Blogging Mets

On November 27th, the Hall of Fame released the 2010 ballot for enshrinement into its hallowed halls. It’s an intriguing bunch, with no sure-fire, no-doubt-about-it, first ballot players. And sometimes that’s more fun. You can’t argue about the merits of a Hank Aaron or a Willie Mays, but you can get some good discussions going about the first real full-time DH on the ballot, and a familiar name to Mets fans who spit in the face of an umpire.

Roberto Alomar is the face spitter, of course. Ask anyone who only saw him play for the Mets, and they’ll tell you ”no way that stiff belongs in the Hall.” But he has a very strong case. He was the dominant second basemen throughout the 1990s in the American League. He was a 12 time All-Star, won 10 Gold Gloves, collected 2724 hits, and batted .300 for his career. 

Barry Larkin’s case is pretty much the same as Alomar’s. The dominant shortstop in the NL in the 1990s, he also made 12 All-Star teams. He won 3 Gold Gloves, plus an MVP award. Larkin hit .295 with 2340 hits.

Edgar Martinez is the first career designated hitter who has a legitimate shot at the Hall. He could just flat out hit. A lifetime .312 hitter, Martinez (left) hit  309 home runs and had 1261 RBIs, including 6 seasons with 100+. He led the league in hiting twice, and hit .300 or more 10 times.

Fred McGriff is the last of the first-timers who enters the conversation (sorry to ex-Mets Kevin Appier, David Segui, Robin Ventura and Todd Zeile). McGriff gets consideration based on one statistic alone — his 493 home runs. He also hit .284 and had nearly 2500 hits, but it’s the home runs that will get him in — or the 7 that he didn’t get that will keep him out of Cooperstown.

Andre Dawson, Bert Blyleven and Mark McGwire are the key holdovers from previous ballots. I’m not even going to get into McGwire here — a column on steroid users and the Hall of Fame is upcoming. Dawson and Blyleven have come close in recent years — failing last year by 44 and 67 votes respectively.

My predictions: Alomar (left, the only time he looked happy in the blue and orange — and black) and Larkin are very worthy candidates, and both will eventually be enshrined, but not this time. They just don’t feel like first ballot Hall of Famers to me. The “feel” test is something I’ve always thought about when it comes to whether players deserve to be in the Hall (although I seriously considered discarding the theory when I heard Steve Phillips espouse it a couple of years ago). While they were the dominating players at their positions, their offensive statistics fall well below most other members of the Hall. That’s not enough to keep middle infielders out, but it does usually keep them off the first ballot (think Ryne Sandberg and Luis Aparicio).

Martinez is a very interesting case. I don’t think he should be kept out because he was strictly a DH. He shouldn’t be penalized for playing by the rules of his league. Having said that, I don’t think his numbers are good enough compared to other sluggers. He barely reached the 300 home run plateau, and his 2247 hits is pretty pedestrian. Martinez was just a very, very good hitter, but not Hall of Fame caliber.

McGriff is never getting in. And he may not have gotten in even if he had hit those final 7 home runs. He was never a particularly dominant player — he made just 5 All-Star teams in 19 years. He just doesn’t feel like a Hall of Famer to me. He was very good — he hit 30+ home runs 10 times, and had 100+ RBIs 8 times. McGriff had several big years before the steroid era began, but in these days of inflated home run totals, 500 (let alone 493) doesn’t mean what it used to mean.

Because of the relatively weak freshman class, I think this is the year Dawson and Blyleven finally get in. I am stunned it has taken Dawson (left) this long — this is his ninth year on the ballot. When I watched him play, I always thought, “there’s a Hall of Famer.” He was one of the most feared sluggers in the 1980s, winning the 1987 MVP with the last place Cubs. He finished with 438 home runs, 1591 RBIs, a .279 batting average and 2774 hits. The main strike against Dawson is a low .323 on base percentage (he hardly took a walk). Also, when you really look at his career, he did not have many huge years. He only hit 30+ homers 3 times, and had 100+ RBIs 4 times — not even McGriffian. But still, he was steady and consistent, and deserves to be in the Hall.

Blyleven (left) also deserves to be in, in my opinion. Younger readers never saw him play, but anyone who did still marvels at his curveball. It simply was one of the best, ever. Blyleven had a 3.31 ERA, struck out 3701 batters (5th all time), and won 287 games. The problem is he also lost 250 games. He only won 20 games once, and was named to just 2 All-Star teams in 22 years. Some of this is because he pitched on some really horrible teams. But should voters punish him for that? Also, he’s been openly campaigning for induction, which turns off some voters. If he doesn’t get in this time around, Blyleven would only have two more years of eligibility before he’s turned over to the Veterans Committee.

Tommie Agee (10/14/69)

Game 3 of the 1969 World Series was one for the ages for Agee. He is best remembered for those two sensational catches that saved five runs in a 5-0 win. But he also led off the game with a home run, setting the tone for the rest of the game, letting the Orioles know there was no way to stop this miracle.

Al Weis (10/16/69)

Weis’ 1969 regular season stats were not what you’d call impressive — .215, 2 home runs, 23 RBIs. Nowadays he probably wouldn’t make the post-season roster. Not only did he make the team, he played in all five World Series game, hitting .455. His solo home run in the 7th inning of Game 5 tied the game at 3, helping propel the Mets to their first World Series title. 

Dave Kingman (take your pick)

You can’t talk about Mets home runs without talking about Dave Kingman. He used to regularly launch homers over the bullpen at Shea and into the parking lot, a feat not often accomplished. He played on some pretty awful Mets teams, so none of his home runs was particularly historic, but they all were certainly long and memorable. Kingman was just really fun to watch — even when he struck out, which was often.

Darryl Strawberry (10/1/85)

This was the situation — with just 6 games left in the season, the Mets were 3 games behind the Cardinals in the NL East, and traveled to St. Louis for a 3 game series. They needed a sweep, so the tension began before the game even started. It only increased as Game 1 was scoreless into the 11th inning. Strawberry stepped up and hit a monster shot to right that slammed into a digital clock on the scoreboard. The Mets won the game 1-0 — one of the most tense, exciting games in Mets history.

Lenny Dykstra (10/11/86)

Pivotal Game 3 of the 1986 playoffs against the Astros at Shea. The Mets were down by a run in the bottom of the 9th, on the verge of going down 2 games to 1, when Lenny Dykstra hit a two-run homer to give the Mets a 6-5 win. It gave the Mets a 2-1 series lead, which they would go on to win in 6 games.

Todd Pratt (10/9/99)

Pratt was the Mets backup catcher who was only in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Diamondbacks because superstar catcher Mike Piazza was out with a bad thumb. So when he came to bat with the score tied 3-3 in the 10th inning, nothing much was expected of him. But he launched a long fly to dead center field that Steve Finley couldn’t come down with (although for a few heart-stopping seconds we all thought he did) that gave the Mets the 3-1 series win. 

Robin Ventura (10/17/99)

Pratt played a role in the greatest homer/non-homer in baseball history. It was 3-3, bottom of the 15th inning of Game 5 of the NLCS against the Braves. Ventura stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. He proceeded to hit a grand slam to right center to win the game. But did he? Pratt, the runner on first, intercepted Ventura as he tried to round the bases. The rest of the team piled on, and Ventura never did make it to second. He was credited with a single and an RBI. But the Mets still won the game, and the term “Grand Single” was born.

Mike Piazza (6/30/00)

With the Mets down 8-1 in the bottom of the 8th, most fans were chalking this up as another loss to the hated Braves. But not the players. They mounted a comeback that saw them score 10 runs in the inning, capped off by a 3-run home run by Piazza. Then-manager Bobby Valentine called it “one of the most unlikely things I’ve ever seen.” 

Mike Piazza (9/21/01)

A year later, Piazza hit an even more memorable, important home run. With the New York City still reeling from 9/11, the Mets hosted the Braves in the first sporting event since that horrible day. The Mets were down 2-1 in the 8th, when Piazza slammed a 2-run homer. The Mets won 3-2, and the city had something to feel good about for the first time in 2 weeks. 

Mo Vaughn (6/26/02)

Mo Vaughn’s time as a Met was less than memorable, but one moment does stand out. He slammed a home run to right field that hit midway up that big old hulking scoreboard, right into a Budweiser ad. It was estimated at 505 feet. Gary Cohen called it probably the longest he’d ever seen at Shea, and he probably saw most of them.

Mug Shots Courtesy Ultimate Mets Database, http://ultimatemets.com/mugshots.php

When I was a young fledgling newswriter, an experienced anchorman told me never to use the word “rumors.” “We deal in facts, not rumors,” he said.  And he was right. It’s advice I’ve followed ever since. But when it comes to possible trade and free agent signings, rumor is the only word to use. Because unless a team general manager tells a reporter a trade is about to happen, everything else is just pure speculation. And speculation leads to rumor, which is all sportswriters write about this time of year.

And this time of year is often times as fun as the season itself. In the Mets case, it’s way, way more fun because last season as so, so awful. Over the next few months, we can dream about Roy Halliday as the number two starter, Matt Holliday patrolling left field, Orlando Hudson manning second base, and Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo distant, unpleasant memories. Will any of this happen? Who knows? So let’s look at some of the rumors being reported thus far: 

Chone Figgins
I keep reading reports that the Mets are interested in Chone Figgins. And I just don’t get it. I’m not saying he’s not a solid player — he hits around .300, steals a lot of bases, walks a lot. But he has absoultely zero power. And that, more than on-base percentage, is what the Mets need right now. Figgins can play both left field and second base. Now, if the Mets are able to pawn Luis Castillo off on someone and plan to put Figgins at second, I say go ahead and sign him. But if what David Lennon wrote in Newsday is true, then the Mets are just crazy:

If the Mets intend to employ Figgins in left as part of their speed configuration, as a person familiar with the club’s thinking said, that would appear to rule out Jason Bay or Matt Holliday – the two big-ticket solutions for that spot.

I know Citi Field is a big park, and I agree that team speed is important, but can the Mets win in 2010 if their leader in home runs hits 12 again? Plus, I read Figgins will likely command upwards of $10 million per year. With all the holes the Mets have to fill, that’s too much money for a leadoff-type hitter, expecially when the Mets already have a better one. Remember Jose Reyes?

Orlando Hudson
Hudson (left) and Figgins are very similar players. They are both the same age (31), play second, and get on base. A big difference is that Hudson has some pop in his bat. He’ll hit you a double or a homer every now and then. Figgins won’t. And Hudson is a four-time Gold Glove winner at second. Figgins is not. Again, assuming the Mets get rid of Castillo, I would choose Hudson over Figgins. He reportedly will come cheaper, too.

Brandon Phillips, Bronson Arroyo, Aaron Harang
The Reds are reportedly looking to shed salary, so Phillips is another second base option. He’s got power, and is also a Gold Glove winner. The Reds probably don’t want to trade him, but Joel Sherman in the New York Post speculates the Reds might part with him if another team took the high-salaried Arroyo and another player off of their books:

In return, Cincinnati would have to accept Luis Castillo (two years at $12 million), but also would get a couple of prospects (think Ruben Tejada and/or Brad Holt, for example) plus save $14.75 million in 2010 and $22.75 million overall to use to fill other needs.

That would be a brilliant trade for the Mets. I like Arroyo a lot. He’s a fly ball pitcher playing in a home run park. Imagine how he’ll do in cavernous Citi Field?  I also like Harang. Although he’s 12-31 over the past two years, he’s got pretty good stuff. I think they’d both be better than Staten Island’s Jason Marquis, who finally had a good season and is looking to cash in with his hometown Mets.

John Lackey
Omar Minaya has reportedly spoken with Lackey’s agent, and all reports say the Mets will be serious bidders for Lackey’s services. And that’s good. There are some concerns over his durability — he’s spent time on the DL each of the past two seasons, making only 24 and 27 starts, respectively. And while scouts like him, many say he is not a true ace, that’s he’s more of a solid second starter. That will work just fine with the Mets, who already have a pretty good ace in Johan Santana. With that in mind, the Mets should only pay him as a number two. If the bidding gets too high, they will be smart to wave goodbye, just like Minaya did with Derek Lowe last off-season. By the way, after being wildly criticized for that move, guess which big contract the Braves are reportedly trying to move now? — that’s right, Derek Lowe’s. But I don’t think the bidding will get out-of-control. Despite media reports, I don’t think the Yankees or Red Sox will spend big for starting pitching this off-season. Both teams have enough pitching and other areas to address.

Matt Holliday & Jason Bay
I’m putting these two together because the Mets are either going to pursue both of them, or neither of them. Minaya is doing his due diligence in talking to their agents, but media reports conflict on whether the Mets are serious about spending big for a left fielder. At this point, there’s no way to tell. I would prefer Holliday (left) — he’s younger (29 to Bay’s 31), is a better fielder, has more power, and hits for a higher average (.318 career to Bay’s  .280). Plus, while Holliday averages 115 strikeouts per season, Bay averages 157.

Carlos Delgado
No no no no no. The Mets are reportedly keeping tabs on Delgado’s play in winter ball, and have not ruled out bringing him back. I repeat, no no no no no. The old addage in sports is “you’d rather get rid of a player one season too early than one season too late.” The Mets had a chance to do this last off-season, when they could have exercised Delgado’s option and traded him after his solid 2008 finish. But they didn’t, and they kept him around one season too many. Now, they want to keep him around two seasons too many? Delgado will turn 38 during the 2010 season. Do you really want to count on a 38-year-old coming off a major injury?

Something is wrong with the Mets. I don’t know what it is, but it’s something that has kept them from winning. They need to change their so called “core.” Delgado would be a good place to start. Also, there are reports that he divides the clubhouse. David Wright, who defers to his elders almost to a fault, was finally able to exert leadership over this team in Delgado’s absence. There’s no reason to turn back now. If the Mets resign Delgado, they’ll have pretty much the same team that collapsed in 2007 and 2008. Who wants that?

Having said all of this, I don’t dislike Delgado. I hope he signs with someone, gets his 500 home runs, and gets elected to the Hall of Fame. I just don’t think he’ right for the Mets right now.

Miguel Cabrera
This is a longshot at best. I keep reading that the Tigers are in “firesale mode.” They are looking to unload players, and since “no one can afford the contract of Miguel Cabrera…” he’s likely to stay put. If he’s made available, The Mets could, and should afford the contract of the first baseman. He’s got six years left on the 8 year, $152.3 contract he signed before the 2008 season. That’s a lot of money. But Cabrera (left) is a hitting machine, perhaps the best hitter in the game not named Pujols, averaging 33 homers, 117 RBIs and batting .311 over his first seven seasons. And he’s only 26-years-old. If he’s available, and that’s a big if, the Mets should get him, at almost any cost.

There are sure to be plenty more rumors over the next few months to obsess over. For now, these will have to do. In the end, perhaps a few of these will come true, perhaps none of them. But that’s the fun of this time of year. The Mets have just as good a shot of obtaining any of these guys as any other team. Ah, to dream…

Before I joined the ranks of bloggers a couple of months ago, I had a very low opinion of such so called “writers.” The rare sports blogs I read were filled with grammatical and spelling errors. The content was lame at best, libelous at worst, consisting mostly of trashing players and offering ridiculous opinions. I admit I do some of that,  just without the errors and the libel.

Perhaps my opinion was formed by such “credible” writers as Murray Chass, whose “About” page on his website smugly claims:

“This is a site for baseball columns, not for baseball blogs. The proprietor of the site is not a fan of blogs. He made that abundantly clear on a radio show with Charley Steiner when Steiner asked him what he thought of blogs and he replied, ‘I hate blogs.’ He later heartily applauded Buzz Bissinger when the best-selling author denounced bloggers on a Bob Costas HBO show.”

Bloggers don’t do their credibility any good when they post things that are just plain wrong and irresponsible. For example, this past summer a blogger speculated that a certain player (whose name I won’t mention here) was on steroids. Word quickly spread, and the player actually had to issue a formal denial. All because some guy sitting on his couch decided that the player was on the juice.

But the more I read sports blogs, the more respect I have for many of them. The writing is not at all bad, and the analysis is often sharp and insightful.

Now that we are in the post-season, many bloggers are speculating on what trades or free agent signings they’d like their teams to make. Since we have no inside information, it is clear we are offering our opinions, or quoting a story we’ve seen in the “legitimate” media. But how legitimate are those sources? Are they any better than the opinions we offer?

For example, a recent headline in the New York Post read “Yankees Could Trade for Tigers’ Granderson.”  Since it’s from “real” sportswriter Joel Sherman in a “real” newspaper (well, the Post), you’d think he spoke to a source with the Yankees or Tigers, who told him a deal is being discussed. The reality is that an NL team executive told Sherman that Granderson (left) is available. The Yankees angle? — just speculation on Sherman’s part. So when he writes that, he is just offering his opinion, which is exactly what bloggers do. Why does Sherman’s opinion deserve any more credibility than a blogger’s?

Then there’s this nugget from the eternally-wrong Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports – a three-way deal that would send Luis Castillo to the Cubs, Lyle Overbay to the Mets, and Milton Bradley to the Blue Jays. Here’s what Rosenthal writes about his own “scoop:”

– “The idea, while described as a longshot…”
– “The teams indeed have discussed the framework of such a deal, though not in direct fashion…”
– “The three-team possibility, according to one source, has ’some legs, but not much.’”

So basically Rosenthal is saying that the trade he’s writing about is almost certainly not going to happen. Yet he writes about it anyway. And he has more credibility than any blogger out there.

As Mets fans, we eat up any article that talks about the Mets signing one of the big free agents out there. On November 11th, John Harper of the New York Daily News advocated signing both John Lackey and Matt Holliday. But he says they probably won’t:

“Word filtering out from the organization is that they are not willing to pay what it will take to get such players…”

On the same day, the Post reported Omar Minaya spoke with Scott Boras about Holliday. But…

“A Mets executive said that if the club cannot land a significant left fielder they could spend more on a starter such as free agent John Lackey.”

So one guy writes that the Mets won’t sign any of the big players, while another says they could sign one. Whom to believe? Probably both, probably neither. Because the fact of the matter is, when it comes to writing about trades or free agent signings, no one knows what they’re talking about. Whether it’s bloggers or “real” sportswriters, it’s all speculation. It’s just bothersome that sportswriters’ speculation is treated as news, while  speculation from us bloggers gets no respect. Don’t get me wrong, we probably don’t deserve much respect. But neither do they.

Marge: You know Homer, it’s easy to criticize.
Homer: Fun too.
– The Simpsons

As with most things, Homer Simpson (left, with the Capital City Goofball) is right — it is indeed fun to criticize. Unfortunately, the Mets have given us plenty of material over the past few years. But now is the time to put all of the negativity away. This could be a pivotal off-season for the Mets, and whether we like it or not, Omar Minaya will be the man making the decisions. We’ve already looked back on all of the horrible, horrible moves Minaya has made over the years. And yes, it was fun. But it’s time for us to support Minaya, because if he does well, the Mets do well, and we’ll all be happy. So with that and a positive attitude in mind, let’s take a look back on all of the good moves Minaya has made in his time in Flushing, and hope he can repeat them this offseason: 

12/16/04-Signed Pedro Martinez to four-year, $53 million contract
Sure, the signing didn’t turn out well — Pedro was injured basically half the time. But think back to the post season of 2004. The Mets had just endured two nightmare seasons of “battling” under the eternally dull Art Howe. They needed something to fire up the fan base, not to mention good players. Pedro was both. Sure, they went one year too many, although everyone knew that at the time. But his signing gave the Mets instant credibility, which led to…

1/11/05-Signed Carlos Beltran to seven-year, $119 million contract
Without Pedro, Beltran probably wouldn’t have come here. But after that monster post-season, the Mets gave Beltran (left, thanking the Lord for his $119 million) the moster contract. His first season was absolutely horrible, but ever since Julio Franco pushed him out of the dugout to take a curtain call early in the 2006 season, he’s been a key cog in the Mets lineup. Minaya overpaid for Beltran as well — Beltran’s agent offered him to the Yankees for a discount before taking the Mets offer. But the Mets were so bad, that was the only way to attract top-notch talent. 

11/18/05-Traded Mike Cameron to San Diego for Xavier Nady
While everyone called this a classic salary dump, Minaya shocked everyone by calling Nady an important piece of the Mets future. And he was right — Nady played extremely well for the Mets, and was an instant fan favorite. But Minaya blew it with the panic trade after Duaner Sanchez got injured, sending Nady to Pittsburgh for Roberto Hernandez and, uh, some other guy. No need to re-live that here. But Minaya was proven correct, as Nady has evolved into a very good hitter.

11/24/05-Traded Mike Jacobs, Yusmiero Petit and Grant Psomas to Florida for Carlos Delgado
Minaya almost nabbed Delgado as a free agent the previous off-season, but Delgado was reportedly put off by Tony Bernazard’s “come to the Mets, we have a lot of Latinos” sales pitch. But Minaya doesn’t like to take “no” for an answer, and dealt for him a year later. He didn’t give up much. Jacobs is a pretty good home run hitter, and the other two guys aren’t pretty good at all.

11/29/05-Signed Billy Wagner to four-year, $43 million contract
The Mets needed a closer after the reign of terror of Braden Looper mercifully ended, so Minaya went out and signed one of the best closers in the game. Wagner (left) missed all but two games of the final season following Tommy John surgery, but for 3 years before that he was lights-out.

12/05/05-Traded Dante Brinkley and Gaby Hernandez to Florida for Paul Lo Duca 
Dante who and Gaby what? Exactly. The Mets needed a catcher, and had offers out there to Ramon Hernandez and Bengie Molina. But before either one of them could take it, Minaya went back to the trade well for the Mets that is the Florida Marlins, and got a better, cheaper alternative in Lo Duca for next to nothing.

1/4/06-Traded Jae Seo and Tim Hamulack to Los Angeles for Duaner Sanchez and Steve Schmol
Jae Seo had worn out his welcome in Flushing, and Minaya was able to turn him into in Sanchez. If only he hadn’t gotten into that cab that fateful night in Miami. Sanchez might have continued to be unhittable, Minaya never would have dealt Nady, the Mets wouldn’t have been so vulnerable to left-handed pitching, perhaps they get past the Cards and win the World Series. And of course, that other guy they got from Pittsburgh wouldn’t have ever been on the team. That accident may have really changed the course of the franchise. But I digress. Good move by Minaya.

1/21/06-Traded Kris Benson to Baltimore for John Maine and Jorge Julio
This trade was famously more about getting rid of Anna Benson and her cleavage-baring Christmas outfit (left) than it was about ditching Kris. I never understood it, but whatever. Anyway, Jorge Julio was the main man in the deal, but Minaya had apparently done his homework on the “throw in,” John Maine. Up until the injuries, Maine was developing into a dependable starter. As far as Julio, he was a nightmare, but more about him in a moment.

2/28/06-Signed Pedro Feliciano 
They say “the third time’s the charm,” and that certainly was the case with Feliciano. When Minaya signed Feliciano after spending a year in Japan, it was the third time the Mets acquired him. He has proven to be a key member of the Mets bullpen. They lefty specialist led the Mets and the NL in appearances the past two years.

5/24/06-Traded Jorge Julio to Arizona for Orlando Hernandez
Julio was a nightmare for the Mets (where have I heard that before?). Minaya was able to flip him for Hernandez, who pitched well for the Mets before getting injured right before his first playoff start. So Minaya was able to turn Kris Benson into 2/5 of his starting rotation. Not a bad haul.

11/30/07-Traded Lastings Milledge to Washington for Ryan Church and Brian Schneider
Funny thing about this deal — many people think it was among Minaya’s worst. Others disagree. Minaya was able to turn the fallen prospect that was Milledge into two starters. Sure, Schneider was nothing to write home about, but he was a seriviceable catcher. And Church was the Mets MVP in 2008 until he suffered his second concussion. A lot of people criticize Minaya for holding onto Milledge for as long as he did, and not trading him while he still could have gotten frontline players. But Minaya saw what everyone else saw in Milledge — raw, unlimited talent. He held onto him long enough to see Milledge was never going to develop as hoped, and got a decent return.

2/2/08-Traded Carlos Gomez, Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra to Minnesota for Johan Santana
Definitely Minaya’s best deal, and perhaps the greatest deal in Mets history. All Minaya did was get the best pitcher in the game (left) without giving up any of his top prospects. People like to minimize Minaya’s credit for this deal because both the Yankees and Red Sox actually offered better packages. But the Twins didn’t pull the trigger fast enough on those deals, so Santana fell into Minaya’s lap. You can’t blame Minaya for that. He kept at it until Santana was in a Mets uniform.

12/10/08-Signed Francisco Rodriguez to three-year, $37 million contract
Once again, the Mets needed a closer, and once again, Minaya went out and got the best one in the game. And he got him at  a great price. When the free agent process began, there was talk of K-Rod landing a five-year, $75 million contract. But with the supply of good closers high and the demand low, it was a buyer’s market. And Minaya did an excellent job of waiting out the market until he got his man at his price.

7/10/09-Traded Ryan Church to Atlanta for Jeff Francoeur
With Church inexplicably in Jerry Manuel’s doghouse, Minaya knew he had to deal him. Francoeur was in a similar position in Atlanta, so an even swap was perfect for both teams. While Church is good, he’s a .275, 15 homers, 75 RBIs kind of guy. Not only does Francoeur have the potential to be a 30 homers, 100 RBIs guy, he’s already done it — all he has to do remember how to do it again. Think about how many games the Mets would have lost had Francoeur not been on the team the second half of last season. A great trade by Minaya.

So there you have it. Minaya may not be the nightmare general manager he’s made out to be. One thing is a bit disconcerting, however. When you check the dates of the above deals, most of them are in the first couple of years of Minaya’s run. Just as a player peaks and starts going downhill, perhaps the same can be said for a GM. Let’s hope not. Let’s hope Minaya can make some deals, so perhaps the Mets can resemble a playoff team again. Hell, if Mr. Burns can assemble an all-star team (left), Minaya certainly can.

Now that we’re done rooting against both the Yankees and the Phillies, and the Yanks have held their stupid parade up the stupid Canyon of Heroes, we can officially begin looking ahead to 2010. Some will say that began at around the All-Star game last season, but we are optimists here. So let’s take a look at what the Mets need to do to get back to the post-season in 2010, or at least not be an embarassment again.

Citi Field
Something must be done about Citi Field. All of the team’s problems in 2009 can’t be blamed on the new spacious ballpark, but it obviously had an effect on the team’s hitters. When your leading home run hitter has 12 homers, something is clearly very, very wrong.

The Mets hit just 49 home runs at Citi Field, actually more than the 46 they slugged on the road. But many players said they changed their entire approach to hitting because of Citi Field’s dimensions. Opponents hit 81 homers at Citi Field, showing that the ball can be hit out. But overall, Citi Field yielded the sixth fewest homers in baseball. Clearly, it is not a hitters ballpark.

Many say the fences should be moved in. An article in The New York Times has a better idea, advocating moving home plate up ten feet. This would give Citi Field similar distances to Shea Stadium, which was known as a fair field for hitters and pitchers alike. This would also increase foul territory behind home plate, which currently is the shortest in all of baseball. The article points out one more thing:

Moving home plate forward would also be far cheaper for the Mets than unleashing bulldozers on the outfield walls and rearranging any number of seats. The integrity of the stadium’s design would not be affected, and many fans might not notice much difference at all.

If the team decides not to change the field configuration, one thing they might want to consider is just lowering the outfield walls. Players seemed to complain more about the high walls than the distance to them. They range from 8 feet to 18 and a half feet high. If they were 8 feet high all around like at Shea, there would be plenty more home runs, as well as exciting Endy Chavez-type catches.

Having said all of this, I highly doubt any changes will be made to Citi Field. That would mean the Wilpons would have to admit they made a mistake. And we all know that never happens.

1st Base
The Mets seem set on Daniel Murphy (left, making his incredible behind-the-back flip) at first. Hell, he was the team leader in homers in 2009 (see above). While I like Murphy and think he will develop into a good hitter despite a somewhat disappointing season, he is not the answer at first base — not for this team, not right now. Since it’s unknown whether David Wright will regain his home run swing, the Mets need power wherever they can get it. And first base is a good place.

The options are not great. There is talk the Brewers are thinking about dealing Prince Fielder. If that is the case, the Mets should trade anyone and everyone short of David Wright and Johan Santana to get him. But it’s extremely doubtful Fielder is going anywhere. Adrian Gonzalez might be on the trading block, but do the Mets have enough to get him? There’s always free agent Nick Johnson — an injury waiting to happen. Do the Mets need more injury-prone players? Carlos Delgado? No thanks. Murphy could not only end up being the best option, he could be the only option.

Catcher
Omir Santos was a nice story in 2009. He came out of nowhere to catch the majority of games, and provided a few highlights in an otherwise dismal year. But is he starting catching caliber? The Mets apparently don’t think so, as they are reportedly targeting several free agent catchers, including Rod Barajas, Bengie Molina, and even Yorvit Torrealba. Of course, Torrealba is the same guy to whom the Mets made an offer a couple of years ago, only to pull it at the last second. He still has a grievance pending against the team, so it’s unlikely he’ll be on the Mets next season.

Left Field
This is the one place where a major upgrade is possible. Matt Holliday and Jason Bay are out there for the taking — all the Mets have to do is open the vault and let them in. But why would a power hitter want to sign with the Mets and play in Citi Field, where home run balls go to die? If they can’t nab one of the big free agents — and it says here they won’t — they could always try to trade for Adam Dunn, whom they should have signed last year. He’s proven he can hit the ball out of Citi Field. Sure, he strikes out a lot, but he also walks enough that his OBP is over .400. Carl Crawford is another trade option, but he’s not a power hitter. If they can swing a deal for a power hitter at first, then maybe Crawford would make sense. Fan favorite Xavier Nady is a free agent, but he’s coming off a second Tommy John surgery. And, can he play left? The same question goes for Jermaine Dye.

Starting Pitching
The starting pitching is a mess. Right now they have Johan Santana and four question marks. Santana himself is no sure thing because he’s coming off surgery, but he should be okay. John Lackey (left, who certainly won’t get number 41 if he signs with the Mets) would be the perfect addition, but he will command big bucks, and it’s not not clear how much the Mets would want to spend. I think there is a chance the bidding will not get as high as expected, because the Yankees and Red Sox will likely sit this one out, and with those two teams out of the bidding, the price may stay reasonable. Remember Frankie Rodriguez?

Roy Halladay or Roy Oswalt (or anyone else named Roy) would be great as well. Both could be dealt, especially Halladay. But the Mets probably don’t have the prospects to nab either one. Then again, they didn’t have enough to get Santana, and somehow he ended up in a Mets uniform.

Then there are the likes of Jon Garland and Randy Wolf, either of whom the Mets should have signed last year. Both are solid, middle-of-the-rotation guys. The free agent list is packed with guys like these.

Here’s what I say should happen — the Mets should bring in two new starters, preferably one of those front-line guys and a second-tier pitcher, or a Plan B of two of the second-tier free agents. Then, have an open competition in spring training for the final two spots between Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez, John Maine, Jon Niese, Bobby Parnell (who should remain in the bullpen), Fernando Nieve, Pat Misch and whoever else is around. And if Perez doesn’t make it, just admit your mistake, cut him a $24 million dollar check and wave goodbye.

But here’s what I think will unfortunately happen — the Mets will miss out on the aces, sign only one of the second-tier guys, give rotation spots to Pelfrey and Perez, and have a competition for the fifth spot. Which means the Mets will have basically the same rotation as 2009. And that is a recipe for disaster.

Manager
Jerry Manuel will start 2010 at the helm of the Mets, but the shadow of Bobby Valentine will be lurking. If the Mets get off to a slow start, the fans will start clamoring for Valentine (left, with his famous fake moustache). It’s actually pretty incredible that a potential manager could fire up a fan base, but Valentine has that allure. He was perhaps the best manager the Mets have ever had — definitely the best since Davey Johnson — and the majority of Mets fans simply love the man. The same reportedly cannot be said about management. Valentine has the kind of abrasive personality that wears thin after a while, and from all accounts , the Wilpons are all worn out. But if 2010 picks up where 2009 ended, and the Mets are desperate to keep their fans happy, rehiring Valentine will do the trick.

Bottom Line
The prognosis does not look good, I’m afraid. The Mets don’t have the prospects to deal for a major talent. They could, of course, follow the example of their crosstown rivals and just buy the best players available. But knowing the Mets history, that is not something they will do.

Maybe Omar Minaya will surprise us, and pull off a Santana-type swindle, or make a shrewd K-Rod-type free agent signing. All we can do is hope. If you’re a lifelong Mets fan, you’re used to it.

Ralph Kiner (1962-Present)

Despite his penchant for misspeaking, Kiner is an excellent announcer. Unlike today’s breed of commentator, he rarely uses the word “I” when giving analysis. My favorite Kiner’s Korner moment was when he had Mookie Wilson and Danny Heep on the show, and Heep was wearing eye black. Kiner said, “Danny is wearing that to cut down on glare — he’s not trying to look like Mookie.” Classic.

Bob Murphy (1962-2003)

Murphy was just a “damn” solid old school, play-by-play guy.  He wasn’t spectaular, but always steady. “Oh, those bases on balls.” Mets fans miss that.

Lindsay Nelson (1962-1978)

From the crazy jackets to the high-pitched voice, Nelson was just a whole lot of fun to listen to.

Steve Albert (1979-1981)

Albert had the unenviable, impossible task of replacing Nelson. He was doomed from the start, although I remember him doing a great job. In the spirit of full disclosure, I worked with Steve at WABC-AM more than 20 years ago, and he’s one of the nicest guys I’ve ever worked with. He also gave me one piece of advice by which I still live — “Never trust a man who wears a bow tie.” Having worked for noted bow tie wearers Frank Cashen with the Mets and Bill Torrey with the Islanders, he must know what he’s talking about.

Tim McCarver (1983-1998)

While his habit of beating points to death is very annoying, McCarver is still the best color guy in the game. He drew out Kiner, making him an even better analyst. When the Mets fired him and replaced him with Tom Seaver (great pitcher, lousy announcer), he was told it was because Seaver was a big part of Mets history. McCarver’s response  — “I guess my 16 years doesn’t count as history.”

Rusty Staub (1986-1995)

I’ll be honest — I really don’t remember anything specific Staub’s work as an announcer.  But he was my favorite player as a kid, hence his appearance on this list. Also, he was intrumental in getting his pal Keith Hernandez into broadcasting. That’s got to count for something! 

Gary Thorne (1985-1988, 1994-2002)

Thorne is, in my opinion, the best play-by-play guy working today. He talks a great game, and doesn’t pull his punches. He was very critical of the Mets when the team was bad. I was actually shocked by some of the things he used to say, but everything he said was true. Management apparently didn’t agree, and they fired him. And the fact that he was replaced by the crummy Dave O’Brien added to Mets fans’ misery.

Gary Cohen (1989-Present)

Cohen moved over to the TV side in 2006, and although he looked a bit uncomfortable at first being on camera, the broadcast didn’t miss a beat. Cohen is excellent and has a wry New York sense of humor. Plus, his knowledge of Mets history is second-to-none, and that really adds a lot to the games.

Keith Hernandez (2002-Present)

Hernandez is just plain fun. He has his critics, but it’s hard to deny that when he’s not in the booth, the broadcasts feel a little off. He has no filter, which is dangerous for him, but fun for us. It’s kind of like sitting around talking baseball with your friends — anything could come out of his mouth.

Ron Darling (2006-Present)

Darling is geting better and better every year. His analysis is sharp, and so is his deceptively sly sense of humor. He had the line of the season this year, when Hernandez commented on an opposing manager’s manicure. After Cohen questioned why he noticed such things, Darling said, “You’re on your way to having your own show on Bravo.”

Mug Shots Courtesy Ultimate Mets Database, http://ultimatemets.com/mugshots.php

Gil Hodges (1962-1963)

Not in the Hall of Fame, but he certainly should be. His 2 seasons with the Mets don’t help his case, hitting 9 homers in just 65 games.  For his career, Hodges hit 370 homers, and drove in more than 100 runs 7 years in a row.

Duke Snider (1963)

Snider hit 14 home runs and batted .243 in his one season with the Mets. It was a far cry from the rest of his Hall of Fame career, in which he slammed 407 homers, including 5 straight seasons of 40+ when 40 homers really meant something.

Warren Spahn (1965)

It’s easy to forget that one of the greatest lefties of all time pitched for the Mets. That’s because by the time they got him, Spahn was 44 years old, and went 4-12 before being released mid-season. Spahn won 363 career games (6th all-time), including an impossible 13 years of 20+ wins.

Yogi Berra (1965)

Yogi barely makes the list, appearing in just 4 games in his solo season with the Mets. But his Hall of Fame credentials were cemented in 18 seasons with the Yankees — 358 homers, 1430 RBIs and 3 MVP awards.

Nolan Ryan (1966, 1968-1971)

Ryan showed promise with the Mets — 29-38, but with a 3.58 ERA and averaging nearly a strikeout per inning. But it was after he left the Mets that he became  the Nolan Ryan we now know — 324 wins, a record 5714 strikeouts, and those incredible 7 no-hitters.

Tom Seaver (1967-1977, 1983)

Finally, a great player who actually had great years for the Mets! Seaver leads the Mets in virtually every pitching category, and finished his career with 311 wins, 3640 strikeouts and 2.86 ERA.

Willie Mays (1972-1973)

One of the greatest players of all time, Mays was a mere shell of himself when he returned to New York at age 41. For his career, Mays had 660 homers (4th all-time), 1903 RBIs (10th), 3283 hits (11th), and won 2 MVP awards.

Eddie Murray (1992-1993)

Murray actually had 2 pretty good years with the Mets, hitting a total of 43 home runs and driving in 193 runs. The rest of his Hall of Fame career was pretty good as well — 504 homers, 1913 RBIs (9th all-time) and 3255 hits (12th).

Mike Piazza (1998-2005)

Hey, another guy with actual Mets credentials. The best Mets hitter ever and the greatest hitting catcher of all-time, Piazza finished up his career with 427 home runs and a .308 batting average.

Rickey Henderson (1999-2000)

Rickey’s first year with the Mets was good — at age 40 he stole 37 bases and hit .315. He was released in May of the second year after a terrible start. Overall, he had 3055 hits, and holds the all-time marks with 2295 runs and an incredible 1406 stolen bases.

Mug Shots Courtesy Ultimate Mets Database, http://ultimatemets.com/mugshots.php