one-year, $10 million deal. This officially makes the Mets unable to truly improve the teams rotation in a major fashion.

What's more, according to Twitter:

@pgammo Oakland's physical on Ben Sheets was "fantastic."

Sigh. And with this unfortunate news, according to Joe DeMayo of NYBD the Mets have made an offer to Jon Smoltz. Now we can look forward to the Mets signing Jon Smoltz, and whiffing on better options such as Jon Garland. Yahoo.

Ollie Perez Comes Into Minicamp In Shape!

Adam Rubin of the Daily News,recently caught up with the talented, yet troubled Mets starter Oliver Perez, and actually gave fans some hope regarding the inconsistent hurler. Perez, who underwent surgery to remove scar tissue from his right knee on Sept. 1, has pronounced himself fit.

We all remember last spring when the newly signed lefty came into training camp out of shape and overweight and basically was horrendous for the club. This would only be the beginning to Ollie, as the rest of the season was just as horrid for him.

Perez took his off season conditioning to another level this winter and relocated to Arizona where he worked out daily at Fischer Sports. He is said to be feeling "really happy" and ready to come into the season in shape.

Ollie has a lot of potential, and could potentially help the Mets a lot this season. We all know what he is capable of and having a healthy and productive Ollie at the end of the rotation could be extremely helpful.

A Closer Look At The Mets Bullpen

With Brian Stokes being dealt to the Angels, my thoughts began to drift to the current makeup of the Mets bullpen. After examining the current members of it I concluded one thing: this makeup has the potential to be either be outstanding or absolutely horrific. Below you will find my expectations and predictions/thoughts about possible members of the 2010 bullpen.

The Shoe-In's:

1. Fransisco Rodriguez
K-Rod had a very up and down season last year, but finished with a respectable 3.71 ERA and 35 saves. I'm hoping that his second half struggles were just because of the team's lack of luster and not his diminishing ability...but i'm still worried. My guess is he will have very similar numbers in 2010 and be a solid closer for us.

2. Kelvim Escobar
Escobar is a microcosm of the rest of the bullpen. There is no question that if healthy Escobar can be a lights out set up man, and therefore will make the rest of the bullpen that much better. But, if he is hurt or ineffective my belief is that the rest of the bullpen will falter. Minaya took a gamble on Kelvim, but a worthy one. My hope is that he is that big time set up man we have been craving.

3. Pedro Feliciano
Pedro Feliciano will be effective if used correctly. Jerry started to toy with Pedro by using him more as a set-up man rather than a situational pitcher last season. If Pedro is used in the correct situations he is lights out and one of the best pitchers in his field. He will have something similar to his 3.03 ERA. He is a solid reliever.

4. Ryota Igarashi
The Mets signed this Japanese import to bolster the back end of the 'pen. I am skeptical, yet somehow excited to see how he fares. The Mets have not had good experience when signing Japanese born players (Kaz Matsui...) but for whatever reason I feel like Igarashi might be able to be an exception to this rule. In essence Ryota Igarashi is basically the same as Kelvim Escobar, you have no idea what you are going to get.

5. Bobby Parnell
Bobby has a ton of potential. That much is certain. For a time he seemed destined to become the Mets future set up man. However, the Mets continued to misuse the young hurler last year and he faltered towards the end of the year. But, he can throw heat and has the ability to get people out. But, unfortunately it looks as if the Mets rushed him, and he needs more time to develop. However, the Mets are desperate for arms in the 'pen, so Parnell is going to have to learn by doing. 2010 could be a solid year for Parnell, with the additions of Escobar and Igarashi this can move him to a less stressful 7th inning role. If the Mets play their cards right they could have a solid young reliever on their hands.

6. Sean Green
Green was very inconsistent last year. One moment he was horrendous, the next he was brilliant. However, towards the end of the year he seemed to be pitching well, which he credited to a change in mechanics. Green should be used solely as a situational pitcher.If that is done, he should be fine.

The Others:

1. Pat Misch
Misch was actually pretty good in 2009 after being picked up from the Giants. He excelled in a few of his starts, which makes him attractive as a possible spot starter in the pen. He is also a lefty, which the Mets need. Depending on how the rest of the winter pans out and how he is in spring training, you could be looking at the Mets second lefty coming out of the pen.

2. Clint Everts
Everts was signed to a contract this winter and I have to admit I really thought it was a good call on the Mets part. Everts posted a 1.65 ERA in the minors last season and had 68 strikeouts in 60 innings of work and has a career ERA of just under 4.00. Everts is a sleeper.

3. Fernando Nieve
Nieve was a feel good story for the Mets last season (until he was injured) and is very much in the Mets plans going forward. Nieve was once considered a top prospect in the Astros system, and in his starts with the Mets last season, we could all see why. He seems to be recovering well from his injury. Apparently he is excelling in winter ball. If one of our starters goes down, I think he is the guy the Mets call up from AAA.

4. Nelson Figueroa
Oh Figgy. Not much to say about Nelson, he is solid (usually) for the Mets but honestly I don't see him amounting to much more than the occasional call up from AAA. However, last year he did have moments where he made me reconsider him. But there are just too many other more enticing options for him to be a regular on the club.

5. Elmer Dessens
Dessens filled in admirably last year, and was rewarded with a contract this winter. He pitched surprisingly well down the stretch, but was used mostly in games that really didnt matter. Overall he is another body providing depth in AAA.

6. Jay Marshall
The Mets probably picked up Marshall from Oakland because of his funky delivery and the fact that he is a lefty. He started 2009 with Oakland's AAA affiliate, going 5-3 with seven saves and a 3.20 ERA. He did not fare so well in the big leagues going 0-2 with a 14.73 ERA in 10 appearances. Probably not going to make the big league roster, but an interesting option to have if needed.


Possibilities:

1. John Smoltz - His name has been linked to the Mets this winter, and with good reason. Despite his age, Smoltz continues to be solid. If he were to be signed to the Mets, I am sure it would be a cheap one year contract - which I would be fine with. Smoltz could add depth to the bullpen and make an occasional start or two.

2. Joe Biemel - Biemel is the guy I want the Mets to sign this offseason. He would be the perfect second lefty for the bullpen. He had a 4.02 ERA in Colorado last year, but a 3.40 ERA in Washington before being traded. He has proven himself to be a solid reliever.

Mets Get Gary Matthews Jr For Brian Stokes

This is now official: the Mets have acquired Gary Matthews Jr. in exchange for relief pitcher Brian Stokes. The Angels have agreed to pay $21.5 million of the $24 million due to the outfielder over the next two years. This means the Mets will be paying him $1.25 million.

Well. THAT was disappointing. All of this talk of a fancy three way trade made this actually interesting, but in reality the Mets just acquired what will amount to a 4th outfielder. Honestly, I think Angel Pagan will most certainly beat him out in spring training, and Matthews will be on the bench all year, and possibly even hurt some bench flexibility once Beltran comes back. In other words, yet another dumb Mets move. Ugh.

Mets to acquire Gary Matthews Jr. More Coming?

According to Jon Heyman of SI.com the Mets have acquired Gary Matthews Jr from the Angels. Heyman said the Angels might be paying around $20 million of the $24 million due to the 35 year old outfielder during the next two seasons.

Unfortunately however, it has been reported that the Mets will not be sending 2B Louis Castillo in the trade, but low level minor leaguers instead.

Matthews hit .250 with 4 HR and 50 RBI last season as a part time player in Anaheim. Presumably if this is the only part of the trade, Matthews will fill in CF while Carlos Beltran rehabs from his knee surgery.

Depending on who the Mets give up for Matthews, I don't really mind this trade. Especially as if Matt Cerrone speculates "it’s part of something else to come." Matthews is a solid OF who by no means will be a starter for very long, and is a solid name to bat in the 7th slot for a little while and when Beltran comes back Matthews can be a 4th outfielder who can play all three spots.

What interests me most is the possibility of this leading to something bigger. With the acquisition of Matthews, this makes Angel Pagan expendable. Earlier in the offseason Pagan was rumored to be liked by the Royals. Maybe the Mets are concocting a deal for someone like Gil Meche? Maybe the Mets are planning to ship him to the Cubs as part of a package for one of their multiple starters? Who knows?

Update: 11:32 AM

On Metsblog.com Cerrone writes:

…there are people in baseball who believe this must be part of a three-team deal, maybe eventually leading to some sort of move with the Reds, and Orlando Hudson, but that is all speculation…

If that is the case, this has the potential to be a brilliant move by the Mets. Especially if they acquire a solid starter.

Update: 11:43

Joe Demayo's twitter had something interesting :

@joe_demayo Hearing Brian Stokes is most prominent name talked about with Angels..could be headed that way

That seems like a bit much for an overpriced 4th outfielder...


MORE TO COME

Sheets or Garland? Rumors Swirling

According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com The Mets and Athletics might be in the best position to sign highly touted starter Ben Sheets due to their sufficient funds. He described the two teams as ones that can be "aggressive." Olney believes potential suitors such the Rangers do not have the cash to land Sheets, and with the recent acquisition of Vicente Padilla, the Dodgers are now out of the running.

However, Olney also believes Jon Garland is the best fit for the Mets, especially if they are unwilling to be aggressive for Sheets. Garland had been asking for a three year contract earlier in the year, but when compared to the contracts Pineiro and Marquis got (2 year deals) that dream is probably over with.

Personally, I am torn. Sheets offers the Mets a potential second ace and devastating rotation. If healthy, Sheets is one of the best starters in the game and would certainly make the Mets a legitimate playoff contender. But if Sheets were to get hurt, especially early in the year, the media would have a fit, and the Mets would most certainly falter. The psychological effect of having ANOTHER star signing get hurt alone could sink the team. Signing Sheets is certainly a gamble, but one I think is worth taking. Garland on the other hand is not that impact player the Mets crave, and would merely be a perfect #3 starter. However, he would give the Mets a stable and solid start every fifth day (which this team could use with a rotation filled with "what-ifs") and probably around 30 starts next season.

In all honesty, I think the Mets need both Sheets and Garland. But either would help the club. However, realistically, I think the Mets should take a gamble on Sheets if they truly think he is healthy. The impact he would have could really make the difference next season.

Ben Sheets Looks Good

According to Ed Price's (of AOL Fanhouse) Twitter Ben Sheets pitched "very well" and "easy." He talked to a scout who believed the Mets are one of the front runners for the potential star.

As I said earlier today, Sheets would be an amazing addition to the Mets rotation, if he is healthy. The combination of Johan and Sheets has the potential to be devastating and possibly even better than any other #1-2 combo in our division.

Well THAT'S Surprising! Molina Signs With The Giants

According to CBS San Fransisco The Giants have signed Free Agent C Benjie Molina to a one-year, $4.5 million contract. The Mets apparently offered Molina a final "take-it-or-leave-it" contact, which he turned down and opted to return to San Fran. In the wake of the Mets The Mets are now turning their attention to another free agent catcher - Yorvit Torrealba. Torrealba hit .291 with a .351 OBP with two HR in 64 games for the Rockies last year, while in a platoon situation.

I actually like this. At first I was shocked and a little angry, but after mulling it over, I am happy the Mets stuck to their guns and did not overpay for Molina. Hopefully the money saved on Molina can be used into more pitching (I still advocate Sheets and Garland and maybe even Joe Beimel) and they can sign someone like Torrealba or Barajas to split time with Blanco and Santos.

Molina And The Mets Hit A Rough Patch

According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com free-agent C Bengie Molina may have turned down the Mets most recent offer. Which would mean the Mets have started to focus more on free-agent SP Joel Pineiro.

This is starting to get frustrating. I mean, I'm with the Mets on this one, they can wait Molina out and sign him on their terms. It's just frustrating waiting for what seems to be the inevitable. But if it really came down to it, I would be ok with the Mets signing C Rod Barajas instead of Molina if it meant money could be then spent on pitching needs (Sheets etc).

However, my guess is that the starting C for our 2010 Mets will be Benjie Molina, who will have signed a 2 year $12 million dollar deal.

Ben Sheets Could Be Interesting...

Later today, the often injured (yet potentially amazing) pitcher Ben Sheets will audition for teams to show that he is healthy for the 2010 season. Teams on this list include: the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers and our beloved New York Mets.

Sheets spent the entire 2009 season on the DL while recovering from surgery to fix his torn flexor tendon. But as many of us know, Sheets had been brilliant in 2008 and 2007, when he won between 12 and 13 games and had an ERA hovering just above 3.00.

But, by missing the 2009 season, Sheets does not come without significant risk. Rumors have been swirling that he wants around 10 million guaranteed annually, which no team is sure to commit to. Sheets also seemed hesitant to throw for teams throughout the off season, and has just recently agreed to pitch later today.

If Sheets has a strong outing today, I would 100% advocate signing him to a 1 or 2 year deal with a team option thrown in. If healthy, Sheets is one of the best and most devastating pitchers in baseball and if he is slotted behind Johan Santana, could be the best #2 in the game. The Mets have been kicking the tires on Joel Pineiro to fill their #2 starter void, which lets face it, just does not cut it. Sheets could be a legitimate #2 starter this team has lacked for so long. A healthy rotation of Santana, Sheets, Pelfrey, Maine, and Ollie/Niese has the ability to be solid and borderline great (if everything works out and everyone pitches to their ability).

My rational behind signing Sheets is simple. The Mets need to make a bold move and hope for the best. Teams like the Red Sox made bold moves that made them what they are today. If the Mets were to sign Sheets, it would of course be a gamble, in fact it would be an enormous gamble. But the benefits the Mets would get from a healthy Sheets would be extraordinary for this club. In a division with the Phillies and a now very scary Marlins team, the Mets are in a position where they can't settle for the Joel Pineiros of the world who only "kinda sorta" fix a problem. Sheets (if healthy) 100% fixes our most glaring problem and effectively gives the Mets a rotation that could compete with the best in the league.

Jerry Hairston Jr. Contacted By The Mets

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Mets have contacted super utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. to fill in for the injured Carlos Beltran. I believe this would be a fantastic move by the Mets. Hairston would greatly improve the bench, and would be able to fill in other OF spots (and even SS) when Beltran returns. While this move is not flashy, I do believe Hairston would be a solid pickup who could help the team throughout the entire season as a fill in at multiple positions.

Possibilities For Our Opening Day Lineup

As it stands, our 2010 Opening Day lineup could look very interesting (not to mention lackluster) if no moves our made in light of the current Beltran fiasco. With Adam LaRoche signing with the Diamondbacks my personal choice to fix our lack of power is off the market. However, other (and cheaper) options still remain on the market. While Carlos Delgado is the most likely candidate to come back on a 1 year deal, 1B Hank Blalock, 1B Mike Jacobs, and 1B Ryan Garko all would be my personal choices to fill a power void we have. All of them are not everyday players, but could fit in nicely as a platoon player with our incumbent 1B Daniel Murphy.

Jacobs is the lesser of the three, because he mostly offers power with little else coming to the table. Blalock would be my second choice, only because his slugging and average were better than Jacobs, however they are strikingly similar. My choice would be to sign Ryan Garko.

Garko struggled with San Fransisco after being traded there, but his stats in Cleveland are actually quite good. His average was .285 and hit 11 HR in 78 games, which almost beat everyone on the Mets for the entire season. He has the ability to drive in runs (90 in 2008) and does not strike out much. He would be a fantastic addition to the bottom of the order, and could flourish in a platoon situation.

That being said, our lineup on opening day could be quite interesting. Without Beltran, everyone's role in the order is thrown for a loop. With Angel Pagan seemingly taking over for Beltran in CF, I would advocate letting him start out in the leadoff spot, which he excelled in in 2009. Louis Castillo can stay in the #2 slot, which he also excelled in last year, which would shift Jose Reyes into the #3 slot. I was intrigued by Jerry's idea last spring, and actually think that Reyes could flourish there. Reyes does not have the flashy power numbers of most #3 hitters, but his ability to hit doubles and triples is almost unrivaled. Having both Pagan and Castillo, whom are both good table setters and good runners, be knocked in by Reyes' doubles is something I can see working out tremendously. Wright and Bay would fill out the #4 and #5 slots, which deepens the entire lineup. Francouer can stay in the #6 slot, which is somewhere he is comfortable. Garko/Murphy who both do not strike out much would need to hit between Frency and Molina to brake up the two free swingers. I feel like this is the most appropriate way to have the lineup until Beltran is able to return in May June or July.

The lineup would look something like this:

CF Pagan
2B Castillo
SS Reyes
3B Wright
LF Bay
RF Francouer
1B Garko/Murphy/Delgado?
C Molina

Thoughts?

Molina and Mets Close (Really ThisTime)

As we all expected, the Mets and free agent catcher Benjie Molina are reportedly close to a contract now that Molina has ended his ego trip. According to Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports Molina is now willing to accept a two year deal. The deal should be reached within the next 48-72 hours.

If the deal is for 2 years I can accept Molina as our backstop. He is solid defensively and has the ability to hit for power, which in light of recent events, is even more of an asset to this team. He also will only be under Mets control for 2 years, meaning Josh Thole has time to develop in AAA. I would be happy if Molina were to hit .260 with 15 HR and 70 RBI. However, Molina does not come without his flaws. He is known for his tendency to swing away, much like our current RF Jeff Francouer. Putting them one after another at the bottom of our lineup could create an easy 7-8-9 for pitchers to get through. When Molina is signed, I would advocate shifting Louis Castillo from the #2 slot to in between both Frenchy and Molina in the batting order, to take pitches and work a pitcher.

Beltran Has Knee Surgery Without Mets Knowledge

As stated before, some ominous Mets news was expected to hit tonight, and just as we all expected, the news could not have been worse. According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, Carlos Beltran had knee surgery today, unbeknown-st to the Mets, and is expected to need 8+ weeks of rehab. According to others, he is expected to be back in the lineup by June. Wow. Our #3 hitter is already out for the beginning of the season, and this surely will send our off season plans for a loop.

The implications this could have will be interesting to see unfold. According to the Mets, Beltran had surgery without their permission, and Joel Sherman of the New York Post said the Mets are even threatening 'some form of action’ against their star center fielder.

As for the 2010 season, I think that the team needs to make a splashy move to help quell the fan base about the season. For many, it seems like 2009 is happening all over again, and the season looks lost before it even began. I think Minaya has no choice but to pull the trigger on someone like 1B Adam Laroche for some offense, or pull off a deal for 2B Brandon Phillips and SP Bronson Arroyo in order to fight through the first few months of the season without the media and fan base feeling as if all is lost.

With the loss of Beltran, our current lineup now seems much less threatening and has the potential to be disastrous in the bottom half: (C Molina 1B Murphy CF Pagan)

The addition of LaRoche (or even Delgado at this point) would add a large boost to the offense, and might be able to hold it's own until Beltran's arrival in June. Plus, the lineup in June has the potential to be downright scary...

SS Reyes
CF Beltran
3B Wright
LF Bay
1B LaRoche
RF Francouer
2B Castillo
C Molina

Oh No....

According to Matt Cerrone's Twitter, there is trouble afoot in Metsland.

"matthewcerrone- According to @injuryexpert, "Big news pending for Mets. Doesn't sound good."

I don't know what the news is, however I can only imagine. My guesses include: Another Reyes injury, Johan complications, or something to do with Beltran's knee.

I will post more when informations comes.

Mets Discussing A Contract With Joel Pineiro? Color Me Worried.

According to Ed Price of AOL FanHouse the Mets and FA Starting Pitcher Joel Pineiro are talking about a two-year, $15 million contract. Pineiro would conceivably fill our #2 starter slot. Let me be the first to say that I believe signing Pineiro would be a major mistake. He has not proven anything remotely close to being a #2 starter on any team. All signs point to the magic touch of famed pitching coach Dave Duncan rather than Pineiro making any strides towards becoming a great pitcher. In 2008 Pineiro had a 5.15 ERA, and has bounced around the 4.00 ERA ever since. While the contract they are discussing is actually quite bearable, I would be more inclined to spend money on a consistent innings eater, which the Mets have repeatedly said they wished to do (Jon Garland). The last thing the Mets need is another free agent fiasco...Joel Pineiro has Ollie Perez written all over him.

The Case For Jon Garland

It is no secret that the Mets need pitching. Their current rotation consists of Johan Santana and a bunch of hope. While I believe the Mets preference is to acquire a starting pitcher via the trade market, I still believe that it will come down to the wire and they will sign one of the following pitchers: Ben Sheets, Erik Bedard, Doug Davis or Jon Garland. Of the remaining free agent pitchers, I believe the choice is easy for the Mets. Jon Garland represents the one thing the Mets have been lacking over the past few years - consistency. Garland wont wow you with anything he does, he had a sub-.500 record, his ERA was 4.01, and he gave up 255 hits in 204 innings. But, most importantly, Garland has made over 30 starts for the last 8 years, and had an ERA around 4.50 throughout those years, which many people criticize. However, what they fail to realize is that Garland put up such an ERA in the American League. I believe that Garland would benefit from the spacious Citi Field, and would slot nicely in the #3 slot of the rotation. His numbers are almost guaranteed to be better pitching in the National League and throwing half of his games in a pitchers park. Honestly, I can see Garland winning 11+ games with a 3.50 ERA for a healthy Mets team in 2010. Hopefully Garland would accept a 2 year deal, but I would even consider a 3rd year if necessary. Now, of course signing Garland does not solve our glaring need for a stud #2 behind Santana, but he does give the rotation a sure thing, which Pelfrey, Maine, Ollie, and Niese are not.