N.Y. METS ~ I Say Fans Have More Power Over Wilpon Than Picard

From the desk of:  Head-Butting Mr. Met



New York Mets:  An Embattled Owner Needs His Fan Base Now More Than Ever.  Met Fans Are In A Unique Position To Let Their Owner Sink Or Swim.  What Will "WE" Do?

The Mets just ate $18 million in contract money still owed to Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez.  Picard upped the ante against the The Wilpons by another $700 million dollars; bringing the total bill against Fred and Co. up to a cool $1 Billion Dollars.  So what did today have in store for the Mets' beleaguered owners?  Forbes downgraded the value of their club by 13%.  That's a huge disparity if the figure reflective of the team's worth has nine or ten digits in it before the decimal.

While the Wilpons are estimating their team's value in excess of one billion dollars, Forbes didn't see it that way.  This directly alters what the Wilpons are trying to secure in exchange for up to 25% ownership of the team from a prospective stupid silent partner.  How much will 25% really cost someone, and will it be enough for the Wilpons to keep their noses above water?  I ask because we sadly have been told by the owners, they need this financial infusion to sustain operations over the next two to three years.

Having us ponder the ramifications of Fred's stated short term goal is ponderous.  Does that sound very promising to you?  Forget knowing what we all know and have learned thus far.  Just take the statement at face value.  They need a hard cold cash infusion and a truck load of help to survive the next two years. The Wilpons and Uncle Saul, need help with the daily financial operational ability of the Mets.  Go ahead, say it again if you have to.  It sounds mind-boggling for a NYC team.  We know all about the MLB loans by now.  We also know they have no where and no one else to borrow from.  And borrowing against questionable accounting is how they operated in the first place.  How else does an initial 2% owner's stake parlay into the empire Fred Wilpon is currently wrecking?  Of course that's total speculation on my part.

According to circulating reports about the handling of the sale, nothing should happen until at least July.  Between then and now, as the team is also plagued by weak ticket sales, can the Wilpons manage at least till then?  I'd imagine so.  I'd imagine MLB offices have ensured the Mets have payroll locked up safely in escrow.  Right?  You would think.

But when the original revelation of the Ponzi Scheme first broke out, I thought for some time, such a smart guy like Fred Wilpon would be savvy enough to be more diversified than he was, and not have a great majority of his investment principle heavily intertwined with Bernie Madoff.  Like I said, the longer this goes, the more we learn.

At this point, there is nothing more Sandy Alderson can do to inspire fans to fill seats this season.  His biggest successes have come before the season even starts.  Other than reconfigure the front office, revamping minor league operations, and ridding the team of Castillo and Perez, the state of the Mets suggests Sandy Alderson's work for the season is near complete.  The only pending matter would be that of Carlos Beltran.  Will he or won't he last the season in a Mets' uniform?  Otherwise, it's up to the current players themselves to inspire high numbers of fans to get out to Citi Field and fork over large sums of money the owner of this enterprise desperately needs us to spend.

How long? - ...is the question.  How long can the Wilpons last?  Being found right or wrong by Picard maybe be a matter resolved just a wee-bit too late for Mr. Wilpons' purposes.  They need cash; and they need it now.  They can't be entirely sure if we are going to literally come to the rescue by heading out to Citi by the Bay in droves.  Other than that, the very earliest anyone else can give him the type of cash he needs won't be ready till mid-summer.

The fan base has been quite the perturbed ones with regard to their ownership these last few years; and especially since Fred and Family became sole owners in 2003.  And now, he has never needed us more than he will in April; May; and June.  He hasn't been what we would call being forthright with us.  He's even bent the truth on us with regards to Madoff over a detail or two.  At one time this organization was valued by Forbes as the number two organization in Baseball.  But the Wilpons never allowed the club to operate in a manner reflective of that lofty status.

Now he needs our help to get him through to at least July.  Mr. Wilpon is confident Picard is drumming up pure fiction.  But do you think he's feeling equally confident we will show up for him in the numbers he desperately needs over the next three months?

For those of you Met fans who want to see the Wilpons sell the team and fade away, you'll never have a better chance than right now to exercise a say in his and our present dilemma.  If we show up in record lows over the first three months of the season; his ownership is toast.

If you have compassion for the man and want to see him remain, then go to Citi Field, root, cheer and scream....Let's Go Mets.  But the truth be known, Met fans are in a very unique position over the next four months to exert a lot of influence with regards to their present or future owner.


Let's Go Fans!





Mike,BTB

N.Y. METS ~ The Citi is now Ollie Free

From the desk of:  Head-Butting Mr. Met



New York Mets:  The "OLLIE" Is Gone!  You Can Come Out Now.


I. - Oliver Perez; BLAME DUANER SANCHEZ!
Once upon a time, Oliver Perez was a ~ WHO?  He was a throw-in when we were forced to trade Xavier Nady (whom I liked a lot! ~ and right field has never been "right" since) because Duaner Sanchez got hungry for Spanish food one night at 2:30am in Miami, and hailed a cab that gave him a ride straight into Met hell.  I don't recall if Duaner ever got to eat, but......you know.....

II. - Oliver Perez; BLAME AARON HEILMAN!
Oliver Perez went from being a WHO, and became a ~ WOW!  What if Aaron Heilman hadn't given Yadier Molina that tennis racquet to hit Aaron's beach ball out of the park with?  Oliver Perez would be a hero today after the way he pitched, not just down the stretch for us, but how he pitched in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS.  Two trade throw-ins; Ollie and John Maine put us on their backs after El Duque, Pedro, Mickey Lolich and Nino Espinosa all fell apart like a Jennifer Aniston relationship.  But Laverne and Shirley John Maine, and especially Oliver Perez almost saved the day for us.

III. - Oliver Perez; BLAME RICK PETERSON!
Oliver Perez graduated into a ~ WELL?? and a WHAT?!!  Pitching coach Rick Peterson managed to peel back enough Ollie-layers and exposed a good pitcher.  He was a mental case even back then, but at least he was on our good side and Peterson was able to keep Ollie's head on with bolts and crazy glue.  You can put all blame on Rick Peterson for planting the idea in Omar Minaya's head that Ollie was a good pitcher because he never told Omar Ollie was useless without him.

IV. - Oliver Perez; BLAME OMAR MINAYA!
WHOA!  ~ Omar fired Rick Peterson and re-signed his Monster to a ludicrous contract.  Omar brought back Ollie Frankenstein minus the only man who could control him; Rick "the Mad-Scientist" Peterson.

V. - Oliver Perez; BLAME JEFF WILPON!
WHY? ~ We signed Ollie because he was all that was left.... Because the Wilpons finances were in turmoil unbeknown to us and Omar was handcuffed, if maybe to make an attempt at John Lackey.

VI. - Oliver Perez; BLAME OLIVER PEREZ!
What a WASTE! ~ He has always been his own worst enemy.  Then he became ours.  If he had accepted a demotion to the minors last season, he could have saved himself some face.


Now we get to move forward.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. METS ~ Time Bandits

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET



New York Mets:  Mr. Mets' DeLOREAN is Spinning it's Tires In The Flushing Mud.


Welcome to Day 797 of the 2009 Baseball season. 

So when exactly do we get to move on and enter this new decade?  When do we finally get to Pass Go and collect our $200 dollars?  Oh...That's right; Bernie Madoff's dog ate it. 

Of course I know the answers to my own questions.  So, in the mean time, can someone just kick me instead?  After all, we have become the Fan Base with the "Kick Me" sign on our backs.  Haven't we?  So please, tap into your inner-Nike and just do it; Kick Me...and make all this ridicule worth the aggravation.   That's right!...That's us! - The Fans with the sign.  Do I speak truth or am I just angry?

Today Ladies and Gentlemen, I am just plain and simply...TIRED!  I have to open up the release valve because somewhere down the line I'll bust if I don't.  I've been trying to bury myself in Hockey and trying to pay the Mets as little mind as possible before the season kicks off, for the sake of not being repetitive or sounding like a malcontent.  I'll have six months for that so there's no need to rush The Spew.  But being in your forties and learning to compartmentalize doesn't necessarily insure you for 365 days a year.  The Mets have given me no choice but to pick and chose my battles because it seems they present the same dilemma everyday.   General talk regarding the Mets will invariably sound awfully similar to all the garbage we've been heaping on them for over two years now.

But Mike...what about the good? - The Thole's and the Ike's and Parnell's?  Yea;  I know.  But that's not what's coming out of my radio or being printed in my paper.  So, what you're getting from me today is a rant because I'm sick and tired of hearing about Carlos Beltran's "good" knee - or is it his "bad" knee?  I'm fatigued with Luis Castillo's mock battle for the second-base job.  Oliver Perez has me completely lethargic with apathy.  And the more we learn about the Wilpons' legal mess and their money woes, the more the whole "Hey Brother, can you spare a few Million?" - just makes me want to throw up huge chunks of Blue and Orange ambivalence.

When does the circus show stop and Sandy Alderson finally makes the clean-up type moves the new GM of the Mets was hired to handle?  After today's outing, what can the possible justification for retaining Oliver Perez beyond tomorrow be?  What of Luis Castillo?  One of these gentlemen have to go.  I'm not asking for both.  But certainly one has to go.....and soon.  I need more done to tell me we are moving away from the year 2009.  This isn't a woe is us thing.  This isn't a "My team sucks" deal either.  I'm just tired of being locked-in to the year 2009.  Seven hundred and ninety-seven days after the calendar marked January 1st, 2009, here we are juggling the same flaming torch, razor-sharp axe, and lit stick of dynamite like a blindfolded clown with no one watching.


The season hasn't started and I'm already fed-up with all the derisiveness coming out of my radio when the Mets are topic one.  But I just forgot to recharge the Anti-Met Rhetoric Shield last night and now today I'm cranky and paying the price for it.  I don't mind when "We" do it.  Quite the opposite; I find find the Met Bloggers very entertaining and engaging.  But sometimes the Media really rubs me the wrong way.  Today is just one of those days.


Wasn't it Einstein who said Insanity is doing something over and over again and expecting a different result?  Or was that Joan Rivers?  ...Or something like that?  They had equally bad hair and pale complexions.  Regardless, STOP The Insanity!  If you know me, I like dabbling in sarcasm like the rest, but I try hard to stay away from mindless anger.  And that's why a little release today will serve my Mets' Loyalty better later.

Like Time Bandits, the Mets have stolen years from us.  Wake me when the Mets arrive in 2011 or when Wilpon the Clown stops juggling our team in front of anyone with pocket change.


Pfffff!!




Mike.BTB

WILPONIANISM

An e-mail I sent in to Bill Daughtry's show on 1050ESPN Radio:


Let's get right to the heart of Met Matters and WILPONIANISM shall we?


Are the Mets going to make a genuine effort to sign Cliff Lee this winter?   Are they willing to do what other clubs won't?   Will they do enough to convince him to pitch here?

ANSWER ~ I'm leaning towards no; They won't.

The time is coming soon when the Mets need to decide whether WRIGHT and REYES are going to anchor this team before they're up for big money.   If the Mets don't commit in theory one way or another now,  we'll just continue to spin our tires in the mud when it gets to that.   If they know they are not committed to them long term for big money, Trade Them.  If they are committed in theory, hurry up and continue the re-build process we started (started out of desperation and we are still deciding whether it worked out by design or accident!).   MY OPINION?   I have no idea what the Wilpons think anymore.

So what exactly is the plan here Bill?   Have the Mets thought about these things?   I say no because they are practiced at the art of Band-aids.   They're still a reactive ownership.

The Wilpons themselves represent the biggest problem for the Mets' fan base.   They have NEVER been forthright, truthful, open...about the financial health of the club.   Additionally is the Mets Medical Staff that inept to still be getting (injuries in general) Reyes' oblique injury somewhat wrong OR are the dictates of the Wilpons at work in such matters?

In business, CORRECTIONS hurt.   All business' go through corrections.   The Mets need a correction Bill. If the Mets do not impose a correction upon themselves they will forever chase their tails in a circle.   The time is now.   It was started already.   They just need to recognize, follow through and finish the job.  Remember how the Rangers recognized they needed a correction because of the ARod contract?   Remember how Colorado recognized they had a problem on their hands with the Mike Hampton contract?  Corrections.   Look at Colorado and Texas in today's standings after a rebuilding process and a painful correction.

Joe McDonald did it with the Mets in the 60's.  Much of his work had a tremendous (if indirect) effect on the 1986 Mets also (after all, Hubie Brooks, Mookie, Orosco, Backman, Mazzilli and the trade return of Ron Darling...etc) .  The 80's Mets built by Frank Cashen were the next example of harnessing a group of young players, seeing who is going to work out and building around them.  Joe McLvaine tried it also in the 90's.  It didn't work out but we were all on board with the plan.

These kids saved Manuel's job.   They saved Omar's credibility.   They kept this team in the mix.   The kids changed the whole atmosphere around the team.   The kids changed the fan's whole perception about the Flushing Ballclub.

The Yankees used to have AURA and MYSTIQUE appearing nightly once.   Now that the Met regulars are back together again, our version ~ ANGST and ANXIETY start their summer tour through mediocrity.

The CORRECTION I speak of, of course is Beltran, Castillo, Maine, Perez, Barajas, and Francoeur.  Beltran, Castillo, Maine and Ollie need to be corrected post haste!   Find a way to rid the roster of these players or minimize their playing time and/or impact.   The money is spent!   That's part of a correction. Within two years there's a lot of money coming off their (Mets) books.   Those players are the OLD GUARD.   This ship needs to sail.   We need to move on.   The correction needs to be made.

If the Mets are not committed players at the trade deadline (and for what I have no idea), if they are not serious players for Lee this winter, if they are not thinking about Wright and Reyes with regards to the future.....what are they doing?  What exactly is the plan here?

Give me all the kids I can have if the Mets do nothing by the deadline.   I want Thole full time.   I want F-Mart and Tejada playing.   There's a whole list of names I want involved on the big club between now and Opening Day next year Bill.   The rest of Baseball and the respective GM's out there may not like our prospects but there are a handful I do like and want to see them now.   This is where the team is.   We are not a serious playoff contender.   Period.   Rebuild it now.   Complete what you started Jeff.   Do it!   So much of it has been done already.   Just finish the job.   We can then trade and use free agency to supplement, compliment and augment as needed.   Build a core and do it now.   There are players in this organization that can be somebody.

If you want to help this club right now...package Francoeur and a prospect for a right field upgrade and some bullpen help.   Oh yea...get another starter too; anyone at this point. Just do not overpay for something average if that will make Met fans happy.  Me?  I'm not interested in an average pitcher.  I'd rather give a kid a chance in our present context.

The OLD GUARD is back and so is the Met fan's angst and anxiety.   Is it me Bill?   Do I just not get it? You know for three years I've been screaming for this.   And for three years all I've heard is people complain about the Mets and how bad this, and how bad that.....and they don't this, and they don't that crap.   And I was told I couldn't have been anymore wrong than I was in 2007.   Oh Yea...I was called lost and lacking baseball acumen back then by someone.  Really Bill?   Really?   I'll blow this horn till I die or get what I want (win or lose...just give us the chance to have a clean slate).

Bill...after all this, I can still go on about how the Johan Santana window is closing...and the "then what" scenario; ~ About needing to replace K-Rod after next year (Parnell has stuff to be a closer). Those are more MET opportunities for applying Band-aids in the Wilponian world we live in. When will this vicious cycle end?

After that Bill....you know where my head is at. What kind of club does Jeff want his POP's team to be? It's all on him.

Gee I wish we had more forthright ownership.


Mike.BTB

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/

Done and Done(er)

ONE came over as a throw-in, in a trade that sent Xavier Nady to PITT for reliever Roberto Hernandez because Duaner Sanchez went out looking for Spanish food in the middle of the night in Miami and the taxi he was in was involved in a traffic accident.  Sanchez, who effectively "broke" the Mets' season in addition to his shoulder that year because we were forced to ride Aaron Heilman in the playoffs of 2006, hasn't been heard from again.

The OTHER came over in a trade as a throw-in when the Mets traded Chris Benson to the Orioles to get his wife Anna Benson as far away from Flushing as quickly as they possibly could.  But the trade was really intended to bring back former Oriole closer Jorge Julio; who there's little to speak of.

The first ONE I referred to is Oliver Perez.  The OTHER to which I refer is John Maine.  You have often heard me refer to them and HAIL and RAIN, respectively.  After their 2010 sub-par efforts thus far, they have done everything with-in their power, not to work out their problems, not acquiescing to the club's wishes as with Ollie, not being forthright and honest with regards to pain or discomfort as with Maine; No!
They have done everything with-in their power to introduce themselves to the MLB populace as not only the Flushing version of DUMB and DUMBER...But more accurate to the Mets' situation:

DONE and DONE(ER)

...as in finished.

John Maine couldn't get the SMURFs out right now showing no gumption or velocity while failing miserably in AAA-Buffalo.  Ollie?  I don't even know where he is.  These silly jokes are nothing compared to the barbs manager Jerry Manuel has been ripping to the press about those guys.  I'm not going to get all quote happy here, but when asked if one of the pair might see some innings as a starter again or even relief, Jerry replied with something to the effect of, "yea, on our next off day" - Don't quote me but that's the gist.  I'm lazy and don't feel like getting the paper.

R.A. Dickey and Hisanori Takahashi have made Met fans all but forget Maine and Perez.  There are too many to mention who would be contented to just see the "weather" system bringing RAIN and HAIL upon Citi Field just blow off to sea.  In the big picture I think the Mets see Nieve and Mejia as starters but I'm getting into the future.  The present is very bleak for Ollie and Maine.  It's clearly evident Jerry Manuel has no practical use for either one of them.  Nor does he see a need to treat them like men anymore when both have pouted and acted childishly throughout their individual ordeals.

To both their credits, we rode them like mules down the stretch and through the playoffs in 2006.  They came through with flying colors; they rose to the occasion admirably!!  I, as a Met fan had far more confidence in these two, hoping that we had caught magic in a bottle with young untested, unproven pitchers, than I ever had hoping Tom Glavine could win a big game for us.  That's being honest.  That is why perhaps I, and many other Met fans have stood by their side, supported them, protected and defended them from criticisms since that playoff run we made.  They came through in huge ways for us.  Ollie pitched masterfully in game 7 of the 2006 NLCS.  But like I mentioned earlier, we were left placing our bullpen trust in Aaron Heilman because Duarner Sanchez was no more.

It's time to face facts here folks.  These boyz' time in Flushing have arrived to their Law of Diminished Returns.  There is no more from or for them; Not for this team.  Maine is an easier situation to deal with because of the contract the Mets gave Ollie Perez.  The Mets still owe Ollie $24 million for two more years after 2010.  The Ollie Chronicles are something you won't want to miss because A) - you just can't have someone sitting around counting millions for sucking and not pitching and  B) - Jerry Manuel wants nothing to do with him anymore.  This is a great drama in the making.

John Maine?  Ollie?  We liked them.  We used to.  We're finished and they're DONE and DON(ER).

A fair question to ask is Omar Minaya's riding the backs of two trade throw-ins over the last few years.  That argument only carries so much weight because at one time or another we all found ourselves on the sides on Ollie and Maine.  Unlike today we used to think very differently about them.  What further mutes the "riding-the-back" debate was Omar's trade for Johan Santana and the emergence of Pelfry.

Johan and Pelfry were much better stable mates for Ollie and Maine than Glavine and Trachsel ever were.  But Maine and Ollie could never maintain or improve upon the early success they had here.

Separation anxiety is never easy for players, clubs or fans.  Life in Baseball can be a real "stitch" sometimes.

In other transactions out of METropolis:

Bobby Parnell is UP; - and Jenrry Mejia is DOWN.  Bobby Parnell who last year set a rookie record for appearances as a Met and perhaps was so burnt out after 2009's over-use by Jerry Manuel he couldn't make the club this year, is back on the big club swapping roster spots with Jenrry Mejia.  The idea is to start stretching out Mejia for Starting Pitching duties maybe by the end of July.  It's no big point of contention but I would have liked for Mejia to remain at AA/AAA as the club broke Spring Training.  He would be ready today for insertion into the rotation.  I know...hindsight is 20/20.  Like I said...No biggie.  I would have kept him down but he pitched well enough to earn a bullpen job with the club back in April.

One last bit of METrospection before I go.  Yes the Mets finished their road trip with 7 up and 2 down and good job by them in doing so..  Yes they've played to the tune of something like 19-9 (whatever it is) in their last 28 games or so.  So many "experts" are pointing to the last round of Inter-League when the Mets and Yanks squared off in CITI as the point where the Mets turned things around and played like the hottest team in Baseball since. 

My question is why look there?  Why not look and just a few days prior to that series when Jeff Wilpon went down to Atlanta to talk with the care-takers of his Father's baseball club.  In a very "Brian Cashman-esque" move as when Brian went down to Atlanta to give his faltering Yankees a visit last year, Jeff Wilpon had more than good enough reason to want to talk with his executive employees that day in HOTLanta about the state and direction of his Pop's baseball company. 

As someone who is one of the biggest critics of the Wilponian Way...Let's give him/Jeff some credit instead of the Yankee series at Citi for getting this team on a better path.  Maybe his mere presence was a message in itself, that professional Baseball players read loud and clear.

Jeff, I give you the benefit of the doubt on this one.

Mike

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/

Speaking into a "Hot Mike" again..

Not too long ago, Bernie Carbo, yes the Bernie Carbo that hit a game tying 3 run home run for the Red Sox in game 6 of the 1975 World Series against the Reds, shared his story with us about how he played almost every game stoned/high out of his mind.  The latest revelation stemming from that story is how Carbo now admitted he wanted to pay a couple of "mafia" types $2,000 to break the arms of Keith Hernandez in retaliation for Kieth's testimony against Carbo dating back to the Cocaine Scandal of the early 80's.  Kieth had testified he was introduced to cocaine by Bernie Carbo.  For that testimony Bernie wanted Hernandez's arms broken.  When Carbo brought up the idea to the "gentlemen" who would have carried out the deed, they were agreeable enough to do it, after a couple of years that is.  Yep!  The guys talked Carbo out of the deal by getting him to understand if the hit was put on Hernandez so soon after the testimony, of course they'd seek Carbo as suspect number one.  Today as Bernie Carbo is making all this known to us, he says if  he should come in contact with Keith Hernandez, he would tell him he was sorry for introducing him to the drug and causing him to have problems with it.  Read about the whole thing here.

************************

My how the times have changed.  I offer you this little anecdote I heard this morning.  I do not know the full context this following bite was a part of.  I'm assuming it had something to do with the recent TASERING of a fan in Philly.  I could be wrong,  I tuned into the radio show in time to hear this clip

involving Duke Snider Duke.  (I'm paraphrasing Warner Wolfe)

...'after a Dodgers game against the Reds in Cincy...the fans were allowed on the field after the game.  A fan confronted Duke Snider and said to him, "You're Gutless!"  Duke said a few unsavory things back to this fan.

The fan proceeded to take a punch at Duke, and missed.  As Duke once told the story, he said he had his glove rolled up in his hand and popped the fan in the mouth 'really good'.  That fan was held over night in jail.  Both had to appear in court the next day.  The judge recommended the two just shake hands and end this like gentlemen.  Duke was agreeable to that.  The fan, who suffered a broken dental bridge from the punch asked the judge 'What about my mouth?'  The judge's response to that question?  The judge said, "I don't know.  I am not a dentist.  Case dismissed!"   We all know how something like that would have played itself out today.  Don't we?

**************************

Not only does Charlie Manuel throw the Mets under the bus with the stealing signals saga, Bud Selig decided he was going to give the Philadelphians 3 more home games this year.  The G-20 Summit will be held in Toronto this year on the same dates the Phillies are scheduled to play the Blue Jays.  MLB basically wants nothing to do with any potential chaos due to protesters and those who take things a step farther.  Instead of finding a neutral site for the two teams to play as MLB decided to move the series, Selig decided to play those games in Philly as Toronto acts as home team.  Thank you Bud Selig!  Because that is so fair right?  Toronto is entitled to the gate.  Without checking the schedules, are you telling me Chicago's two parks, Buffalo-which would draw a bigger crowd than Toronto ever will this season, Cleveland, Boston or Pittsburgh couldn't host this series?  No. - Because the zany and wacky long standing rivalry between Philly and Toronto needs to be held in Philly; giving them 3 more games in their own stadium than the rest of the division will have.  I can see MLB's point.  Canadians have a way of burning down their downtown districts and tipping cars and what-not after their hockey teams inspire such action with a win OR loss.  The outcome of the game isn't as important to them as the final tick of the clock marking zero point zero zero; Time for them to Wild-Out!  Ay?  All the protesters, activists and hooligans flooding into town for the summit will no doubt be something worth avoiding.  But Selig Meister Meister Selig should have come up with a better place than Philly's park; somewhere like SomberTown!.  Selig is just appeasing the Jays knowing the joint will probably sell out.  Thank you Dud Selig.  May I have another?

***************************

That's it!  All HAIL has broken loose.  HAIL is just a complete and utter mess.  He has more problems than a math book!  The pitcher formerly known as Oliver Perez has finally been taken out of the rotation.  Things have not gone well for him at all.  There was a sign here and a sign there he might turn a corner.  But those signs really read DEAD END when you got closer to read them.  Two starts ago it was the weather.  Ollie doesn't do well in the cold.  In that game he walked 7 batters in too few innings pitched and looked plain ol' pathetic.  So this is what the team went with;- it was the cold....Too cold for Ollie.  He's HAIL damn it!!

So everyone said his next start in Miami was going to be just what the Doctor ordered.  Some good old fashioned tropical climate was going to warm Ollie's bones and he was going to pitch more 'gooder'.  That was the plan!!  Honest!  This is the way the team was spinning it.  Well Doctor, Ollie needs a miracle not penicillin.  OK - Miami.  You are there!  Did you smell that?  It was Ollie stinking up Big Fish Stadium like hot garbage in a closet!  So much for the climate control theory.  Next move?  Mets said is the bullpen.  ME?  That won't help.  What's he going to get?  Mop-up duty?  He won't be the 8th inning guy?  He's not the 9th inning guy?  He's not a one batter lefty specialist to get one lefty bat out.  Is he John Maine's personal long relief specialist now? (He should be!).  There is no effective innings set for Ollie to continue fooling himself  as a pitcher in our bullpen.  Get him to accept a demotion to the minors.  Let him start a few more games in Buffalo.  The bullpen will just not help him.  He just doesn't fit any job description and the opportunities are sporadic at best.  How do you pitch out of your troubles as a starter like that?  Send him to AAA with his consent.  Make him understand then bring him back after 3 or starts.

(Today's post game note:  You can include RAIN back into the daily forecast along with HAIL again.
John Maine was miserable today once again.)

And while I'm at it.  Just like I said folks, the Mets can not beat the Nationals and the Marlins.

It's un-B-Friggin-lievable!!  This is going on for years now.  Today's loss ensures we lost the last two series after taking a series from the Giants.  We finish with the Fish tomorrow.  Then two with ATL followed by more Nationals.  After that?  NY Yankees and Inter-League play.

Did I tell you I'm getting a little sick and tired of Inter-League?

Next post.

BTB

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/

Johan and the WeatherBoyz

Jose Reyes started at shortstop for the Mets today!  I'll get to him another time.

The Mets' Pitching Staff made it's first go 'round of the season.  All four mound loiterers paid to be a part of, and start a game for the Mets this season and Johan Santana have one game under their belt.  I guess you can call this the initial evaluation through the first five games for Johan and the WeatherBoyz, aka my Starting Rotation (some names with-held).

As we broke camp and headed north, the Mets Starting Rotation was named as follows:

1) - Johan Santana
2) - Rain  
3) - Snow
4) - Sleet  
5) - Hail

Johan Santana won his Opening Day start. 

In Game Two, Rain had his chance and did nothing to change his name.  He will continue to be referred to as Rain until his clouds start to break-up or BTB notifies you otherwise. 

Then came Game Three started by Snow.  Snow is nice.  I appreciate snow while it's falling and while it's still, quiet and white.  Then life takes over and makes slush.  I am not disappointed with Snow's performance in Game 3.  He's a rook, and he showed some good stuff.  It just got slushy at the end.  So I give Snow an E for Effort.  Snow looks like he'll earn his stripes fairly quickly if his first start is an indication.  Hang in there Rook.  You'll earn your name back soon.

In Game Four, Sleet, aka, Mike Pelfrey got his first win of the season.  He's got a real hard sinker that's always caught my attention.  He's working hard on a third pitch.  He pitched himself a good game and the BTB decided he is to be called by his rightful name.  Welcome in from the weather Mike.

Ahh.  Game Five and el Lancador (that's pitcher) Senor Hail.  I've seen worse outings from him than the one he offered up today.  We lost to the Nationals today by the way.  Remember I told you we'd do squat against them?....Just like the lead Bugs Bunny had on Cecil Turtle and still lost.  Ponderous!  I digress.
Hail?  How did we get into this situation?  Omar resigned him for $36 Million!  Ponderous!  I wouldn't recommend driving every 5th day in NYC due to threats of  HAIL coming off Flushing Bay when he's pitching.

So as for the Mets' Starting Rotation we have two hard names on the list, one push but coming on, and we still have some weather phenomena to deal with every 2nd to 5th day of the cycle.

Sometimes it Snows in April folks.  If you live in the northern parts of this country, you know what I'm talkin about.  The weather is always wacky in April.  That's fair enough.  I guess my mistake was the day I forgot to read the paper to learn the Mets signed El Nino to pitch for us.  Omar, why don't you sign Global Warming and Al Gore to round out the top four?  Why Omar Minaya chose to use my starting rotation to play X-Files? -  I'll never know.

Johan is on the mound for us again tomorrow and then we're off to Colorado where I'm sure the weather is tropical compared to all the wintry slush we've been pitching up at Citi Field.

Mike, BTB

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/

NYM should sign JOBU to a Long Term Deal

The on-going crime scene investigation better known as Met's Spring Training continues to baffle...(obligatory cheap shot of the day).

METrospection has been in therapy working on his avoidance, displacement and denial issues regarding his Flushing Frustrations.  Going on and on about how miserably bad the Mets organization and operations are being run is an exercise in insanity.  That is why it appears, for a Mets blog, I seem to post infrequently about the Metropolitans.  There is no new dynamic to work with.  I just can not waist my time on a daily basis, nor will I waist your time with incessant Met rants.  Sometimes it's fun.  Sometimes it's not.  Whenever I do entertain my Met thoughts, be sure about this folks, I'm usually right.  I don't take myself too seriously in this blog, but as it regards the Mets I laugh and joke, but I don't play.

Back in December 2009, this young Blog posted a warning to the Mets and Met fans regarding Fernando Martinez.  He became a forgotten prospect and I warned Met fans not to forget about him.
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/2009/12/f-mart-you-forgot-him-didnt-you-were-gonna-need-him.html

Since that posting, Fernando Martinez went on to have a very good Winter League season and crowned it with a Caribbean Series MVP award.  This spring he is batting over .500 and is still only 21 years old.  Of course I know not to read too much into that stat.  But if the kid is winning the day, give the kid a shot.  Of course I know because of his Winter League he's ahead of pitchers this spring.  I get all that.  While it may be true he appeared overwhelmed at times last year, I warned Met fans none-the-less not to forget him.  If you read the linked post, you see I pretty much expected to loose Beltran to injury and my concerns about what type of outfielder is needed to roam the spacious CitiField outfield.  Yea, I'm tooting my own horn but trust me, it's not an enviable postion to be in.  He's no Jim Edmonds in the outfield but the upside is there.

As it relates to today, - Gary Matthews Jr.?  Stop it or save it.  I'm not listening to that.  Pagan or Martinez; let them battle for the job in Beltran's absence.  I believe in prospects and am usually patient with them.  Playing time = improvement.  Make sure Fernando Martinez in the mix come Opening Day and he'll be OK and make the Mets look smart.  Lord knows they need it right now.

Beltran? (See referenced therapy)  He and the Mets are staring at an ugly divorce when he gets healthy and it will be instigated by Carlos himself; the same player who asked the Yankees to sign him for less money than the Mets offered him.

I like Beltran, so don't get the wrong impression.  I just think it is what it is.  I'd entertain a trade involving Beltran for the right package this season.  I'm not lobbying for it though.  He is one of the few free agent signings, as they go, who had his better seasons and career year after signing his pact.  That's just to let you know where I stand.

And now Oliver Perez.

 

Pictures tell a thousand words (or however that saying goes).  The NY Daily News had some pics that show exactly what Ollie is doing wrong.  I know it's a little audacious of me to question why Rick Peterson, Dan Warthen or even Sandy Koufax, who spent time in Met Camp did/do not correct this very simple and obvious flaw with Perez' delivery.  I'm not trying to over simplify this considering

Sandy Koufax offered some advice.

If you know anything about pitching you know your landing foot has to be perpendicular to your catcher.  Oliver Perez' landing foot is like lightning in that it doesn't strike the same ground twice.  But you can be sure his foot will land in a closed angle and not opened up to the catcher and home plate.  When you land that way be prepared to have a miserable outing Ollie.  Why can't anyone see this?  It's not overstating the problem.  It's bad mechanics, no one will correct it and I have no clue why?  That's not in depth analysis on my part.  That's Pitching 101.

Forget the headline, look at his landing foot.

This is the genesis of a bad pitch.

In other Met Matters:

Ike Davis, 1B, son of Ron Davis, Yankee pitcher from back in the day, continues to have an impressive spring.  Righty Henrry Mejia is sparkling and catching everyone's eye.  And that concludes the good news.

 John Maine said "he just wasn't into it" when he described his last outing.

Really?  That's a pretty non-chalant attitude for someone who has a lot to prove.

Kelvim Escobar can't lift his arm to pick his nose.

Reyes' thyroid?  See Therapy Sessions.

I'm placing the over/under on K-Rod's Dead Arm at August 15th.  I just think The Classic, followed by the 2009 season, then Winter League and no discernable break between them will come back to haunt him and the Mets.

I've been on record saying you could have saved me Barajas at catcher. 

I would have given the job to Thole outright.

What ever happened to Nick Evans?

My starting pitching still looks like:

Santana

Pray for Rain instead of Maine

Uh-Oh!

Oh-No!

and Who? (not the first baseman)

If the Mets are stumblin and bumblin their way into June, Omar Minaya & Jerry Manuel are toast.

Basically, not a lot has changed in Metropolis that screams for my attention.

There is a lot of Bad Karma over at CitiField; Business as usual.

Can you see my dilemma? 

To talk about the Mets is a strainingly garulous conversation even for the sublime.

If only Buster Olney could invent an absurd rumor for my team.

Every Met could use a JOBU in their locker this year.

Anyone have Pedro Cerrano's cellie?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EpLQ5u5Ugo
to see the clip on you tube

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/

Pitchers and Catchers: Met's Pitching, My Angst

This shouldn't take long at all.  The Mets' starting rotation:

1 - Johan Santana
2 - pray for rain
3 - pray for snow
4 - pray for sleet
5 - pray for hale.

There is no shot gun to JOHAN SANTANA.  There is no number two guy here.  Additionally Johan is coming off injury.

JOHN MAINE is coming off two consecutive injury years.  I like the guy, I really do.  His durability is a huge question.  If he does not step up and fill the shot-gun role behind Johan this year, I'm not sure we can compete with the Phillies.

OLIVER PEREZ is slimmed down and supposedly with a repaired knee.  Even during the Baseball Classic his weight gain was noticeable.  I don't think he is the head case everyone makes him out to be.  I know that's surprising coming from me.  But I think his problems are strictly mechanical and correctable.  His landing foot is like lightning; it never strikes the same ground twice.  His landing foot is closed and not open perpendicular to his catcher.  That throws everything else off as you are throwing against your body and with nothing but arm support behind the pitch.  I can't believe for the life of me why Dan Warthen can not see this.  Ollie could be the Mets' Phantom Menace or saving grace this year but it still comes back to Maine if Ollie can even help and be a factor and give the Mets depth.

MIKE PELFREY is Omar Minaya's only hope right now of ever proving what used to be written in bold letters on his resume...: Talent Evaluator.  Pelfrey's freshman and sophomore years have produced a .500 win pct. and an era around 4.30 +/-.  The kid has ability.  I'm certainly patient with him as I am most kids.  I believe too much was demanded of him last year because of the way things went.  His hard sinker is a very miss-able pitch and if he can improve on his change-up this kid could be dangerous.  I think he's got mental toughness and he eats up innings.  If the season turns sour on the Mets this year I don't think it will have anything to do with Pelfrey.

The number 5 starter - I don't know and neither do the Mets.  JOHN NIESE is a kid I like and I would give him the job out of the box.  I believe in telling a kid "here's the ball. We're gonna give it to you every five days. Make the most of it and we'll talk after a couple of starts."  I think that way you give the kid confidence and relieve him the stress and pressure of thinking his next pitch gets him yanked and sent back down to the minors.  NELSON  FIGUEROA is a useful spot starter and good for long relief.  I'm not ready to give him the 5 spot yet in spite of a rather impressive effort in Venezuela this winter.  The only other credible option in the 5 spot is FERNANDO NIEVE.  Again, I'm not averse to give a 5 spot to a kid.  My choice is Niese.  It's the best we can do considering what we have to work with.  Does Kelvim Escobar fit into this rotation?  I dunno.  Maybe.  But it seems like he's destined to be out 8th inning guy.

To summarize the NYM starting rotation, this is my feel:

Johan
big IF
bigger IF
Maybe
and Who?...(not to be confused with Who the 1st baseman)

Can you feel my angst?

This is what we need to know about the Mets' bullpen. 

K-Rod has been pitching competitively and continuously since last February when he began preparing for the Baseball Classic.  He pitched through the season and pitched in Winter League in Venezuela right up until February 1st.  I fully expect him to have a dead arm by August.  It's just too much of a load with no recuperation time to speak of.

Kelvim Escobar, another pitcher coming off a two year recovery from injury has credible work on his resume.  That is before he got hurt.  Omar Minaya is trying to catch that lightning in a bottle that CAN be found from time to time when these players come back from injury.  Omar has said he'll begin the season as our 8th inning guy.  This has been a position with bad luck attached to it between Duaner Sanchez and JJ Putz lately.  Will Kelvim be the latest guy to suffer the 8th inning voodoo?  I guess his arm will answer that for us.

Eddie Kuntz and Bobby Parnell are two more youngsters I think can be tremendous contributors.  I like these kids a lot and sort of blows back in my face my complaints about our farm system coming to a screeching halt.  But let's see.  Time will tell who's right.

There it is, the Mets pertinent pitching information as told by me.  After Johan Santana we have two question marks, followed by Hope and a Mystery in the five spot.  Omar Minaya is putting all his eggs in the Maine and Perez basket.  He belongs in Vegas if he's such a gambler.  I will say this in his defense about the Mets' apparent lack of activity this winter, Jason Bay aside.  The free agent pool wasn't all that.  While I can't explain their head-in-the-sand approach with John Lackey knowing full well their number one need is a #2 starter, I've thought, like the Mets and Omar it's best not to have signed the other pitchers still available.  They would have commanded too much for a minimal return and cost us more in the way of a mismatched and mediocre roster with onerous contracts.  So you see, I can be fair minded and not be so narrowly focused on complaining.

The New York Metropolitan's positional players and offense with be addressed in my next posting.  Blog ya later.


Omar is in a real pickle.  I like him.  I wanted him in 2004.  I'm still on his side.  I'll complain and disagree with him.  I'm not in favor of firing him as a purely reactive measure.  I want to ensure we can get someone with some real clout first.  That requires back room wheeling and dealing.  I'm afraid that's not the Wilpon's gig.  And if the Mets idea of change is another in house move, I'd rather keep Omar.  I digressed.

The Mets starting rotation has a 65% chance of stinking like hot garbage this summer.  However if they cash in on the other 35%, they can be very good.  Maine and Ollie are former 15 game winners.  When Ollie is on he can be electric and his strikeout totals become impressive. If...only if.  If my aunt had hair on her back she'd be my uncle.

That's the Met's and Omar's idea of the 2010 Pitching Staff with my opinion about it.

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/

Jason Bay? OK......... Perez & Maine...Oh The Pain!

The Mets signed Jason Bay today to a 4 year contract worth $66 Million. Well...At least they didn't do anything foolish like sign him for five. I'm on record as wanting to offer him a 3 year take it or leave it deal. It works out $6 million more than the Red Sox were willing to give him.

Here's what I think. BIG WHOOOP!!! I'm not gonna say anything silly. Jason Bay is a good player. Our bench is instantly made better by having Angel Pagan sitting on it (that was not sarcasm). But he is not changing anything at Citi Field until the Mets get a pitcher that can shotgun with Johan Santana. Period.

Don't plan on any trips down I-95 looking for success unless you're looking to buy a PHILLY-CheezSteak. Until the Mets get that pitcher, Jason Bay is inconsequential and a year too long.

Let me make this clear also. I like John Maine and I still believe Ollie Perez is correctible as ridiculous as that sounds, I really do. His problems are simple if you ask me. Allow me to digress a moment on OLLIE.

When Ollie Perez learns how to plant his landing foot perpendicular to home plate; - When he gets his toes pointed towards his catcher, most of his problems will go away. Psychotherapy is not the answer. I can't believe no one sees this. Any weekend pitching coaches out there? Do you concur? His landing foot falls everywhere it's not supposed to. He consistently lands closed to the catcher and you're always having to throw across your body. The rock rolls down the hill from there. I'm Done.

But honestly, has anyone even heard about Oliver and Maine? Hello? Realistically, what can we expect from them in 2010? C'mon, I'm a fan too. I'm just being pragmatic. We are closer to PRAY FOR RAIN vs OLLIE and MAINE than we are trusting them every fifth day.

So now I guess the Mets turn to their fan base and say 'SEE! The winter was fruitful. We told you. - We got R.A. DICKEY to sign a minor league deal. We stole Kelvim Escobar from under every one's noses and now we just hit a scorching line drive with Jason Bay. Bengie Molina looks close to joining as well - SEE?!

I can hear them now.

Let me ask you something.....All you Met optimists out there, are you feeling good right now? And all you Met pessimists out there, are you feeling a little grumpy right now?

Hear this. It doesn't change anything in the N.L. East yet. We had bigger needs to fill than LF. Our outfield is now BAY-lf - BELTRAN-cf >(is he going to stay healthy?) - and FRANCOEUR-rf.

*sigh* I've seen worse. I've seen better. Funny how Jason Bay didn't mean much to us when he was in our minor league system but now he's worthy of over payment for services yet rendered (raising one eyebrow).

Jose Reyes' hamstring? How's that coming along? Will he be able to run like he used to? This is the second season he's lost to hamstring issues. If he can't run......(fill in the blank).

Blog ya later. I've spent the last two days preparing a Fred Wilpon/Mets' General Manager rant. Sheeesh... this blogging ain't EZ. I give you good folks credit for tsome of the things you have going on in your sites. Looking forward to checkin them out in 2010.

HAPPY NEW YEAR BLOGGERHOOD!!!

Philly Fans, I hope you've been enjoying your view from the top of the division. We just didn't want to be there. I'm throwing you guys a bone. I'm in a good mood today. Here Philly....Chew on this!!!!



http://theBrooklynTrolleyBlogger.mlblogs.com/
http://baseballtrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/

Santa Just Left the CITI....What did he leave under the Met Tree?

Man-Cave - Brooklyn - Christmas - 12:30a.m.

Santa came to Citi Field tonight and left those Wascally Wilpons a little something.  At least it wasn't coal.  Omar Minaya is reportedly signing Kelvim Escobar to a one year minor league deal.  Not bad.  I've been killing the Mets all week for their hybernation this winter.  That twitch the other day that resulted in R.A. Dickey maybe was an indication the Mets are waking from their slumber.  Really?  Nah!  But this signing isn't bad at all, and if it is a minor league contract, even better.  The twitch has graduated to a full spasm now.  Maybe we can get some real motion going soon?  Aye?

Escobar pitched one game last year - DL'd since 2008.
2007 - 18 wins 7 losses  3.40 era  160 strikeouts/66 walks in 195 innings.....in the American League.
If he can stay healthy this guy is better than decent.  He can come out of the bullpen, but he already qualifies as the Mets' #2 starter (remember...Pray for rain, instead of Perez and Maine).  No one associated with the Mets, no fan, no doctor, no clairvoyant or psychic knows what Perez or Maine will be capable of in 2010.

Escobar is 101 - 90 lifetime splitting his career between Toronto and Anaheim of Los Angeles of Orange County of Southern Cali of the West Coast of the counrty.  Since 2004 he has been sporting an ERA under 4.00, again, in the American League.

Verdict?  Omar did good this time.  The Mets have nothing to loose, pending a minor league contract.

Escobar is conditioned to being on a winner.  The Angels are a good environment to come from.  Coach Scioscia runs a tight ship.  It's a step in the right direction.  If we was kicking a '3.change' ERA in the A.L., I'm hoping Escobar can get better from there.  This signing could work out very well for us.

BUT..........I'm not letting this MESS off the hook just yet.  This is just another example of the Wilpon's operating model.  There is no plan in place.  This was what you call opportunistic feeding.  The Wilpons are not predatory creatures.  This is akin to being a bottom feeder waiting for the next whale carcass to gently make it's way down to the Ocean Bottom Diner.  The sun shines on a dog's behind at least once a day too.  Could my judgement be clouded by fustrations with this club?  Could we just call this an astute GM move by Minaya?  I'll answer that.  Omar?  OK, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.  Those 'Wascally' Wilpons?  My mind is clear about them.

Mets operating model?  Flawed.    Signing Kelvim Escobar?  Not bad at all, regardless of how opportunistic it was.