Firing Up the Hot Stove with Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

A METSIAN PODCAST

KINDLING THE HOT STOVE

with Sam, Rich, and Mike

Seventy-Minutes

STUFF

First, I'm a veteran, but may have exercised poor judgement with regards to a joke said in poor taste.

I know better; guilty as charged.

*         *         *

Changes ~ Pat Roessler ~ Rickey Bones ~ J.P. Ricciardi

Radio Days: The Move to WCBS-88 AM

Howie Rose ~ Josh Lewin ~ Ed Coleman ~ Wayne Randazzo

The Syracuse Mets ~ Since when have there been Cy Young finalists?

Peter Alonso ~ Dominic Smith ~ Dave Kingman

Arizona Fall League ~ Andres Gimenez ~ Desmond Lindsay ~ Ali Sanchez

Jacob deGrom ~ Amed Rosario in Japan Series

BVW expectations ~ What's the New Plan ~ Are Mets Hands Are Tied 

Chris Bryant ~ Corey Kluber ~ Manny Machado ~ Bryce Harper ~ Asdrubal Cabrera

The never ending debate behind the plate ~ a plan for the bullpen

and so much more!

Subway Series: The Best and Worst City Has to Offer

From the desks of:

HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET  and  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Heading in Opposite Directions

SUBWAY SERIES

New York Metropolitans

vs.

New York Highlanders

FROM

THE HOUSE THAT GEORGE BUILT

BRONX

With a 39-55 record, playing meaningful games in September is out of the question.  Instead, the Mets head into the second-half tied with the Miami Marlins for last place in the N.L. East.  On a macro level, they need to go 42-26 over the final 68 games of the season just to break even.  On a micro level, anything short of playing .500 baseball from here on out will guarantee them a second straight 90-loss season.  Meanwhile, the non-waiver trade deadline is fast approaching and the Mets have no general manager to speak of.  I suspect John Ricco is merely playing the role of front man, and that Jeff Wilpon is firmly in charge with Omar Minaya mentoring him.  As such, I'm also inclined to believe J.P. Ricciardi, as someone brought into the fold by Sandy Alderson, will not be sticking around beyond this season and already has one foot out the door.  Said another way, the Mets organizational situation is dire, their condition is critical.

At least they catch a break this weekend ...

The Mets will not be facing C.C. Sabathia nor Luis Severino whom pitched in the All-Star Game.  Giving Sabathia an extended vacation is a smart move by the Yankees.  With 18 starts to date, Sabathia is 7-6 with a very respectable 3.51 ERA, and 1.27 WHiP.  He has allowed 98 hits and fanned 77 batters in exactly 100 innings pitched.  He is the Yankees stopper; his forte is preventing losing streaks.  General manager Brian Cashman is under pressure to add another starting pitcher by the deadline, which is exactly why keeping C.C. fresh and in functioning order is in the Yankees best interest.

Otherwise, the Bronx Bombers are living up to their moniker leading the American League in home runs and team slugging en route to a stellar 62-33 record.  Yet, despite their best efforts they remain in second place 4.5 games back of the relentless Boston Red Sox who lead the circuit in total bases, team average, and runs scored.  There has never been a regular season in which both the Yankees and Red Sox each won 100 games.  After 115 years in the circuit together, this might finally be the one.  It's no wonder, then, why minions of the Evil Empire are up in arms faced with potentially having to play a one-game Wild Card playoff.

N.Y. Mets: The Three-Headed METSian Podcast

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

FIX THIS HOUSE

I wrote this back on June 14:

Why Life After Sandy Alderson Terrifies Me
My point stands.

Sandy Alderson has since taken an official leave of absence from the organization.  His cancer first diagnosed back during the 2015 season has unfortunately returned.  He made the rest of the front office aware of his condition some time ago, but his recent press conference proved a somber revelation to media and fans.

He was originally brought to Flushing under very unique circumstances in which he was charged (by the commissioner; wink, wink) with matriculating the Mets organization through very dire financial straits.  His is unlikely to return, and therefore I thank him for all his efforts and years of service for the New York Mets.  I know the Marine in him with battle to the end.  I offer him, his family and circle of loved ones my prayers for a speedy and full recovery.

A METSian Podcast, Episode #13

Rich hosted; 90 minutes

@MetFanRich    @The_SamMaxwell

Wishing Sandy Alderson well

What Now? ~ Hail to the Chief!

On the three-headed monster: John Ricco; Omar Minaya; J.P. Ricciardi

Jeff Wilpon ~ Plan for the trade deadline ~ Mr. Reactive Mickey Callaway 

Dom Smith ~ fundamentals have left the building ~ WTF? 

Mets who've worn #13 ~ NYC baseball in 1913 ~ the return of L.I. Mike

Lee Mazzilli ~ The Newark Bears ~ dead ball era ~ triples to right

Giancarlo Stanton is no better than Dave Kingman!!  I really said that!

Plus our usual bitching, sniveling, complaining, and more.

N.Y. Mets ~ Brain Busters

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET




NEW YORK METS:  In the immortal words of Aretha Franklin -  "...you better, THINK!  ...'bout what you tryin' to do to me!  You better, THINK!"



His curve ball follows the curvature of the Earth.   His sinker rises like a weather balloon.   His fastball suffers more drag than Sky-Lab did falling down to Earth.   And the guys’ mind is in orbit.  This space cadet is in dire need of a lobotomy or learning how to sequence his pitches better.   But then again, he’d still need an effective out-pitch; which is his downfall.


Otherwise, he makes his case a tough call because we still like the guy and want to give him that one last chance.  But I assure you, sending Mike Pelfrey to the bullpen is not a remedy for his woes.  I don't know if time is on our (the Club's) side when it comes to options.  I may be off on the logistics, but I wish we could shuffle him off to Buffalo and keep him there until September 5th; ...that's right.....  The last game of Buffalo's regular season.


This man needs to have his psyche impacted and shaken up.  He's thinking way too much and I believe his brain is fried for having been thrust into the Ace's role and not coming through.  More and more, he's exhibiting poor mental make-up.  Additionally, there's a lot of work to be done with regard to an out-pitch; not to mention his whole unimpressive repertoire.


In the Mets' present situation, giving someone a mental make-over and diagnosing a pitcher's failed craftsmanship should not be done from the bullpen, nor on the Major League level.  Impact his brain a little and send him down for three starts where he'll have nothing to think about but throwing a damn ball.  Heck; we should have done this a week ago.  And we just might learn a little more about his make-up after putting him through a demeaning process like that and be better prepared to deal with his situation in the off-season.  Because after all, he is a Scott Boras client. 


Can we do that?




Jose; Jose; Jose;....Why Hurry Jose?

Funny; ...ever since Jose Reyes returned to the dugout to do sprints at Citi Field, the "Spotlight is on You" has returned.  There's a lot to be said about that, among which is his value to the club. 


So why rush back?  And for what?  There is nothing he can do between now and the end of the regular season that will change any one's perception of him; good or bad; on the part of the Mets; us fans; or any other team interested in the soon to be free agent.


At this point in his career, I believe he IS what he IS.  Jose Reyes is one of the most dynamic players in baseball; whether it be on the base paths; in the field; with a bat in his hands; or through his overall exuberance and it's effect on a club.


He is also proven to be injury prone; namely those legs.  And more and more, his lower appendages seem to be; if only slightly; permanently damaged....but hopefully manageable at the same time.  In an effort to keep his legs healthy, he might have to become a player who now plays 147 to 150 games a season by design.


When I play GM, I would have traded him.  That's a different post.  But I'm like you; a Fan.  And he's a Met today.  So why rush him back?  For what?  If we do in fact reach a deal with him this off-season, we still have to rethink the way we utilize him.  What we decide to do this very day, may still work in our benefit down the road.  And if I'm Jose Reyes, ...I get he may know no other way than to play as soon as possible, but it's in his best interest to take it slow also.  And if the Met Doctors are having a routinely bad day, they can potentially ruin him for life.


There is no evidence a divorce between the Mets and Jose Reyes is written in stone.  But to even the staunchest Reyes supporter, I know this latest setback has touched the pragmatist in you.


Ask yourself; -  from this moment forward, will you ever think about Jose Reyes, and not think about his hamstrings ever again?  The rethinking of Jose Reyes has already begun. 


Here's my proposal; $83 million over five years; no more.  Like I said, there is nothing he can do to change my perception of him now.  He is one of the most dynamic players in Baseball with mounting hamstring injuries.  And if his time in New York has proven one thing if we are to move forward with him, is that he will need ample, scheduled days off; ....in his prime years.  But I also say it's a risk.  I'd rather let DePodesta and Ricciardi utilize the compensatory pick(s) and continue their stock-piling  coming off this year's draft.


However, because it's more about what the Club does, than what I want, having Jose Reyes in a Met uniform could never rub me the wrong way.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. METS ~ New Front Office Is Officially On The Clock

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET


NEW YORK METS:  It's Time For The New Front Office To Start Earning Their Money.   For Paul DePodesta and J.P. Ricciardi,  June 6th is upon them.  That means Amateur Draft Time.  For Sandy Alderson, It Means Cracking His Knuckles In Preparation for July.


Quiet time?  Grace period?  Or what ever we call it, ...is over.  It's time to step out from behind the shadows, show themselves, and start the reconfiguration of the Mets in earnest now.  June 6th ushers in the Amateur Draft.  And for Paul DePodesta and J.P. Ricciardi, it means they're officially on the clock.  Let's see what assortment of goodies they can reap starting with tomorrow's opening rounds of the June harvest.

While tomorrow's opening of the June Draft will largely determine what Brooklyn Cyclones I'll be rooting for in Coney Island this summer, the bigger picture belongs to the parent club.  By GM Sandy Alderson's own assessment, the Mets minor league talent pool is dry.


Drafting players in Baseball isn't the science it is as in say, Football or Basketball.   In Baseball, all these kids are rough, ugly rocks.   The good talent evaluators see the jewels within.  Other speculators spend their time mining Fools Gold in these drafts.


They way DePodesta and Ricciardi were touted on their way into Flushing would have us believing they are diamond cutters.   Look..., just go out and find this organization some good shiny gems will ya?


DePodesta and Ricciardi are Sandy Alderson's hand picked henchmen and they were brought here in large part to start fixing the Mets starting tomorrow.  J.P. and Paul's record with the Mets, and the future of the Club's organizational course and philosophy, all start to get rewritten, now.

In name, this is a very high profile Front Office.  They haven't been spoken about much since the season started.  But for all the monetary compensation these gentlemen receive from the Mets since their hiring, they had better be as smart as they say they are because they haven't done anything we can talk about ...yet.  For all METropolis' intent and hopes, damn I hope they did their homework!


Yet, so much of this year's draft, and future Met drafts depends on the Wilpon's willingness to stray from the unofficial slotting policy they adhere to.  The Wilpons do not go over slot for prospects and as a result, trap themselves in mid-level mediocrity.  This organization has a verifiable history of not paying and a decade's long list of players hitting the wall once they reach Binghampton; the level most prospects start to get weeded out and separated from ball players.


That's where Sandy Alderson comes in.  How much autonomy does he really have?  And has he ever managed to convince the Wilpons they've made a matter of slotting policy one of their hugest mistakes as owners?  We know when push comes to shove -  money talks.  And the Wilpons don't have any extra cash lying around.  But when we are talking compensation at this level; maybe a $7 million dollar commitment to a high prized prospect, for a New York team, we should be far from talking about accounting nightmares. 


That was Omar's and Jeff's folly; ...too much dumb money on the big club and no smart money spent on the rookie levels.  If you need proof of that assertion, Kazmir, Wright, and Reyes, whom Omar inherited, were the last impact players developed by this system.  Over this year and last, have we finally seen promotable and contributing players but they come almosst a full eight years since the last substantial crop (Reyes, Wright, Kazmir).  So I ask you where has the impact rookie been in all these years?  The answer hasn't been anywhere near Roosevelt Avenue.


And since I brought up Omar Minaya, I think we all understand we are still looking at his team and handy-work.  Jon Niese; Pelf;  R.A. Dickey; Dillon Gee;  even Ike Davis,  ...and the rest of the Flushing Bisons and New York Mets still here are his collection.  So, there is a chance that some of my fellow Met fans have confused today's current state and related it to some kind of picture of the future.  As if this is still salvagable and just needs healthy players and tweeking.  But while some of the players currently on the roster I truly hope are part of our future, I would suggest you take your last looks around at what will soon become what things used to look like around here.


June Sixth folks; consider it the first day the Mets new Front Office officially has to report to work and start fixing this MESS from the bottom, up.  That includes Sandy Alderson, and not just Ricciardi and DePodesta.  Those two have their work to do starting tomorrow.  Sandy?  It's June so you know what that means right?  The trade deadline is one page flip of the calendar away.


Yep, yep, yep.  ...Time to get up.  Have a good stretch and grab a cup-o-java to go.  It's time for this Front Office to get to work.


Over the past two months, the Mets have played gritty baseball under Terry Collins.  It's gotten the Media to treat them less derisively and instead has them theorizing their own solutions for the Mets problems.  But so much of everything Mets these days is overshadowed by Fred Wilpon's woes.  And in a sense it's provided a calm before the storm in regards to this current roster.


Ridding the team of Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez earlier this season were no brainers.  Anyone who ever stayed in a Holiday Inn even knew that.  But that's nothing.  We haven't seen anything yet.  I believe that, and just reaffirmed it because I like to be consistent.  That's why if you've noticed, I haven't been too concerned with wins and losses.  I believe in busy hands being happy hands and micro-matters like Dillon Gee, Thole, Niese, Parnell, Ike, and a few others occupy my concerns until Sandy's renovation goes full blown.


It's time for the Front Office to get to work and June 6th is as good a date, and symbolically relevant as to why the new regime starts getting graded now.  This will be their first draft.


For the New York Mets' new deputies, partly recommended by MLB (Selig), in the form of Sandy Alderson and his hand picked lieutenants Paul DePodesta and J.P. Ricciardi, consider this Groundbreaking Day in the rebuilding of a new METropolis.


Or so I (we?) hope.






Mike.BTB

N.Y. METS ~ Meet The New Boss; Same As The Old Boss

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET


NEW YORK METS:  Money Changes Everything; Sometimes.  But I Still Think the Clock is Ticking on the Wilpons.

I remember saying in a previous post that Fred Wilpon would indeed find someone to fork over a $200 million dollar check and expect nothing in return for buying part ownership in the Mets.  I think the phrase I used was, "There's a sucker born everyday".

But clearly David Einhorn is no sucker (or a schmuck...if you will).  He blew the lid off Lehman Brothers' problematic math theories and put them out of business as a result.  He is very outspoken regarding Microsoft's management, of which he owns multi-millions shares in the company.  He's a savvy hedge-fund manager.  And, oh yea..., there's the almost $700,000 he won playing in the World Series of Poker.  Poker - (sigh).  But he gave a lot of that money to charity.  So, he has something going for him; I guess.  And have no fear, in the absence of better sense, there's always money!  Money changes everything.

He's a childhood Mets fan too.  So there's a passion factor there which I guess is a good thing for us fans, but which flies in the face of Fred Wilpon's devotion to the Dodgers (in a totally irrelevant jab at Fred).  But he comes on board with no rights; privileges; managing authority, operating input, or decision making clout in the grand scheme of the Mets.  All those responsibilities still rests in the hands of Fred and more frighteningly, Jeff Wilpon.  Will he have an opinion and be able to express it internally?  I would assume that.  But externally?  I'm not sure sure if we'll be getting many public comments from him.

But I have to know where David Einhorn and Jeff Wilpon get placed on the totem pole now.  If there's only one more corner office with a view left, versus the office with no windows, who gets it?  Jeff is a legacy; nepotism got him his position.  He's the current day-time manager of Mets-R-Us.  David is a principled shareholder now and is self made (eh hem! Jeff).  But they keep saying the Wilpons are still in control of operations.  And sometimes, especially in the Mets' case, it's good to be the owner's son.  But bad for us as has been proven.

If Nelson Doubleday likened Lil Jeff to (Egyptian) Pharaoh on his way out the door back in 2003, compounded by Jeff demonstrating what a failure he's been as a Baseball Man Trainee over the years (by the way, predicted by Nelson Doubleday), I want to know who exactly will be calling who Mister Einhorn or Mister Little Pon in the hallways or at the coffee maker?  What's probably closest to the truth is they'll hardly ever be in the same building together.  Fred Wilpon doesn't want a so-called partner.  Hell, after getting a suite, I don't think Fred even wants to give him an official title.  Fred just wants the money.  And incidentally, Einhorn has more of it just in case Fred might need to relinquish a few more percentages of team ownership for some unforeseen  reason.

Because honestly, I don't see what the hell $200 million dollars is going to do for this team.  They have a loan they need to repay MLB.  Some of that money is for debt on the park.  The rest I guess is to pay operating costs for the very near future.  So all Fred Wilpon is doing is recouping the $70 million he expects to lose this season (per SI article) with Eichorns' cash infusion; pay some bills, and break even for the season.  In a round-about way, that's generally the plan.  It might last him two years.  But the Mets have already made it known they're cutting payroll moving forward.  This $200 million doesn't change that.  Because it's not paying for Jose Reyes either.

But Picard is still that piano in the sky looking to fall on the Wilpons any day now.  Considering how much it cost to buy the Mets in 1980, Wilpon is still sitting on a fortune Picard is salivating to have liquidated.  We just might be seeing, not the legal system at work here, but good ol' Capitalism in the works.  After buying low by today's standards, Wilpon may be forced to sell high.  Eichorn on the other hand looks ready to pounce on a low-offering block purchase of shares in the Mets Company and maybe looking to seize an fortuitous opportunity.

Time will take care of that.  But should this deal get finalized, it means we are still shackled at the ankles to the Wilpon's steel ball and the Saul B. Katz Dilemma remains large and as in-charge as ever.  There is no new wrinkle here.  In the Wilpon's view, this is less about Einhorn and him keeping quiet than it is about the Benjamins.

Sandy Alderson really and truly is the only hope we have of getting the newly painted S.S. Wilpon steered away from an impending iceberg.  Sandy Alderson, J.P. Ricciardi and Paul DePodesta have no choice now but to rise to the levels of their reputations for us fan's sakes, and deliver a consistent playoff contender to Flushing.  Because the head of this organization appears as if he's hunkering down for a long fight even knowing his fan base would rather see him leave quietly in the night.

But Fred Wilpon was seeking a partner that would remain as silent as a mouse.  And David Einhorn appears "excited" to do just that.  But why?  A second assumption I'm willing to make is that David will get first rights to the Wilpon's and Katz' shares should they still need to sell their portions of the teams in the near or distant future.  And maybe, just maybe, he's savvy enough to realize they are in deep trouble; more so than we can understand; and could very well be hoping to backdoor himself into a majority stake in the Mets.

I do think he'll make a modest return on his $200 million in time.  All Baseball owners do.  So I don't think for a second his principle investment is in jeopardy.  And honestly, I don't think he cares.  He owns part of the Mets and he was willing to fork over enough cash to be able to say that.  And if I were a fan, like I am, and had $200 million laying around collecting dust, I'd probably look to buy a piece of the Mets also and be damned with thoughts of any capital gains.  However, I might be compelled to bound and gag Jeff and hide him in a utility closet.

In the press conference, Eichorn told us absolutely nothing which is good news.  The first thing I got out of the introductory conference call was that he's in no threat of falling victim to his own lack of semantics and inability to manipulate the English language.  He seems quite adept at speaking his mind very well.  Speaking and still saying nothing is an art.  The bad news is that we don't know what kind of deal he and Fred Wilpon are still trying to hammer out.  Fred Wilpon has been adamant about retaining his majority stake in the Mets in the Wilpon family.  But even Fred will have to cede certain somethings to get this deal done because where else will he find a willing and partner content with being silent?  And besides, we know Selig will give his blessings.

They say there were multiple interested parties, but they all probably had their own ideas contrary to the Wilpon's plan.  For instance, Eddie Kranepool was leading a group who made their fortunes in the same Investments Industry manner Eichorn did, but they were lobbying for a full 50/50 partnership; as were other groups.  SNY would surely have been a matter of contention regarding any agreement to invest that much money into the Mets.  But again, Einhorn in his own words says he's very comfortable with the deal he is still negotiating with Mets and wants no part of a TV station.  So my third assumption is there is definitely something worthwhile in the works that would compel David to make this investment than just being a fan with money and an opportunity.  Besides Fred Wilpon never had any kind of luck before.  Why should the perfect buyer fall out of the sky and into his lap now?

Here's a possible answer (because what I know is NOTHING).  Other perspective buyers were offering their opinions and ideas regarding buying into the Mets to the Media and the public.  David Einhorn is someone we never heard about till less that 72 hours ago.  Here's another reach for answers on my part.  With Madoff in jail, the Wilpons need another stock market guru to invest money so they can continue their cancerous way of borrowing against earnings.  Don't forget, what Madoff was doing with Wilpon's money was one thing.  What Mr. Wilpon was using it for and how he was using it is another issue entirely.

What we learned about Mr. Wilpon is that he didn't operate this team based on ticket sales; MLB properties revenue; TV/Radio rights, or SNY.  After having to cut Nelson Doubleday his check for half the team and then taking on the debt of a new park, Fred Wilpon relied on Bernie Madoff like a seeing-eye dog to pay his way through a precarious decade thanks to steady returns.  This is a good a time as any for a good laugh over Bobby Bonilla's deal but then everything else is legal mumbo-jumbo.

So where exactly does David Einhorn fit into The New SAUL B. KATZ DILEMMA?  He hasn't forked over a check yet.  There's still time for David get scared of this deal and being subservient to the WILPONS.  Yeeesh!  So you see, there has to be something more to this.

Oh yea...,  exactly what percentage of the team does $200 million get you?  Surely not 49% right?  Nah!  Even with debt, 35% maybe?  A third of the team?  David Einhorn said we'll find out in a month.  But for now, this was a good way to get some heat off Fred over his latest Media snafus.

Today, there is nothing to indicate the Age of Wilponianism has finally ended; not by a long shot.  There is only one alteration to the current situation.  The Saul B. Katz Dilemma now also becomes
David Einhorn's Dilemma as well.






Mike.BTB

N.Y. METS ~ The Amazin's Buffalo Round-Up Herds Little

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR.MET





NEW YORK METS:  The Big Club Is Turning The Buffalo Bisons Into An Endangered Species.

But when it comes to current and former Brooklyn Cyclones, Back Off!

Sandy Alderson is on record saying he doesn't think the Mets have any high-quality skill at the AAA and AA levels.  He used the word "Mediocre" to describe the state of talent.  And if you remember, Buffalo was upset at Omar Minaya because they felt the Mets lacked enough quality prospects capable of drawing fans to Bison's games, and therefore wanted to escape their contract with the parent Club.



In an unfortunate development for both the Mets and Buffalo, pitcher Henrry Mejia is headed for surgery on his elbow.  In something more akin to an omen, Sandy Alderson's observations regarding the Buffalo Bisons just received some validation.  After Henrry, the Mets (un)officially no longer have a pitcher they can retrieve from Buffalo to step in and provide quality innings when needed.  And the Bisons will be without one of the few players who was capable of filling seats in Buffalo.  For either team, SP-Chris Schwinden is still an unknown neophyte.  He's off to a pretty good start.  But after him, the cupboard is now dry.  Pat Misch anybody?  Buffalo says we or Binghampton can keep him.



With regard to the Mets' high-level prospects, two independent assessments both arrived at the same conclusion.  So, there's something to that.  Buffalo ownership and Sandy were right.  The Buffalo Bisons are abysmally staffed.  Just look at their roster.



Mejia was supposed to join Dillon Gee on the big club at some point this season.   But the Mets hoped that would happen later rather than sooner in the summer.  Circumstances, namely Chris Young, caused the Mets to call-up Dillon Gee from Buffalo prematurely.  Now, for Henrry and the Bisons, it's see you next year.  I'm already on record as saying I do not agree with Dillon Gee pitching out of the Mets' bullpen.  For that I'd rather have him pitch in Buffalo.  And so would the Bisons!  But my point is, Dillon Gee pitched his way onto the big club based upon his merits as a starting pitcher.  So, let him start!  ...Or, send him down.



A few times, it actually rubbed me the wrong way when Sandy criticised the system.  But then, that would be because of the bias I have towards former Brooklyn Cyclones.  So it's better that he's calling the shots instead of me.  Because, I'll admit to you now, former Surf Avenue Sluggers are my kryptonite.



Like Dillon Gee, Dylan Owen is one of those former Brooklyn Cyclones now pitching for Buffalo.  I had and still have high hopes for this kid.  But he's been somewhat slow progressing through the farm.  His start  this season  is additionally leaving something to be desired.



Off the mound and on the field, Justin Turner has also been taken from Buffalo where he was batting an even .300 after 40 at-bats.  And while Lucas Duda has been first choice this season with regards to outfield call-ups, and also being a former Brooklyn Cyclone favorite of mine, another former Cyclone outfielder; Kirk Nieuwenhuis has quietly been enjoying a good start to his season.  After him, even I admit, there are really slim pickings.  Then again, I too have been complaining about that for years.  Lest we forget, after David Wright, Jose Reyes, and Scott Kazmir, the farm system broke down for really the first time, since 1965.



On more than one occasion I over estimated a player or two because I see many of these prospects come through Brooklyn first.  And the Cyclones are a totally different frame of mind for me.  So when it comes time for these players to make a leap to the big club, there's some pre-existing sentimentality on my part.  However, there is no mistaking the truth.  The Mets' minor league situation is dire.



J.P. Ricciardi and Paul DePodesta can only do so much in the up-coming amateur draft.  And the picks they make will be years away from answering any questions or fulfilling promise.  What I have learned over the last ten years attending Cyclones Baseball is that the N.Y.P.L. is not a clear indicator of the organization's over-all developmental health because after all, the Cyclones play A-Level Short Season which starts on the heals of the June draft.  That's one theory.



In my other theory, I lay blame on our past AA operations.  I believe they went fourteen years or so without any real playoff success to speak of.  There is much to criticize about the Wilpon's adherence to a Slotting System, because it's at the AA level when spending a little extra cash on prospects starts to pay off.  For too long, Double-A Binghampton continued to be a dead-end for many Mets' low-level prospects.  But over the last two and three years, changes have finally come to the B-Mets structure; Tony Bernazard aside.  However, there is nothing Ricciardi or DePodesta can do over the next three months that will restock the mid to high level minor league system with quality; much less quickly.



In the mean time, Buffalo is in shambles, and may very well continue insisting they be allowed out from their contract with the Mets if things don't turn around soon.  That's just an opinion.  But Buffalo also has a business to run and have expressed their sentiments on this matter before.



Specific to the Mets situation, the team has assets in Flushing they can trade at the deadline.  Stop the cycle of stop-gap measures.  The best decisions in life usually turn out to be the least popular, yet prove most prudent.  Tough decisions are what contending is all about.  Stop patching up the parent club and fix the entire system.



If we are to move forward, we have to let go first.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. METS ~ Like the Team Now? You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet

From the desk of:  Head-Butting Mr. Met




NEW YORK METS:  The Fog Over Citi Field Still Lingers Over The Mets.  But You'll See, Sandy Alderson Will Light up The Night.

What!?  Me Worry?  What could be wrong?

It's still too early for seeking ledges to jump off, but we have to start somewhere, right?  After all, the early bird gets the worm.

Stop yourselves.  Now.

On the one hand, we knew our team had more problems than a math book.  On the other hand, ...there is no other hand.  Our team has more problems than a math book.  This is as good as it gets people.  There's nothing more to see at Citi Field.  If you are that disgusted, go back to your farms if you really want Mets R Us shut down for good...   If you had expectations, shame on you.  You'll hear this a lot from me; You can't be disappointed with what you do not expect.  So stay home if you want the Wilpons gone.  The brown paper bags routine was an old 1970's gag that is no longer "CooooL Man"!

Please!

But, there is still something to be said for brown paper bags and what they say.  So, in the mean time, Sandy Alderson's team leaves us with an awful lot to talk about.  Let's start out with the easiest target; their record:

4-9   .308 pct.

The New York Mets have won 30% of their games so far.  Or, the New York Mets have lost 70% of their games; - Give or take a fraction.  You choose how you like your numbers.  Let's move on, shall we?

For me, ten games is a nice number to wait before I really start taking stock of the Mets.  So, after Tuesday's rain-out, I thought it time to start putting the 'Mazin thinking cap on.  And so far, for me, the best thing to happen to the Mets this season has been the New York Rangers.  The 'Mazin Mets have remained safely off my docket because I still have Hockey of the brain.

I've been paying attention, but it's time to start a-talkin'.   And I guess for King 'Pon, Son Of 'Pon, and the whole "Saul B. Katz Dilemma" over in Flushing..., that sucks.

When my fellow Met fans come to grips with the fact our season doesn't start until the trade deadline rolls around, they'll stop twitching in their sleep at night after games.  It doesn't matter where in the standings we are come July, this team is getting exterminated.   The best we should hope for are some individual successes so as to bump up their value.  But for sure, we haven't seen anything yet.  Sandy Alderson is going to strip this Bad Boy down to a fig leaf.  The only thing that prevents that from happening now, is the calendar.  The only thing that separates real concrete change on the field and a change in our perceptions and attitudes, is TIME.  In three more years, this team will not have a single semi to high profile free agent on it.  Not One!  We'll neither have one of our own holdovers and it certainly won't be one picked up on the market.  All that is done.


Do you think Alderson hired DePodesta and Ricciardi to scout potential high priced free agents and potential recipients of five and seven year deals?  No, of course not.  They are here to wipe the slate clean.  Make no mistake.  Everyone is gone....Even David Wright!  That sucks to hear.  I know it and I am with you.  I'd rather keep him.  But we have to reconcile ourselves with the fact that it's not about what we want.  This is more of what Sandy Alderson is going to do.  But you can not deny, no matter what David Wright has done here, he's been a constant throughout the last seven dramatic and frustrating years in Flushing; - both him and Reyes.

Carney Lansford was Sandy Alderson's third-baseman back in the Bash-Brothers Days; - Can you dig it? And no one has been holding an open umbrella under the dark clouds at Shea/Citi longer than Jose Reyes and David Wright.  They have been the one constant these last 7 years.  Do you want to improve this club?  Trade your best players!  And that's exactly what Sandy Alderson is going to do.  He has no personal attachment towards, and for what we hold dear, and cherish; - our beloved Met History and favorite players.  What Alderson does have is a plan to totally restructure this team.  And the player (Wright) that can very well own every Met record if he's allowed to stay, I feel will be gone.  It makes sense, he will garner the biggest return.  Who will play third after David is gone? Answer - A Sandy Guy.  Ricciardi is working on that as we speak.

At Shortstop, Reyes is the other pre-Omar Days guy.  But, don't you know the only reason why Jose Reyes is off to such a good start is to fulfill our manifest destiny?  He'll go on to get as many hits as Paul Molitor and steal as many bases as Tim Raines.  Why? - Because he won't be doing it in a Mets' uniform.  We know how that goes..(eh..hem! Nolan Ryan).  I say that in jest, he won't achieve those numbers, but do we really want to start talking money again; whether it's Madoff's money, Wilpon's money, or Reyes money?  Nah.  And there is nothing developing down on the farm ready to step in for Reyes upon his trade at the deadline which seems like a lock at this point.  Wilmer Flores, Ruben Tejada, etc. - They aren't Sandy's guys.  They belong to Omar and they're looking more and more like duds.  Harsh?  Maybe.  Trust me, I'd love to ease off.  But truth is truth.


Alderson still has his hands full with cleaning this roster of Omar's thumbprints.  And it's turning out to be a monumental task.  Counting backwards, Jason Bay and Johan Santana are the latest two lost to lengthy injuries, and are players who's contracts are hampering the team in the meantime.  And before them came the jettisoning of Ollie Perez, Castillo, and John Maine.  You are more than within your rights to ask, did Everything Omar Touch Turn To Mush?  I mean really?  Almost every one of his mid to high profile acquisitions have all wound up on the backs of milk cartons.  Which one hasn't?  Please..., remind me.

The bullpen has been a complete and utter mess.  They are/were? still anchored by two Minaya guys in Bobby Parnell and closer Francisco Rodriguez.  Iggy got cut and now he's back.  Izzy is back too.  They won't last!  All the other guys were Alderson imports, but there was nothing he realistically had to work with money wise, nor was there anything available talent wise.  If anything the Mets were smart to let Pedro Feliciano walk away.  Now the Yankees are stuck with that medical bill.

Second base hasn't been correct since Edgardo Alfonzo played the position for us.  And while Emaus is an Alderson guy, it looks like the job will go to the jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none, and Omar leftover, Daniel Murphy.  It's looking like 2B will turn out to be a strict platoon very shortly.  But I'm sorry, even though I like Murph, he's not a solution at 2B.  And other Omar farm-hands like Reese Havens and Jonathan Malo have been beset by injuries.  And I get the feeling Alderson isn't as enamored with Reese and Malo as I am, for ever materializing good reasons.

Left field has been a complete joke for how many years now? 

Most fans know by now, teams never get their money's worth from a player on the back end of long term deals; - See Carlos Beltran.  If at all possible, this old Omar acquisition will be a trade-deadline goner.  Omar farm-hand Fernando Martinez just got injured yet again.  Every season he proves himself more and more fragile.  Another Omar farm-hand Lucas Duda, even though I like him (from Brooklyn Cyclones days), is headed back to Buffalo because he was over-matched to start the season and looked frighteningly unprepared.

And speaking of being unprepared, all that needed to be done was to watch just a few games this season to come to a conclusion, it is no longer a matter of being prepared or unprepared with this team.  The on-field folly still looks the same.  Terry Collins is proving that right now.  How is it that Willie Randolph, Jerry Manuel AND Terry Collins now, all have had that "I just got pumped by the neighbor's cat look on their face", after yet another futile looking loss.  How is it?  The Media for one, corners these managers into said looks on their faces.  But the results on the field won't change, and the questions won't change, and therefore the answers won't change, until the reasons for this cycle of insanity are all eliminated.

That's why I tell you now, it's not the manager anymore.  Kiss Everyone Goodbye!  And stop all your nonsense people.  If you want to do something constructive, get a highlighter and mark every day on the calendar till the trade deadline hits.  Then get a black Sharpie and cross out every player with Omar's name on it - every one!  It's time to look forward to new players and farm hands that will make their managers look good for a change.  Because that's where we are headed.  Sandy Alderson has no plan for making this team better right now or ever; not with these players he's not.  This team is still headed for the glue factory horse by horse.  This season is still about purge.  And I couldn't be more on board.  So I guess that makes me, ironically, a happy Mets fan.  Hmmm?

Be happy with this.  Two relievers were having a ghastly time on the mound and Sandy Alderson sent them packing, post haste.  It took a meeting between Jerry Manuel, Omar Minaya, John Ricco, Jeff Wilpon, Saul Katz, Fred Wilpon, five hot dog vendors, and the valet parking guy to make a decision last season, when they made changes.  Sandy Alderson didn't have to make multiple trips to Atlanta to scold his team - remember the "I'm not here to fire anyone guys." - Jeff Wilpon?  Sandy Alderson did it from his desk with a phone call and a pen to sign the paperwork.  That's where we are now, with a GM making decisive decisions in a timely manner.

Now! - for some positives regarding Omar's leftovers.  We like Ike.  I don't know about you, but I am a staunch Bobby Parnell supporter.  I like Niese and I am holding out hope for Big Pelf.  Down at AAA, I really like Dillon Gee.  And then there is my guy, Josh Thole.

At catcher, can some one tell me why most local Media do not believe in Josh Thole?  And I'm not so sure Sandy Alderson has warmed up to him either.  Am I looking at Thole through Love Blind Eyes?  Regardless,  I am an unabashed supporter of Thole and I don't care to have the position upgraded.  I'm very content giving him the job.  I think he's solid defensively and calls a good game.  He makes contact at bat and I believe he will hit for a higher average than many project for him.  I also believe he will work himself into being quite an effective 2-spot hitter in the line-up.  I don't get why so many are still down or not enamored with the kid.  Someone fill me in as to what I do not see.

And with our season being what it is, I'm also quite content giving Angel Pagan the full season in center field without any complaints from me.  I moved beyond Beltran two years ago.

If manager Terry Collins is going to blow a gasket this early, fine.  If he wants them to take extra infield practice, fine.  What ever he does is fine.  It doesn't matter.  They will all be gone....(eventually) the manager included.

Are you kidding me?  In July, Sandy Alderson is going to light up the Flushing night with a fireworks extravaganza unseen around here since the Mets blew it up on Black Friday back in 1977, and when Frank Cashen lit the second fuse to set off better nights in Flushing.

Forget strike one; strike two; and strike three for now.

Wait for the Boom!  Burst!  And the WOW!  ...when Sandy really starts to blow this up.



I conclude by saying, Let's Go Rangers!!!  Because Mets Opening Day doesn't come until later in the summer.  That should give me plenty of time to let the Rangers play out their run for a Stanley Cup.  Yea, I know..., good luck with that too.


Let's Go Mets!

Let's Go Rangers!!




Mike.BTB

NYMets ~ Have Pink Slip, Will Hire

BTB HQ ~ ManCave ~ BKN

Jeff Wilpon added the final "TOOL" to his reorganized management BOX today with the announcement of Terry Collins as his latest unemployed reclamation project.  The Son of 'Pon, thinking busy hands are happy hands, decided Terry Collins could be rehabilitated into a contributing member of Met Bizarro-Society rather than chain-ganging on litter removal detail along the Mets' portion of Adopt-A-Highway along the Grand Central P'way. 

After rescuing Sandy Alderson from his pseudo MLB employment, exiled in the Dominican Republic while attempting to find the true source of Jose Canseco's youthful looking skin, Jeff Wilpon the Benevolent devoted himself to saving Paul DePodesta and J.P. Ricciardi from emptying waste paper baskets and waxing floors at the Astoria Blvd. Tanning Salon.  Gaining legal custody of all three nomads of Baseball, Jeff the Younger quickly re-educated his Motley Crew in the fine arts of High Profile Low Expectation Mid Level Executive Mismanagement.

Satisfied with his triad's inability to quickly learn on the fly, Lil Jeff, C.O.O of Mets-R-Us, went about setting his trap to snare the cagey China Dragon; Terry Collins.

Today's announcement Terry Collins has finally been fitted with an ear tag and made part of the family completes The Younger Wilpon's radical renovations to the House of 'Pon.

Rejoice Met fans!  Just think, Our possibilities are LIMITED!!!  WooHoo!


No (not) really...Think about it:
*Sandy Alderson practically ran the 'Roid Lab of Jose&McG from his basement.
*J.P. Ricciardi was shoveling Blue Jay money at players like Toronto snow...and got canned.  Did I say Toronto?
*Paul DePodesta in L.A. got canned while he was in the middle of an extensive interview process seeking a new manager; Talk about timing!...which by the way included the China Dragon himself; Terry Collins.
*Terry Collins, as manager of the Angels...Mutiny?  And he quit his Chinese gig?  He quit his job as manager of a Chinese team...; in China?  Baseball?  Him?  China?  Quit?  C'mon!


Yes my fellow METroNoNsensuals, all the pieces are in place now that COOJEFF (pronounced like Cujo but with a Jeff at the end!) has pounded all the round pegs into the square holes.

Two things still remain.  Find another inconspicuous gambling degenerate with less body mass to take clubhouse bets without getting caught this time..., and fill the coaching ranks with personnel who will tell Ollie Perez he is doing a good job; tell Luis Castillo he's being considered for an extension; and tell Carlos Beltran the fans really do like him.


....Then..., our Victory over the Nation's PONY Leagues will be COMPLETE!!!!!

BAAAaaaHAHAhahahahahaha!!!!!



But really folks, the days of Jeff Bashing are sadly coming to a close.  I'm going to miss those days.  Sandy Alderson is going to ruin all the fun.  I'm taking my ball and going home.  I don't feel like making fun of him anymore.


Consider this Last Call at the C.O.O Saloon.



Be honest now, for a second you thought to yourself, "Oh My!  What have we done?"




Special shout to http://twitter.com/@koosman3669 who caught everyone in a mid-November Mets yawn tonight on his "CB-Radio".




Mike.BTB

NYMets ~ TRIUMVIRATE By The BAY

Sandy Alderson, in short order has assembled a Front Office that should send shivers down the backs of National League Ball Clubs, Executives and Owners alike.  Fresh off hiring J.P. Ricciardi to be his right hand man, Sandy Alderson very recently secured the services of Paul DePodesta, now formally of the San Diego Padres, to be Over Lord of Minor League Operations.

Mets' TRIUMVIRATE By The BAY

All the Mets need to do is hire their manager and we'll be all set to Rule The Galaxy!!

Ahahaha.  AHAHAhaha.  AHHHhahahahaha!!!

But seriously, the transformation of the Mets' Front Office has been nothing short of remarkable.
Sandy Alderson not only has given this organization the blood transfusion it so desperately needed, he transplanted some vital organs along the way.  If you probe through the analogues of Front Office personnel employed by the Post-Payson Mets, you would have to look back to the days when Frank Cashen mentored Joe McIlvaine, Jerry Hunsicker and a young aspiring Steve Phillips, to find a plethora of Executive talent such as the Mets have assembled within the last handful of days.

Forever and a day it seemed, one of the more popular Met Fan mantras was the 'ol...

"A Fish Rots From The Head" - when speaking of Met upper management.

Well....Look now, because that old routine is rapidly getting smaller and smaller in the rear-view mirror every day Sandy Alderson rules the road along Roosevelt Avenue over at Flushing By The Bay.

Somewhere in all our glee over this Autumn's developments, we should take a second, remember and thank the Wilpons, both Fred AND JEFF, for electing to take a radical departure from their past practices.

I personally thank them for finally going off campus and breaking the chain of in-house promotions, familiar hires and their insistence on maintaining their "self-described" collegial and family type business model.  I thank them for their delicate handling regarding fan concerns in an age when so many of us get trampled-on by the Corporate Monsters of life.

With the assemblage of this new Front Office, it is evidently clear the Wilpons are committed to delegating complete autonomy to Sandy Alderson and his structured business and Baseball model.  With the hiring of J.P. Ricciardi and Paul DePodesta, the media, fans, and foes alike, will be hard pressed to find an instance or reason to find issue with Jeff Wilpon and repeatedly tagging him as a meddler; me included.

The SAUL B. KATZ DILEMMA appears to have found it's remedy. 

To the Founders of the Feast!

Pics shamelessly lifted from:
BlueJays.gearupforsports.com
shysterball.blogspot.com

 

Mike.BTB