Reese Kaplan - Is it Time to Hang 'Em High?

I awakened in a cold sweat this morning when I realized I had a nightmare in which the opening day lineup for the 2014 New York Mets included Ike Davis at 1B, Daniel Murphy at 2B, Ruben Tejada at SS, David Wright at 3B, Eric Young in LF, Juan Lagares in CF and Lucas Duda in RF.  Travis d’Arnaud was behind the plate.  The rotation consisted of Jon Niese, Zack Wheeler, Dillon Gee, Jenrry Mejia (in a sling) and Carlos Torres.  The pen contained Vic Black, Bobby Parnell (in a neck brace), Josh Edgin, Gonzalez Germen, Jeurys Familia, Joel Carreño and some 40-ish pitcher whose uniform name wasn’t too clear – could have been Scott Atchison or Tim Byrdak.  Sandy Alderson was holding a press conference about the upcoming season in which he bragged about how much financial flexibility the team has for deals to be made mid-season.  After the first of what would be many devastating losses for the team, Terry Collins channeled his inner Art Howe and glumly said, “Well, we battled.”

I’m a fan like any other fan and patience is not in our DNA.  We see players like Tim Hudson signing contracts and wonder, “Why can’t we do that?”  Josh Johnson is gone to the Padres.  David Murphy (a classic "buy-low") is gone to the Indians.  We see the Phillies having already inked an outfielder and a catcher and we’re thinking, “See?  That’s how you aggressively go after players you want!” 

What headlines do we see about the Mets?  Well, there was the story about how they intentionally held Ruben Tejada back for one day after the PCL season ended in Las Vegas to keep him from becoming eligible for free agency in 2016 and instead pushing it until 2017 – and this treatment is for a player they are very public about not even wanting on the team!

Then there’s the headlines about how they want “good guys” in the clubhouse juxtaposed against the apparent contractual flirtation with quirky Alfredo Aceves whose reputation among his field managers and fellow players make Jordany Valdespin look like a choir boy by comparison.

Then there are the recent PR gaffes from the front office about how a player personnel move is imminent (coming from the golden child, Jeff Wilpon, no less).  Then there was Jeffy’s characterization of free agent prices as “scary.”  Or how about the tidbit from J.P. Ricciardi declaring that trade chip Rafael Montero is no more than a 4^th starter in the big leagues. 

Then there’s none other than Sandy Alderson bitching at New York Mets fans who in his estimation rate his team’s success based upon how much money they spend.  Do you think not ponying up (in baseball terms) a measly $2.25 million for LaTroy Hawkins as a setup guy and Plan B in the event Bobby Parnell is not ready should be celebrated for saving money?  It is particularly galling given that the fans don’t directly get impacted by a $50 million contract any more than they do by a $500K contract.  If the team was willing instead to play some combination of Wilmer Flores, Matt den Dekker, Jenrry Mejia, Jeff Walters and Allan Dykstra, I don’t think anyone would demand they spend more money if that collection of non-veteran talent actually, you know, won some games!  Winning fixes everything, Mr. Alderson…but winning is something you have not experienced in your career since when – 1992?  Back then Ross Perot ran for President.  Microsoft released Windows 3.1.  A gallon of gas cost a dollar.  TIMES HAVE CHANGED BUT YOU HAVEN’T!

No one likes a bargain better than I do.  I have a good friend named Kevin who would sit with me at dinner in the dormitory cafeteria each evening 25 years ago and we would regale each other with stories of the “scrap of the day” – scrapping being our lingo for stepping over the line of truth or the law but not putting our foot down.  Some scrapping stories are not fit for a family publication but scrap heap shopping is something that can occasionally work if you understand the rules of the game.  You have to sift through an awful lot of paint-by-numbers masterpieces to find one that has a real work of art underneath the surface.  Marlon Byrd was a scrap heap Rembrandt.  Eric Young had his occasional Picasso moments.  The rest of your bargain picks – there’s a reason they were tossed to the curb.

You’ve dismissed the big spending model on star quality players.  You’ve dismissed the Red Sox model as too expensive.  What then does that leave?  You could have rolled the dice on Jose Abreu who is going to have a contract with a lower annual value than the two shortstops you covet so much…wait, I stand corrected.  Rafael Furcal won’t likely get $11 million per year.  My apologies!

So, Mr. Alderson, you’ve declared Noah Syndergaard off limits and Zack Wheeler pretty much off limits.  You and Ricciardi must be kindred spirits because this ill-spoken proclamation further diminishes the value of Rafael Montero who you should be trumpeting as a planned member of the rotation.

If you don’t want to sign free agents, you don’t want to trade anyone of value (I’m leaving Mssrs. Davis and Duda out of that equation), and the only one of any consequence being discussed is your second best hitter – Daniel Murphy – how exactly are you going to improve the team.  Maybe you’re looking to hit another talent-for-prospect home run after fleecing San Francisco and Toronto each of the past two years.  You seem to forget that none of the aforementioned players come with borderline Hall of Fame nor Cy Young credentials.  Hell, they’re not even batting champions – like the one you let walk away for nothing. 

A good poker player doesn’t show his hand.  He succeeds with feints and bluffs.  Congratulations on doing just that with the few deals you’ve made that were for talent greater than the next Collin Cowgill.  However, we’ve been hearing hints about “The Plan” ever since you arrived.  Much was made of how David Wright bought into the plan.  Here’s a hint – wave $138 million at pretty much ANYONE and he’ll tell the world you’re the greatest thing since canned beer. 

It’s time to produce.  Become competitive.  Spend or don’t spend…but bring some hitters to Queens who don’t sit in the visitor’s dugout.  Remember that Clint Eastwood escaping the noose was just a movie.  We’ve given you enough rope.  The fans are at the end of theirs.