Part 2 of making the Mets relevant again

Unfortunately for Met fans, I do not think this process will be immediate. There have been too many years, drafts, and 7-figure checks that have passed for that to be a reality. Here is the thing I would do:


-The farm system and scouting basically has to be gutted out completely.

I would be looking at hiring people from several organizations that have had a long reputation for popping out players into the big leagues. Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Florida, Atlanta, Milwaukee and San Francisco (pitching)are organizations that come to mind . All of these franchises have drafted very well and knows how to groom their farm systems in ways the Mets obviously have not been able to. The more ideas and philosophies will only help.

They also know how to evaluate talent. They know which prospects to make untouchable, and which ones to deal off to bring in someone in the winter or around the trading deadline. The Mets have not been able to do this since the Santana deal, mostly because they do not even have the prospects to land a top player. Forget about this current regime knowing when to deal prospects as well. Miledge was the biggest example.

This really starts with the Amateur Draft. In the new regime, it would be taking the best evaluated talent, high school or college players. This also means, having our first round draft picks to stockpile the farm system (See Budget next). Bring in the best talent, even if we have to pay over the slot that MLB has been suggesting. If we are going to spend money, spend it properly, and that means from the ground up.

We also will keep that pipeline opened from Puerto Rico, South America, and Dominican Republic. Anyway or edge we can use to build the system up, we have to do effectively and properly. Sign as many young talents as possible, and eventually, some of them will blossom into major league talent.

-Start to spend money, especially the payroll wisely.

The Mets are able to field a 150 million dollar payroll. They are blessed in this culture of baseball, that we are one of the big boys when it comes to revenue. That does not mean you can spend it foolishly though. It is time to allocate these funds properly. That means, no more recycling washed up players, no more rethread pitchers, and no more trading for 6 million dollar a year set up men with an arm issue that has a black flag on it darker than the ace of spades.

We would take it easy on free agency for the short term. Keep our draft picks, and spend the money within the system. This is not a team that will be a World Series contender if we sign an outfielder with pop and a starting pitcher. If you believe this, then you have no idea what you are talking about.

The next is to learn how to budget the payroll properly. No more trying re-tread pitchers(Livan Hernandez, Tim Redding, Oliver Perez), no more reclamation projects(Jeff Francoeur). To go to an even more extent, no more 8 digit salaries for pitchers that go 1 inning at a time (KRod, Wagner).

The one thing I will give Omar Minaya credit with. He locked up Jose Reyes and David Wright to long term contracts. This is one thing that must be continued in the new regime. Once we get the farm machine running, we need to keep this young player’s long term. Build a core foundation. Only after that, can we start bringing in the Matt Hollidays or John Lackeys of the FA market to put the team over the top.

- Entertain offers for OF Carlos Beltran this off-season.

There may not be a big market out there for a player that was injured more than half the season, but Beltran is still a Five-Tool Outfielder that could warrant interest from contending teams. Now, I am not saying that we just take the best offer, but if a contending team with good prospects (like San Francisco) called us up and put together a good package that would start the process of re-tooling the organization, I would have to take it, and I would personally fly Beltran to JFK myself.

-Get into the Aroldis Chapman sweepstakes

Here is the perfect example of what the Mets should be going after. The Cuban defector is a 21 (probably 23 but still) starting pitcher that throws around 100 mph. He is also lefty flamethrower, which is as rare as a Palestinian liking an Israeli.

Chapman will only cost money. No draft picks required. This is the type of talent the Mets do not see in the first round of the amateur drafts. Scoop him up, and hopefully he can eventually come up and learn from the best lefty in the business, Johan Santana.

This is also a move that the fan base of the Mets can get behind. This is the type of move that will make the Met fans anticipate; bringing in a 21 year old lefty that if the franchise gets lucky, can become the young ace for a decade.

- Stop making Citi-Field into a tribute of another organizations history.

This is one is more pointed at ownership. Citi Field is gorgeous. Wilpon got his dream stadium. He just has to realize that the Brooklyn Dodgers were never part of this franchise. While it is nice to remember the past, there is more stuff to honor the Bk. Dodgers at the field than the Mets, who in 40 years do have some good history to honor.

Am I the only one that thinks it is a slap in the fact that there is a Jackie Robinson Rotunda, and nothing for the Met legend himself Tom Seaver? Mr. Wilpon, Seaver, not Robinson is a big reason why this franchise is so loved by the fans that line your pockets in US currency. I am sorry, but kids taking pictures with Mr. Met at a shrine for a non-Met, just does not seem right...

If you disagree with me, email me or leave a comment

Ricky Rubio, few tidbits........

I am starting to really feel sorry for the state of Minnesota. First, they had to watch the Twins accept 30 cents on the dollar for Johan Santana and lose Torii Hunter for nothing in the same offseason. Then, they have to deal with The Days of Our Favre soap opera and now have to fall into the trap that he is their savior. Now, they have to deal with the Ricky Rubio Saga. Here are some quotes from Rubio, and I will just play translator here:


"Going to Minnesota would have just complicated my life a lot. It was a risk and I didn't see it so clearly."

Translation: There is NO way I will play basketball in Minnesota!!!

"My Priority was the NBA and it was impossible for the Minnesota Timberwolves to pay my buyout clause, so I wanted to stay home." (By the way, which is BS, because T-Wolves GM David Khan has gone back and forth to Spain all summer to negotiate a buyout agreement, and actually was reported that he reached a deal. Also, this is the same franchise that got caught for pulling Used Car sales-under the table deals in the past. Joe Smith ring a bell? Yes, different GM, but same Owner.)

Translation: My priority is to get into a big basketball market (cough New York cough). A warm market if possible (cough LA cough).

"When the season ended, I entered the draft with the intention of going to the NBA. But some things happened that kept me from being ahead of the rest and I ended #5, which I was happy with, but it didn't allow me the chance to go to the NBA. I tried, but in the end it wasn't to be."

Translation: I thought I was going to be a Top 3 pick. I thought the Grizzles had a deal to move down since I told them there was no shot in hell I was going to go play for the Lakers AAA Team. I would already be in Oklahoma City, practicing tossing alley-oops to Kevin Durant in a gym if they picked me. Then, I was happy Minnesota took me with the 5th pick, because I thought they would trade me to New York. Lastly, they drafted Johnny Flynn as well, who is a faster, quicker, tougher, more NBA ready Point Guard than I am.

"They could only put a half a million into it, and I think that deal with Minnesota had too many obstacles." (Just see above. And Ricky? The 500k thing applied to every NBA team.)

"I won't lie. My objective has always been the NBA"

Translation: Although, my Internship at ESPN was solid this summer. Did you guys check me out interviewing the parents in the stands at the Little League World Series?

This can be spun in alot of directions, but two things are clear. one, Rubio never wanted to play in Minnesota. He is now pulling an elegant, more media friendly Steve Francis Power Play. Which, if you remember, was a drafted player telling a franchise that there was a better chance of Popeye being attracted to Bluto over Olive Oil, than he would ever put on their jeresy. And last, 18 year old kids do not know how to bullshit people yet. He just offically made his bed, I hope he can sleep in it.


Couple of more tidbits:

It never ceases to amaze me how sometimes people are sheep. The #1 selling NFL jeresy? Brett Farve. That is basically an $80 snotrag when Favre has one of his classic 23 Touchdown/19 Int seasons and leads the Vikings to a 7-9 record.

The 4th best selling jeresy? Michael Vick.... Nothing out of Philly would amaze me. Just tell me, does the Vick jeresy come with his Eagles number, or his prison process number?

Speaking of Philly, I think the Phillies are getting the A-Game from Cole Hamels just at the right time.

Big props to David Wright for coming back this season after being plunked in the peanut! But, did you see that new helmet he is wearing? Now, I am all for the safety precautious, but I dunno if he is playing baseball, or if he is at the Jetson's house flying around with Elroy.

And last, the one thing I learned from Pac Man Jones signing to play in the CFL, Winnipeg must have some high quality strip clubs.