NY Mets Rumors / Trade Rumors 2012 + News + Blog | Mets Mix

Waking up to a recurring nightmare.

noreply@blogger.com (James McNierney) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:24:00 +0000

by Jim McNierney

I’m in agreement, in principle, with Mr. Casey’s post below in that I’m way tired of the losing tradition that this franchise has developed over the last five years. I am also dumbfounded as to how some of the professed allegiance to some of the scrubs that have basically been forced to take the field in place of a lot of high priced but, under achieving players in a lot of key positions on this club.

I will offer some observations about this franchise that I’ve culled from watching them for over 45 years now.

The only success this franchise has ever garnered was from a mixture of 2/3’s “home grown” talent (and building bench strength by having a strong farm system) and some key acquisitions to provide the veteran perspective and leadership. I can offer up the only two world championships (and their respective rosters) this franchise has produced as proof of this statement.

The Mets have tried time and again to “buy championships” by spending a dizzying amount of money in free agency signings all to no avail. That strategy doesn’t seem to work on this side of the Hudson as it has with that team from the Bronx.

The situation that we are contending with right now is with a depleted farm system (a by-product of this trade the future for assumed success now strategy that prevailed through most of the last decade), living through some bad contracting efforts by the last regime, a failure of the “technology and modern medicine” that has led to a depleted roster the last five seasons, and now an unprecedented threat to the ownership through non baseball related events.

What is a fan to do? I basically have been vacillating between wanting to tear my hair out (and I don’t have that much to speak of) and just feeling “snake bit.” I think realistically, that it is going to take more than a few years for this club to build a contender. Without some injection of money and some savvy drafting this may never happen in my lifetime.

Time to Wake Up, Mets Fans!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Casey) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 01:59:00 +0000

By: Kevin Casey

After a long hiatus, I am back. Being a newly minted attorney is not all that it's cracked up to be. It consists of lots of writing, long hours and very little recognition. Nevertheless, I love it, even though it has kept me from writing about my beloved Mets.

Like myself, I am sure that many of you who read this (well, many of the very few who read this) play fantasy baseball. I am currently in 4 Yahoo leagues and I am not doing too badly. I'm in first place in two leagues by double digits, 1 game out of the last playoff spot in another, and in the forth, well let's not go there. Depending on your league, the fantasy baseball trade deadline is coming over the next few days. Just as real teams do, many team managers are looking to upgrade their lineups or pitching staffs for the stretch run, and hopefully, a deep run into the playoffs. Nevertheless, there is always that one or two guys in each league that make you want to bash your head through a wall. You know who I am talking about; the guy who is 65 games out of first place, 45 out of the last playoff spot, but yet he won't move a single player on his team without requiring a king's ransom. There is always that guy who significantly overvalues his team. For example, I needed to add an OF power bat to one of my teams and I really wanted Justin Upton. Well, I made a reasonable offer of James Shields and Ryan Zimmerman for Upton, and it was immediately shot down, followed by a league-wide message where the guy complained about trade offers he was receiving, calling Upton "untouchable." I must inform you that this guy was 52 games out of the last playoff spot in a non-keeper league. I very simply told the guy to "Wake Up" and went on to add Lance Berkman and Tim Lincecum for significantly less in return.

You may be asking why I am talking about Fantasy Baseball; well, the answer is that the guy who overvalues his team in fantasy baseball is no different than current Mets fans. What I am going to write, well rant about, is very unpopular in the tight-knit community known as Mets fans, and to some borders on absolute blasphemy. Many in our community like to refer to themselves as the "most knowledgeable fans in the game." Well, if that's the case it's time to start acting like it and removing heads from rear ends. What I am going to say must be said and Mets fans need to wake up and stop embarrassing themselves.

For the third consecutive season there will not be any meaningful baseball games played in Flushing, New York. Instead of being enthralled with the excitement of a possible pennant race or a wild card birth, we are relegated to watching the young guys come up and put their best effort forth. Also for the third consecutive season, there is very little change in the names of the late-summer mop-up call-ups. We're watching Ruben Tejada play shortstop because Jose Reyes is hurt (that is another story in of itself); we're watching Lucas Duda patrol Right Field, while also playing part-time First Base, after the departure of one of my top-3 all-time favorite Mets, and possibly the most underappreciated player to don the Mets Blue and Orange in Carlos Beltran; we're watching Josh Thole, and have been watching him give do his best immitation of a major league catcher; we're watching Dillon Gee get by on pure guts and guile every fifth day; we're watchin Justin Turner attempt to solidify himself as the Mets Second baseman of the future, despite his never-ending list of excuses and injuries; and finally, we are watching the man, the myth, the legend: Angel Pagan, as he attempts to play an entire month without hitting the disabled list with strained ear cartilage. All of these guys have something in common that is more than just playing meaningless late-season games together. For some odd reason, Mets fans are absolutely enamored by each and every one of these aforementioned players. Many Mets fans are that fantasy baseball guy who overvalues his team because, quite frankly, not one of these guys is very good, but yet if any of them were moved to another team for someone short of Albert Pujols, there would be a violent uprising at Citi Field.

Everyone, including myself, loves home-grown talent. I love watching David Wright and Jose Reyes play. I love watching them play even more knowing that their entire careers have been in the Mets organization. I would hate to see either one of them wear another uniform, but then again baseball is a business and it is very rare in the era of free agency that players play their entire career with one team. Jorge Posada will not be a Yankee next season, rather he will most likely be a Tampa Bay Ray; nevertheless, he will always be a Yankee. With that being said, there is absolutely no reason what-so-ever that many of the players I mentioned above should still be on the New York Mets. I can understand using one or two of them as stop-gap players while another, better alternative is putting in his dues up in Binghamton or Buffalo, but that is not the case here. Simply put, these young players on the Mets are not very good. I am reluctant to even label them as "prospects" because each one of them has been given their shot, but has not proven anything. However, for the sake of making my point I will call them prospects. I'm going to go through each one of these guys, one by one.

Josh Thole and the Mike Piazza Look-Alike
Josh Thole is terrible. The guy is a slap-hitting catcher that cannot hit or catch and probably can't slap very well either. Thole's technique behind the plate leaves much to be desired as he leads the league in passed balls and is towards the top in Catcher's ERA. Buster Posey and Carlos Santana were catching prospects, Josh Thole is not. Josh Thole's career cieling is that of a back-up catcher and nothing more. On Twitter today someone attempted to tell me that Mike Nikeas has "a lot of potential once his hitting develops." I have to say, I almost wet myself with laughter at that. The only thing Mike Nikeas has going for him is that he looks like Mike Piazza. Other than that, not much. He is a 28 year old 3rd catcher on a team that does not have a quality backstop. At 28, you're in your prime and if you aren't displaying Major League-level hitting ability, chances are that you never will develop it.

Ruben Tejada
Ruben Tejada is a prime example of why this team needs to resign Jose Reyes this offseason. When Tejada came up as a late-season call-up a couple years back, he was clearly overmatched at the plate, but showed some promise. Originally, he reminded me of Rey Ordonez with the glove and could possibly be the reincarnation of Edgardo Alfonso so long as he filled out and picked up his offensive game. However, two years later all that hope is gone. While he has improved offensively, marginally, he has regressed defensively. He makes difficult plays look easy, but makes easy plays look like a blind man doing a Rubix Cube. When you have a lineup with him and Thole hitting 7th and 8th, followed by the pitcher, you are more or less giving the opposing team at least 9 automatic outs per game (assuming each guy hits the statistically minimum of 3 times per game). Instead of reminding me of Rey Ordonez with the potential to possibly be the second-coming of Edgardo Alfonso, Tejada has now become Anderson Hernandez II. Tejada has no business being this team's shortstop or second baseman at any time, regardless of the roster and injury situations. I would much rather see some new faces such as Jordanny Valdespin or Wilmer Flores and see what they can bring to this team now and in the future. This was a mistake by the Mets management and in doing so, they have depleted any value that Anderson Hernandez, I mean Ruben Tejada had.

Dillon Gee
I have never before seen a player with so little upside held on such a high pedestal as Mets fans do with this guy. The Mets handled Gee's promotion admirably this season; calling him up after Chris Young hit the DL when Gee was peaking in the minors. Since being called up, Gee has gone 10-4, 4.07 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 77 K's in 117.1 IP. When you look at the 10-4, including a 7-0 start, you think you might actually have something. Well, a pitcher's Win-Loss record is the most decieving stat in baseball. Gee has been anything but a stellar performer this season and has not shown that he has solidified himself a spot in the 2012 rotation. A 4.07 ERA in the NL is not very good. In Gee's 10 wins, the Mets have given him 5.2 runs/game in run support; he better win those damn games. His 77 K's in 117.1 IP is not very good and his BB (including HBP) to K ratio is 59:77. When half of your games are played at Citi Field, you better put up better numbers than that. His stats for 2011 are comparable to those of Mike Pelfrey. However, Pelfrey is being run out of town by Mets fans while Gee is being loved. Certain Mets Blogs have begun to question whether the Mets will non-tender Pelfrey this offseason all the while one blog, Metszilla.com, had a post entitled, "Ace in the Making," when referring to Gee. If Gee is the Mets ace, maybe my grandchildre will see playoff baseball at Citi Field because I certainly won't.

Justin Turner
Okay, Brad Emaus was a mistake and Turner should have started the season as the everyday second baseman. During the course of the season Turner has come through with some clutch hits late in games. However, I am tired of the excuses from this guy. As Turner's production has steadily declined, the number of excuses and injuries has steadily increased. If it's not his quad, it's his hip; if it's not his hip, it's his foot. Sandy Alderson has pegged second base as an "offensive position." Turner just doesn't live up to that and frankly, he never will. He's a nice player and probably the best among the guys I listed, but I'll be very disappointed if he is in their future plans. Nevertheless, he is not loved nearly as much as the other players are, which makes this affinity so much more mind-boggling.

Lucas Duda
Okay, I'll admit, he's in the middle of a nice streak right now, but he is not the answer in right field going forward. I heard about Duda's "power" all year long and it took him a year and a day to finally hit a homerun. Duda is overweight and is a liability in the field. His so-called power does not make up for his defensive deficiencies, especially in the canaverous right field at Citi. Duda is at best a 4th or 5th outfielder and left handed pinch hitter. Can you say Nick Evans?

Angel Pagan
Oh, Angel. Angel, Angel, Angel. What can I say? Before the season began, many fans were ready to ship Beltran out of town and coronate Pagan as the CF of the future. Did Pagan hit 30 HR last season? No. Did he steal 40 bases? No. Did he drive in 100 runs? No. Where did all this love come from? All he managed to do was stay healthy for one season. In his case that was an amazing feat, almost as amazing as Gherig's hitting streak, however this is major league baseball and with all the technology and medical advantages players have today, there is no excuse short of losing a limb that an everyday player should play less than 140 games per season. If you play less than 140 games, you are injury-prone and it's time to move on. Pagan had a decent 2010 but was far from a force. Remember, this is the same Angel Pagan that was non-tendered by the Cubs in favor of Felix Pie. This guy has managed to butcher even the easiest of fly balls, has made throws to unoccupied bases and has looked just lost at the plate. Oh yeah, and he's pulled himself out of games numerous times this season with minor dings. This guy is soft and he's not a good ball player.

I am going to ask one, rather simple question: Since when have the Mets transformed into a small-market team? Every member of the media who covers the Mets, with the exception of the phenomenal Adam Rubin of ESPN, likes to make readers believe they have a doctorate in finance/business and swear to their readership that the Mets have no money to spend. They will blame Bernie Madoff and point to the pending minority share sale to David Einhorn as evidence. Despite what they tell you, no one knows the true financial condition of the Mets. Adding one plus one to equal two is easy, therefore being that Sterling Mets (the ownership entity of the Mets) lost a small fortune in Bernie Madoff's Ponzi Scheme plus the Madoff trustee lawsuit filed against Sterling Mets must equal that the Mets have no money, correct? Wrong. If the Mets were cash-strapped, there is no way they would have paid $4 million of the $6 million owed to Carlos Beltran even if that precluded them from landing Zack Wheeler. The Mets would have landed a couple B-level prospects had they not picked up Beltran's salary, but in adding money to the deal, they showed the baseball world that their financial situation is not as bad as it has been made out to be.

So, the Mets aren't a small market team and their financial distress has been severely overstated by the media. That begs one more question: What the hell is wrong with you Mets fans? These players that you are in love with are not very good baseball players. They are reserves and minor leaguers at best. Personally, I'm tired of the losing. Have you guys become so used to the inadequacies of this team that you have begun to love losing players? Not a single one of these fan favorites would be everyday players on winning ball clubs, and that includes the offensively deficient San Fran Giants. Let me remind you of something, prospects are just what the word implies: prospective. They are not proven commodities and they are anything but sure things. For every David Wright and Jose Reyes there are ten Butch Huskys and Alex Escobars. Before the Mets played these sub-par "prospects" on an everyday basis and exposed their huge weaknesses, the Mets could have moved a couple of them for a proven player or two. In a big market, prospects are meant to be traded for proven players. We are not the Pirates or the Rays; we are the Mets and this is New York. Under no circumstances do I advocate for the repetition of Omar Minaya's terrible big money signings, but I certainly do advocate for bringing in some real baseball players to this team. Omar failed this team and the fans, but at least he tried. There is no fault in trying, there is only fault in accepting mediocrity. The Mets could have moved Angel Pagan this offseason for some rotation help, but chose not to. Had the Mets signed Carl Crawford in addition to moving Pagan, we would very well be talking about meaningful late-season games in 2011. I recently saw a poll on Metsblog.com that about 75% of fans didn't want to move Daniel Murphy this offseason. I couldn't help but shake my head in disbelief. Daniel Murphy is a nice player and a doubles machine, however he has no position. Playing him out of position cost him the rest of this season and the possibility of trading him to a small-market AL team where he could be their everyday DH. He wouldn't have brought back a Zack Wheeler, but he would have brought something back to the Mets so that Alderson and Co. can go about restocking this abysmal farm system with actual talent. Now, because he was playing a position he had no business playing, he will be back in the outfield next season and I think we all know how that experiment went in 2009. It's also time to seriously consider moving Ike Davis this offseason and bringing in Prince Fielder. Davis was a nice player, but I highly doubt he will ever equal Prince's production. It's time for the Mets to start acting like the big-market team they are and bring proven, quality players to Citi Field.

As a life-long fan, I demand and expect more from this team. I'm tired of being the loveable losers of New York baseball. I want some hardware and some rings. However, that will not come with players that are no more than reserves and bench fodder. WAKE UP METS FANS!!! Home-grown talent is nice, but pennant races and championships are better.

The Mets Lost a Winner Today

noreply@blogger.com (john.rahilly) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 04:53:00 +0000

By John Rahilly :)

The inevitable finally happened, the New York Metropolitan Baseball Club finally traded the new sweetheart of the clubhouse, and fan base, Carlos Beltran for the top San Francisco Giants pitching prospect Zach Wheeler. It seems as If Sandy Alderson got his man after all, by standing his ground. According to Keith Law, not many organizations can say they have two stud pitchers in their system like Harvey and Wheeler.

Most of today reports had this transaction as unofficial, but when Beltran takes the team out to dinner last night in Cincinnati, cleans his locker today, and was in Philadelphia tonight, where the Beard and the Giants are playing, it’s a done deal.

So with the trade, it marks the end of another era in Mets Lure, the Carlos Beltran era. The player that showed so much explosiveness in the playoffs, that prompted Fred Wilpon to sign Carlos Beltran to a long term $119 million dollar contract. Let’s not forget the infamous New Yorker article where Mr. Wilpon had this to say this about Carlos and his contract, “We had some schmuck in New York who paid him based on that one series”. I think many share Mr. Wilpons sentiments about Carlos, some may even agree with the schmuck assessment.

When healthy Carlos patrolled center field for the Mets like a gazelle (but a little too deep), and provided quiet leadership to Reyes and the rest of the Mets. Remember after Tejada was taken out by Utley, it was Beltran that took care of business, Wright talked about it. If you look at his stats seemingly he earned the money he was paid. If we look at the curve ball he took from Adam Wainwright, or the two epic collapses, or the Walter Reed incident, and let’s not forget the surgery that was not approved by the New York Metropolitan Baseball Club – perhaps we did not get the ROI the Wilpons needed. This is the saga or soap opera called the Carlos Beltran era – the good, the bad and the ugly.

To many Carlos never seemed like he was or wanted to be the “The guy” for the Mets. Unlike A-Rod, David Ortiz and Albert or even Adrian Gonzalez, he seemed destined to be a number two guy, like he was when Delgado was here and he fit in with all the guys on the Astros.

To me I choose to remember the man who ran the bases and played center field like a no other in New York Mets History. I also remember the guy that did all the charity work in NYC and back home in Puerto Rico. We lost a champion today, and hopefully Sandy has found the Mets a top of the rotation starter.

Now I hope we catch the Braves, now with McCann out and kick Carlos butt in the playoffs – Lets Go Mets!

Did I see this story last year?

noreply@blogger.com (john.rahilly) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 04:47:00 +0000

By John Rahilly

Another year and another Subway Series, this one marks the end of interleague play, thank goodness! Last year the Mets were flying high above 500, Beltran returned and the Mets imploded, crashed and burned – you pick the descriptors. Now the Mets are teetering just north of 500 with another midyear classic looming, and perhaps another implosion in queens. Not this year, the stars may be aligned in our favor once and for all.

When Jose Reyes looks you in the eye and says poppy, I want to be a Met my whole career, I believe him. Now a homegrown talent that electrifies a city and team the way he has, how can you not sign him? Conventional wisdom says you can lose with or without him, but that’s the Mets way, I think despite the debacle called the wilpons and their financial troubles Jose will be back as a Met, and retire as a Met. He won’t get Crawford money; he will get Reyes money which is more – Ok Poppy?

Collins and Alderson have changed, or at the very least have started the transition from Minayas culture of entitlement, to Alderson’s and Collins expectation of results and performance. Jose Reyes is leading the team in the dugout, clubhouse and on the field, it is Jose’s teams – not David’s, it never was. First it was Cliff Floyd and Mark Cameron’s, then it was Carlos Delgado’s and Carlos Beltrans – they never closed the ticket. Now it’s Jose’s team. The culture has changed we have a team to love again.

We are not last year’s vintage, and we are doing it with guts and guile that we have not seen in their parts, for quite some time. Now if Mario Cuomo can wake up and be at least half as effective as his son Andrew, we will know if Fred needs to sell the club, and if we have an Einhorn in our future – allowing Sandy and his Dream Team to do their work and build a perennial winner in Flushing.

By the way, ownership and the front office were all huddled around tonight in the owner’s box, you think they were talking about how much to pay Jose? Or was it how many days before they need to move out of the owner’s box?

Show Reyes and Wright the door?

noreply@blogger.com (john.rahilly) — Sat, 21 May 2011 00:10:00 +0000

By John Rahilly

According to published reports last week, and the focus of sports talk radio, the Commissioner is confident that a deal will be brokered by July and the Mets will pay the $30 Million they owe MLB. Just as important the Wilpons will have enough capital to pay off any fines assessed by the trustee, Fans hope that maybe they will have the funds to be competitive and act like a big market club.

The Commissioner Bud Selig is predicting that the New York Mets may be on the road to recovery. One of the names reported is Steven A. Cohen, he is the billionaire hedge fund manager of SAC Capital Advisors in Stamford, Connecticut. His reputation is one of success and aggressiveness – something that already has me drooling. Imagine aggressive ownership with and edge.

Then we hear he may be a wee bit trouble and a risk. Now I also hear today that the judge may be kicking out the suit filed by Picard, because it may be fact less - without real evidence. Again, we hear alot, with nothing tangible except empty seats at Citifield - rain or shine, or if the Mets play the Dodgers or the Nats.

To that end, all rhetoric about how it is inevitable that Jose Reyes will get traded because the Mets don’t have money to spend on him, maddens many and defies the logic of baseball lure. My suggestion to you is have faith because I have not heard Sandy or Fred say Jose is gone, or anything that indicates to me that they are moving Jose.
Keep in mind all of the rhetoric is comprised of sports talk radio personalities talking to Vinny from queens , and writers who have never played the game, or know the difference between a T Account and a T Bone Steak, pontificating that Jose is gone. Realize this is conjecture, speculation and rhetoric at best - all fact less and without conformation from the front office.
Sandy Alderson is an intelligent baseball man. Sandy knows that you don’t let 28 year old talented homegrown talent walk away, unless they have a police record, or they have an over active Twitter Account - or worse yet they have dated Jessica Simpson, Lindsey Lohan or Madonna. Good baseball men know that you retain your talent.
I thought it was nice that the ownership presented Sandy Alderson’s wife, Jose Reyes wife, and Jose's mother Rosa, with roses before the mother’s day game at Citifield – it was also a good sign. So I am sure Jose will return to the Mets, which could be a big mistake.
Has Jose turned the corner and matured? Which Jose will be the Jose we get if he signs here. The 2007-2010 version or the April May version of 2011? Have you watched a Met game at Citi-Field this year - its not like fans are paying to see him play like a Piazza or Santana...

On a personal note, I would hate to see him with the Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox or Giants. In fact I would keep him over Wright if I had a choice, I want him to stay right here. Something to ponder as we enter the Subway Series this weekend, with Reyes and Wright we have made the playoffs one time - so why is it so imperative we keep them again, maybe we show both the door?

Hey, more injury news. That almost never happens with the Mets...

noreply@blogger.com (James McNierney) — Sun, 15 May 2011 14:58:00 +0000

by Jim McNierney

Along with all other Met fans, I’ve watched with interest and hope our beloved team struggle through the first third of this 2011 campaign.

There, of course, were aspects of the experience that were enjoyable. It was great watching Chris Young embark on a heartening comeback. Jose Reyes was again playing with exuberance and was establishing what could very well become a career year. Once Carlos Beltran came off the DL he was showing signs of being the “old” Carlos. The Mets broke a horrid losing streak in mid April and started playing great baseball once Jason Bay came off the DL and joined the club.

Despite being in last place at the beginning of May, there seemed to be reasons for hope.

Then, an all too familiar pattern began to emerge. Angel Pagan was placed on the DL in the end of April with a strained left oblique. Chris Young, the starter that was performing with the most consistency went out on the DL and is facing season-ending shoulder surgery. Ike Davis, one of the few bright spots on the offensive (and defensive) sides of the coin, went out on the DL with ankle injuries. Pedro Beato went on the 15 day DL on May 4th. It’s been revealed that David Wright is playing in pain,

The injury related bad news wasn’t just relegated to the main club with the news that the highly touted pitching prospect Jenrry Mejia is also looking at ending his season with Tommy John surgery.

What is it with the professional baseball organization that leads to what seems to be an inordinately high injury casualty list… year after year after year.

I don’t know what they are paying their medical and training staff but, whatever it is, I think they would be at least as equally well served by spreading crystals around the locker room and burning incense.

God Bless America and the Mets!

noreply@blogger.com (john.rahilly) — Tue, 03 May 2011 21:46:00 +0000

By John Rahilly

It’s been a while. I am back for good now, so we can expect blog updates twice a week, lucky youJ.

Sunday night into Monday morning is a time I will never forget, a day I will know what I was doing exactly, what I was wearing and how I was feeling – as most of you will. Now we are hearing some views, the good, the bad and the ugly about what this all means, and what this means for a society that celebrates the demise of a systematic satanic thief. A thief that robbed parents of their children, children of their parents, and grandparents of their children, great grandchildren and great grandchildren. He created a darkness that will never be illuminated You get the picture no remorse here on any level rationale or moral.

In fact, I was downright euphoric the other night. So euphoric that I wrote, “Any day the Mets win and Bin Laden takes a bullet, is a good day, so God Bless America, and the New York Mets”. So for all of you who may take some offense in my level of glee – I am not sorry.

As a fanatic, which I consider myself as one; it does kind of put things in perspective for me as it should for all of you. So Yankee fans stop being so envious of Mets Nation, and Philly fans stop you’re jealously of our city and team Mascot. Face it the Mets are the team of choice because God Blessed America and the New York Mets Sunday night, and all of you forever more!

Thanks for the e-mails during my hiatus I’m here to stay!

Wilpons to Blame for More than Just Maddoff Mess

noreply@blogger.com (TheGr8Tony) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:41:00 +0000

April 29, 2011
By Tony Grater

The New York Mets are a financial mess these days, that’s no secret to anybody. The Bernie Maddoff scandal has made this once proud franchise into a laughing stock for more than just their play on the field. But the truth of the matter is the Mets financial troubles extend far beyond Maddoff. Their mishandling of contracts in years past have come back to haunt them in ways no one ever thought possible, and they really have no one else to blame but themselves.

In addition to the $430 million of bank debt the team currently finds itself in, according to an article on CBS Sports.com, the team finds itself more close to $625 million in debt thanks in part to $100 million of "contingent liabilities". This includes deferred payments to players that have not been on the team for at least 11 years, and in one case even longer than that.

According to the source, Bobby Bonilla, everyone’s favorite whipping boy, is still owed $1.2 million ANNUALLY for the next 25 years, after a ridiculous buy out initiated by the team back in the 2000 season. I remember the time well as by that point Bobby Bo, in his second stint with the team, was overweight, over the hill, and coming off an abysmal 1999 season. A season memorable for him only by the fact that he was discovered playing cards in the clubhouse with Rickey Henderson during Game 6 of the 1999 NLCS against the Braves, a game the Mets would go on to lose. And then, entering the final year of his contract in 2000, and owed $5.9 million, he actually had the balls to threaten to cause problems in the clubhouse if he was not played regularly. Therefore instead of just releasing him and eating the money, the Mets decided it would be smarter to defer the money, with interest, and worked out an agreement with Bonilla that will end up paying him about $835,000 more than when he first signed with them back in December of 1991, when he became the game's richest player at the time.

But it doesn’t stop there as the Mets will also still be paying another member of the boys from the “Worst Team Money Could Buy” era, Mr. Spray Bleach on the Reporters, Bret Saberhagen. Now, I knew about Bonilla’s situation for a long time, but I never had knowledge about this one as Sabes apparently was also bought out by the Mets years ago to the tune of $250,000 every year until 2029. So, that’s almost $40 million over the next almost 30 years for 2 players who contributed little when they were here, and will probably be in adult diapers by the time that last check is written. Gee, I guess Bonilla was right when he told reporters that they wouldn’t be able to wipe that smile off his face. He’s smiling alright...all the way to the bank!

Now, I may not be a financial wiz here, but this has to be one of the stupidest things I have ever heard of. Why not just release these players, pay them their remaining money, and be done with them? Why would you put yourself in the hole for that much money, years down the road, when you have no clue what the state of the franchise will be? Anything could happen, and guess what Wilpons…it did!

None of this is surprising though for the Mets, as they have long demonstrated a lack of intelligence when it comes to making decisions of any kind for the betterment of the team. How Fred Wilpon ever became a successful business man is beyond me. I have yelled and screamed for years that the Mets spend money foolishly, and it's true. I would say they were cheap, and people would say to me, "How can you call them cheap when they have all this money spend on all these players?". It's very simple, the Mets spend money when they shouldn't, but don't spend it when they should. They prefer the reclamation project over the proven stud. They sign the big ticket free agent that 9 times out of 10 is never worth the money they invest in him. And when that player blows up in their face, they always try and see if there is ANYTHING left they can salvage out of him. They can never just release a player who has nothing left. And in some cases, like Bonilla and Saberhagen, they work out some sort of ridiculous deal that puts them in financial debt. No wonder why Oliver Perez refused to go the minors. He probably figured if he held out long enough, HE could probably sucker the Wilpons into a buyout for the final year of his contract. But alas, poor Ollie will just have to deal with the $11 million he is owed this season, he along with Luis Castillo. Sorry boys, you can thank Bernie Madoff for that one.

The bottom line here is the Wilpons are absolute buffoons as owners and have no one to blame but themselves on this matter. They have never cared anything about this team, about winning, and obviously didn’t take the financial future of this team into account, and these 2 discoveries about Bonilla and Saberhagen, coupled with the Maddoff fiasco just prove my point further. And ever since they bought out Nelson Doubleday a few years back, it has been straight down the tubes for this franchise. And the best part of all of this is, like usual, they continue to put up the façade that everything is fine. They maintain they are not going to need to sell the team, and that they just need a minority partner to help them out. Of course this minority partner would have NO SAY over any decisions the club makes, personnel or financial wise, and why should they? They’ve done such a bang up job, and have such a great track record, why would they want any input from an outside party? Just give them your money and shut up.

By the way, it was also reported by the CBS article that the team could lose as much as $70 million this season due in part to the team's dismal showing at the turnstiles so far this year. So whoever you are out there Mr. Minority Owner, buyer beware.

The Wilpons need to sell this team. This mess they are in is all their doing and I don't feel the least bit sorry for them. I feel awful for myself, for my wife, and for all the other Mets fans who have to endure this embarrassment that has been reaped upon us. We didn’t ask for it and we certainly don’t deserve it. The best the current ownership can do for us, and themselves, at this point is to stop pretending everything is ok, and to stop insulting our intelligence, cause we’re not stupid.

We know the team is in dire straits Fred. So stop torturing us, do us all a favor, and sell the freaking team.

Its Time - Play Ball

noreply@blogger.com (john.rahilly) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 04:20:00 +0000

By John R Rahilly

It’s time to play ball and meaningful games in April for the New York Mets. In the fall whenever my beloved Metropolitans are eliminated, I always recall my favorite quote from one of my favorite men, Bart Giamatti (may god bless his soul this Easter season). He said, “It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." This offseason we were not left alone, we were reminded how twisted and greedy one man’s actions have impacted an entire nation – Mets Nation.

At the onset of the offseason some sense of hope existed for Mets fans, starting with the news of the cancellation of the off Broadway production of, “Jeff, Jerry and Omar, The Professional Baseball Operation – A Parody”. Then all of the ponzi madness ensued and we had the offseason that kept on giving.

Then we had the drama with Ronnie Paulino trying to get into the country this spring. Is it me or am I right when I say it would have been easier for Osama Bin Laden to get to Port St. Lucie this spring? Then we had the sad, but ongoing drama with Carlos and his knees. Then of course we had the auto accidents with Willie Harris and Ike “blinky” Davis – I know money is tight but maybe the Mets need to invest in defensive driving school? Last but not least, the potential new whipping boy for Mets Nation, Jason Bay is hurt again. With that, we are here and it’s time to play ball, and I leave you with this one last rhyme about Mets Nation.

It was the night before opening day in Mets Nation, not a disaster was looming, not even a ponzi scheme (or even a wager was being placed by a trainer on a Mets game – or a family member being assaulted in the family room) at CitiField. The gloves, uniforms and equipment have all been placed in the lockers and dugouts with care, with the hope that Alfonse D’Amato will soon be there, to render an innocent verdict showing that Freddie and Saul will soon be cleared.

Here is to the hope that we play some meaningful games in September for all to enjoy and say “Let’s Go Mets”, and play ball.

Mets Mix is now on Twitter!

noreply@blogger.com (AdamParker13) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:39:00 +0000

Attention: Mets Mix is now on Twitter! http://twitter.com/metsmixdotcom

Featuring recaps from games and news posted daily.

Sandy is in charge and the Bookends are Gone

noreply@blogger.com (john.rahilly) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 04:49:00 +0000

By John Rahilly

It was clear to me on October 29, 2010 that the Mets made the right decision to hire Sandy Alderson as the General Manager of the Mets. That feeling was reinforced with each passing day; he and his dream team front office are on the job.

There has been a bad taste in this organizations mouth ever since Beltran was caught looking when Adam Wainwright not only broke off a yaker, but at the same time made us forget the “catch”, and broke all Met fans hearts, and for all intensive purposes started the decline of the Omar Minaya regime. Two of the final negative staples of that regime, two bookends from the Walter Reed soap opera have been asked to join Elvis, and leave the building.

Oliver Perez was a distraction when he failed to go to the minor leagues last year and has been an enigma for the most part since he arrived with the Mets. Despite a few, and I mean a few, flashes of brilliance, like against the Yankees and Phillies. The bad Ollie got his papers, the good Ollie went home to his wife.

Luis Castillo, Johan Santana’s disco buddy from Minneapolis was released because the older he gets, the more of a distraction and malcontent he has become. In the words of Keith Olberman, “Luis, you’re not good”. Luis earned his ticket off the island and ended up with the 1^st place Phillies – or so they say.

When the Mets were influenced by Bud Selig to hire Sandy it was the best move they ever made, heck it was the best move Bud ever made. I get this feeling that Sandy is in charge and working with his skipper, Mr. Collins and they are starting to deal with the clubhouse culture. I like the makeup of Chris Capuano and Chris Brown, and keep my fingers crossed Beltran heals quickly – this is lent we need a miracle. But who knows maybe our luck won’t be as bad as it’s been the last few years.

I do know this, I feel better about the organization tonight, not good about our chances to win it all. But then again, these are my beloved New York Mets and they lose when we expect them to win, and win when I expect them to lose. We expect them to lose so of course this could be an entertaining year both at the ball yard and the courtroom.

Bye, bye Luis

noreply@blogger.com (James McNierney) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 15:47:00 +0000

by Jim McNierney

Well the other shoe finally dropped for Luis Castillo. As unfair as it is, he will always be remembered for the dropped pop up in the subway series. He was posting decent numbers and it’s a little unclear as to what else he was supposed to do this spring to distinguish himself in the competition for the starting second base job.

The incident recently where he was called on the carpet for not taking ground ball drills on a day that he was scheduled only to DH looms large as the “final straw.” Despite that, this decision is probably most indicative of the fact that the team truly wants to turn the corner and start anew more so than any one incident that occurred this spring or any misdeeds in the past.

Now Met fans vitriol can focus all their bile on our other favorite player to hate, Oliver Perez. Ollie has actually seemed to accept the current bullpen assignment. He is showing some promise in the role of a specialty reliever whose sole job will be to get left handed hitters out in a pinch. It still seems a very small job for a large amount of money but that money is already “spent.” The real decision needs to be, can his presence in the bullpen be less of a distraction and provide real value for the expense of the roster spot.

It’s a given that if there are any missteps along the way with Ollie, the public outcry for his head will be loud and persistent. With Castillo gone, Ollie will have to bear the full wrath of bad decisions past and frustrations with the outcomes of the past season and the dim prospects for this one.

Tsunami hits St. Lucie and MLB

noreply@blogger.com (john.rahilly) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 18:13:00 +0000

By John Rahilly

On Friday an earthquake hit Japan measuring 8.9 in magnitude, and it also triggered a devastating tsunami, that was and will be felt around the world. Social Media spread the word quicker than CNN spread the news about Haiti. We will all have to wait for, the assessment and the impact to a country and its people, and the world. Bud Selig said the other day, "All of us at Major League Baseball are thinking of our many dear friends and colleagues in Japan today,"[1] Many people who are employed by the business of baseball went to work with heavy and worried hearts.

According to Japanese Ball Players.com, there were 14 players playing professional baseball in the MLB in 2010, two were on the Mets – Ryota Igarashi and Hisanori Takahashi. Ryota Igarashi was awakened and informed by his interpreter the good news is his wife and family are with him in St. Lucie Florida, but his concern was with his family. Seemingly everyone was accounted for this weekend. We can say the same for Ex-Met Hisanori Takahashi, good news.

From Ex-Met Manager, Bobby Valentine, who I would suggest probably considers Japan his second home, to current Manager of the Mets, Terry Collins the who also spent time in Japan, all went to work for this business we call baseball, with lumps in their throats and heavy hearts.

Countless others like interpreters, and ball players who have played in Japan, or all the coaches, writers and managers have spent time in Japan – had part of their consciousness somewhere else other than the business of baseball, the other day. It kind of puts things into focus, or at least it should.

Baseball players are people and they have families – we forget that sometimes.

[1] http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110311&content_id=16904460&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

Here we go again...

noreply@blogger.com (James McNierney) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 17:23:00 +0000

by Jim McNierney

Well, it looks like we are finally on the verge of a new baseball season. It’s time to dust off all those hopes and fears that are inherent within any baseball fan’s heart. This is most assuredly true in the case of a New York Mets fan.

We’ve had an interesting off-season. The club made only a series of minor moves, not garnering much press at all in a major market. This as we have come to understand and accept is due, in large part, to the financial uncertainty that the ownership is suffering through.

As a fan, we understand this. We have no choice but, to accept it. We can only hope the situation gets resolved soon.

Prior to that heartburn, we were settling into accepting 2011 as the season that we needed to get through so that some of the really bad personnel contracting decisions that were part of the former GM and baseball operations regime can finally age off and free up some contracting dollars. Now, we have the added uncertainty that even after these mistakes have been paid off, ownership might still be hard pressed to recover from the financial difficulties that have become headlines over the last few months.

It surely seems like a series of dark clouds and bad weather has come home to roost atop any Mets fan's hopes and dreams.

This timing is really poor. The fan base has had to live through the massive disappointments that we were “one out away” in 2006, 2007, 2008, great promise for 2009 but, again, nothing but disappointment. We’ve had nothing but, bitter dregs at the end of the last seasons lately (it seems) at the hands of a seemingly unending series of bad luck injuries to key staff. We’ve seen horrid seasons from once promising personnel that were highly touted and seemingly at the top of their career.

We’ve said goodbye to our beloved Shea Stadium and the last two seasons have shown that the new home field, hasn’t brought any luck (other than bad) to the homes and hearts of the loyal Mets fan base. Ticket prices have been dropping more rapidly than Ollie Perez’s pitch velocity.

It surely seems that those that do attend games this year will have plenty of elbow room. The parking lot will not be hard pressed to contain any tailgating groups.

Despite all of that, we will shoulder the load. We will muster our meager hopes and watch with baited breath to see if there is life in this club. If Terry Collins can somehow get this battered group of athletes to believe that they have a chance against some greatly improved divisional rivals in the National League East.

Mets fans are a hardy lot (the real fans). They will make their way to Citi Field, they will sit in the empty stands and cheer with all their might for this rag tag collection of highly paid millionaires that wear the Orange and Blue. We will cheer, we will cry, we will be there.
It makes no sense. Not in the true rational logical ways that most people attempt to apply to their own lives. That’s why you have to remember that fan is short for fanatic. It’s not supposed to make sense.

Glad to see baseball being played again. Good luck to all of my stout hearted Met Fan brethren. May this season be amazing…

Say it Ain't So Jose!!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (john.rahilly) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 05:20:00 +0000

By John Rahilly

It is possible that either, one or both Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran will not be on the Mets 2012 roster – heck they could be gone by the dog days of August. I reflect on that 2006 season where visions of championships and excitement ruled queens - not ethics and morals as it relates to investing. Some even dared to talk about Mets being better than the Yankees, or at the very least the Mets building their own dynasty on the baseball diamond. Now when I see that Citi commercial, I wish I was in Istanbul too!

Kudos to Carlos Beltran this week for making the decision to move to right field for the good of the team, a selfless act for a player that many fans compare to a diva, unfairly I may add. In fact, he has handled this move much better than Piazza acted at the end of his career and days as catcher - and the transition to 1B. Who remembers how Mike handled that?
Carlos in comparison has much more fuel in the tank. The naysayers will say Carlos Beltran is doing what is right for him and his next contract. He did the right thing in my view for him, his family and the team. He handled this much better than the Walter Reed debacle last summer, hasn't he?

The other thought or nightmare I have is this. A year from now when Derek Jeter is a year older, and Jose is available could you envision Jose who loves the city and New York – playing shortstop for the evil empire? Or how about Carlos Beltran playing RF in Yankee Stadium instead of "Nick Swishalicious" – sorry John Sterling haters? Imagine that two-thirds of Omar’s core playing in the Bronx and not queens. Now that would be the topping on the cake for Ownership.

Boy I hope this money mess gets rectified real soon! Could the Tea Party pass some TARP like legislation for owners of MLB teams with really, really bad luck or in the habit of making poor choices. How much is a flight to Istanbul anyway?

The Boys are Almost Back in Town!

noreply@blogger.com (john.rahilly) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 03:37:00 +0000

By John Rahilly

Yes any moment now pitchers and catchers and the rest of the 2011 New York Mets report to Camp Collins, under the watchful eye of Sandy Alderson, and his Dream Team front office.

Now as Susan, the Grand Leader of Mets Nation in Scranton PA, said to me not to long ago, just the sights and sounds of spring, and young men playing catch under the Arizona and Florida sun makes us all feel a little warmer and better. My Blog for the week though goes in a different direction and is a follow up to my last discussion with Mets nation; it’s all about the Wilpons and Bernie – with a twist.

I really like what Piazza said a few weeks back at the Thurman Munson dinner about looking at this mess positively. I think he is right. Sometimes in life we need to see that silver lining when it’s not visible to the trained eye.

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, sometimes after divorce we find our true love. Sometime when we lose a job, we find our career and what makes us happy, and when medical science finds cures through pain and suffering - mankind benefits. I look at the Mets mess in the same vein. I recall when George M Steinbrenner was banished from the game; Stick Michael built the dynasty called the New York Yankees – without Georges meddling, Yankee fans have been a roya pain in my *&^ ever since.

Maybe this is the distraction Sandy needs, or perhaps Fred needs a new partner, or ultimately they may sell the team to another billionaire, who might bring deep pockets and a passion to the organization, that Met Nation Fans like, Lisa on Long Island, and Carole in Connecticut or Sharon in PA have, and bring to my Mets and life in general.

Maybe some good will come out of this, I feel better knowing a man of class and dignity like Mario is Cuomo is now the arbitrator for this mess. Moreover, I like our lineup and maybe Jon Neise and Big Pelf take the next step, and maybe Sandy does know what he is doing after all. Maybe if we play like we did in the 1H last season all year long and we get a break here and there, my brother and I will not be watching games at CitiField alone this season.

You know Susan may be right I am feeling better already – the games are on! Let’s Go Mets!

PS: Happy Valentine’s Day Rita!

What happened to the game I love, Bernie?

noreply@blogger.com (john.rahilly) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 03:22:00 +0000

By John Rahilly
When the News broke about Bernie Madoff victimizing the Wilpons and subsequently the Mets, I said to myself oh-oh. Then Fred Wilpon told us the fraud had nothing to do with the baseball operations, so I said ok. The media has been skeptical ever since the initial news broke, but I took the Mets at their word that all was well in Mets Nation. To that end, some inauspicious off seasons have come and gone, with the Mets being inactive for a variety of reasons - or so they say.

Wasn’t it Fred who proclaimed to the fans through WFAN, that we are about playing meaningful games in September? It has been a while, and per the ownerships M.O. – they tend to react to public opinion. The cynic in me has asked, “Is it just a coincidence that since the initial Madoff debacle the Mets have been quiet in the offseason and bargain hunters, or am I reading way too much into the tea leaves, and the Medias cynicism?

Now I consider myself a fairly rationale, and almost educated person. So when Sandy Alderson was hired, and Omar Minaya was kicked off the island, it was a “no brainer for” me. I thought it made sense, and wanted this organization once and for all, to be rebuilt from bottom to top, from the bush leagues to the Mets Clubhouse. What we needed is a new culture and a new attitude, we want a professional organization. Now with the news this week I ask, did they tie Omar’s hands? Why did they not fire him outright? Why are they having him sitting in limbo - if he was terminated or reassigned for cause?

The new GM needed payroll flexibility, Based on this, I could give Sandy Alderson some time to rebuild this thing - or mess depending on who you talk to. My Blogs to date supported the new strategy, and will continue to do so.

During this and last hot stove season, In the back of my mind, I often questioned was this Madoff debacle, contributing to the moves being made, or more accurately, not being made? There were rumblings a while back that the Wilpons were being sued, but again we heard no problem in Los Mets Nation.

Then late last week while on a late afternoon break at my regular job, and sitting in a conference room overlooking the ocean, I said to myself what a beautiful view, then my Blackberry goes off and I see a message from the Mets and the Wilpons. I thought it was one of those messages to get me to buy tickets; seemingly I get these emails weekly from Mets.Com. This e-mail was very different; it said the Mets may sell 20% 25% to strategic partners, to hedge against the lawsuit, we are told this will not impact the Baseball Operations - again.

Now according to Bloomberg.com it says, “Sterling Equities Inc., the owner of the Mets, Mets LP and Fred and Jeff Wilpon were sued by the trustee liquidating the Madoff business, Irving Picard, on Dec. 7 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan. Picard, in court papers, said that Mets LP had two accounts with Madoff that involved taking out $47.8 million more than the Wilpons invested. Picard has followed the line that net winners are subject to lawsuits to claw back any surplus over their original principal. Picard has sued hundreds of Madoff investors who withdrew more from their accounts than they originally invested”. Moreover, this may all come out in the wash this Monday in bankruptcy court.
Then I hear in the deal brokered by Fred Wilpon with the taxpayers and the city of New York to pay for Citi Field, the bond price dropped after the Mets made their announcement that things might not be ok after all. Today I hear Martin Luther King III, and others want in, but want some say in the operation. I also read that the Mets have been trying to sell a piece of the team under the radar for months now but could not because of this pending lawsuit. All I know – in the words of Family Guys Peter Griffin, “What a Freakin Mess”

If Fred Wilpon was an electoral candidate he may drop out of the race or lose the election. Fred owns a team in the same town as the Yankees so his reputation pales in comparison to the Yankees, but at least he trumps James Dolan. To that end, Fred has not had the best reputation. When they say “Freddie Coupon” fans are not professing their love for the man, but the man that does do good in the community with Mets Charities and other organizations and efforts.
These newest allegations and speculation call into question and, or are attacking a man’s credibility and moral and ethical fiber. Seemingly they made a more money with Madoff then they lost. I bet many wish they could say the same. Some say why did you not come clean and say you made money while others lost life savings – we don’t know all the facts, but what we are hearing seemingly does not bode well for the home team, Mets Nation.

I don’t proclaim to know all the details of this sorted mess, or profess to know that I ever will, since the matter is sealed. I know this; I do not think a man should be convicted until he receives due-process – that starts Monday. The credibility of the Mets organization and its ownership are being questioned once more. Not because of the comparisons to the Yankees success or the Mets annual dysfunction – but because of a lack of confidence in what I hear from Fred, Jeff and Saul Katz .

Mr. Wilpon I hope your clean, but If I find out you made a profit, while working families lost it all and said nothing, that would disturb me morally and ethically. I may consider never paying to see a team play that is owned by you. Remember you are a public family and are held to higher standard, much like a player. Isn’t that what you say about your players that did not behave in the past, ala Vince Coleman and Bret Saberhagan? If you made money with Madoff as reports indicate, you will need to tell us why you never came clean and said I made a profit with Bernie, your lifetime friend and neighbor. I even recall you saying that Bernie broke your trust. With that said, I will believe you, until you are proven guilty.

Another big mess to be dug out from this January, one that may not thaw out, or get cleaned up until well after pitchers and catchers report – which is less than 1 week away. I don’t know about you, but seemingly I am not as excited now about the prospects of resigning Jose Reyes or any other free agent next offseason.

Once again the circus is alive and well in Flushing Queens.

"Pitching, Pitching, Pitching, and more Pitching"

noreply@blogger.com (danbottiglieri) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 13:52:00 +0000

by Dan Bottiglieri

In case you missed it, reports are stating the Mets are closing in on a deal with Chris Young. I guess this is a case of low risk, high reward. Dollar figures aren't out yet, but can someone please explain to me how this deal is any different than any other injury risk the Mets have put on the field in the last 5 years?

Let's start with Moises Alou. The Mets decided to bring him back at a bargain basement price of $8 Million for the 2008 season. This seemed a no-brainer at the time because Alou in 87 games the previous year, Alou put up numbers of .341/.392/.524. Not to be overlooked was the fact that Alou missed 75 games in 2007, his age 40 season. 2008 was more of the same for Alou, but worse. He appeared in only 15 games, registering 54 plate appearances.

In 2009, the Mets acquired J.J. Putz from Seattle. Putz was to be the bridge to the 9th inning. A dominant closer with an overpowering fastball when healthy, Putz came to the Mets with elbow issues and these issues ended his season in June.

The Mets already have injury concerns already at SP (Santana), SS (Reyes), CF (Beltran), and LF (Bay; shoulders/post-concussion). These aren't platoon players. They are all going to play a pivotal role in the success or failure of the 2011 Mets. This is another risk on yet another player that needs to play a major role on this team. Maybe I'm wrong and maybe this will all turn out fine. Maybe Chris Young will find his former ace self and maybe Beltran and Reyes will play 150 games each. But history suggests that would just be a fantasy.

Do you consider New York Mets ownership sincere? I say yes!

noreply@blogger.com (john.rahilly) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 04:37:00 +0000

By John Rahilly

It is just a little bit over a month before Pitchers and Catchers report to Port St. Lucie, and we begin to defrost from a frigid off season. In the hearts and minds of many in Mets nation, this winter thus far can be described as a season filled with record snow fall and a team that seems to be destined to stay cool in the basement this summer. The cynical fan says dynasty builders beware, I disagree I think the dynasty builders are here in queens.

With acquisitions this off season of infielder Chin-lung Hu, LHP Taylor Tankersley, RHP Taylor Buchholz, and LHP Chris Capuano and the departures of Pedro Feliciano and Hisanori Takahashi have Met Nation card holders in a foul mood. But Pedro had an uneven 2010 and Takahashi was never a Cy Young Winner was he? Besides Lee who did we miss out on that would have put us over the top for years to come?

A few things we need to clarify before we head south; the rumors about Mr. Met being in the same rehab center as Lindsay Lohan are false and fabricated by TMZ, the other thing that is not true, is this claim that Mets ownership does not want to win, and is not committed to doing so, are also false. It may be true that they do not know how to build a winning atmosphere and organization, but their desire can never be disputed. Sandy was hired to take care of running the baseball operation and build a winning culture in queens for the Wilpons.

According to MLB.com, the Mets have been handcuffed because they owe eight players $111.5 million in 2011. Moreover, as Gary Cohen pointed out this week on Mets Hot Stove, the Mets will be in the top 5 this year, and most years, in payroll – does that sound like an ownership group that is not committed to winning?

Isn’t it Bill Parcells that said “you are what your record says you are”? Well the Mets have not been very good the last few seasons for a multitude of reasons. The Dream Team front office is using this year to recalibrate and rebuild this organization from the bottom up. Yes the Dynasty Builders are here in queens to stay, and maybe just maybe, the Wilpons will spend their resources wisely for a change and by 2012-13 will look like geniuses.

By the way – where do I get my Willie Harris Jersey?

Stop the madness!!!

noreply@blogger.com (danbottiglieri) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:10:00 +0000

Everyone who is tired of the Mets acting like a small market team in search of inexpensive solutions at critical positions, please raise your hand.

Now that we got that out of the way, why am I reading that Scott Podsednik may be too expensive an option as a 4th outfielder for the Mets? It's SCOTT PODSEDNIK!!! We're not talking about a $10 million/year player here. We are talking about a journeyman 4th outfielder who is worth no more than $3 million/year. I really can't believe my eyes when I read something like that. On the other hand, I'm relieved because I would like to give a youngster the chance when Carlos Beltran inevitably re-injures his knee (either one).

Sandy Alderson, while I agreed with the hire, is doing nothing to suggest the team is trying to compete this year. With an ace pitcher that is potentially out until the All-Star Break or worse, doing nothing to fortify the rotation means essentially waving the white flag on the 2011 season. Please Sandy, don't tell me you truly believe this team can compete. This is a .500 team if everyone stays healthy and has career years. With Ollie, Castillo, Beltran, and K-Rod coming off the books at the end of the year, there is absolutely no reason the Mets weren't in the hunt for a top free agent this year. I'm not even saying they should have signed someone. But at least be in the mix, which they weren't.

6 Weeks to Pitchers and Catchers

noreply@blogger.com (john.rahilly) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 01:35:00 +0000

By John Rahilly

In only six weeks Pitchers and Catchers will report. As we look forward to 2011, for what it’s worth, here is my two cents as I look ahead to the Pitchers and Catchers reporting in 6-weeks.

· I hope Sandy Alderson and his Dream Team front office build a functional farm system, that produces bona fide MLB caliber players that can be fixtures for Mets Nation (i.e. David Wright, and Jose Reyes), or can be used as chips to land the talent the Mets need to field a championship caliber club each year like the Red Sox or Yankees - Frank Cashen excelled at that.

· For starters lets begin and end with a healthy 2011season – the last few years we certainly have not been championship caliber, at the same time we been healthy or lucky - seems like we had a shuttle bus going from Citifield to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

· Terry, How about winning some road series this year against teams, other than the Nationals, the Cleveland Indians and the Baltimore Orioles, as was the case in 2010, heck we did not win our 1st road series until inter leauge play - Last Year our road record was 17 games under 500, this should be something Terry and Sandy start working on day one when catchers and pitchers report – how about some mental toughness!

· Was it me, but it seemed like every time we were behind after 7 innings, the game went into the loss column. Now that is something Terry can work on, and Sandy can help when he fills out the roster.

· The Mets resign Jose Reyes and David Wright so they end their careers with the Mets.

· How about Carlos Beltran and the rest of the Mets run out every ground ball and slide hard into any base regardless of the score, just like Chase Utley did to Ruben Tejada - Can we say retribution?

· The Wilpons return to financial health and are able to become players in the off-season once again.

By the way, I know Sandy said no signings or player movement until after the 1^st of the year – it’s now the 4^th, time to get a move on!

Why not the Mets, it is Christmas after all?

noreply@blogger.com (john.rahilly) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 18:32:00 +0000

By John Rahilly

Now that most of our Holiday Shopping is complete, we can finally relax and count our blessings and look forward to 2011. This makes me wonder what the Met fan is thankful for, or what they look forward to, this coming year ahead.

You could get pretty downright depressed, if you compare the approaches and the results this off season by the Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies, and of course the Yankees are the Yankees. So when Sandy Alderson’s, Dream Team front office comes up with Ronny Paulino and D.J. Carrasco – we say Ronny Paulino and D.J. Carrasco, SERIOUSLY Sandy, SERIOUSLY????

I started thinking about the off-season this past week and I felt this dark cloud hovering, then it hit me like a ton of bricks, the left side of my brain took over – my God optimism took over. I have come up with something for the Met Fan to be optimistic about in 2011. I think with health and less bad luck, this team will be better and more competitive, and play meaningful games in August and September. Has any team had more misfortune than the Mets since 2006? Be it Wagner, Beltran, Reyes, or even the K-Rod and Tony Bernazard fiasco – we are do some good luck.

A healthy Reyes and Beltran in their walk years all adds up to more production. Beltran and Boras could be posturing himself for that monster year. Couple that with a healthy Jason Bay, and a consistent David Wright, along with the continued progression of Angel Pagan and Ike Davis - a future All Star, makes us strong from the leadoff spot to the 6 hole. Sprinkle in Josh Thole into the mix we should be able to hit. Maybe even the best entertainment value for your dollar in town?

Let’s not forget that we were “contenders” until the implosion in the second half, and pitching carried us with Johan not being Johan a good part of the year. Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel lost their jobs because they fell short of expectations. Expectations imply we have some talent here, and in my view we still do – to the tune of a $130M and $140M. If the Mets had little or no talent, we would not get as mad as we do.

This time last year no one in the game was picking the Giants, and in 1969 no one was picking the Mets to go all the way, heck in 1986 there was even some “glass half full” sentiment in this town. Of course the off season has a few months to go. There is always that guy that appears from nowhere like a Maine, Dickey, or back in the day a Rick Reed. The key for Sandy is finding ‘multiple” fill ins until Johan returns.

Of course, the Red Sox and Phillies at this point are paper champions, but they play the game for a reason. How many times were we the pick, and fell flat on our faces? Someone surprises each and every year, why not the New York Mets? As much as failure is in our pedigree, so is thriving as the underdog.

Let’s Go Mets, Happy Holidays all and speedy recovery to my brother who had bypass surgery the other day – of course he is a met fanJ!

Happy Holidays – Brewers get Zack Greinke

noreply@blogger.com (john.rahilly) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 18:46:00 +0000

By John Rahilly

The Brewers get Zack Greinke from the Royals!! Again, twice in one week the Evil Empire has been thwarted by another organization not named the Red Sox, this time a small market team – How Bout That! It used to be along with death and taxes, the Yankees getting their man was a guarantee in life, around here anyway. Using this week as an indication not so much! The problem for the Mets is that another shopper is doing their Holiday Shopping, with the Mets, making good parking is that much harder to come by.

Let’s look at this with the Glass Half Full; it is the Holiday Season after all. The Yankees lost out on Mr. Greinke because first they most likely did not have the chips to deal, and second perhaps this guy did not like New York – just like Lebron, Ed Whitson and Richie Hebner.

The reality is the Yankees lost Geninke because their prospects do not measure up, much like the Mets farm system that Jeff Wilpon and Omar Minaya built. Hence, Sandy’s strategy is correct, and the right one for the Mets front office. He is rebuilding a total organization from A to Z – one that will be sustainable. You cannot be a sustainable organization just buying talent - you need to do it all.

Remember when George was banished by the commissioner, stick Michael and Bob Watson focused on building a farm system that produced Jeter, Mariano, Posada and Andy Petite amongst others – the money and overspending just kept it going. The core is getting older and the core is not the core anymore.

I think Sandy is onto something here, and I thank Fred Wilpon for getting us Met fans the best holiday present – Sandy Alderson and his dream team front office, because their approach is the right one.

What do you, Think?

You Gotta Have Faith and Believe!

noreply@blogger.com (john.rahilly) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 04:22:00 +0000

By John Rahilly

Mayor Bloomberg should inform the NYPD to be on the lookout for bridge jumpers in Mets Garb, Cliff Lee signed with the dreaded Phillies!! Not only did Cliff Lee sign with the Phillies, they stole him from the dreaded New York Yankees – or the Evil Empire as we like to call them in Mets Nation, Omar never did that! To make matters worse, they do this right before the holidays for many of us, after a less than an auspicious start for Sandy Alderson, and his Dream Team of a Front Office, according to the fan base and sports talk radio.

Sandy and Terry say the Mets will be competitive, and Sandy says he is not going to apologize for a payroll of somewhere in the neighborhood of, $130 - $140 million. I can’t say I blame him, that’s a lot of shekels in this economy. Let’s not forget he takes over an organization whose farm system is middle of the road, or less, depending upon which issue of Baseball America you read. You have a team that seemingly forgot to play the game since that memorable night in Mets lore, when Endy Chavez made “the catch” , and Willy Randolph had vapor lock on the bench, and of course Beltran took that nasty curve ball, and the Cardinals win the NLCS – the rest is history.

How the mighty have fallen, and fallen hard. Omar Minaya once the prince of Flushing Queens is the villain for the Mets demise. Jeff Wilpon the next in line for the throne did not help matters any form what I hear. Together they created a losing culture on and off the field, and a dysfunctional organization from top to bottom in Flushing. I saw the Press Conference on SNY and the next day interviews on Boomer and Carton, where the Wilpons say things like, “this is an organizational failure”, “we want to build a winner here”, and I swore I would not say this but, “we will play meaningful games in September and October”. I think I rented this movie before, but then they hired Sandy and everything is anew again.

The Dream Team has little or no flexibility this offseason because of those bad contracts of the previous regime, such as the Bad Ollie and Luis Castillo – Johan’s buddy from the Twins. Moreover, they are near the top in payroll, for a team that finished below 500 in two of the last 3 years. Why not rebuild, and do this the right way with a true professional, and gentlemen at the helm. Sandy promises to go hard for young talent in the June Draft – sounds good to me.

I don’t know about you, but as lifetime Met fan, and living in the Northeast seeing what the big-3 teams (Phillies, Red Sox and Yankees) in this region have become - I think Sandy has the right approach. We need to build something sustainable for a change, for years we saw what quick fixes did for the Knicks and Rangers, when we heard we cannot have a rebuilding effort in New York, why not? Heck, I have been a Met fan my whole life and seemingly, our rich history of losing suggests otherwise.

Some facts about my New York Mets

o They have finished above 500, only 47% of the time

o They have only made the playoffs 14% of the time

o They have finished in first place less than 10% of the time

o They have been the second banana 22% of the time

Let the Dream Team Begin!

Mets Trade Rumors

noreply@blogger.com (topofstep) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 19:33:00 +0000

Some of the Mets trade rumors or just Mets rumors need to become a reality because this team needs a little shakeup. Alderson is also on record saying that some Mets Rumors have to come true because he is coming home with new players this winter, hopefully this isn't a bluff.

The first Mets rumor that is more important than it seems is that the Angels current director of International Scouting will become the Mets new overall scouting director, great because this team could use new leadership there.

The big Mets Rumor right now seems to be Chris Young is a real possibility in a Mets uniform if they get a 1 year deal done with a lot of incentives. Despite the problems Young has giving up walks and the fact he barely played in 2010 for the Padres appearing in only 4 games we think this is a great risk to take. He is 31 and if he can bounce back from injury we might have the inside track on resigning him, if not we hopefully get a player hoping to prove something in a contract year and for a contract with all sorts of incentives.

Of course there is the big Mets Trade Rumor of Jose Reyes to any number of teams, he clearly will be gone by July but where? Alderson is on record saying he won't be in contract extensions with current players this winter so with Reyes having one year left on his contract the writing is on the wall.

Not really a Mets rumor but important to keep in mind that the Mets did not tender contracts to Sean Green, Chris Carter, and John Maine no huge shockers here except maybe Green.