Thoughts on Labor Day

1. I would like to think that the Mets would assign winter assignments as if none of the kids were called up this year. And, this includes players like Josh Thole, who needs all the work he can get behind the plate. Send him to Venezuela which is where he wants to go, and assign Ruben Tejada to play somewhere as well.



2. I know that Mike Hessman hasn’t hit the ball well during the time he has played in Queens, but I really hope he’s on the 25-man next year as one of the utility players. The one thing I was pleasantly surprised about was the fact that he isn’t a liability in the field, whether he’s playing first, third, or one of the corner outfield positions.



3. I also hope that the Mets do sign R.A. Dickey to a multi-year contract. But not more than two years, or a three-year deal with a club option. I love the Johan Santana contract, and who could possibly say anything bad about the David Wright and Jose Reyes deal, but enough of the long ones.

4. Ya know, if you add Jenrry Mejia to the pitching rotation that is set. And, if no one bails out the Carlos Beltran contract, so is the outfield. Other than second base, just where can this team improve next season? My wishes is they re-obtain the rights to the power bats… of Beltran and Jason Bay,

5. On that same theme… have this pitching staff pitch the same ERA/WHIP they produced this year, and add to that 25-HRs from Ike Davis, Beltran, Wright, and  Bay… well, you see where I’m going to…



6. I gotta tell ya… I’d love to have a new second baseman also, but so far, the best hitting one is still Luis Castillo. It will be interesting to see if Tejada’s breakout against the Cubs Sunday continues for the month of September.



7. Assuming that Thole, Tejada, Davis, Mejia, Robert Parnell, and Jon Niese are now full fledged members of the Mets, that’s pretty good for farm growth. The next batch (Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Zach Lutz, Lucas Duda, Josh Satin, Dillon Gee) are fringe-prospects. Only Reese Havens projects as a probably MLB starter and both Robert Carson and Jeurys Familia will be a relief pitcher at best.

8. The next batch of youngsters to make a difference will begin to emerge in 2012, beginning with then RF Wilmer Flores. Right behind him are SPs Armondo Rodriquez, Matt Harvey, and Yohan Almonte, OFs Javier Rodriquez, Matt den Dekker, and Darrell Ceciliani, and infielders Aderlin Rodriquez and Wilfredo Tovar are all showing signs of possible breakthrough prospect status.


9. I think when it’s all said and done, the Mets will go in house for their next manager. In the pecking order, Ken Oberkfell is number one on the list, followed by Tim Teufel, but the Wilpons will probably go for the bluster and the gusto, by picking Wally Backman. Hopefully, the system won’t lose Teufel after this decision.



10. I really have no idea who should be General Manager. I guess it first matters if that person will have any authority.