10 Things I Want From the Mets in 2012

By David Rubin

Okay- it's been a trying off-season, following a trying season, but with the coming of April, a new season awaits every team, our beloved Mets included. Without further adieu, here are the 10 things I'd like from the Mets in 2012 (beyond winning, which we all know is not going to be a regular occurrence this season): 10.) An organization that becomes more "fan-friendly." Don't do things AFTER the fans protest and get angry and make the decisions for you- have the walls blue BEFORE we tell you to do it; open a ballpark WITH the Mets HOF ready to go, not a season later; make fun things happen, including surprises, without fans having to tell you to do it!!! 9.) Continue to sign young players to long-term, early deals, like you did with Jon Niese. Think Lucas Duda, Ruben Tejeda and especially Ike Davis!! (Of course, if you wait another year with Duda and Tejeda, no one would protest, but you get the idea) 8.) Keep top minor leaguers in one place and let them grow and prosper and put up big numbers!! That way, either they will have a clear path to the bigs with the Mets, or will become trade-bait for another organization. 7.) Continue to draft top pitchers in this year's amateur draft- as baseball continues to move away from slugging to pitching, you can't have enough live arms!! And as Mack and I always say, you can trade arms for bats when the time is right!! 6.) No more mis-direction when injuries occur. Tell us what the real deal is- we're big boys and girls, we can handle it. Don't be an organization clouded in lies and half-truths... 5.) Don't make a trade just to make a trade - if it's meaningful for the long-haul, great...if not, don't shuffle players to make headlines (NOT that this is Sandy's MO, but under pressure, you never know.) 4.) Make players, especially old-timers, more available to sign autographs and visit with the fans. Simple to execute, even more meaningful for the 50th anniversary. 3.) Do NOT rush players to the majors- if Harvey, Familia, etc need a full season in the minors, don't sacrifice their development for meaningless wins in the majors. 2.) Sign David Wright to a long-term deal and make him a Met for life. I can't tell you how many t-shirts and jerseys I have in my closet of ex-Mets from just the past 5 years. It would be nice to have that long-term face to identify the team, and no one better exemplifies all that's potentially "right" with the organization. Wright might never be a Hall-of-Famer with a plaque in Cooperstown, but he WILL be a METS HOFer and the fans (and Wright) deserve to see him finish his career in Queens!! 1.) Now that the whole Madoff/ownership mess seems to be in the rearview mirror, PLEASE invest money into the organization in a Smart and MEANINGFUL way!!! Open up the purse-strings and let Sandy and team purchase players IF they are going to add to the make-up and success of the team over the long-haul. No one-hit wonders or 4-month acquisitions, but if/when a great young player that another team can't afford comes on the market, don't let the $$ they make scare you off from making the deal. Invest in the team the way we, the fans, invest in you- and you know what? Over time (not overnight) you will once again see the amazing passion and loyalty that fans of this team are loaded with, and you will also see the fruits of your investment when we truly believe that our loyalty isn't falling on deaf ears ( or empty pockets). It's Opening Day- NOTHING sounds better than that except "PLAY BALL!"