So Fred Wilpon is apparently incensed at the Yankees for
creating a majestic lineup capable of thrashing the competition in the AL East
with the addition of Giancarlo Stanton, the return of C.C. Sabathia and the
creative salary dump of Chase Headley to the San Diego Padres. They set themselves up for success in what he feels is an unsustainable business model that has worked for them since the Steinbrenner era.
Mets fans are envious of what the crosstown rivals have done but their wrath is focused on the owner and the stooge who just got a new contract after such brilliant baseball moves like letting Daniel Murphy walk away for nothing, extending David Wright when the club had no money in the post-Madoff era, trading Angel Pagan, gambling and losing on the qualified offer to Neil Walker, eschewing the Japanese and Cuban markets for major league ready talent and offering contracts to the likes of Chris Young (outfielder), John Mayberry, Jr., Frank Francisco and Alejandro de Aza while continually renewing the contract of the losingest manager in club history. He drafted ONE player in 7 years in the Rule V draft who produced a solid season – Sean Gilmartin – but played patsy for other GMs at other times, simply picking up talent they want and then trading them away for “cash considerations”. He sat tight with his flawed 2016 roster and figured everything would break right. He figured wrong.
I could go on, but it’s a much shorter list of what he’s
done right…selling off R.A. Dickey for Noah Syndergaard and Travis d’Arnaud,
trading Matt den Dekker for very capable reliever Jerry Blevins and shipping
off future Rookie of the Year winner Michael Fulmer for Yoenis Cespedes who
singlehandedly carried the Mets on his back to the World Series. Of course, he then grossly overpaid for him subsequently
so that takes some of the luster off the accomplishment. Oh yes…in seven years of drafting, 280
choices, 40 per year, he has produced one solid starter – Michael Conforto. More often his draft picks hit like his own
average of success -- .004.
So as Mets fans ponder their lot in life, take some comfort
in the fact that the surprising adult in the room – Fred Wilpon – brought back
the man whose draft picks, free agent acquisitions and trades kept the Mets
near the top of the division more years than not. Santa came early with the news that Omar
Minaya is back in the fold, even if he doesn’t have the authority to prod
Alderson into doing ANYTHING, but more for the fact that the seemingly
disinterested owner has finally announced publicly that the emperor has no
clothes.
Also take solace in the fact that many lies told about
spending have come to a head and the 2018 Mets will work within the PERHAPS $10
million remaining to fortify the roster.
What that means is for once young ballplayers such as Amed Rosario and
Dom Smith will get a chance to show what they can do out of economic necessity
rather than retreads like James Loney taking away valuable ABs when you should
be seeing what the players you have are capable of doing. Some
of the relief pitchers acquired in the 2017 “Everything Must Go!” sale may
actually get a shot at helping the big club due to the inability to spend to
address the bullpen needs.
Let’s also give credit where credit is due and applaud the
empty gesture of changing out some of the training personnel. It can’t be mere coincidence that the club
was beset by so many injuries, but the field personnel such as coaches and
manager are equally culpable for not exerting proper authority over their
employees to ensure they toed the line.
Fortunately they have all but one been turned over as well.
Then let’s also sound the New Year’s Eve horns and noisemakers
in praise of the unconventional and creative choice of pitching guru Mickey
Callaway to help shepherd the “Big Five” into one uninterrupted season of
productivity. The fact it is his first
managerial gig and would cost significantly less than a more experienced
skipper carried no weight in the decision making, for sure.
So as we are full swing in the holiday festivities, don’t
write your letters to Santa in hopes of All-Stars like Lorenzo Cain, Mike
Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, Wade Davis or J.D. Martinez putting on the orange and
blue. It’s not happening. However, with Omar Minaya back to help
appraise talent and sit in on the meetings concerning personnel moves, there’s
a glimmer of hope that things will improve. There's a razor thin probability that everyone will remain healthy all year long. And after my Festivus airing of grievances, let’s hope for the team banding together and producing a
post-Christmas miracle.
11 comments:
I think we are all a bit cranky lately, regarding the approaching season (with good reason).
On a side note, as I was reading your article, you mentioned Omar Minaya. At first, I figured he was being brought back
in a "support role" (or maybe the Mets still owe him money from his past contract and they may as well get something for
it).
However, do you think that the Wilpons are entertaining the thought of elevating him back to the GM's chair once Sandy wraps up his next contract (one or two years, per recent speculation)?
I think that while that possibility exists, the job is probably Ricco's to lose.
David's contract was extended in 2012.I didn't realize that was "post-Madoff".
As for the Japanese market, I'm still waiting for the list of position players from there (other than H. Matsui and Ichiro) who bevame stars here.
Let's remember that the Wilpon's first time they attempted to hire Omar was the "share" the duties with Duquette until they forced him out and gave the job to Omar.
Omar should help, one would hope, in improved drafting. While I would have drafted Bo Bichette instead of Pete Alonso due to his greater versatility, the current Mets regime gets credit for the Pete pick. I think Pete has a huge 2018 in the minors.
Sandy is old...time to set up the transition.
I thought the "share" was with Harazin. Guess not.
I think it's been set up - - - with Ricco.
Things move at a glacial pace which is why we've endured the losing legacy of the current regime.
Your glaciers must be fast movers. In the 4 years prior to last year's hospital list, the Mets went from 74 Ws to 79, 90 and 87.
My glaciers are slower than that.
Vaccaro has called out the Wilpon’s in his column today
Note how Metsiac leaves off the first three debacles of the Alderson/Collins regime 😂
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