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Front Office Messages

I was looking at Metsblog today and ran across this quote from Jayson Starks: “The Mets have backed off their shopping plans after their disastrous road trip…” So do the Mets believe that their current slide has them out of the race?

I’m happy with the result. There are no players on the market that warrant top prospects in return. But management doesn’t seem to have the same reason for dropping out. From that quote I get the feeling the Mets think they are too far out of the race.

What bothers me is not what the Mets are doing but how they think. If earlier in the season they thought making a trade could make them a playoff team, why aren’t they making the trade? Why are they waiting till the team is out of the race? Last season they did the same thing. I understand you don’t want to give up prospects, but that is half the reason you have them. It would be nice to develop every player in your system, but that is not realistic or smart. Not every prospect turns into a top player,

Minaya seems to be too scared to make a move and looks for any excuse not to. He seems to be haunted by the Scott Kazmir trade more than Steve Phillips is. I’m, sorry. Right now it worked out, but I don’t want a GM that seems to be incapable of making a deadline deal. Contending teams make them all the time, look at the Phillies and the Cliff Lee trade last season.

Another thing: the Mets don’t want to change their coaching staff because they believe they can win with these guys…but they don’t want to make a trade because they don’t think they’re in the race?

I am ok with not acquiring a player, I just don’t like the mindset management has. Honestly it is more fuel to the fire that if the Mets can’t turn things around and make the playoffs it is time to clean house. Met fans are tired of the same show and the same results. The only way people are going to start believing again is if the stench from the 2007 collapse is finally removed. That starts with management and hopefully will trickle down to the field.

July 27, 2010 Posted by slavite | Bloggers, Evan Slavit, MLB, NY Mets Stuff, New York Mets, Original Content | , , , , | No Comments Yet

Make a Move

The Mets are in the running for a playoff spot, a situation they have found themselves in the past few seasons around the trade deadline. Unfortunately for the past three seasons the Met have failed to secure a spot down the stretch and have missed the playoffs all three years. A common factor with these teams has been their reluctance to make a big time move at the deadline. A move that could put them over the top, changing them from contenders to leaders. So should the Mets change their tune this season and make a trade before the deadline?

I think it is really tempting to say yes, but I am not sure if its the best move. Once Cliff Lee was traded to the Rangers, the trade market lacked a true ace. Sure adding a Ted Lilly or Brett Myers would allow the Mets to move Takahashi to the bullpen, but those guys are not a big improvement over any of the other Mets starters. Come playoff time, it would be hard to take Niese, Dickey, Pelfrey, or Santana out of the rotation. So does the newly acquired pitcher get the boot into the bullpen?

Minaya has done a good job holding onto his prospects the last couple of years. It is finally starting to pay off with some nice depth and big league help, but it still isn’t deep enough to give top prospects away. If they can get one of these guys for scraps, perfect they should make the move. But if the cost is Jenry Mejia, or Fernando Martinez, or even Josh Thole I am not sure it is worth it.

Standing pat, I am not sure the Mets make the playoffs. Perhaps with Beltran and Reyes healthy the Mets offense goes on a tear, but with only four spots in the playoffs and a lot of contending teams, nothing is a lock. It is tempting to make a trade to put the Mets over the top, but not at the cost of tops prospects.

by Evan Slavit at the Sports Fan Blog Network

July 19, 2010 Posted by slavite | Carlos Beltran, Evan Slavit, Johan Santana, Jon Niese, Jose Reyes, MLB, Mike Pelfrey, NY Mets Stuff, New York Mets, Original Content | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments Yet

   

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