Sunday Mets Notes: The "West Coast" Edition

By David Rubin

~One last reference to the "McCourt Mess" the Dodgers are facing - there is an incredible article on that mess published in Vanity Fair, of all places. To read the (longish) story, click here. It might not make you enjoy the Wilpons' ownership tenure, but at least we don't have it as bad as they do!! And just think what might happen to that organization if both Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier decide to leave as Free Agents after the 2012 season...

~If you didn't get a chance to catch the premiere showing of HBO's "The Curious Case of Curt Flood" this Wednesday, I suggest you do whatever you have to do to watch another showing of this powerful, and important film. While it's well-known that Floods' loss in court later spurned the advent of player free agency, it's well worth learning about the impact that the case had on this talented players life. There's also an excellent book about Flood, "A Well Paid Slave" by Brad Snyder.

~In Jon Niese, I am truly feeling as though the Mets have caught themselves another Jerry Koosman!! The more he pitches, the more he progresses, and he has an excellent curve, great movement on his pitches and is able to change speeds well. He's finally living up to his potential as a #2 starter, and I continue to look forward to every game he pitches. I had the chance to see him in late 2008, in one of the team's last games at Shea, and he was impressive then...I also saw him recently at Dodger Stadium, and looked fantastic once again. Unlike Mike Pelfrey, who seems to regress every season, Niese just gets better and I personally hope that this continues for many seasons to come!

~Manager-of-the-Year candidate Terry Collins' handling of K-Rod's games finished situation had to have a trickle-down effect on the players, in the best way possible. As manager of the team, he wasn't concerning himself with the amount of appearances Rodriguez had towards his potential option; instead, he was using him in the best manner possible to ensure the team had a chance to win in the late innings, as per Frankie's role as team closer. Don't think that doesn't have a positive effect on the team; when the manager is doing everything he can to put the best players in a position to have the best results, it makes a strong statement to the team about creating a winning culture. And don't think Collins' could've done what he did with K-Rod without support from the front office, in spite of what you may have heard or read...

~Speaking of K-Rod, with the $ that was saved from from getting out from under his 2012 option, can we please see first-round pick Brandon Nimmo signed finally and get him into action prior to August??? I think that would be greatly appreciated by Mets' fans everywhere! And more and more, Mack is really hearing that Nimmo is, indeed, the "poor man's" version of Bryce Harper - oh, we can only pray...

~Carlos Beltran, having fun every at-bat- who would have thought it possible? Especially when he's gone from practically grimacing every game in prior years to noticeably having fun every day in the field this season? It brings us to the ultimate dilemma facing the fan-base and the front office alike- to trade or not to trade Beltran...THAT is the question...I have long had great affinity for Beltran, back to his KC Royals' days, and I feel that Met fans have been very lucky to watch this true "gamer" ply his trade in Flushing these past 7 seasons. Not everything has been rosy, but when IS it? Overall, Beltran has left everything he's had on the field, playing through injuries and bad injury diagnoses in order to play a game that he loves, not just for money. Therefore, it's rewarding to see him not only enjoying himself, but continuing to be a great role model for younger players on the team. At this point, since Beltran recently stated how much he loves playing in New York and how he'd like to finish his career there, it's time for him to put his money (literally) where his mouth is, and work out something like a 2-year, $20 million dollar deal with the team that would be team-friendly and take into account the fact that he's already made far more money than anyone could ever need in this lifetime or another...and let's face it- it's not like we really have anyone that has played their way into the line-up enough to feel as though we have "THE" person ready to replace his much-needed bat on the field and wisdom in the clubhouse. Besides- I am TRULY tired of looking at the ever-growing pile of t-shirts and jerseys in my closet of players no longer on the team. Makes my friend Kevin Murray seem like the smartest man in the room- no easy feat - (LOL) - because he only buys jerseys without numbers/names on the back...I'd hate to get to that point...

Also, if we are GOING to trade Beltran, we HAVE to get a prospect back like catcher Yasmani Grandal (hi, Mack!) from the Reds or pitcher Zack Wheeler from the Giants and NOT another teams' Eddie Kunz. Otherwise, just keep him and let him walk at the end of the year...

~This week, we've seen plenty of "keep" Jose Reyes as a Met and "trade" Reyes immediately posts, via newspapers, sports sites and blogs. Putting objectivity aside, more than their success on the field, the team needs to make this happen as a positive statement to the fan-base, pure and simple. So to all the pundits out there calling for Reyes to be traded: SHUT.THE.HELL.UP!! (We now return you to your regularly scheduled post, as David has fallen off of his soap-box!)

~Today's game on TBS would have been the PERFECT time to have RON DARLING on the broadcast...

~As much as I understand the cost issue for great seats at CitiField, and although I've stated that I'm not in favor of giving the Wilpons' any more of anyone's hard-earned money, it's still very sad to see the sheer number of empty seats behind home plate each and every game. Especially when the players on the field are playing so hard in spite of the plethora of injuries to key personnel...

~Every time I hear about what a "poor" minor league system the Mets have, I can't help but cringe. We may have a dearth of major league-ready players at the highest levels, but there is no shortage of excellent talent at the lower levels, and players like Darin Gorski keep popping up, seemingly out of nowhere...it's nothing if not interesting, keeping track of the minor leaguers, and I really think that Mack doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves in getting a handle on the constant changes/developments made by the hundreds of minor leaguers in the system. It's a LONG way from the days of not even knowing who comprised the teams at the lower levels, and Mack does a great job of doing so for us, so we don't have to! Okay- end of "shameless plug" time...

~It would be nice to see the Mets offer either plaques, or at least postcards, of all of the players/personnel who comprise their Hall-of-Fame...I think it would make for an excellent collectible item, and would be a great way to teach kids about the history of the team, let alone the game...

~IF the team DOES re-sign Jose Reyes, their infield of Davis-Murphy/Turner-Reyes-Wright would rival the 1999-2000 team for best infield in the team's history. No offense to either Thole or Paulino, but Mack and I would both love to see a high quality catcher brought in, someone whom we know could man the position for the next 5-7 years...


~Congrats to Pat Gillick, who will be enshrined in Cooperstown next week during the annual MLB Hall of Fame induction ceremony (along with pitcher Bert Blyleven and former Met, Roberto Alomar). Gillick joins another baseball "lifer," the "White Rat" Whitey Herzog, who was enshrined last year. The reason I bring up Whitey is because many fans don't remember (or never knew) that Herzog was responsible for signing/developing a number of top talents in the Mets organization from 1966 - 1972, serving as Director of Player Development after a season as the teams' third base coach. Herzog oversaw the development of players such as Amos Otis, Ken Singleton, Gary Gentry, Jon Matlack and John Milner, and was thought to be the logical successor to Gil Hodges upon the manager's unexpected passing in 1972. I've long wondered how things would have been different if Whitey took over the team instead of Yogi Berra, and wonder at the same time how the Veteran's Committee, which voted Herzog in, continues to pass over Hodges as a worthy candidate!

~It has always amazed me how players' status changes, season-by-season. Just one year ago, Ubaldo Jimenez seemed to be one of a handful of completely untouchable players, and now, not even 365 days later, he's on the verge, it would seem, of changing Rockies' pinstripes for Bronx pinstripes...and that's why this game we love, called baseball, is such a funny game, indeed...

~Although I'm not a fan of Roger Clemens and I've made my opinions known (for what it's worth) about him and PEDs, I think the prosecutors should be ashamed of themselves, wasting millions of dollars of tax-payers money on a trial that may now have to start over, at great cost once again to Joe and Jane Public. End this already and go after people who are real crooks...Clemens' real prison is the one he put himself into with his refusal to humble himself in this situation..

~It was great hearing GM Sandy Alderson during today's broadcast on TBS...it would've been better had he had more time to discuss things, but he's always erudite and informative.

~Fox Sports' Dayn Perry outlines MLB Transaction Rules for Dummies here...not that I agree with the "Dummies" part, but it's very informative, none-the-less...

~Finally, yes, Virginia, the Pirates and Indians are contenders in their respective divisions...just proves that nothing in this game is impossible NOR improbable!!

Have a great week, and LET'S GO METS!!!