That's not true... the packing has already begun.
Here's some of "highlights" Mets fans will have to look forward to before next spring:
1. The Mets released SP Ramon Ortiz today from the Buffalo roster. This is just the beginning of the releases of minor leaguers that have no future in the organization. Look for names like Brian Bruney, Adam Pettyjohn, Russ Adams, Andy Green, Eddie Kunz, Ryan Coultras, J R House, Val Pasccuchi, Jose Coronado, John Maine, Sal Aguillar, Tyler Howe, Jason Pridie, and Derrick Ellison to follow.
2. Multiple players will be put quietly on waivers this month, in hopes of some team claiming them and giving the Mets an opportunity to work a deal forgetting rid of them. Some names you might hear are Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo, Alex Cora, Carlos Beltran, Johan Santana, Rod Barajas, Henry Blanco, Jeff Francoeur, and Francisco Rodriquez. There could be up to six slots on the 25-man squad that would open up, for the likes of people like Jose De La Torre, Dillon Gee, Ryota Igarashi, Nick Evans, Ruben Tejada, and Fernando Martinez.
3. All the best of Binghamton... Mike Antonini, Josh Stinson, Manual Alvarez, Josh Satin, Mike Nickeas, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and Sean Ratliff, will finish the season in Buffalo.
4. Come September... your Mets rotation will be Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, Jenrry Mejia, Jon Niese, and R.A. Dickey.
5. The pen will have De La Torre and Igarsashi added to whomever is left their after the waivers game.
6. There will be no rush to bring back OF Jason Bay. The Mets will take their time with this concussion and it's not like he was having a great season anyway. It will give the Mets an opportunity to showcase Francouer during the waivers August month, and to play people like Chris Carter and Jesus Feliciano, who both might make it next season as a 4th or 5th outfielder.
7. Mike Hessman will remain a Met for the rest of the season, and David Wright will be given additional time off to rest.
8. The Mets will end the season with solid projected players at first base (Ike Davis), second base (Tejada), SS (Jose Reyes), 3B (David Wright), backup catcher (Josh Thole), left field (Bay), center (Beltran), right field (Angel Pagan), utility player Daniel Murphy, and pitchers Santana, Niese, Rodriquez, Dickey, Mejia, Pelfrey, Takahashi, and Bobby Parnell. That's 17 players on next year's 25-man squad.
9. Depending upon how the August trading period goes, the Mets will eventually DFA John Maine, Perez, Cora, and Castillo. Cora will be DFA'd before he reaches his option number and none of this will result in any great salary savings for 2011; however, it will free up slots for more $400,000/yr. minimum players to offset the current New York Knicks - like situation.
10. The Mets will enter the 2010-2011 free agent market, looking for an upgrade in the outfield, a starting catcher, and, of course, better pitching. They will make a strong play for OF Carl Crawford, and, if he is signs, will dealPagan for either a catcher or a pitching prospect. Other than that, 2011 will be another year that the Mets need under their belt to clear salary, which will give then a better "bottom line" value in today's market.
11. There will be no management changes because 2011 will be the last year of the Wilpons. Decreased attendance and revenues from promotional items, plus intense pressure from the press and community, will cause the Wilpons to sell to the highest bidder, before the 2012 season.
12. And guess what? New ownership and management will declare a period or returning the Mets to dominance (two WS victories since 1962) and the next rebuilding will begin.
7 comments:
From your keyboard to Gods ears...
Three cheers for 2011!!! I couldn't wait any longer for 2009 to end. Doh! Wake me when they are finally serious about finishing the rebuilding they started out of desperation. Whether by design or accident, finish the job and get it right! We are within year 8 A.D. ~ After Doubleday. It's time this sole Wilponian ownership got a clue and implemented a plan. We need a Baseball Qualified President for this team that will separate the Wilpons from Baseball operations and leave Omar alone. Omar must be free to do what's needed for this club without Jeff in his ear. A President will ensure the owners business and the GM's operations. Don't get me started but that is one thing I think would be helpful because you can't fire the owner.
BTB:
No, you can't fire an owner... but they all have a Board of Directors that care about only one thing... profit. Which, by the way is going down every month. Trust me... everything gets sold eventually (Newsweek was sold today...).
Mack
(Newsweek) But isn't that more of a continuing effort on Dolan's part to clean up the core CableVision stock shares of litter (i.e.; spinning off MSG stock) so as to take CableVision private...? As far as the Wilpons selling...Look, I am one of their harshest critics but I recognize the good in him/them. I really do. But we know the baseball acumen of the organization left when Doubleday found his partner insufferable and had no choice but to sell. By the way...been reading for a while and finally decided to start dropping comments.
Nice place ya got here. ;)
Mike
all true... but the key role of amember of a board is to make sure the only thing that matters is P&L.
The Mets home attendance will be dropping very fast now and the fan base has had enough. The economy, or lack of it, will prevent future ticket sales, thus, spending in the stadium.
Trust me, this team has accountnats that can project this trend and the 2011 projected P&L with already $80mil wasted spending, will create a sell situation.
The Wilpons have vowed never to sell this team... butgiven the choice of that or being the most hated man in NYC sports, he'll bail like all the other rich guys.
Remember... rich people can afford to take a loss.
I'm giddy with anticipation LOL!!
Have a great night.
Mack,
Excellent piece on the "State of the Mets". By the way Ryan Coultas is from the 2004 draft, wasn't he drafted as a hitter and converted to a Pitcher? Why does he have no stats this year? Injury?
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