2010

Well the Hot Stove season has officially started and I will make no mention of the World's or the participants. I did not watch a single pitch or see any highlights and I am going to keep it that way. In a season that was from hell to begin with, we as Mets fans had our worse nightmare become reality with the 2 teams in the World Series.
Now we can finally move ahead and pray that 2010 will be a much better year. I just can't see how it can get worse that 2009. If it does, then holy crap, the world must have ended, because there is simply no way it can get any worse.
So as we move into Hot Stove season it is finally time to start getting the pieces in place that will once again make the Mets World Series contenders. There is alot of work to be done and lets hope that Omar can get his crap together and get it done.

This can't continue on into 2010

Well the Mets never recovered from their below .500 record this season, so you never got a chance to read another post from yours truly. Now that 162 games have come complete, I will not take time to look back on what was hands down one of the most miserable, money draining season I've had to experience in some time. From the Extra Innings package on DirecTV to over $600 in game tickets and God knows how much on merchandise.

As I look forward to 2010, I would like to see an impact made on the Starting Rotation. I think all Mets fans are talking bats, Matt Holliday, Prince Fielder, Jason Bay, etc. Which that would be awesome to sign a bat to put in the middle of our lineup but can we trust John Maine and Oliver Perez? What about Pelf?

I'm officially starting the Roy Halladay Rally.

Roy Rally!!!!

2009...A Year To Not Remember

Well...OUCH!!! That is all that can be said about the 2009 Mets season. A season that should have been so much better, just fell flat on its face. It still kills me how the guys on ESPN and other media outlets are dogging the Mets for having the 2nd highest payroll and having a losing record. Do these guys not realize that they had over $70 million on the DL?

Reyes played in 36 games, Delgado played in 26, Beltran played in 81...can't win with that many games missed by top tier players. So we had our Big 4 (Reyes, Wright, Delgado and Betran) in the line-up together for a total of 26 games...OUCH!!!

So what about 2010? What is going to happen? What do I want to see? Honestly, I don't know what I want to see...I know who I want back and if I could put together a line-up for that, it might look a little like this:

1. Reyes SS
2. Orlando Hudson 2b (Trade Castillo...he had a solid year and trade value is up)
3. Wright 3b
4. Beltran CF
5. Some power hitting 1st baseman
6. Francouer RF
7. Pagan LF
8. Thole C (I like the kid and we need to have a young catcher behind the plate who is on his first pair of knees)

Pitching is another story...we know Santana and KRod will be back, and probably Feliciano, but after that I think it is a crap shoot. We obviously need starting pitching...Perez will probably still be here because no one will take his contract...Maine is too often injured to get traded...Pelfrey needs to improve if he is to stick around.

Bottomline is that there are a lot of questions this off season for the Mets and it starts today.

18 Games Left

In a season that started with so much promise, there are only 1 games left in what has become a season to forget. People are always asking me "You're a Mets fan? They suck!" Well. when you have $80 million dollars of your payroll sitting on the DL for basically the whole season, that is going to happen. Someone tell me a team that can lose 3 all-stars (Reyes, Beltran and Delgado), then additional players like Perez, Maine, Santana, Putz...the list goes on and on, and still try to compete in the NL East? It is just not possible. Even if the Mets had the top minor league system in baseball, there is no way they could have competed at a productive level for the season will all those guys out.
So as we move forward in 3 weeks to the off season, it will be quite interesting. The Mets need starting pitching and many other things, so I am looking forward to it.

Remember 9/11

It is only fitting that on this day that we remember those who lost their lives on 9/11. This video is one that I have watched hundreds of times and it still gives me chills.
I find great joy that it was our beloved Mets who brought hope back to NYC. The Mets were the team who did the most during this time and it was just something that makes me proud to be a Mets fan!

Citi Not Changing

It appears that Citi Field will look exactly the same next season. Adam Rubin of the Daily News did a story on the subject today. He spoke to both Jerry and Omar and both say it will not change. Jerry was quoted as saying "We're going to try to build a team with speed and defense and pitching.I think that fits that style."
Maybe it is just me, but I like the long ball. However, I guess if we know what we need as far as players go, then we can build a team that will play well in Citi. However, what pitching is out there or speed guys this winter that the Mets can get? The other question is about Reyes, will he be mentally ready to play next year or will he be cautious because of the hamstring. I think Beltran will be a fine fit and I think Frenchy understands the field and how to play there.
This will be a very interesting off season.

Growing and Growing and Growing.....and taking a Break

Could this list get any longer? It might as well, the season is already in the tank. I say shut Santana down no matter what and lets get ready for 2010. September will be an interesting month with all the call ups, can't wait to get a look at some of the future stars, at least that is what I hope.

In other news, I will be taking a little break from Southern Mets...I'm putting myself of the DL as well. Why not, all the Mets are, so why not me. Check back from time to time and see if I have updated anything. I'll sure be on after the World Series once the off-season wheeling and dealing starts. Again, that is my hope.

This Weekend

You know when you are down 6-0 and still have 25 outs to get in the game, most teams would just fold and just playout the rest of the game and not worry about it. Well, not this team. After Oliver Perez was lite up like the sky over the Statue of Liberty on the 4th of July, the Mets scored 7 runs and had 2 men on with no outs in the 9th when Frenchy hit into the unassisted triple play. Can't blame Frenchy for this, he hit the crap out of the ball...it is just one of those things that seems to be happening to this team this year.
If we look at the positive, if we take away the first inning and Ollie didn't pitch, the Mets win the game 7-3...not bad, but that is not how it works.
Hopefully the Mets can salvage a series split this afternoon as Bobby Parnell takes the hill against Cliff Lee. Lee has been nothing but untouchable since coming over from the Indians, so hopefully the Mets can bring him back to earth. At least that would be nice.
In other news...Mets ownership confirmed that Omar and Jerry will both be back next season. In my mind, you can't blame either of them for this season. Who could have imagined that Beltran, Delgado, Reyes and DW5 would go down with injuries this year? I know not me...lets just hope that everyone is healthy next season.

Wagner Returns

When Billy Wagner came into the game last night I had chills. I had really wished I could have been watching the game on the SNY feed, but because I fall into the Braves region, I have to listen to there damn announcers. Sorry, but that is B.S. Just because I live in a region doesn't mean I am a fan of that freakin' team. I am happy I could watch this video clip on Mets.com
Anyway...Wagner looked good and while the Mets have him on waivers and there is a good chance that he could be traded before August 31st, I am kind of hoping that they resign him for next year. I know it was only one inning and 14 pitches, but he looked really solid last night. He would be a great complement to Feliciano. How nice would it be to have two lefties in Wagner and Pedro and then two righties with Frankie and Putz? Just a thought...have to think about 2010!

Took Longer Than I Thought

I knew when the Mets signed Sheffield this year that eventually he would self destruct or cause some major commotion in the clubhouse. I thought I would be earlier than yesterday, but it finally did happen. While Sheff has had a good year, the Mets need to think about 2010 and for me, that doesn't include Sheffield. We just can't go into next season with a 40 something Left Fielder. It just wouldn't make any sense.

Here is the story from Bart Hubbuch with the NY Post:

The ever-combustible Gary Sheffield was overdue for some drama this season, and he finally provided it last night.

The veteran slugger was a late scratch from the lineup, and a high-ranking club source confirmed that Sheffield threatened to leave the team after the Mets rejected his request for a contract extension.

Neither Sheffield nor manager Jerry Manuel did much to clear up the situation before or after last night's 3-2 loss to the Braves at Citi Field, though Sheffield stayed with the team and struck out as the tying run in an eighth-inning pinch hit role.

Sheffield avoided reporters after the game, quickly ducking out of the clubhouse, while Manuel claimed he wasn't aware of Sheffield's extension demand.

Manuel had said before the game that Sheffield had asked for "a day off to kind of clear some thoughts and things."

But Sheffield told reporters shortly after he was scratched -- and before Manuel spoke -- that he did not ask out of the lineup.

"I'm fine," Sheffield said. "It's just the best thing for today. It's just the best thing to let someone else play. I'm 100-percent healthy."

Sheffield is in the final year of his deal and wants to return to the Mets, who are paying him just $400,000 this season while the Tigers -- who released him in spring training -- pick up the remaining $13.6 million.

But the Mets are not interested in an extension because Sheffield will be 41 next season and -- though still a potent hitter -- he has had trouble staying healthy as a position player in the National League.

The timing of Sheffield's request for an extension also was curious because he told The Post earlier this week that he didn't expect to finish the season with the Mets.

The Mets placed Sheffield on revocable waivers last week, but they pulled him back after San Francisco claimed him. By pulling Sheffield back, the Mets are not allowed to trade him.

The Mets' only options now are to place Sheffield on irrevocable waivers or release him to finish the season with a contender, but the team had made neither move as of last night.

Manuel's regular pregame news conference was delayed nearly an hour while general manager Omar Minaya struggled to handle the standoff. Manuel then tried to downplay the situation with reporters.

"I think it would do him good both physically and mentally to get a day [off]," Manuel said.

Manuel, who was bench coach with the Marlins in 1997 when Sheffield helped lead Florida to a World Series title, earlier this month proclaimed his desire for the Mets to bring Sheffield back next season.

But management has not been as enthusiastic, though Sheffield has been surprisingly productive this season. Sheffield is hitting .285 with 10 homers and 43 RBIs in 89 games since being signed at the end of spring training.

So what about the Mets outfield for next year. For me, there are 2 spots taken...Center with Beltran and Right with Franceour. Left field is the mystery and I don't know if it come via a trade or free agent signing in the off season or if it moving Murphy back there and signing a solid first baseman. I guess we will have to see.