Two innings eaters go elsewhere...

I really think the Mets could use an innings eater, someone who can pitch to about league average ERA, 200 innings and only costs a minor league deal with an invite.

Chris Young and Chris Capuano were great pick-ups but there are injury risks and will more then likely fatigue at some point in the season.  Add to that, that Jon Niese could have a sophomore slump and someone who could eat innings would be a valuable asset. 

Two pitchers that fit the description of an inning eater and were on the Mets radar have signed with other teams. 

Matt Bush signed with the Rangers while Rodrigo Lopez picked the Braves, both went on minor league deals with invites. 

Pagan Signed- Now Let's Get Him In Center

With Angel Pagan's contract situation settled to the tune of a one year, $3.5 million deal, its time to turn our attention back to how he's going to fit into the on-field plans of the Mets in the coming season. Heading into the 2010 season, he was expected be the fourth outfielder and compete for playing time in right field with Jeff Francoeur; however, the ill scheduled surgery of Carlos Beltran and the ineptitude of Gary Matthews, Jr., thrust him into the everyday lineup early in the season, and he responded in a big way, batting a team high .290 and patrolling centerfield well enough to make people not miss Beltran's defense as much as was expected. He made great strides in his ability to intelligently run the base paths, and the mental mistakes which were a hallmark of the early part of his career seem to be well behind him.

Pagan played so well that as we get closer to Spring Training, he's created a bit of a sticky situation. Beltran prefers playing center to the other two outfield positions, and is certainly the more high profile of the two players, but his surgically repaired knee was still not a hundred percent at the end of last season and the additional wear and tear of the position can only serve to shorten the time he spends on the field. Pagan has younger, healthier legs, and has proven capable of manning center. It would greatly behoove the Mets to utilize his services and keep Beltran's potent bat in the lineup for as many at bat's as possible.

This could very well be the first problem Terry Collins has to address as he starts his new job, and it should prove tricky. Convincing a veteran player to change positions to make way for a younger player is never easy, never mind one with Beltran's resume. A poor reaction by Beltran could start the season with a pall hanging over the clubhouse and could make an already sour player downright disgruntled. A failure to make the change at all would signal a lack of control and authority for a new manager and give a sense of "same old Mets" to an extremely downtrodden fan base.

Reducing the mileage on Beltran's legs and keeping him in the lineup will be key to any plans the Mets have of truly competing this season, so it is imperative that he be moved to right field. A situation this difficult is a tough early test to judge Collins by, but his handling of it will likely play a very large role in how the season goes. Hopefully, he will have the authority and the ability to make this decision in a way that keeps both Pagan and Beltran happy but still puts the team on the field with its best shot at winning.

Alderson Mr. Wolf with finances as well ?

I'm having a hard time believing that Sandy Alderson was caught off guard by the Mets financial situation, in fact I believe he was brought in specifically for this situation and might even be advising them as to what moves to make. 

What would make me draw such a conclusion; it's two-fold, first Aldseron's background and then his response to questions regarding the situation. 

Alderson is a graduate of Harvard Law School, his first position was with Farella Braun and Martel, now I'm not sure what area of expertise Aldserson worked in but the overview ( in part) of the firm describes itself as follows;


Farella Braun + Martel LLP represents clients throughout the United States and abroad in sophisticated business transactions and high-stakes commercial, civil and criminal litigation. source Farella Braun & Martel

I would speculate that Alderson worked in the Business division since Roy Eisenhardt, who was also with the firm brought him to Oakland when Eisenhardt's father-in-law bought the team. Alderson's first position with the A's was as  general counsel before he became general manager and eventually CEO.

It appears this is the second time the commissioner's office has dispatched him to fix a limping organization, there doesn't seem to be a coincidence between the pattern of his career since leaving Oakland. 

Alderson joined the commissioner's office in 1998 and took on the very tough task of addressing the umpires,  I believe there is no mistake in Bud Selig's selection to address the issue and it's a show of confidence in Alderson. 

So I'm left to ask, in regards to San Diego, did the commissioner's office know ahead of time about the impending divorce of the Moore's which would result in the sale of the team.  It almost seems as though he was sent there to get everything in order and ensure a smooth, sound transition. 

Once the team was sold and his services were no longer needed, he returned to the commissioner's office and was given another tough task to accomplish, again a sign of respect from Selig.

At least in my eyes it appears that he was dispatched to this position with the Mets, especially from everything I've read about his personality. A guy who has accomplished everything he needs to accomplish on this level, doesn't suddenly decide he needs to be back in the game. But even if he had the itch, he wouldn't act upon it until he had finished cleaning up the international mess. 

You can't convince me that a guy with a Harvard Law degree, the general counsel to an organization, twice in charge of team's that went through ownership changes and twice worked at high levels of the commissioner's office, gets sandbagged by a financial situation that was brought to light two years ago. 

Even upon his hiring he has acted like a man who understands the organizations finances, more then any of them are willing to admit.  Any new manager at any level of a business, generally gets a fresh coat of paint, a new sign or something to cleanse the palette, if you will.  His last two positions within a team were as president/CEO so why would he accept a demotion to the GMs position, the only reason that makes sense is if he was trying lend credibility to the Wilpon's who were attempting to appear as stable owners. 

For Alderson to come in and say they wouldn't be spending this off-season and that in future years he wouldn't be comfortable spending at the levels they're currently spending, shows just how well he understands the Wilpon's finances.  I would speculate that the general counsel came out in him and suggested the latest move ( partnership). 

But regardless of how involved he is in the financial side of things, there is no way I believe that he was unaware of how dire things were and in all actuality wasn't here as a fixer.

I still see him as Mr. Wolf; standing in the kitchen, sipping coffee and barking out orders on how to fix this mess. But instead of it just being who to cut, trade or sign, it's also about how much to spend, where to spend it and how to get more to spend...


Alderson acknowledged he did not know the depth of the issue or the possibility of a portion of the team being sold while he interviewed for the GM job. source ESPN

Contract News: Pagan Signs... Dickey's Details Released

The Mets have finalized a deal with Angel Pagan, which will pay him $3.5 million for this upcoming season. As I had mentioned, I was hoping the team would consider signing Pagan for at lease two years, as he has great speed and can replace Carlos Beltran is center field when he departs after this season's end.


Details have been released for R.A. Dickey's new contract. The deal which if paid in full is worth $12.5 million. Dickey will earn $2.25 million this season and $4.25 million next season for sure. He is under team control for the 2013 season as well, when the team can pick up a $5 million option or buy him out for just $300K.

Poll Results:

We want to thank the 274 of you who took the time to participate in this weekend's poll.  A great deal has been thrown at Met's fans this weekend with regards to the team's potential financial woes.  Its good to get an idea for how everyone else is feeling.

It seems that only a little over a third of us are panicking about this.  That is actually a bit less than I anticipated when I put the poll together, as the fan base as a whole is usually very quick to assume the absolute worse.  My guess is that there are still a lot of very pessimistic fans who feel that this is just another blow to be lumped in those we've sustained over the previous few seasons.

My advice, for what its worth, would be to hang in there.  We don't have all the facts yet.  A number of investors have already stepped forward with interest in the team.  This may be necessary in order to retain core players and bring in new talent in the next few years.  There is certainly more to come...

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If Reyes Falls Victim To The Met's Money Problems..Who's Next?

In my post yesterday, I mentioned that I feared that the team’s financial issues may impact their ability to resign Jose Reyes next winter.  I stated that the team may not be able to afford the $100 million dollar deal that he is likely to command, should his 2011 season be a successful one.  Just hours later, ESPN’s Buster Olney had the following to say:

"Some rival executives are convinced that the Mets’ financial situation all but ensure that Jose Reyes – who stands to be in the running for a nine-figure contract as a free agent next fall if he stays healthy and has a good year – will be traded before the July 31 deadline.  That’s all speculation at this point."

This is one of those times when I hate to be right.  Reading something nearly identical to my statement, come from a baseball writer with much more experience and direct knowledge of the situation makes me considerably more concerned for the team’s financial well-being.  

This is New York, the land of big bucks and media moguls.  In this town, who is on the roster is nearly as important as how they perform.  With that being said, if the team trades a healthy and productive Jose Reyes prior to the deadline this summer, they will send a message to the rest of the league, the fan base and most importantly, his fellow players.  The consequences of such a decision could negatively impact the franchise for years to come.

At this point, allow me to remind you that the next premiere talent to flirt with free agency is David Wright.  Under team control through the 2013 season, Wright will be 31 years old when his contract ends. The departure of Reyes when combined with the potential inability to bring in other high profile free agents, could force Wright to chase his championship dreams elsewhere.  Moreover, if the Mets get the impression that he is planning to test the market, Wright could become a big time bargaining chip at some point in the next few years. 

Friday’s announcement of the team’s financial distress by the Wilpons is going to have ripple effects that have the potential to impact the franchise for years to come.  I still can’t fathom the team allowing a healthy Jose Reyes to play anywhere but Flushing, but there are obviously other members of the baseball world who feel it is only a matter of time.  If they’re correct, Reyes’ departure will provide a scary illustration of the Wilpons' ability, or inability, to keep the team competitive in the near future.  If they’re correct, Mets fans may be in more trouble they originally imagined…

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Feliciano Mulling His Options

According to Adam Rubin, journeyman AAAA outfielder Jesus Feliciano is still considering minor league offers. 

I have to wonder if Feliciano is waiting to see if the Mets are interested, it was his friends in the organization who talked him out of retiring last season and then he finally made it to the majors as a Met at the age of 31 y/o.

Feliciano is a serviceable outfielder at all three positions, however; he isn't considered a defensive replacement and only hit .231. 

It's unclear who he has received offers from but I think he'd be a valuable insurance policy on someones AAA team...

Jesus Feliciano, who became a free agent when the Mets outrighted him to Triple-A Buffalo in November after he cleared waivers, is weighing a couple of minor league offers, but has yet to decide on a landing spot. source ESPN NY

Is This The Beginning Of The End?

News of the Wilpon’s financial struggles brings with it another emotional blow to a fan base already skating on thin ice.  Fans who were previously concerned with the team’s health and performance going into this upcoming season, now find themselves worried about the long term financial well-being of the franchise.

The writing has long been on the wall.  The Wilpon’s involvement in the Madoff scandal has been well documented.  Were they really big winners or have they fallen victim to the rumor mill?  The answer to that question is now a moot point as they find themselves in the crosshairs of a $1 billion dollar lawsuit that has seemingly sent the team’s finances into a tailspin.  Their cash flow problems coming to a head on Friday, with the news that a portion of the team is now for sale.

Strap in Mets fans, because no matter what words of wisdom the Met’s front office feeds us in the coming weeks, we may not know how bad this situation really is until next winter.  Sandy Alderson has already gone as far as saying that the team is unlikely to reinvest the full amount of the estimated $60 million dollars set to come off the books at season’s end.  He went on to justify that statement by explaining he wants to maintain competitiveness over the long term, however we must now question if the Wilpon’s will require that money to wage their legal war.

An additional issue which should make Mets fans nervous is Alderson’s recently mentioned aversion to long term contracts.  While I would tend to agree that seven to ten year deals are a bit much, I foresee no way Alderson can lasso high caliber talent if he isn’t prepared to issue contracts in the four to six year range.  Certainly Jose Reyes and David Wright will be looking for contracts in that neighborhood.

While on the topic of Wright and Reyes, can you imagine opening day in 2013 with neither patrolling the left side of the infield?  With Jose’s contract coming due at the end of this season, the Mets have appropriately inferred that they will wait to see if Jose remains healthy and produces as expected.  However, while this is purely speculation on my part, next winter may arrive to find that the Mets do not have the financial means to resign Reyes to such a contract, should he warrant a long term deal in excess of $100 million. A similar situation could manifest itself at the completion of the 2012 season, when the team could issue David Wright a buyout rather than picking up a team option in excess of $15 million.

There are a lot of ‘what ifs’ in our future as Mets fans, more than we thought just a few days ago.  The reality of the situation isn’t fully known yet.  We may never know just how bad things are, but bear in mind that finding someone to buy a minority stake in a franchise is difficult.  There is little incentive to do so, as the buyer would be investing an estimated $200 million in this case and would not have an ounce of say when it comes to the direction of the franchise.  

We now find ourselves in line for an increasingly stressful season.  It is no longer only a matter of on-field performance for Mets fans this season.  Will next year be the first season since 2004 where the Mets field a team with a payroll under $100 million, signaling the end of big budget baseball in Queens?  It is going to take some time, maybe years, to determine just how much this situation will affect our beloved team.  Are fans ready for yet another wild ride?

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Curveball essential to Buchholtz success...

How can any of us forget a reliever with an above average fastball and a knee buckling curve, Yes; the memories of Adam Wainwright have tormented us the past four seasons.   But the Mets may have signed their own version of Wainwright in Taylor Buchholtz. 

In 2008 Buchholtz appeared in 63 games with a 2.17 ERA and a WHIP of 0.95, he became a preeminent set-up man and had his sites set on closing.  Buchholtz had pin-point accuracy with a 90-92mph fastball, an average change-up that made his FB look faster and a seldom used slider.  But the pitch he became renowned for, the one described as nasty, devastating and explosive was a 12 to 6 curve ball. 


Buchholz has a major-league fastball at 90-92 mph, sometimes a bit faster. He controls the pitch well and mixes it effectively with his other offerings. His out-pitch is a nasty curve ball, rated as one of the best in the minor leagues by many experts. He also has a decent change up. The curve and change make the fastball look a lot faster than the radar guns say it is. source ESPN Jon Sickels

The Rockies are very likely going to lose Fuentes to free agency this winter, meaning they will need a closer for next season. Buchholz, who has developed a good fastball and a dynamite curve, would like a chance at the job. He would likely have to beat out Manuel Corpas, who was the closer for much of the 2007 NL championship season. source Denver Post

It was in throwing the curve ball that the elbow finally gave out, whether that was the cause or not is unknown but it did happen while throwing his best pitch. 


"I threw a couple of more curve balls and it kept gradually getting worse and worse. Every curve ball I threw, I felt it. The last two really didn't feel good."source Arizona Republic

This was his first injury and it cost him all of 2009 while he recovered from TJ surgery, as he found his form in 2010 he also struggled with back issues.  In 2010 he stayed away from the slider but threw the curve ball effectively.  Buchholtz's curve ball is the difference between him being a strong set-up man and an average middle reliever. 


He can throw a fastball, curve ball, change up, and slider, though he hasn’t thrown his slider since the 2008 season. source Jays Journal

After returning to the Rockies following Tommy John surgery last year, he was claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays in September. With the Blue Jays, he showed an 88-90 mph fastball in his two appearances, and he also featured the 12-to-6 curve ball that had been his out pitch pre-surgery. source WEEI

Lopez interest makes sense for both sides...

By now we’ve all heard the Jayson Stark's report that the Mets are one of three teams Rodrigo Lopez is deciding between. Allegedly Lopez will chose between the Braves, Rockies and Mets by the end of the weekend, on a minor league deal with an invite.

It would be ironic if Lopez chose to sign with the Mets now, since it seemed like Omar Minaya was always interested in bringing him on board. I’ve said this a million times before; you can never have enough pitching and should hand out minor league deals like they’re candy.

But more then simply adding numbers, Lopez or a pitcher like him would make sense for the team and the Mets make sense for Lopez as well.

Between the three teams the Mets give Lopez the best shot at making the major league roster and Citi Field is his best chance of producing the best numbers for a better contract next year. Last season was his return from TJ surgery, choosing between minor league deals is a result of the poor numbers he produced during the recovery process.

As far as the Mets, they have two pitchers ( Young/Capuano) coming back from injuries and another ( Niese) who has the potential to have a sophomore slump. While Lopez had an ERA of 5.00 he also pitched 200 innings and innings might be as badly needed as anything else from this staff.

If Lopez could be near adequate as a fifth starter, that would allow them to use Capuano out of the pen until Young fatigued and then switch them out, instead of rushing Gee into the rotation he could be left in Buffalo refining his skills.


There's only one free-agent pitcher remaining who threw 200 innings last season -- 35-year-old righthander Rodrigo Lopez. But it looks as if his ride on the free-agent roller coaster could be over as soon as this weekend. The Rockies, Mets and Braves have all been pursuing Lopez this winter.source ESPN NY

Sadly, This Photo Says It All...

Only Pagan Remains

Photo Courtesy of Michael Baron

The Mets entered the offseason with three players who were arbitration eligible.  The team settled with Mike Pelfrey a few weeks ago and now that the Mets have reached a two year contract extension with R.A. Dickey, the only player remaining who is set to go to arbitration is Angel Pagan.  

Coming off of a career year in which Pagan posted a .290 BA and a .340 OBP, a raise would seem warranted.  Having earned $1.5 million in 2010, he has requested $4.2 million for this upcoming season, while the Mets have countered with $3 million.  The two sides have continued to negotiate, but a date with an arbitrator may be nearing.

Often injured early in his career and overlooked for older talent, as recently as last season, Pagan’s journey to the role of major league starter has experienced its fair share of delays.  This season, Pagan figures to be the team’s starting right fielder due to the return of a healthy Carlos Beltran.  Now that he has proven himself to be more than a serviceable starter, the Mets must decide what level of commitment they are ready to make to him.

The idea of adding Pagan to the team’s long term plans should seem attractive to most.  At only 29, he may only be entering his prime with several productive years still to come.  The 2010 season saw him lead the team in both batting average and stolen bases.  He provides the team with added speed and a level of versatility only eclipsed by Jose Reyes, when healthy.

Signing Pagan to a contract extension of two or more years will provide the Mets with a back-up plan on several levels.  Whether it be prior to the trade deadline this summer or through free agency following the season, Carlos Beltran will not be in Queens in 2011.  Having Pagan secured through next two seasons will ensure the Mets have a center fielder in waiting to fill Beltran’s shoes.  Additionally, having Pagan signed through next two seasons will guarantee the team a threat on the base paths, regardless of whether Jose Reyes stays with the team.

Ultimately, it would make sense for Sandy and Co. to sign Pagan long-term.  If they chose not to, the organization may be forced to sign not one, but two starting outfielders next winter.  Pagan provides the team a relatively low cost option to such a scenario.  As arbitration looms, these are the things which much be running through the minds of the Met’s brass.  What’s your take?  Should the Mets commit to Pagan for more than this upcoming season, or run the risk of losing him at season’s end?

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Dickey Gets Two Year Extension

The Daily News is reporting that the NY Mets and R.A. Dickey have come to terms on a two-year contract extension, with a club option for a third year. Pending a successful physical this upcoming Monday, the krafty knuckleballer will be in Flushing for the foreseeable future.

Terms of the deal have not been disclosed at this time. We will update you when they become available.

Paulino tired in Florida...

Ronny Paulino hadn't been a starter since 2007 when he was with the Pirates and hit .263 in 133 games.  It was his second straight full-time season with Pittsburgh, but in 2008 he only played 40 games.  A combination of the Buc's dissatisfied with his conditioning, a string on injuries and a .212 BA limited his playing time. 

His first season in Florida he played in 80 games but that time was evenly spread across the entire season and as a result he hit .272. 

Last year Paulino entered the season in a platoon with John Buck, but when Buck went down with injuries in May, he became the full time starter.  Of the 91 total games he played in 2010, 67 games were between May and August.  Just prior to his suspension in August for what was described as banned diet pills, the team was going to start a platoon again because Paulino was showing signs of fatigue. 

The first three months of the season he hit .320, in June he hit .287 and then from July on he hit .174 in 110 AB. 


"I did have a conversation with Ronny Paulino and I told him what I've been seeing in him, that he's a little bit tired,' manager Edwin Rodriguez said Monday.

"It seems to be like his whole body is slowing down, his swing is slowing down. All of his actions are slowing down. He understands. He's very aware of what I am trying to do. He is fine sharing time with Hayes.' source Palm Beach Post

So moving forward I think they have to keep an eye on Paulino's innings and there should be concern with using him as the starter if Thole gets injured or falls into a sophomore slump...

Willie Harris good for the bench offensively also...

When Willie Harris was signed to a minor league deal most saw him as a one dimensional player, basically a defensive replacement.  The Harris signing was probably meet with the most criticism  of any of the moves the Mets made this off-season. 

Those that appreciate a defensive specialist didn't see an up-grade with Harris over Jason Pridie, but most didn't see the value of a one dimensional player even with the tenuous status of Carlos Beltran's and to a lesser extent Angel Pagan's health. 

Harris maybe a better offensive option on the bench then his .183 BA made him out to be and the guy who wreaked havoc on our luck may have actually been running into his own bad luck...


The Nationals had at least some interest in Harris, reaching out to him early in the offseason. He hit only .183 last year, but the Nationals considered him a viable possibility off the bench because of his power (10 home runs in 224 at-bats), his patience (33 walks in 262 plate appearances) and his versatility (he can play second, third and outfield). Harris also hit .199 on balls in play in 2010, a sign of rotten luck. source Washington Post

Things I Know To Be True...The FINANCIAL Edition

By David Rubin

1.) With Spring Training mere days away, the LAST thing Mets fans want to read about today is anything linking the words "Madoff" "Mets" "Wilpon's" and "Minority Partners" together. That being said, quite frankly, I'm surprised it hasn't happened sooner. There are layers and layers to this story, and many people know far more about it then they'd ever state "on the record." The fact that the Wilpons have been the majority owners of this franchise for the past 30+ years, while developing a new ballpark, television network, etc., while spending hundreds of millions on payroll is a testament to their fortitude, creativity and desire to win. It's also, however, a familiar refrain in today's economy, where businesses try to operate in a fashion similar to the way they've always operated before- except, today, that doesn't work anymore. The companies that have held their ground, and even prospered, are those who have taken advantage of market conditions by recognizing trends prior to their evolution, or have acted quickly to change their operating practices. The Wilpons have to be given credit for the successes they've had, and they have many; however, adaptability is NOT one of the traits they've exhibited when it comes to their ownership structure, and transparency hasn't been a strong-suit, either.

Moving forward, this is less alarming then it would appear upon first read. Bringing in a partner, even with a minority share, is a common practice in nearly every business, and that includes baseball. Remember, after all, that even the Steinbrenners have long been majority, but not SOLE partners in the Yankees. It's about time that the Wilpons acted in similar fashion, late to the game or not...


2.) Living in Los Angeles, I have many Dodger-fan friends. Of course, I received an email earlier today wherein one of these friends was happy to point out this new "financial wrinkle" for the Mets in way too happy a fashion. He said "now you know what it's like to have an owner like the Dodgers do in McCourt, and good luck to you, too!" Well, let's see- last I looked, although both teams have major financial challenges to come through right now, the ownership of the Mets is NOTHING like the ownership of the Dodgers.

Let me count the ways...

...the Mets owners have been in charge for over 30 years, the Dodgers for less than 7...

...the Mets own their own television network, SNY, a thriving business concern...the Dodgers are having to practically beg Fox Television to advance them money against future TV revenues, in essence taking them out of owning their own network for at least the foreseeable future...

...the Mets now play in a brand-new, state-of-the-art ballpark (love it or hate it), while the Dodgers still play in one of the 3 oldest ballparks in the game (although, quite frankly, their stadium doesn't need to be replaced as much as it needs to simply be renovated- a LOT) and while the prices for parking, food, etc. have gone sky-high in SoCal, quite frankly, the stadium is no longer the great place it's long been to take in a game from...

...and, finally, although often spent in the wrong direction, the Mets have invested FAR more in their payroll, often to the tune of $30-$50 million more per season- then the Dodgers have, a substantial amount when you consider the fact that the Dodgers have a much larger audience to draw from, even with the Angels always nipping on their heals.

The two teams are nothing alike, except for the fact that one team has the name that the other team's owner has tried to bring back and dreams about molding his team around, hence the look and feel of the "new" ballpark...(I'm trying hard NOT to be snarky!!) while the other owner wishes he had purchased the Red Sox instead...


3.) The person the Mets have retained to help them in their search to acquire a minority partner is one Steve Greenberg- son of the legendary (and original) "Hammering Hank" - one Hank Greenberg. Steve is the former Deputy Commissioner of baseball under Fay Vincent, and is currently an agent and all-around business mogul. He's long been on my list of people I'd love to one day meet, and his dad was the very first baseball player my grand-father ever followed. If you'd like to read more about Greenberg, the son, you can click here - and to learn more about Hank, check out the book from the photo- or the movie of the same name - it's a great story!!



4.) Regarding the recent rankings of both the Mets Prospects in relation to the rest of baseball, as well as the various "Top 10's" that have come out, I'll have a lot to say about this either this weekend or early next week. However, since this is the "Financial Edition" I wanted to briefly make mention of one simple thing - if the new regime truly wants to emulate organizations like the Red Sox and Rays, they will need to prove it to us by simply doing one thing - going over-slot in this June's draft to grab top-tier talent with all of their lower draft picks, and possibly nab a player in the later rounds that no one expected to be available, either due to a commitment to another sport or to playing in college ball. Mack Ade from Macks Mets has long preached the fact that the team didn't do a good job of exploring all of their draft options, particularly in not reaching out with both money and creativity in nabbing player's that other orgs, like the Sox, have done. This will be the best draft in quite a few years, according to most experts, and with some top early picks, the hope is that the Mets will use their many resources, not the least of which is the new brain-trust of Paul DePodesta and JP Riccardi, to provide the organization with a lot more top-tier talent. The movie Jerry Maguire made the line famous, but it's appropois all the same- SHOW ME (US) THE MONEY!!!!!


5.) Last, and not least, I've read a number of articles/posts that have stated that the Mets should have refrained from signing Jason Bay last year, and would have been better served signing Carl Crawford to play left this off-season. There's only one major problem with this thought-process (besides the fact that Omar was desperate to make a move to keep his job and hind-sight being 20-20, Bay's signing would have looked a LOT better had he not both struggled early and had his season cut-short due to a concussion) - the assumption that Crawford would have even WANTED to play in New York!! As we saw with Cliff Lee, players making rarefied money can choose to go where they want to go, and for Crawford, the only destinations he really considered were Southern Cal and Boston as neither of his home-town Texas teams truly got involved in the bidding. Furthermore, in light of the Mets need to take on a minority partner, there's also no guarantee that, if they hadn't signed Bay, that they would have had enough $$ this off-season to even make a play for Crawford. Either way, ruing what we don't have is an exercise in futility; let's focus on what we have, what we will have, and ways to make the team better moving forward, NOT backward!!!

Same Players, Different Results?

The idea that the Mets have had a dormant offseason is probably pretty accurate, when discussing the lineup.  There was no addition of a formidable offensive weapon this winter, which fans have come accustomed to in recent years.  As such, with the exception of Josh Thole and possibly Daniel Murphy, neither of which are great offensive improvements over their predecessors, the Mets will boast the same line up as last season.

So at this point the question remains, if we are going to run the same players out there again this year, how can we expect better results than we witnessed last season?

The obvious answer is health.  If the Mets get full seasons out of players like Jason Bay, Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes, you should feel pretty comfortable that they will win more games this year.  However, recent history tells us that healthy seasons from each of them may not be likely.  Therefore, for our purposes here, we won’t address the issue of health.  Luckily, there are other areas in which this team can improve and allow the same players, to win more games.  

The Mets struggles with runners in scoring position were well documented last season, as they found themselves in the bottom third of the National League, with a .252 BA.  Their performance was even worse when in similar situations with two outs, ranking dead last at a .208 BA.  Also, let us not forget that the Mets were the only team in Major League Baseball which failed to hit a grand slam in 2010.

Another situational hitting statistic where the Mets struggled mightily was bunting.  Although they led the league in bunting for base hits, the 2010 Mets once again landed in the bottom third of the National League with regards to sacrifice bunts, only dropping down 71% of their attempts.  These struggles were further magnified by Jerry Manuel’s love of the bunt, much to the chagrin of fans last season. 

Simply put, the 2011 Mets’ lineup has the talent to be one of the best in baseball.  With the addition of Thole behind the plate and possibly Murphy at second base, may not put fear into the hearts of opposing pitchers, but their team speed has actually increased over last season, when they already led the National League in stolen bases.  The lineup would also be aided by the end of the Citi Field power outage, which could be possible with the healthy return of Carlos Beltran and Jason Bay.  

Ultimately, all the speed and power in the world won’t matter if the team continues to shoot itself in the foot.  Not being able to drive in runs, lay down bunts and/or advance runners are the rally killing traits that doomed the Mets offense last season.  

Improvements in these areas will allow the team to score more runs.  Should this occur, the Mets can put themselves in a position to win more games despite fielding the same players in 2011.  Probably not the additional ten wins or so needed to contend for the wild card, but a good four to six shouldn’t be out of the question.  And as we know this team, this year, cannot leave any wins on the table.

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Should We Have Given John Maine One More Chance?

John Maine's Met career came to its (probable) end in inglorious fashion, with the 29 year old right hander being pulled from a game after throwing only five pitches over concern about his lack of velocity. It put a cap on what had been at best a forgettable season for Maine which had seen him struggle with his command and ability to pitch deep into games, putting up a line of 1-3 with a 6.13 ERA. Even his more successful outings seemed to result in pitch counts nearing 100 in the first five innings and early exits that taxed the bullpen every fifth day. After a stint on the DL and an attempt to rehab in the minor leagues, he was eventually shut down for the season and underwent shoulder surgery. He and the Mets parted ways at the end of the season.

Recent reports have indicated that the Phillies have shown interest in Maine, but to me, the surprising news is that more teams have not taken a flier on him. Due to turn 30 years old this May, he is certainly no longer a young player, but he is also not too old to make a full recovery from his surgery. When his velocity was in the mid-90's, he was an effective pitcher, with a career record of 41-36, posting a 15 win, 191 inning season for the club in 2007. It was from there that he began to slide downhill, pitching fifty fewer innings the next year and winning only ten games, and in 2009 and 2010 he spent large portions of the season nursing injuries.

However, each trip was for the same reason. At times it was called dead arm, other times shoulder weakness, but this final trip it was diagnosed as tendinitis. Given the Mets' penchant this off season for signing players with a history of injury to minor league contracts, one must wonder why they didn't offer a similar deal to a player they had seen flourish in their own system. The only chemistry problems evident in his time in Queens existed with the coaching staff, as he appeared to have a permanent place in Jerry Manuel's dog house, and last year's incident where Dan Warthen called him a "liar" about his injury status was a low point of even that abysmal season. However, when asked about that issue he said that he understood that the team wanted him to let them know if he was injured but, "I certainly hope they understand my position. I want to pitch."

Always noted as being extremely competitive and hard on himself, a player with that kind of attitude, who wants to stay on the field, is the kind of player I want on my team. He was unfairly lumped in with Oliver Perez last year; Perez's issues and unpopularity stemmed mostly from his me-first mentality and rejection of a minor league assignment, while Maine's were mainly performance related. He will be probably be signed by a team before Spring Training officially begins, and I feel that he can still make contributions at the Major League level. If this surgery has allowed him to approach the velocity he had in 2007 and he does find himself a home in Philadelphia, the Mets may regret not giving him one more year to pull it together.

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How does Law's top 10 compare to others...

Keith Law of ESPN ranked the Mets system 26th in the league, similarly Jonathan Mayo also of ESPN didn't list one Mets prospect in the top 50 prospects in the league. Now some fans will take solace in the fact that Law doesn't consider Mejia, Tejada, Thole, Davis, and Martinez eligible.  But the Mets haven't been involved in a significant trade of prospects in years (2007 - Johan) so while the system has produced some home grown talent, it also seems frustrating that the system hasn't evolved from being middle of the pack in 2005.  Law ranked our top prospect (Flores) as #48 on his overall list and Mayo ranked him #58.

It's hard to grasp how NY with all it's resources even with several players becoming non eligible can be so low when a small market team with attendance problems like the Braves are ranked #3. The Braves ranked that high while always having prospects contribute to the major league team and seem to make yearly multiple player trades. 

We've been hearing for years that the Mets were going to focus on the farm and the draft, hopefully this time, this administration really means it.  Here is Law and several other top sites rankings of our prospects. 

Kieth Law ESPN                                         

1. Wilmer Flores, SS/3B
2. Matt Harvey, RHP (83)
3. Reese Havens, 2B
4. Cesar Puello, OF
5. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, CF
6. Darrell Ceciliani, CF
7. Lucas Duda, 1B
8. Aderlin Rodriguez, 3B
9. Juan Urbina, LHP
10. Jeurys Familia, RHP

Matt Eddy BA

1. Jenrry Mejia, rhp
2. Wilmer Flores, ss
3. Cesar Puello, of
4. Matt Harvey, rhp
5. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, of
6. Reese Havens, 2b
7. Lucas Duda, of/1b
8. Fernando Martinez, of
9. Aderlin Rodriguez, 3b
10. Brad Holt, rhp

John Sickel's Minor league ball

1) Wilmer Flores
2) Jenrry Mejia, RHP
3) Matt Harvey, RHP
4) Aderlin Rodriguez, 3B
5) Fernando Martinez, OF
6) Cory Vaughn, OF
7) Juan Urbina, LHP
8) Reese Havens, 2B
9) Lucas Duda, OF
10) Kirk Nieuwenhuis

Baseball Prospectus

1. Jenrry Mejia, RHP
2. Matt Harvey, RHP
3. Wilmer Flores, SS
4. Cesar Puello, OF
5. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF
6. Reese Havens, 2B
7. Fernando Martinez, OF
8. Aderlin Rodriguez, 3B
9. Cory Vaughn, OF
10. Lucas Duda, 1B/OF

Mack's Mets
 
1. SP Jenrry Mejia
2. SS Wilmer Flores
3. SP Matt Harvey
4. 2B Reese Havens
5. 3B Aderlin Rodriquez
6. OF Cesar Puello
7. SS Ruben Tejada
8. SP Jeurys Familia
9. SP Brad Holt
10. OF Fernando Martinez

Mets Prospect Hub

1. Jenrry Mejia, RHP
2. Wilmer Flores, SS
3. Matt Harvey, RHP
4. Cesar Puello, OF
5. Reese Havens, 2B
6. Fernando Martinez, OF
7. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF
8. Aderlin Rodriguez, 3B
9. Juan Urbina, LHP
10. Jeurys Familia, RHP

Toby Hyde Mets Minor league Blog

1. Jenrry Mejia
2. Wilmer Flores
3. Matt Harvey
4. Cesar Puello
5. Reese Havens
6. Fernando Martinez
7. Kirk Nieuwenhuis
8. Aderlin Rodriguez
9. Cory Vaughn
10. Jeurys Familia

St. Lucie to Flushing ( couldn't find a full list but he ranks his top three)

1. Wilmer Flores - SS
2. Jenrry Mejia - RHP
3. Matt Harvey - RHP

Niese's Contribution Will Be Key

There are a variety of concerns for Mets fans entering the 2011 season.  As spring training approaches, one of the most pressing concerns is that of the starting rotation.  Although Mike Pelfrey has already been called upon to pitch opening day by new manager, Terry Collins, many fans believe R.A. Dickey will anchor the staff until Johan Santana returns from injury.  Lost in the confusion and often left out of the conversation is the only other pitcher believed to have a guaranteed spot in the rotation, Jonathon Niese.

Should the Mets consider themselves a contender for even the wild card this season, they will require improvement from Niese.  A positive contribution would allow the team to boast a minimum three solid pitchers, should Pelfrey and Dickey perform as expected.  With that said, Niese is only coming off of his first full season at the major league level, therefore, there is no significant body of work we can use to confidently say one way or the other what the Mets will get from him this season.  

2010 Statistics Courtesy of Baseball-Reference

As illustrated above, his 2010 season was the story of two distinctly different halves.  Niese pitched a total of 173.2 innings in 2010, having only eclipsed that mark one other time in his career in 2008 splitting time between three teams as he made his way to the major league level for the first time.  It is certainly possible that the stress of his first full season with the big league club eventually took its toll on Niese, who struggled mightily down the stretch, losing five of his final six decisions.

Should he be able to overcome these difficulties this season, there is evidence to suggest Niese can fortify the 2011 rotation.  Since making his major league debut in 2008, he has shown improvements yearly.  This is particularly important because despite how much he struggled in the second half last season, he had still improved overall.

Statistics Courtesy of Baseball-Reference

The numbers above indicate that although his first few trips to Queens were short lived, they did not erode his development and also provide a baseline for Niese’s progress.  He showed significant improvement in 2009 versus 2008.  Additionally, although his horrific second half skewed his 2010 statistics, his maturation is evident.

In the end, he may not be the pitcher Mets fans saw in the first half of 2010.  Although he has shown flashes of brilliance in his brief major league career, he has lacked the consistency to be a front of the rotation talent.  Luckily for the Mets, there is no reason to think he won’t continue to mature.  If Niese can maintain some consistency this season and avoid the second half swoon witnessed last year, an ERA under 4.00 in addition to a SO/BB ration in the neighborhood of 2.5 aren't out of the question.  Such a turn of events will allow him to be a key contributor to the team’s 2011 efforts and see him take a step to the forefront as his fellow staff members, Pelfrey and Dickey, did last season.

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