The World Series has not ended yet, and already we’re coming out with off-season wish lists.
We want Reyes, we don’t want Reyes, pay CJ Wilson whatever he wants, let Wilson go to the Yankees. Get a closer, trade Wright, keep your draft picks, hire Omar, fire Sandy, hire Riggleman, move the walls in. As they say in Seinfeld, yada, yada, yada.
Now I’m not saying I don’t find these conversations valuable. I do, I like intelligent discussion about the possibilities of the future of this franchise.
What I am incredibly tired of as a Mets fan is this constant, and I mean constant debate and argument about the front office and how they evaluate talent.
If you as a fan want to discredit Sandy Alderson and his methods, that’s fine. Why is it that whenever anybody speaks about the man, they seem to have nothing but the utmost respect for the way he operates? Why is it that you never heard a bad word about the man? If everything he does is worth complaining about, how come nobody who has ever …
Author Archives: Yardbarker: New York Mets
MMO Flashback: Dykstra Admits To Cheating, McDowell Predicts A 4-Game Sweep
One last look at 1986, no seriously I mean it.
One of our former writers, Mikey J, actually passed along this YouTube video a few years ago and every year around this time, I get a kick out of watching it again.
In this clip, as the Mets get ready to take on the Red Sox in the World Series, Lenny Dykstra and Roger McDowell make a 10 minute stop at MTV Studios where they get interviewed by vee-jay Martha Quinn who is rocking her bright orange Mets t-shirt,
The video also features the video “Let’s Go Mets Go” about half way through, but hearing these guys talk is by far the best part.
Lenny Dykstra even gives early indications of what his post-playing career might be like and admits “I even like cheating a little sometimes if that’s what it takes.” That comes in the second half the clip, long after he puts his moves and works his charm on Martha Quinn.
Roger McDowell is as goofy as ever and he just cracks me up whenever I see this clip.
Anyway, en…
Is it time to Unload David Wright.
Ahh don’t you love off season. Nothing but time to think and tinker with what the Mets will have on the field in 2012. Of course it would be a lot better watching the Mets play the Rangers then La Russo’s Cards and his 400 pitching changes but what can you do.
The Mets will be looking to hopefully resign Jose Reyes at Short soon but what should they do with his partner in crime David
Who Are the Top 6 Mets Players Since 2000?
The New York Mets have struggled in recent years, only making two postseason appearances since 2000. Several large-ticket free agent signings led to the promise of better things to come, but several of those signings didn’t pan out according to plan (Pedro Martinez, Carlos Beltran and Jason Bay, to name a few).
However, the Mets have had stars who have shined in the spotlight of the big city since the beginning of the 21st century, and still more are attempting to blossom now as well.
Here are the top six players who have starred thus far for the Mets since the beginning of the new millennium.
6. Johan Santana: 2008-Present
Since the trade that brought starting pitcher Johan Santana over from the Minnesota Twins for four players in February, 2008, Santana hasn’t quite replicated the success that saw him win two AL Cy Young Awards in four seasons, however he also hasn’t been bad, either.
In three seasons, Santana is 40-25 with a 2.85 ERA for the Mets. Santana underwent shoulder surge…
The Mike Piazza Dilemma: Mets or Dodgers?
When Mike Piazza was drafted as a favor in the 62nd round of the 1988 draft, not many people thought that 23 years later, we would be having the discussion of which hat he would be wearing when he gets elected into the baseball hall of fame.
Of course, as Mets fans, our gut says that Piazza should be wearing a Mets jersey when he is enshrined into the hall. If that s the case, he will join only Tom “Terrific” Seaver as the only players to dawn a Mets hat in Cooperstown.
Now, Piazza led the Mets to the World Series, which is something he never did for the Dodgers. With arguments like this, though, I feel like using numbers to tell the story and make the best assessment of the situation. So here’s the lowdown.
Dodgers Stats
Homers- 177
RBI- 563
Average- .329 BA
Marlins Stats
Homers- 0
RBI- 5
Average- .278
Mets Stats
Homers- 220
RBI- 655
Average- .295
I don’t think there’s any question that Piazza should be wearing a Mets hat when he enters the hall of fame, but it should definitely be interesting to see how much consideration the Dodgers truly get.
What do you think?
Another Offseason Wish List
With the World Series matchup now settled and the Cardinals back in it again, my mind wanders back to 2006 NLCS when these same Cardinals beat the Mets. Aside from getting sick, it makes me think what is it going to take to get the Mets back to the doorstep of the World Series and maybe, god willing, into it. Well it all starts this offseason. Now by no means do I think the Mets will contend for a World Series in 2012, but there are several steps that could be put into place to get us further down the road. Now of course these are just what I wish can happen and some may seem farfetched, but that is why it is a wish right?
One: Resign Jose Reyes
This is above all else, is the priority of the offseason. Reyes has been the Mets best player, and quite frankly was the only reason fans went to the ballpark the last month or so (at least for me it was). He is exciting, talented, and coming into the prime of his career. Yes the injury risk is there, but the positives outweigh the negatives…
Coutinho: Mets are favorites for Reyes, Giants more interested in Beltran, etc.
Interesting insight about Jose Reyes from New York Mets Beat Reporter Rich Coutinho:
I don’t know about you, but I’m nervous. When that week or month of negotiations with Reyes begins, it’s gonna be pretty exhilarating. Rumors are going to be everywhere, almost all of them untrue. No one will know where he is going until that last moment when the deal is signed.
The New York Post will certainly publish something saying that Reyes is going to the Giants, or the Nationals, or the Brewers, or the Phillies, or even the Marlins, but…
Take it lightly… Yes, I enjoy the rumors too and I will publish them here. However, it is important to realize that no one knows what’s happening for sure until that last moment when a contract is signed.
Please Stay Jose!
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Mets 2012 payroll situation not as bleak as it seems
Originally, I was very troubled about the news that the Mets would have a $100-$110 million payroll in 2012. But after running some numbers, I think it’s not going to be as big of a catastrophe as I originally thought, due to the presence of a number of players under team control. Don’t believe me? Here’s the Mets’ 2012 commitments, with all numbers in millions:
$24.00 – Santana
$18.13 – Bay
$15.25 – Wright
$04.75 – Dickey
$01.50 – Byrdak – estimated total
$01.20 – Carrasco
$64.83 million total for six players, which leaves roughly $40 million for 19 players.
But then you look at all of the pre-arbitration players that the Mets have – Beato, Davis, Duda, Evans, Gee, Murphy, Niese, Parnell, Tejada, Thole and Turner – and suddenly it becomes workable. Using a salary of $500,000 for each of these players adds $5.5 million to the payroll. Now the Mets are at $70.33 million for 17 players, which leaves roughly $35 million for eight players.
If the roster breaks down as 5 SP, 7 RP, 2…
Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Jon Niese
What is Jon Niese? Is he our promising young lefty that will emerge as a very solid pitcher for us? Is he a guy who is very good at times, but somewhat inconsistent? Is he a guy who will pitch to a 4.00 ERA every year, or will he start to put it together and solidify the number 3 or 4 spot in our rotation?
2011 was not a season of marketed improvement for Niese. Niese shows flashes, but often times it is followed by a poor outing or a bad inning. In his first two professional seasons he has finished with ERA’s of 4.20 and 4.40. He ha given up 417 hits in just 370 big league innings, and even though he does not walk a lot of batters he still has a high WHIP as a result. Niese has made some improvements as he has added a cutter and is working on keeping the ball down more consistently. His record thus far is 22-23, and if he can not improve on a career 1.46 WHIP I have a hard time believing that he can be more than a .500 pitcher. With the numbers he is putting up so far …
MMO Mailbag: David Wright To The Rockies?
I keep hearing about the Rockies wanting Wright. What do you think we could get for him? Is Cargo out of the question? –Gary Hanley
Well Gary, allow me to get a few things out of the way before I delve into this question. First off, we’re not completely sure that Wright is even on the trading block. Throughout the season, we had many rumors and whispers that David Wright was available and on the trading block. However, the team has stayed fairly firm on this, and Cerrone has confirmed – David Wright is not available at this time. The likelihood of the situation is that he won’t be moved until after the club is done dealing with Jose Reyes, if he is to be moved at all.
If you do a little research, you find out that there were rumors that Wright was placed on waivers earlier in the year and that the Rockies placed a claim on him. Jon Heyman has said that this is untrue, but Troy Renck, who covers the Rockies, has started the fire yet again.
Opposing executives expec…