Mets Outlook and thoughts on my team

[MetsForLife]

http://www.metsblog.com/2011/03/24/transcription-of-sandys-conf-call-with-bloggers/

Just something to share regarding the Mets season. I think we have a shot of the playoffs regardless of certain factors. The mets need a closer and thats it. Beltran is back and strong, Reyes is starting to get his spring together, Emus is starting to get better(lets see what the season holds for him at shea... opps ;) )...

All I want to know is why are people looking to Havens as the great hope of the Mets. Sure he is good but you know second base has always been the mets thorn. We don't need some one great with the players we have, all we need is someone to catch the ball when the game is on the line and hit when the ball when theres a man on third no one out and bring him in.

The Mets are great. What they do need is some fundamentals like learning to bunt and squeeze plays and all the rest of the things needed to win baseball games. Spring training is almost gone and winning is all that matters so that next season we can win the series again :)

Thats my thoughts like it or not the Mets are going to the playoffs this year...



What are the thoughts of others about other teams?

[jake2778]

I love the Mets as well, but I don't see them going anywhere. The Phills are too strong and the Mets pitching, both starting and bullpen is rather weak.

The big question is, do we have a reliable stream for the Mets games? Last year was awesome. Every Met game we had a stream for. I'm getting nervous because I see a lot of the pre-season games the Mets games don't have streams for............


Anyway, you gotta love baseball in April........So Exciting!

[MetsForLife]

usually pre-season games are not televised like lets say the Yankee cash cow is. regular season games on the other hand are free for Mets fans in New York. so I dont think thats the big question

My big question is the new management of the Mets lets see if we will still be alive in may if you know what i mean...

Have a happy April... :)

[bobniborg]

well, mets do have a closer. a very good one in fact (on the field.. off is a different story)
beltran is not back and strong. he will miss a ton of time, his knees are done.
bay returning to form is key but the early injury is not a good sign.

if the mets stay healthy, they win the division. prob is beltran will miss 50+ games. bay will miss many. a starter will get hurt and join santana who wont make it back until later than expected. its sad because we have a winner, but injuries will hold us down for another year.

[bobniborg]

reyes
pagan
wright
beltran
bay
davis

that is a great 6 if they all hit career averages. thole is servicable and a limited platoon with paulino is good. 2nd is poop.

and the rotation has great potential, all could post 3.5 eras. pen with a healthy izzy would be dominant but no way he makes the whole season.

[Cincinnati]

Mets are in a tough division with Atlanta and Philadelphia. One thing appears certain, whichever team(s) make it out should be tested and ready come playoff time.

[MetsForLife]

All i have to say is the season is over for me cause the mets might be planning to get rid of Reyes

Joel Sherman of the New York Post predicts Jose Reyes will do well this season, but the Mets will not; and so, while they’ll talk to the Giants and Angels, Sandy Alderson will eventually trade Reyes in July to the Reds for 25-year-old RHP Homer Bailey and SS prospect Zack Cozart.

Buster Olney of ESPN said the same thing yesterday, saying he believes the Mets will end up trading Reyes because he’s eligible to be a free agent at the end of this season. Olney feels the Mets will seek ‘power arms,’ in a deal for Reyes, and says the Giants will be interested.

Read More (http://www.metsblog.com/2011/03/30/whats-next-for-jose-reyes-the-mets/#disqus_thread)

[D-Wright]

Do not listen to Sherman and Olney. First, they are just speculating. Second, both are perpetually negative about the Mets. They say things just to rile up Mets fans, especially Sherman. Ignore them.

Reyes isn't going anywhere during the season. Alderson may not re-sign him during the winter, but then he will just take the draft pick.

[nysportsfan27]

I think you guys have to be open to a ton of trades in the summer. The pieces are there for a playoff run - if it happens, it happens. Maybe Johan's return will serve as a catalyst. But if they're struggling for 3rd place against the Marlins and they're chances at a Wild Card berth are slipping - you'll definitely see Beltran and possibly Reyes shopped.

Considering that Sandy Alderson's major moves this offseason were signing DJ Carrasco, Chris Young, and Chris Capuano I think he's definitely considering cutting payroll and rebuilding.

[D-Wright]

But if they're struggling for 3rd place against the Marlins and they're chances at a Wild Card berth are slipping - you'll definitely see Beltran and possibly Reyes shopped.

Reyes and Beltran are two different cases. Beltran won't be coming back regardless, so he will be shopped if (a) the Mets are not in contention at the trade deadline or (b) the Mets are in contention but Beltran isn't a big contributing factor.

Reyes is unlikely to be shopped in any situation. If he is having a good year, the Mets are likely in contention so he's not going anywhere. If the Mets aren't in contention, then Reyes is likely having a mediocre year and his value won't be much anyway since he will be a free agent this winter. No team is going to offer a top prospect for 1/3-1/2 of a season of an average-performing player. Alderson might as well keep Reyes then and get the draft pick back.



Considering that Sandy Alderson's major moves this offseason were signing DJ Carrasco, Chris Young, and Chris Capuano I think he's definitely considering cutting payroll and rebuilding.

There will be no rebuilding in the Florida Marlins sense of the word. The Mets will keep Wright, Davis, Niese, Dickey, Pagan, Thole, and likely Pelfrey. Reyes is 50-50 and it will depend on his ability to stay healthy and have a good year.

And there will be no payroll cutting for the sake of cutting payroll. $50 million comes off the books at the end of the year regardless, and it's likely Alderson puts 10-30 million of that back. But he's not going to put any of it back just to spend what he has ... if something doesn't make sense for the Mets, he's not going to spend -- for example, the way Cashman recklessly spends (Pedro Feliciano) just to use up his alloted money. :D

[Redbullsnation]

your team needs to rebuild, badly. You need to trade lazy-ass Beltran for a bag of chips, cause that's what I would trade him for anyways. And you need to build ur team around David Wright and Jose Reyes because those guys are not goin anywhere. I say get an elite pitcher as well. Then, the Mets CAN believe.

[D-Wright]

your team needs to rebuild, badly. You need to trade lazy-ass Beltran for a bag of chips, cause that's what I would trade him for anyways. And you need to build ur team around David Wright and Jose Reyes because those guys are not goin anywhere. I say get an elite pitcher as well. Then, the Mets CAN believe.

What makes you think they need to rebuild "badly?" Castillo and Perez are already gone. Beltran will be gone at the end of the year regardless. And, no, he isn't lazy. He just has lousy knees. So he belongs in the AL as a DH.

As I said, Wright, Davis, Thole, Niese, and Dickey are not going anyplace. So you build around them.

Reyes may or may not be a Met next year depending on his ability to stay healthy and produce. If he can, what Alderson will likely do is offer him a good but conservative contract and if he doesn't accept, they will get the draft picks back.

Mets fans CAN believe now. Because whether or not they make the postseason this year, Alderson is currently going in the right direction. And if it doesn't happen this year, I'm confident things will be fully turned around by 2012.

[nysportsfan27]

Reyes and Beltran are two different cases. Beltran won't be coming back regardless, so he will be shopped if (a) the Mets are not in contention at the trade deadline or (b) the Mets are in contention but Beltran isn't a big contributing factor.

Reyes is unlikely to be shopped in any situation. If he is having a good year, the Mets are likely in contention so he's not going anywhere. If the Mets aren't in contention, then Reyes is likely having a mediocre year and his value won't be much anyway since he will be a free agent this winter. No team is going to offer a top prospect for 1/3-1/2 of a season of an average-performing player. Alderson might as well keep Reyes then and get the draft pick back.



There will be no rebuilding in the Florida Marlins sense of the word. The Mets will keep Wright, Davis, Niese, Dickey, Pagan, Thole, and likely Pelfrey. Reyes is 50-50 and it will depend on his ability to stay healthy and have a good year.

And there will be no payroll cutting for the sake of cutting payroll. $50 million comes off the books at the end of the year regardless, and it's likely Alderson puts 10-30 million of that back. But he's not going to put any of it back just to spend what he has ... if something doesn't make sense for the Mets, he's not going to spend -- for example, the way Cashman recklessly spends (Pedro Feliciano) just to use up his alloted money. :D

Agreed, no reason to blow the team up. A quick turnaround is doable, but not with the Wilpons. For any team, especially a well-heeled one to refuse to invest in the draft is nonsensical. The Wilpons' strict no overslot policy and Minaya's overreliance on latin guys led to the current nearly barren farm system. They need to be more aggressive and be smarter in how they invest money in player development, a la Theo Epstein. That's the key for future success. But in the near term, it'll be tough for them to top the Braves and Phillies. Those two teams have decent offenses, strong pitching and highly-rated farm systems that give them the upper hand over the Mets for quite a while.

Re: payroll - Sandy Alderson's financial restraint is a good thing, don't get me wrong. As for Cashmoney, I generally trust him, but this offseason was laughable. I honestly giggled when he mentioned how the guy he just signed to a multiyear deal was "abused" by the Mets. Hopefully Feliciano will be a decent enough LOOGY or perhaps he'll pull an '09 Damaso Marte-style playoff run.

[D-Wright]

A quick turnaround is doable, but not with the Wilpons. For any team, especially a well-heeled one to refuse to invest in the draft is nonsensical. The Wilpons' strict no overslot policy and Minaya's overreliance on latin guys led to the current nearly barren farm system.

The Wilpons aren't going anywhere soon. While over-slotting may help, that has not been the problem with the Mets' drafts. Neither the Twins or Braves go over slot and both organizations have had strong farm systems. The problem with the Mets drafts has been one of poor selections and a propensity to give up draft picks by signing free agents while not getting compensation picks back for their own players.



They need to be more aggressive and be smarter in how they invest money in player development, a la Theo Epstein.

Epstein has done a great job with the RS farm system. But he's also done a lousy job with contracts for the ML club. I think Crawford's contract is obscenely overpriced and I predict Epstein will rue the day he gave that one out. I hope Alderson avoids contracts like that in the future.


But in the near term, it'll be tough for them to top the Braves and Phillies. Those two teams have decent offenses, strong pitching and highly-rated farm systems that give them the upper hand over the Mets for quite a while.

I think you're overrating the Braves offense which I don't think is any better than the Mets. What they do have is a big advantage with their pitching. But Chipper probably can't play a whole year, and they have holes in their lineup such as McLouth and Freeman. As for the Phillies, their rotation is great but I also think their window is small before injuries and age take their toll. This year is probably their best chance. So long-term, I don't think there is much to worry about in terms of the Phillies. If Strassburg bounces back well and Harper is all he's cracked up to be, I can see the Nats being a force in the division by 2013.

[MaCkTiC.]

Lets Go Mets!

[Booth]

Mets are in a tough division with Atlanta and Philadelphia. One thing appears certain, whichever team(s) make it out should be tested and ready come playoff time.

Dont forget the Marlins. They will be right in this one!