After Another Lost Season For The Mets They Must Resign Jose Reyes

As I write this the Mets are four games below .500 and 11.5 games out of the wild-card spot. If it matters any they're also 20.5 games behind the Phillies. In other words the 2011 season is over and it's time to look towards 2012. Now mind you, the 2011, considering the circumstances, Mets have played well and when all's said and done this is still Omar Minaya's fault/team. But the big question that has to be on Met fans minds is where do we go from here and to me, that starts with the Mets being left with no choice but to resign Joe Reyes.

I mean, so many injuries and visits to the disabled list for such a young, seemingly fit 28yo man is startling (to say the least) and its Sandy Alderson's job to find some kind of solution to the problem. But without Reyes this team just has no hope, it's that simple. And no it doesn't mean you give Reyes a blank check, because Reyes and his agent need to be fair to the Mets and honest about themselves and Reyes' injuries too. But the Mets must resign him, they just must. Their future literally hangs in the balance.

With Jason Bay Being A Complete Bust, Mets Need To Keep Carlos Beltran

Mike Francesa says it all the time and I completely agree with him: Carlos Beltran is under appreciated in this town. Yeah, I was mad too when ended the 2006 season with Beltran's bat lying on his shoulder while watching that nasty Adam Wainwright curveball, but that team had no business being in a Game 7 against a team they were much better than in the first place. To think too what a difference a healthy Pedro Martinez or David Wright hitting close to his average could've made in that series.

But getting back to Beltran, when healthy, as his 5th All-star appearance in 7 years as a Met proved, he's still one of the best in the game. Consider too, the possibility of five 100-RBI seasons as a Met along with three Gold Gloves and let's not forget that the guy has repeatedly stated how much he wants to stay a Met. Sure, he'll be 35 next year, one could make the case that he's back to playing on such a high-level only because he's after that one last big contract and the local media's been practically begging the Mets to get rid of him. But here's the biggest reason to keep Carlos Beltran a Met: there's no one out there who could replace him and thanks to Jason Bay being a  flat-out bust, the Mets would be God-awful without him. I mean, a horrible Bay, Angel Pagan and the oft-fragile Fernando Martinez does not leave you wanton for Mets tickets next year, much less any chance of competing with the Phillies and Braves in the NL East. In other words, the Mets must keep Carlos Beltran.

Did Ike Davis Quit On The Mets?

ESPN.com:

First baseman Ike Davis expressed skepticism he would be able to return to the New York Mets this season.


Speaking to children at Coleman Country Day Camp in Merrick, N.Y., on Long Island, on Tuesday, Davis candidly described his left ankle as "not good."


"But next year I will be back and healthy," Davis told the campers. "I promise."


When told of Davis' comments, manager Terry Collins said he was not resigned to the first baseman missing the remainder of the season, but he added, "I'm surprised he would say something like that."


Davis later told reporters, "I'm not throwing in the towel. In three weeks if I'm not healthy, I'm not playing this year."


Davis injured the ankle in a collision with third baseman David Wright by the pitcher's mound at Coors Field in Denver on May 10 and has not returned to the lineup because of lingering discomfort when he attempts to run.

Why else would Davis come out with that weird statement today about possibly not coming back this season? I don't know Ike Davis from Adam, but rarely have a seen a player act so nonchalant when it comes to returning from an injury. After his sizzling start this year, I thought Ike was ready to take this team by the horns and maybe lead them to a wild-card birth. But then he twisted his ankle and what once was supposed to be  short 15-day stint on the DL has turned into maybe being out for the season. And I know that he's a laidback guy and all, but at no time during this whole mess did Davis seem urgent on coming back and of course, the Mets medical staff being who they are found another way to make things worse. Granted, injuries are injuries and each player is different, but with Albert Pujols just coming back early from a broken wrist that was supposed to sideline him for six weeks, Davis' longterm absence from the Mets lineup deserves more scrutiny and maybe even some shame.

Jose Reyes Going On The DL Is Good For The Mets

Simply put, Reyes going on the DL today is yet, another reminder of no matter how great he is, he can be just as fragile. No wonder the only thing Fred Wilpon got right in that New Yorker article was that he won't be getting Carl Crawford money. No wonder any owner outside the Mets thinking of signing Reyes to some outlandish dead this offseason may want to back off upon seeing him on the DL, yet again--which in turn, is a good thing for the Mets.

Mets Would Be A Lot Better If Jason Bay Was Just Decent

Of course, they'd probably be a lot better (and contending for first place in the NL East) if David Wright, Ike Davis and Johan Santana weren't all injured. But with all the praise, and deservedly so, that Terry Collins has gotten for having the Mets above .500 this late into the season, I can't but think how if Jason Bay was just having an average season in 2011 we'd be a lot better. I mean, even with his grand slam yesterday Bay has 20 RBI's for the season--that's how bad he's been. Consider that Prince Fielder leads the NL with 68 RBI's and Jose Reyes, batting from the leadoff spot all year, has 12 more RBI's than Bay does. In other words, the fact that after 79 games, the Mets are 40-39, despite Jason Bay being a phenomenal bust, makes for Terry Collins being a certified genius.

The Real Reason Why Andy Martino Asks Mets Players About Gay Marriage

In a column that would certainly make his far-Left colleagues proud, Martino did a small feature on Mets thoughts on the gay marriage in today's Daily News. Needless to say the column is drenched with snark loonery as Martino, who already highlighted Ron Darling's support for gay marriage in a column yesterday (and in this one), goes out of his way to include a single quote from an anonymous Met player--after asking him if the professional sports locker room was ready to accept an openly gay athlete: "Asked why this was, one Met said, “Most of us are still Neanderthals.”

Regardless of New York becoming the 6th state to approve of same-sex marriage last Friday, why is Martino asking Met players about it? Does Martino ask players about rent laws in the city or their feelings on teacher layoffs? Of course not. But even when it comes to sports, the liberal press in this city (and across the country) looks for any chance it can to condemn conservative people in this country. That's why Martino's column isn't objective reporting, it's leftwing activism. And it's why conservative athletes should be afraid to speak openly on contentious subjects like politics (recently, retired New York Giant and Super Bowl hero David Tyree, citing his religious convictions, got condemned for daring to openly oppose gay marriage, while pro athletes like Michael Strahan and Sean Avery received nothing but praise and kudos for supporting it.)

Personally, I don't think most people, much less million-dollar pro athletes, care one way or another about gay marriage--there's just other way more important things going on in their lives. Besides that, due to a  number of facts, but mostly apathy, I don't think most people, especially professional athletes, are astute enough to debate politically contentious subjects in general--more reason for the liberal press to take advantage of them anyway. 

Yesterday, after remarking that there's a difference between "gay rights" and the civil rights era of the 60's (something I totally agree with), Curtis Granderson was clearly smart enough to give a politically correct response on gay marriage and leave it at that. But most athletes aren't as smart as Granderson when it comes to politics and activist liberal columnists like Martino, Mike Lupica and Felix Bondy know that. 

That said, somebody ought to make conservative pro athletes more aware of what these guys are really trying to do when they're asked "innocent" questions about subjects like gay marriage.

Mets Doing Really Well Under Terry Collins

No Johan Santana. Our cleanup hitter Jason Bay has played in 23 games and has 7 RBI's to show for it. Our starting centerfielder has been on the DL for most of the year and our hot-as-hell first baseman just went on the DL. So too did our perennial starting 3rd baseman. Our No. 2 starter and designated "ace" is off to an awful start and so too are our No. 3 and 4 starters. Yet, despite all of this after 43 games, the Mets stand at 21-22 and they're only 5 games out of first place.

Now I gave up on any chance of of us winning the NL East this year after Cliff Lee decided to pitch for the Phillies, but thanks to Bud Selig money-hungry ways we have a wild-card spot to shoot for. And thanks to Terry Collins (with an able assist from Sandy Alderson for picking him) commanding the ship the way he has we're still in the hunt. Win this series against the Yanks and I'll be even more sold.

Was Gary Cohen Picking On Don Mattingly Last Night?

Seemed so to me, as Cohen was questioning a lot of Mattingly's decisions during the game, more that normal. I know there was a lot of reporters who wondered aloud if Mattingly would make a good manager before he got the Dodgers job, so Cohen last night could still be on the bandwagon.

Roger McDowell's Accuser Is Being Represented By Gloria Allred

That's what bothers me the most about this column Filip Bondy wrote in today's Daily News, there's no mention on why that the guy would have a noted ambulance chaser, smear merchant and all-around hustler like Gloria Allred representing him. Surely, Bondy's heard of Allred and her outrageous past--the woman's credibility as an attorney has long been shot. Yet, Bondy (whose columns I read enough to know that like his mentor Mike Lupica, he's a flaming liberal) pretty much plays judge, jury and executioner with the story and seemingly made no attempt to get McDowell's side of it (but he made sure to bring up how surly Roger could be back in his Met days), much less show any concern. Here's a guy publicly accusing McDowell of being "homophobic", with deceitful lawyer backing him up and Bondy's ready to hang him. That's just bad journalism.

Mets Are $625M In Debt, Owe Bobby Bonilla $30M

Damn, this is even worse than I thought.

The Mets Are Super Hot Right Now

6 in a row and counting. It's too bad they digged themselves such a hole, but hey it's still April. Keep it up.

Dillon Gee Needs To Start

I wouldn't as far as to suggest the Mets go to a 6-man rotation like Mike Francesa did, but Dillon Gee is a starter, has made it clear that he wants to start and quite honestly from his performances so far, deserves to start. Indeed, I'd take Gee over Chris Capuano any day of the week.

Who The Hell Is Jason Pridie?

We now have a guy who was batting .186 in Triple A as our starting center fielder. If this guy really got called up for his defense than he better be like Gary Maddox out there.

Terry Collins Reminds Daniel Murphy On Who The Manager Is

If this story is true then I'm loving me some Terry Collins right now. Daniel Murphy is one of my favorite Mets, but that was just a boneheaded play he made the other day. Very boneheaded.

Sandy Alderson Will Make Moves

It's probably the only good sign so far concerning the 2011 Mets: the new GM is not going to just sit there and do nothing while his team sinks (unlike Omar Minaya). I'm glad they got rid of Brad Emaus, who was vastly overrated in the first place and based on his lame name alone Blaine Boyer had no business being here. Keep it up Sandy.

Bobby Parnell Is Vastly Overrated

To think the Mets hierarchy, broadcasters and the like keep trying to convince us that Bobby Parnell is any good (much less could be a future closer/set-up man), but time and time again he shows us just the opposite. The guy is just not that good and this bullpen is just killing us right now.

Where Is Fernando Martinez?

Now that the Mets finally came to their senses and sent the putrid Lucas Duda back to the minors, I can't help but wonder why Fernando Martinez wasn't in right field yesterday instead of Duda in the first place? The Mets have talked up Martinez and his supposed potential for years now, are you telling me that Martinez, when healthy, isn't good enough to be the 4th or 5th outfielder on this club?

Jose Reyes Needs To Have Smarter At-Bats

It's something that's bothered me about Jose Reyes for years now--his over aggressiveness with runners in scoring position. Sure, last night's hit was huge, but if Reyes is going to stay a Met (and God I hope he does), as John Harper noted the other day, we need more patience and a much better plan at the plate, much more.

Maybe Somebody Different Needs To Be Catching Mike Pelfrey, Maybe Mike Nickeas?

Funny, what with all the headlines that Ronny Paulino made during the spring for not being able to play, I had no idea who the backup catcher was till I just checked out the Mets roster and saw that it's Mike Nickeas...Mike Nickeas?!? Exactly.

Bottom line, if as reported, Pelfrey and Josh Thole aren't seeing eye-to-eye on pitch selection and whatever else than something needs to be done and quick because with Johan Santana out, we need to figure out what's wrong with Big Pelf...like now. To think, one of the few bright spots to come out of the 2010 Mets was the stellar defensive play of Henry Blanco...so of course we got rid of him. That said, either Ronny Paulino comes back quick and does it or Mike Nickeas has to starting catching Pelfrey. It's your move Terry Collins.

Mets Take Marlins Series

Great start to the season. They lost the game you expected them to lose (amazing how all the haters out there harped on them for losing to a guy who only led the league in ERA last year), overcame a blown K-Rod save on Saturday and got a terrific effort from R.A. Dickey yesterday to win the series. So far the Sandy Alderson/Terry Collins era has been decidedly refreshing.

Just Let Mike Pelfrey Be

First, let me say that this is nothing to do with what he did last night. I like Mike Pelfrey and he's been good for us, but this idea (that Ron Darling kept spouting about over and over again yesterday) that Pelfrey can be an ace is just ludicrous. In fact, the last thing Mike Pelfrey needs right now is any added pressure to perform like a No. 1 starter just because Johan Santana is out. Mike Pelfrey is what he is...a No. 2 or No. 3 guy with an often nasty sinker who can be a plus for any rotation, much less win 15 to 18 games for you in a good season. But he's not Santana or Roy Halladay or C.C. Sabathia or in the same league of any of the other aces in the league. Maybe it's his psyche or maybe it's just his ability, but whatever the case if Pelfrey was capable of being an ace he would've long shown it by now. So people need to back off and just let him be who he is. Because in a season where's there's really not much expected to begin with, 15 wins from Pelfrey with a 3.50 ERA would be a boon.

Phillie Starters On Cover Of Sports Illustrated

Anyone familiar with the S.I. jinx should know that this is an excellent sign for non-Philly fans.

Terry Collins Screws Up Roster

I'm a huge proponent of the idea that every man counts on the roster. Rare is a team that can go all the way without a productive bench, reliable middle relievers and in general, guys up and down the roster who know and understand their role on the team. That said, call me dumbfounded over some of the picks the Mets made the last few days in finalizing their 25-man roster.

First, Daniel Murphy should be the starting 2nd baseman, not Brad Emaus, who seems to have been given the job moreso because the Mets were afraid they'd have to send him back to Toronto than his actual ability to play. Then there's Jason Isringhausen getting passed over for some schmuck named Blaine Boyer (9-12 with a lifetime 4.63 ERA) and last but not least there's Lucas Duda (who was God-awful last year in a late season callup) being chosen over Nick Evans--a longtime Met whose only done everything the team's asked of him over the years and who just had an excellent spring. Word has it too that Terry Collins desperately wanted Luis Hernandez to be his Opening Day starting 2nd baseman, but thank goodness Sandy Alderson had the common sense to say no.

I know the season hasn't yet, but already the new manager is raking my nerves. Let's hope Wally Backman is paying close attention.

Jason Bay Is Hurt Again

Listen, when a team is as bad and as poorly managed as the 2010 Mets were I don't think even having a healthy Jason Bay would've mattered much. But what with everything going on with the owners, Carlos Beltran and Johan Santana out for a few months, the last thing the Mets need right now is Jason Bay starting the season on the DL. While he deserves a mulligan for last year (consider too how much he had to adjust his swing to the planet that is Citi Park) Bay needs to prove himself in 2011, much less start justifying the Wilpon's giving him that huge contract. Injuries are injuries, but in this case it's so what we don't need right now.

The Night the Mets Lost Duaner Sanchez

Funny how an injury to a middle reliever can change the future of a franchise for years to come, but in this case it certainly did:

It was four and a half years ago when Duaner Sanchez’s ill-fated cab ride in Miami prompted the Mets to look for a new reliever. The team’s setup man for the first 4 months of the season had severely injured his pitching shoulder in a fluke car accident, as it was announced on the day of Major League Baseball’s trading deadline that Sanchez would miss the remainder of the season. Mets’ GM Omar Minaya knew he needed to act swiftly in finding someone to fill that 8th inning role. By the end of the day, the Mets had found themselves two new pitchers – veteran reliever Roberto Hernandez and enigmatic starter Oliver Perez.

Perez, who to that point had a lost season (lost his job in Pittsburgh’s rotation with an ERA over 6.00), would eventually find his way into the Met starting rotation that season following a short stint in AAA. Injuries helped clear the path for Perez in ’06, as the southpaw would find himself becoming the Mets’ starter in games 4 and 7 of the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals.

OK, Oliver Perez Is Gone, But Why Hasn't Sandy Alderson Looked Into David Eckstein?

OK, it's official, we now have a GM who cares about what the fans think and that's great. And what with Oliver Perez finally gone, we can now move on from the stench that Omar Minaya and his horrible signings left here. Still, with all the Mets second baseman problems and their seeming distrust of giving Daniel Murphy the gig, why hasn't Sandy Alderson called David Eckstein? The guy is only 36, was the starting shortstop for two World Series champions, gutsy, hardly strikes out and judging from his stats last year, can still play. To me, this is an obvious move--indeed, it's still mind-boggling to me that Omar never looked into signing Eckstein when he was available. Unless Eckstein is somehow also responsible for Fred Wilpon's current financial woes, why the Mets continue to ignore him just makes no sense.

Mets Finally Cut Luis Castillo

About freaking time. To think yesterday Castillo was wondering why Met fans hate him so much, well look no further than this Luis:

Mets Need To Do Everything Possible To Keep Jose Reyes

Really, why is this even a debate? I don't care what Jose Reyes does this year, the left side of the infield on the Mets should be never be replaced. Forget the fact that a healthy Reyes is a perennial all-star, the guy that gets the Mets going, it's more about what he and David Wright mean to the franchise. They're both homegrown products, fans love them and it's neither one's fault that the Mets haven't won lately. Sandy Alderson needs to stop dilly-dallying with whether or not he'll resign Jose Reyes after the season because if you think things are bad now, the Mets would be doomed without him.

Luis Hernandez Cannot Be The Opening Day 2nd Baseman

Frankly, I can't believe that only a week after Terry Collins told the entire world that he needs offense at second base, that he'd change his mind and pick Luis Hernandez for the job. Nothing against Hernandez but from all reports...he sucks. And basing such as an important decision on what happens during spring training?!? I mean it's spring training for a reason. Bottom line I'd much rather see the incumbent Castillo play over Hernandez esp. if you're not going to go with my pick Daniel Murphy. What with Castillo in the last year of a contract at least there's some incentive to have a good year and prove he can still play. Picking Luis Hernandez to be in the starting lineup is just ass-backwards thinking on Collins part..

Mets Screw Up Again With Handling Carlos Beltran

Why does this organization consistently display total ineptitude when it comes to handling player injuries? It's a spring training game for chrissakes and you got a guy we need this year on a less than 100% knee busting his butt around 3rd to score a meaningless run during a meaningless game in March?!? How stupid are these guys? Can't help but wonder too if Wally Backman were manager if this would've happened because it's a huge blip for Terry Collins:

The Mets shut down Carlos Beltran for four to five days today after he was diagnosed with tendinitis in his left knee, two days after his Grapefruit League debut.


In January 2010, Beltran's right knee underwent microfracture surgery. He has been rehabbing from that surgery ever since. He shifted to right field earlier this spring to protect the troublesome joint.


Beltran missed the first eight games of the spring. He took three at-bats as a pinch-hitter and scored from second on a single.


Despite the setback, Mets manager Terry Collins remains outwardly optimistic. He said the team will remain vigilant in its plan to give Beltran a steady stream of at-bats after he returns to action. His work in the field will be minimal, but Collins believes he can adjust to right without much practice.


"I think you can get a player ready in 15 days," Collins said.


More later, when general manager Sandy Alderson arrives here.

Why Is MSG Doing A Show On The '86 Mets?

I saw some of it the other day and to say it was tacky would be an understatement, but then too I couldn't help but wonder why anything about the Mets was on James Dolan's network in the first place (Bob Raissman breaks that down better than I could). And by the way as much as I loved and still love that team, being reminded that our last championship took place almost 25 years ago just makes me a little sad.

Report: Doc Gooden Headed To ‘Celebrity Rehab’

Here we are some 25 years after he missed the '86 championship parade and it's come to this:

Dwight Gooden has famously battled his addiction to drugs and alcohol for decades. Dr. K is hoping Dr. Drew Pinsky’s “Celebrity Rehab” will finally get him on the right path.


According to TMZ, Gooden will highlight Season 5 of Dr. Drew’s sober house cast, which includes Michael Lohan, the White House party crashers, among others.


Gooden’s dominant pitching helped lead the Mets to a World Series title in 1986 and another National League East crown in ’88, and he also was a member of the championship Yankees teams of 1996 and 2000.


After making his major league debut in 1984 at the age of 19, he went on to win the Rookie of the Year award that season and eventually won 194 games over his 17-year career, which included a no-hitter for the Yankees in 1996.

Bobby Valentine Expresses Interest In Owning Mets

Bobby Valentine?!? Really???

A number of names with strong ties to Wall Street have emerged as candidates to purchase part of the cash-strapped New York Mets.


The team has given Major League Baseball more than a dozen names to begin the vetting process, the New York Post reported on Wednesday. Faced with a $1 billion lawsuit by the trustee of victims of Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme, Mets ownership has said it will sell 20 to 25 percent of the team, but that number could go higher.


Former Mets manager Bobby Valentine has expressed interest in buying into the team. His group is headed by Anthony Scaramucci, the general manager of asset manager Sky Bridge Capital, the Post reported.


Another group expressing interest, according to the newspaper, includes David Heller, co-head of the Goldman Sach securities unit.


A third investment group includes Steve Starker, co-founder of trading firm BTIG, and Ken Dichter, co-founder of Marquis Jet.


The Mets have said that they are looking at multiple avenues to raise money for the team. They have already borrowed more than $20 million from MLB, according to media reports. The league has told the Mets that it will not loan them any additional money, The New York Times reported on Tuesday.

Terry Collins Wants Offensive Second Baseman

Judging from this statement Luis Castillo's days as a Met are just about done and that should be great news to all Mets fan:

New York Mets manager Terry Collins said offense is a big priority from second base this year, according to ESPNNewYork.com's Adam Rubin. "Second base, to me, has become an enormous offensive position," Collins said. "Why? I'm not really sure, except some of the guys that have been playing there recently (Chase Utley, Dan Uggla) have put up huge numbers at second. But it's become an offensive position, so to me that's a big piece to the puzzle, especially when you've got that guy (Ike Davis) playing first base that can eat up so much ground over there. It helps out." 2Bs Brad Emaus, Daniel Murphy, Luis Castillo and Justin Turner are all fighting for the job.

Sandy Alderson and Johan Santana Talk Recovery

Unless the Mets are somehow still in the wildcard race come the All-star break, does it really matter when Johan Santana comes back? If not then let the guy take his time, it's not the Mets aren't used to paying guys tons of money who don't play anyway.

Francisco Rodriguez and Jose Reyes Talk To Media

Bernie Madoff Says Wilpon's Didn't Know About Ponzi Scheme

And of course, you can trust Bernie Madoff.

Source

Just Let Daniel Murphy Play 2nd Base Already

Really, it’s why the Mets continue to fail year after year: even the simplest of decisions they have to turn into a big deal. Daniel Murphy has long proven he can hit, the only question is his ability to stay on the field. And no, he can’t play the OF, we’ve seen that. So why is Terry Collins talking about Murphy being a utility player and why are epic FAILS like Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez still in the conversation? Because they’re the Mets and in an upcoming season where the only question in the NL East is whether or not the Phillies Hall of Fame pitching rotation will stay healthy, the Mets must still do things the hard way even when nothing’s expected from them.