God help us all

If there is a god… somehow the antichrist world series gets cancelled with an impromptu strike.  If it HAS to happen (much like a root canal or death itself), I hope the Phillies don’t score a single run in four short games with Rollins getting hit in the nuts on the 2nd to last pitch.  Oh the horror…

You know what sucks about tonight… we had another shot at those fuckers and the Phillies are took our ace and our place atop of the division.  Jeff, Met fans just had the underpants yanked up a bit higher tonight… please remember this feeling when you’re bidding on free agents this winter.

You just need to sit back and wonder how it came to this.    If there is a way for two teams to lose, I hope it happens.  Let’s get past the stupid parade and get on to hot stove.  With all due respect to good sportsmanship, the Yanks and Phils can go fuck themselves

Posted By Nik Kolidas

Game 6 and more!

As you’ve noticed, Kiner’s Korner has been lagging in posts due to the mental disability caused by this hemorrhoid of a postseason.  Unless we get an early holiday gift from the Angles, our two biggest rivals will be meeting in the series to decide who’s going to rub our noses in crap next year.  Gee; I can’t wait to find out who it’s going to be??  

It brings me back to where I was 23 years ago today as Metsblog helpfully reminded me today.   It was the last time Yankee fans felt exactly the same way we do right now. I was between the 3rd base coach and Rich Gedman in the lower boxes thanks to my father’s wad of $20 bills and Shea’s old lax policies toward paying your way to a great seat.  We almost walked out to “beat the traffic” at out number two, but thank goodness I refused to leave.  I remember crying as a kid and telling him “it’s not over”.  I guess sometimes in life you’re right.

Do you REALLY want to come in this game?

haha... the 80's

Thinking back on it; it reminds me of how much fun it can be to be a Mets fan.  Lately, we’re so caught up with our distaste for the atmosphere around the team that we forget what summers at Shea used to feel like.  We’re Met fans because we don’t like it easy and sometimes it ain’t easy.

Best day ever!

 

Odds and ends

There are a bunch of things I’ve wanted to give my 2 cents on the last few weeks and my soap box finally got fixed.

Aroldis Chapman – Ok, so logic dictates you don’t spend 60 million dollars on an unproven pitcher when you have a thousand needs on your team.  That being said, our buddies in Queens never outbid anyone on a player other teams want and maybe this is the time we show the baseball world who their daddy is.   Sometimes a team needs to make a statement that’s larger than the actual player and this is possibly it.  If the fan base knows there’s this phenom coming up, it’ll help energize us and give the team some good press for a change.  It’s a little illogical from a roster perspective, but I say nail this guy fast and start stepping on the Yankee’s parade.  It’s not my money to spend, but in a way it is.    If Chapman is pitching, I might go to Citi and watch it.

John Lackey – I think it’s insane to give John Lackey all that money when you have the prospects to trade for Roy Halladay if you really wanted to.  If Lackey wants to sign for something modest, then great, but to overpay for a #2 starter who takes a month off every year is unsettling.  I’d sell Mr. Met himself to get Halladay. 

 

 

Matt Holliday-  Prince Fielder?  I’m sorry; I thought you said Prince Fielder.  Ok, we don’t have the ability to get both Fielder and Halladay, so assuming that can’t be done, this isn’t a terrible option.  A lot of people thought mark Teixeira & Beltran would be terrible in NY and both those thoughts were misguided.  That being said, Fielder would be a hero here and if the Wilpons really wanted to step up, they’d find a way get us one of those two players and then buy the 2nd best version of the other.

Backman &  The Teufel Shuffle Welcome back boys!  It’s funny how even 23 years later the Mets still can’t help but pin them against each other.  Somewhere, Davey is smiling. John Stearns being back is actually what makes me the happiest as I’d love to see him manage the team someday.  Mookie; well, I loved ya Mook and then you went and wore a Cardinals hat in the playoffs.  I know your son played for them for 6 days, but did you need the outfit buddy?  Go F yourself.

Olle Perez hater Metstradamus wants Brian Schneider back I respect your opinion big guy, but although you make some valid points; I have to disagree.  This team needs less negative energy and Brian has 1982 Met leaking from every fiber of his being.  I don’t know where the answer lies, but I know it isn’t in Schneider’s bat.   I do love your “Who would you like to see put in a weather balloon to float away?” poll.

Marty Noble and the Media There’s this feeling that the Mets have fallen below the Marlins and Braves and there is nothing Omar can do in the off-season the fix things.  What a bunch of crap that is. I’m sick of the media dumping on this team like it’s a 2nd division franchise.  I realize it’s been a 3 ring circus the last few months, but on opening day 5 out of the 9 starters will be former All Stars in their prime and that’s without making a move.    Work must be done, but this team is in no way irrelevant in 2010.

Kiner’s Korner- We have a few interviews coming up and an end of the season round up… so stay tuned.  Same bat time – same bat channel!

Posted By Nik Kolidas

KinersKorner Sits with Adam Rubin of the NY Daily News

Adam Rubin of the NY Daily News was good enough to join us on the KinersKorner. We look back at 2009 and ahead to 2010 for the Amazins.

Thanks Adam for speaking with us at the Korner. It has been a long and tumultuous season for you and the Mets, and I hope we can take this opportunity for some perspective.

Obviously injuries were an issue this season. The Mets are staying with the same medical staff and trainers, but are talking up “better communication and processes” as a way to correct the problem. Are they doing too little?

Adam Rubin: I would suggest that the organization’s culture is the biggest issue, and that can be changed without personnel alterations. Players spoke highly of the Hospital for Special Surgery doctors, but almost uniformly said that they were pushed to play though injuries that would have landed them on the DL had they been with other organizations. Case in point: J.J. Putz was told by Dr. David Altchek he needed to have a bone spur removed from his elbow. The Mets advocated a cortisone shot. Putz had the injection, struggled for a month, then needed the procedure anyway. The two players who were treated conservatively —Ryan Church and David Wright— both put the negative physical effects behind them when they returned from the DL. Church was almost placed on the DL by accident, because Carlos Beltran had needed a cortisone shot at the time and Church was deactivated as a way to get another outfielder onto the roster. Public pressure to put Wright on the DL after his concussion perhaps influenced that sound decision.

What in your opinion was the turning point from this season being a disappointing injury-plagued season to an embarrassing 70-win season?

Adam Rubin: I’m not sure I can define one moment. In a three-week stretch in July the Mets dropped from one game to 10 games behind the Phillies.

The Mets talk about accountability, yet retained the GM, manager, and most of the coaching staff. Do they realize how this rings hollow to the fan base, and do you have any idea why they’re giving this group another chance?

Adam Rubin: I don’t see how returning substantially the same staff and roster will result in excitement among the fan base, but 2010 clearly is make of break for Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel, so the change may be coming soon.

What? Me Worry?

How much should we read into the Mets talking to JP Ricciardi, Kevin Towers and Wally Backman? From the outside looking in, it almost appears like the Wilpons are forcing Omar and Manuel to hire eventual replacements to make for an easier transition.

Adam Rubin: Clearly those people would be capable of stepping into the GM or manager’s role if someone were fired next season, so perhaps there’s merit to what you’re suggesting. However, Minaya’s closest advisers are rapidly disappearing—Tony Bernazard (fired), Sandy Johnson (likely retiring), Ramon Pena (dismissed) — so why not hire competent people? Backman’s credentials are impeccable, and I’m sure if he’s assigned to Binghamton that would be a boon to the Double-A club’s marketability, which would be a nice gesture after this year’s woeful season there.

Good Wally

Bad Wally

The Mets fired Tony Bernazard and several high-ranking members of the minor league front office and managerial staff. Are you encouraged or discouraged by the moves made so far?

Adam Rubin: I can’t really say either. I can’t say there’s been any surprise. Mako Oliveras, the Double-A manager, was brought into the organization by Tony Bernazard. The reviews of Julio Franco as a manager were poor. One scout asked me, “What is he teaching them—how to style after they hit a ball?”

Let’s move away from off the field and talk a little bit about the players and personnel on it.

Wright had a disappointing power season. Should Met fans believe this is an off year for the young star or is he going to not be the power star he showed the previous seasons?

Adam Rubin: He may not reach 29 homers, his average of the previous four seasons, regularly again, but I expect improve power numbers next season. He was largely unprotected in the lineup and did get away from pulling balls, even though a lot of his power is to right-center. He and Jeff Francoeur will join Howard Johnson in Florida for a couple of weeks this offseason to try to rediscover their swings. I also believe Wright felt a lot of pressure to carry the team, which didn’t help. And the ballpark was a factor more so with Wright than other players because of the stark differences between Shea Stadium and Citi Field in right-center. I don’t know what the final number was, but hittrackeronline.com at one point determined Wright was deprived of eight homers by the new dimensions.

Make way for Dark Helmet!

Jerry had to work with a AAA squad essentially, but the fundamentals of this team was severely lacking. How much blame should be attributed to jerry and his coaches, and should the Mets fans expect better or more of the same?

It's tough being a Met, but it's not that bad!

Adam Rubin: Lou Piniella had no success instilling baseball fundamentals in Angel Pagan either and eventually gave up, so it’s primarily on the players. While I wouldn’t advocate Jerry Manuel upstaging players, I would have preferred him being more punitive with playing time though after transgressions.

Are the Mets thinking depth or star power when planning this offseason? Most fans doubt they have the resources for both.

Adam Rubin: I don’t think the Mets are particularly fixable this winter. Any team with Jose Reyes (provided he’s healthy), Carlos Beltran, Johan Santana, David Wright and Francisco Rodriguez won’t be abysmal. However, the Mets should have the third or fourth best rotation in the NL East next year, depending on how you evaluate them versus the Marlins.

There is about a net of $30 million coming off the payroll, and I firmly believe the payroll will go down slightly this winter. How can it not with fewer tickets undoubtedly being sold this winter? Jeff Wilpon only maintained he would continue to have one of the game’s highest payrolls. You can shave $20 million off the payroll and that would still be true.

I think Daniel Murphy will be the first baseman, and the Mets will seek a power-hitting left fielder as well as a replacement at catcher for Brian Schneider—maybe Bengie Molina. I just don’t see the Mets outbidding teams for Matt Holliday or Jason Bay.

The Mets also will need an eighth-inning reliever and a second lefthander for the bullpen. Obviously, a top-tier starting pitcher would be beneficial to avoid the same reliance on Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez and John Maine.

Can all that be achieved if the Mets only spend $15-20 million on free agency? No way.

And I don’t foresee much of a farm impact in 2010. Jenrry Mejia could be a bullpen factor, but I would hesitate to predict that. And Ike Davis getting promoted midseason would mean Murphy is faltering.

Pelfrey may have been the most disappointing performer this past season. Was it Verducci syndrome? Bad defense? Lack of control? Lack of secondary pitches? No one seems to have an answer. Where do the Mets stand with Pelfrey and where should they?

Adam Rubin: I don’t think there was an innings-count effect, which is what the Verducci Effect says. I think it’s a combination of confidence and control. 2010 will be big in defining what type of career Pelfrey will have. Jerry Manuel tells Pelfrey his peers are pitchers such as Matt Cain. We’ll see.

Fans of yours are familiar with your work with Baseball America and know how knowledgeable you are of the farm. What prospects that maybe some fans do not know about should we keep an eye on?

Adam Rubin: Lefthander Juan Urbina, Ugeuth’s son, hasn’t thrown a pitch yet in a professional game but everyone is incredibly high on him. The biggest sleeper may be righthander Kyle Allen. Mike Antonini will get a look in spring training as a potential lefthander for the major-league pen.

Once again thank you for your time and I hope you have an enjoyable offseason.

Posted by Robert Z

Collapse: It’s Not a Mets Exclusive

With the Tigers loss to the Twins in a One-Game playoff the Tigers became the first team in MLB history to lose a playoff spot with a 3 game lead and 4 games left to play.

So debate Korner Sitters, what’s worse: 7 games with 17 to play or 3 games with 4 to play?

Posted by Robert Z

“Omar and Jerry must step up”

What a crock of shit.  If I’ve learned anything in life it’s that actions speak louder than words.  What have they BEEN doing so far?  He is “demanding better and excepting better”… how do you expect better from the same product and demand better from the same people? When I bite into an apple… I taste apple each and every time.

 Jeff said the Mets will have “ONE OF THE highest payrolls in baseball”.  As a NYC franchise with a new ballpark, I expect them to be the SECOND HIGHEST payroll across the board.  He also takes responsibility for the lack of communication regarding injuries to the media.  Who gives a rat’s ass what the media knows?  I’m only concerned about the amount of time players spend on the field.  Basically the same muscles and docs are coming back next year.  Also, the LAST thing this team needs is more Jeff Wilpon being involved.  This team will never get it. The same mushy rhetoric we hear each winter was delivered with contrived passion. Jeff will never understand that we don’t need to hear that he’s hurt by this year… we want to SEE how hurt he is through actions and see that he’s learned from the experience. Blind faith that the odds won’t strike again is his answer.

 Unacceptable.

How do you retain the same core staff after the team gave up?  They clearly weren’t able to lead the team to a respectable finish after devastating injuries.  Really… protect Hojo and let each and every one of them (Omar included) go. Also, slick bringing back Backman, but is that a bone that they thing will keep the fans happy? I guess he’ll coach Gerald Williams in AAA?

So far not so good.  I hope to see something unexpected this winter or it’s going to be forever Groundhog Day in Flushing.  Jeff gave a very weak “maybe” when he talked about free agent signings.

By the way… for those of you who watched the SNY broadcast, how much of a kiss ass is  Bobby Ojeda and his sidekick?  Chris Carlin did have some balls to ask Wilpon if he’s letting Jerry & Omar of the hook by merely reshuffling the deck and Jeff said they’re “on the hook”  What does that mean Mr. Wilpon? They weren’t on any hooks at 90 losses? If not, what does this “hook” amount to? 

Sad.

Posted By Nik Kolidas

Mets Announce Coaching Comings & Goings: Jerry Stays – Backman Back?!?

The Mets, learning possibly from past mistakes when they let the coaches and managers hang in the wind too long, announced who is staying and going in Jerry’s staff. While not announcing Jerry saying too bluntly, by using the term “Jerry’s staff” it is safe to assume he’s going to have a chance to prove that this year’s faults can be corrected. This is per Metsblog.com.

Jerry Manuel, Hojo, and surprisingly Dan Warthen and Razor Shines have been retained. Razor Shines though will probably be reassigned away from 3B, possibly to 1B coach or bench coach. Sandy Alomar Sr. and Luis Alicea will not be returning. I for one wonder if Sandy Alomar Sr. is retiring, and not fired, since the Mets announced that his son Sandy Alomar Jr and Razor Shines will be reassigned.

I cannot say I’m happy about these moves, although it is interesting that Alomar, one of the holdovers of the Willie Randolph regime, is now gone. The Mets fielding and baserunning woes went beyond injuries, and Jerry and Razor Shines are keys to those areas. The Mets also led the league in walks by a wide margin, which falls on Warthen. This is not a way to indicate to the fan base that corrections are being made, and the only way to prove otherwise won’t be accomplished until 2010. Hopefully that’s not too late.

Update: John Heyman of SI tweets that Wally Backman will be returning to the Mets to manage in the minors. The former 86′er was a coaching candidate before he lied on his resume and has had numerous off the field incidents, but is regarded as a strong coaching mind and a fiery manager in the Billy Martin mold. If true that Backman road to recovery will run through the minors look for reports that he may be Manuel’s replacement should the Mets falter next year early.

Posted by Robert Z

C’mon Jerry… Do it! Do it!

Don’t you get the feeling (maybe it’s wishful thinking) that Jerry is going to resign today?  Man I hope so….

 

Posted By Nik Kolidas

The Losing Mentality of New York

Have you felt it?

The losses piling on. The ticking of the games going by. The amount of sighs Keith Hernandez is letting out on a daily basis?

Yes, it’s the end of a Losing Season in Flushing.

We’re a little over 2 weeks away from the end of the Damaged 2009 season. And with that comes the Losing Mentality of New York.

What is the Losing Mentality of New York? It’s the feeling that the answers to a horrific season are not simple. That there are greater mysteries to be solved, errors to be corrected, and the reset button must be pressed over an organization.

You see, in the Metro area no team ever JUST goes through a bad season, like other cities. Unless of course you’re an under-the-radar franchise like the New Jersey Devils or perennial losers like the New York Islanders and more recently the New York Knicks.

No, for NY there is always a “bigger picture.” The Mets cannot have just an unlucky year where the stars get hurt and they lose the season. No, there has to be fundamental flaw in the clubhouse, a chemistry issue, a lack of a winning formula, a foul smelling underbelly in what should be prized jewel in Flushing.

It can’t just be there was lack of talent cause of injuries. That’s not a good reason. That’s an excuse you see. Any team should do well with 3 All-star players on the DL for most of the year. There should definitely be replacements who can fill the void left by players the caliber of Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran. It’s easy to go through a season when 2 starting pitchers you relied on for about 12-15 wins apiece go down for half to most of the season. And the rookie replacement. And the replacement to the rookie replacement. And so on…….

This is not to say the organization in blameless. Far from it. Omar Minaya has a lot to answer for, and he did himself no favor by trying to pass the buck to a well-respected beat reporter in Adam Rubin.

However, must there always be a mass upheaval, mass change? Change for change sake doesn’t solve anything. That is why the Mets are in the predicament. Every time they build a system, a plan, they tear it down within 5 years. All of the successful franchises have gone through a period of hell before reaching heaven. This season has been hell, and we may force the Mets to do something stupid, like dealing Reyes or Beltran or Wright, before trying to reach greener pastures.

How many times have we heard someone say, “the injuries are not an excuse.”

No, they are not an excuse.

They are a fact. The Mets would not be in the current predicament if they were not devastated by injuries. Sometimes there are seasons like that. No team survives with 3 All-Star caliber players out for half to most of the season. Look at the struggles the Yankees had when A-rod alone was out! How good are the Phils if you remove Rollins, Utley and Howard? How good are the Dodgers if you remove two starting pitchers who can give the team 12-15 wins?

And that is where the Losing Mentality comes in. It’s making the simple complicated. It’s the fan who thinks admitting the injuries will be an issue will excuse Omar Minaya, Jerry Manuel, and the Wilpons from their mistakes. That it excuses the Collapse of 2007. The Failure of 2008. It’s the idea that if this was acknowledged, that this will give the Mets free reign to do nothing.

It’s the idea it excuses all. It doesn’t.

In order to build a team you have to be able to be passionate about winning, but be able to organize without passion. That means taking into account each and every reason for the fault, and like it or not the injuries are reason number 1.

There obviously will be things done regarding the medical and training staff. The minor league system is already undergoing change. Most importantly, despite what many think the Mets are not using the injuries as an excuse to not acknowledge and work on their needs. They already have admitted that a defensive catcher who will work well with pitchers is a priority. Rumblings are already coming out about #2 pitchers they may be targeting. Manuel has admitted that role players like Pagan and Murphy cannot be relied on without significant additions in other areas.

There is reason to be hopeful about 2010. You don’t need to close your eyes to the most logical reason of the failures of 2009 to not see that. You don’t need to be ranting and raving to see things done to make this team grow. You want to go to the games, watch playoff baseball. You want to win it all. So do the Mets. They know the fan base are bitter, hungry, and angry. But we’re New Yorkers. Let’s be smart and be cognizant of everything before we go off ranting or raving.

We wouldn’t want to be confused with Philly fans, would we?

Posted by Robert Z

Jeter’s Hit Record: A Mets Perspective

Finally out of the cave, ready to talk some Mets, or Buffalo Bisons, baseball. Maybe about Beltran’s return, or Maine’s short outing tonight (3 IP, 1 Earned Run in essentially a spring training start), or Reyes’s emotional response to critics questioning his desire to come back this season.

I want to come back, but i keep seeing 3 numbers in my head. Numbers 2,721, 4 and the number 2.

It’s been covered all over Nationally and especially locally over the past week leading up to and following Jeter’s breaking Lou Gehrig’s mark. And I couldn’t stand it.

Now, just for background purposes, you should be aware I am not a Yankee-hating type of Met fan. Unless the Mets face them in Interleague, or they face an NL East opponent, or fight for the same free agent/trade target, I am indifferent to their existence.

I don’t like the obnoxious Yankee fan who seems to get more joy out of the Mets losing than the Yanks winning, but the regular Yankee fans are fine. I have more friends who are Yankee fans than Met fans, and often I find them to have insights on the Mets that I don’t since they do not have the emotional connection.

Yet the Jeter record still bothered me. Looking around the internet at various chats and boards about the Mets, I was not the only one.

The question of “Why?” remains. He took over a Yankee record. Not an MLB record. He has a long way to go before he gets to Pete Rose, and I doubt his body will hold out enough for him to make it.

After a while it hit me. After such a long, arduous, and literally painful Met year, this was another reminder of what we want the Mets to be.

No matter how much they differ, people will always compare the two teams. It does not matter the Yankees history, the fact that they are a worldwide brand while the Mets are a national brand, or the differences in wealth between the perspective owners. It doesn’t matter the borough each team plays in, or where the fans primarily come from.

As long as both teams have an NY on their caps, they will always be compared. As well as the players.

The Mets do not have a Lou Gehrig, and chances are they never will. Gehrig is arguably one of the best players in history. Had he not contracted ALS, later known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, it is possible he may have broken some of Babe Ruth’s power records as well.

The crux though is Jeter. Any fan who is now in their late to mid 20’s does not remember 1986. Does not remember when the Mets were on top of the world. What they do remember is a young rookie in 1996 helping the Yankees win the championship. They remember that kid turning into an All-Star, being an important cog in a dynasty in the Bronx.

They remember that shortstop winning a World Series MVP in 2000. All while creating a career based on consistency, integrity, and a reputation for getting clutch hits and smart plays.

The Met fan doesn’t see him fail. We do not follow him like we do our own team, so the reputation and the hardware is what we care about.

In 2003 the Mets called up their own home grown shortstop prodigy in Jose Reyes. A year later, they called up David Wright. As they grew many Met fans made comparisons to the Yankees star. Jose Reyes, for his position, defense and unique skills. David Wright, for his poise, personality, and similar style with more power. Some went about saying they were better, especially in 2006, citing age and other factors.

Then the Mets lost a heartbreaking Game 7 to the eventual World Champions St Louis Cardinals. Then came the Collapse of 2007, and the sequel in 2008. Finally, the Lost Season of the Mets in 2009 to open the new park.

While the Mets young stars faded during the year, the Yankees star opened their new stadium to what appears to be another AL east title. Jeter has not done it alone, like the Mets didn’t lose because of Reyes or Wright alone.

Yet seeing Derek Jeter reach new heights again, his team on top again, and now seeing his name in connection to an all-time great, it is yet another reminder on how LOW things are with the Mets. How far away they are from having this type of Legacy.

This is not to say they may not win it all next year. In the few games just having Beltran back you can see how much different the lineup and defense is without him. A little health, a few smart moves for pitching, shore up the defense, you never know. Don’t expect any consistency from the organization like the Yankees though in the next few years. That is something that can only be learned in time, and the Mets nor their fan base have the patience for it.

It is unfair to compare the Yankees and Mets. It is unfair to compare Wright to Jeter. As long as there is an NY on the cap though, it comes with the territory. The Mets and their homegrown duo have to find a way to get past it. I don’t think they can, but baseball is all about hope.

One is NOT like the other. Both are quite good though.

Congratulations Derek Jeter on breaking the Yankees hit record and cementing your name with one of Baseball’s best.

David Wright and Jose Reyes: get better, get healthy for 2010. Ignore the comparisons if you can. At least you two don’t have a Lou Gehrig to try to measure up to.

Posted by Robert Z

Wagner Deal not Popular, but Wise

I’ve been reading a lot of negativity about the Wagner deal, but I want to make a few counterpoints. I was initially mad at this too, but then I gave it more thought.

The two draft pics are crux of the negativity regarding this deal. I think draft picks are very important as well, but the value we’re placing them on might be too high.

More importantly, the chances of attaining two picks, or even one, is unrealistic in the current baseball climate.

Wagner wants to close next year. The majority of the teams looking for a closer who will take a risk on a 39 year old coming off Tommy John are unlikely to be big market teams. They’re likely to be teams near the bottom of the standings, who can afford to take the health risk at the position.

Add that to the rumors that he wants to be near his Virginia home, and you’re looking at either Baltimore or Washington signing him. Which means the Mets get a supplemental 1st round pick since the acquiring team’s #1 pick will likely be protected.

The other issue is……..will it even get to that point?

The biggest negativity on Omar this year is he hopes for the best, and oftentimes the opposite happens. He hoped Tatis can duplicate ‘08, that Murphy can play left field, that Church will provide solid lineup protection, that Delgado will repeat the 2nd half of 08, that Oliver Perez will get it, that Maine will be fine coming off a new type of shoulder surgery, that Niese can take the 5th spot out of spring training, that Pelfrey can duplicate his 2nd half without succumbing to the Verducci Syndrome, that Putz can regain his old form, etc, etc, etc.

So in the case of Wagner we have 3 Optimistic Points to acquire a single pick, let alone two first rounders:

A. That Wagner will suffer NO setbacks in the next month and be completely healthy for the offseason.

B. That he’ll continue to pitch at a high level worthy of a team banking on a 39 year old as a closer.

C. That a team will value Wagner so much that they will be WILLING TO FORFEIT THEIR OWN DRAFT PICKS.

Do you really see a team, especially a low-market team that is cash strapped and needs the pick more than the Mets do, losing the pick just to sign BILLY WAGNER? I’m sorry, but that’s just crazy in this current baseball economy. Most teams would just trade for a set up man or sign a Type B free agent.

So the Mets will be on the hook for Wagner’s salary for about $5-6m after arbitration, + an addition $3.5m for this year. The Nets didn’t save $3.5m, they saved $8.5 to $9m. It’s less likely they were going to get any better prospects this winter at $5-6M trying to trade him, and they’d still have that much less to use for free agents. Also, has anyone thought that the $3.5M may end up going to sign the Latin American signings?

So you got the Red Sox willing to take the $3.5m, and take a chance on everything going right for Wagner to get the picks, and help the depth of the Mets farm a bit. GRANTED, it’s not a big help, but it is help nonetheless.

I would love to get those picks too, but i just don’t see a scenario where that would happen. You’re looking for too many things to go right. And in a year where everything goes wrong, sometimes a sure thing is better than risking it all and getting nothing.

Update: An addendum to the points above.

Ken Rosenthal points out that the Sox would have to pay $8.4M if the Sox offer arbitration. That financially will likely be the most money Wagner can possibly see this offseason. It’s very possible the Sox won’t offer it and risk having a power struggle with Wagner and Papelbon. However, the Sox may decide to keep him, have him close while they wait for closer prospect Josh Bard to develop, and either deal Papelbon or move him to the rotation.

Buster Olney says Wagner is expected to get multi years offers IF he finishes well. (Not a sure thing coming off TJ surgery). Mlbtraderumors.com points out that as a Type A free agent and a deep closer market including Jose Valverde and Trevor Hoffman, Wagner may have the same issues getting signed as Juan Cruz did this past offseason.

Posted by Robert Z

ENOUGH!

I HAVE HAD IT.  Sit back boys and girls because I’ve got to blow off some steam.

What the bloody fuck has happened here?  How has it come to this where it’s not even September yet and I’m watching meaningless games?  Why is this happening?  I guess the general thing you can ask is… “What the fuck?”

 

 

Well everyone, let’s go through the official 2009 WTF List.

I can't hear you kissing back there! Kiss harder!

WTF #1:  WBC

This is what kicked off out fantastic first season at the Shake Shack.  We sent every impact player we had outside of Johan away from a proper spring training and it seems like we haven’t seen them since doesn’t it?  Lay this blame on ownership who needed to carefully lick Bud Selig’s tender hairy ass more than every other owner and ended up contributing to the biggest disaster in Mets History.

Greatest idea ever... anywhere

WTF#2: Karma  

The Mets as an organization don’t do anything half assed except when they’re physically running the bases.   It’s not good enough to win a title, we need to win 108 games and do the surreal in game 6 to get there or pull off an all time baseball miracle in 69’.  When they lose, they need to lose more than any team ever.  When every year some pitcher throws a no hitter, we have to never throw one ever.  When they make a bad trade, it has to the worst one in baseball history.  When they get hurt, they need to have the ENTIRE roster go down.  When they sign a few aging stars, the players have to throw bleach at people, threaten reporters, have “I’m not gay” press conferences or live on houseboats.  The executives can’t just be bad, they need to be fucking the secretaries, threatening to beat up the farm system or trading franchise players because of personal vendettas.  It’s half the reason we enjoy them… they embody extremism, which is what NYC is all about.

Who would have thought this concept would be a negative?

WTF#3: Omar

As a collection, we as fans don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes beyond the evidence that leaks onto the papers or the playing field.  That being said, you can usually tell chaos when you smell it in the air.  There is a reason when every player went down,they didn’t get any reinforcements when they needed them and the ship was allowed to veer this far off course.  Ultimately this is on Omar’s shoulders as he should have taken the inside information only he knows and found a way to steer the ship.   The Mets are always about chaos and he’s proven not to be able to succeed in that environment.

It's your nose, you know. Fans are funny that way, they take a dislike to things. They'll pick on a nose.

WTF#4:  Fred & Jeff Wilpon. 

In what world do two men have a billion dollar asset and insist on having non professionals involved in running it?  Well, The Yankee world was like that for years and they only developed good teams when the boss wasn’t in the mix.  Other great teams with meddlesome owners included the Reds of the 80’s, the Orioles & Marlins, late 70’s A’s… wait no, they sucked I’m sorry.

We should have signed Manbearpig and let Al Gore run the team

WTF#5: Olle, Maine & Reyes

Who would have thought that between Olle and Derek Lowe the right answer was to get neither of them?  I’ve been an Olle supporter and I have to admit I’m totally 100% wrong.  Between him & John Maine (who wants surgery desperately, but has nothing that needs a repair) the win total this year is embarrassing.  Maine needs to come back as a pen arm next year and Olle needs to go do something else for a living.

About Reyes, who doesn’t think he’s not busting it back because he knows he’ll be traded if he shows himself to be healthy?  What a disaster…

I kinda of miss Mo Vaughn, don't you?

WTF#6: Delgado & Putz

These two important players came into the year hurt and management knew it.  They had all spring to get a capable backup and chose to cross their fingers.  Not only that, they actually sent Putz to pitch in the freaking WBC!  You can’t make this shit up…

 

 

Yeah, enough said.

WTF#7: The training staff

I bought the “best in the world” line for a long time and as player after player went down I figured that management was making them play through tweaks and aggravating injuries.  Then more players went down, and then even more. Now, Johan & Frenchy are down and there is literally not a player left worth watching.  A loaded, championship caliber baseball team has been reduced to Nationals status by way of a plague of vague injuries.  I don’t even know how Reyes got hurt, do you?

“Best in the world” or not , it’s time to honestly examine the people responsible for keeping the tweaks from happing in the first place.

Stop drooling

WTF#8: Our Benitez meter

How is it on 24 and we have the record we do?  Without Krod can you imagine what the record would be?

 

 

 

What's up with that?

WTF#9: My new fancy pants

I bought some fancy pants when I was on vacation and the pocket ripped… what’s up with that?

 

 

 

Bobby V and the Mercury Mets. Never has a great idea ever worn a bad idea so well.

WTF#10: The overall product

My slingbox beamed this disaster to me, 4,937 miles away in Greece.  For three weeks I watched game after game of torture.  Yes Fred, I know you think Met fans are 2nd class, but I actually watched your pitiful product while on vacation. We do care. Can you please fix this?  Please no Ricco or any other projects that haven’t produced successfully before.  Face it, you have bad judgment when picking executives.  Get a veteran, proven baseball man to run the show and let Bobby V come in there and run the on field ship.  Please….

Thanks a lot

 

In closing I’d like to give a giant middle finger to the Texas Rangers for embarrassing me by wiggling a fat Nolan Ryan at me for 3 months and then handing him to the Daily News.   Thanks guys!  And finally Pedro…my buddy Pedro.  You should have retired after Boston my friend. 

Posted By Nik Kolidas

Johan Santana to Miss Start – Will Visit Dr Altchek

According to Jerry Manuel, Johan Santana will see Dr David Altchek tomorrow to check his elbow, which Santana says he’s been having discomfort with.

Now all they need is for K-rod to go down and every player who was part of the pre-season promotional packages will be on the DL.

We feel ya, Johan

Posted by Robert Z

Frenchy – Torn Ligament in Thumb

Yep, another Mets player, arguably the best hitter left in the lineup, might be shelved. He’ll try to play with the ligaments torn.

Corey Sullivan will replace him in the lineup for today’s series matinee.

If you don’t know how this will end you haven’t been watching the Mets this year. I just hope this is for good Karma coming up, and not some we already used.

Posted by Robert Z

Triple Play and the Three Amigos

Just when you thought you’ve seen it all……

First, an apology to all the KinersKorner fans for the lack of updates. The gang here was sent to the DL, and were supposed to be out for a few hours. We missed a few days. Oops.

Oops may best describe two disastrous parts of yesterday’s game. The first being more historic and will probably cause much mirth in the Bronx, which is the Triple Play that ended yesterday’s 9-7 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. With Castillo and Murphy on 1st and 2nd and nobody out, the Mets put on a hit and run with Jeff Franceur at the plate. Frenchy, being a Met now, did something that hasn’t been done since the 1920’s: hit a game ending Triple Play. He rocketed a ball to 2B Eric Bruntlett, who stepped on the bag and tagged Murphy. Daniel, perhaps unconsciously acting out the feeling of every Met fan, threw down his helmet in disgust.

What really should have disgusted him is the performance of Ollie Perez. Oliver Perez gave up 6 runs on 2 Three-Run Home Runs (What are those? How long has it been since the Mets had a 3-Run home run?) and did not even finish the 1st inning.

In the ultimate of indignities, Jerry Manuel took out Oliver Perez mid batter after he went 3-0 on……….Pedro Martinez. That bears repeating. He went 3-0 on Pedro.

In an ironic twist, Nelson Figueroa struck out Pedro to end the inning.

Pedro was about the same in his return vs the Mets. Four runs, seven hits in 5 innings. Frankly, if I was a Philly fan I would not be encouraged, as the Mets lineup in its present state resembles a AAA lineup as much as Major league lineup.

As for Perez – we’re stuck with him. That’s the worst part. There is no way he’s not here next year. He is being paid too much to be traded, and he’s too young, too talented and too much invested into to release. You can make a solid argument that Omar could be fired for this move alone. There was no one else bidding close to the amount they paid, and the Mets could’ve had gotten better production and less years from Randy Wolf.

Crying about performance, or Laughing to Bank/

Unfortunately, as usual they succumbed to public pressure when it came to player personnel. There were too many people clamoring for Lowe or Perez, that they didn’t even allow themselves to truly consider alternatives. The worst part is if the Mets get themselves a true #2 starter, they probably don’t even need Perez next year. I think most would go into next year with Santana, a new pitcher, Maine, Pelfrey, and Nieve, Niese and Parnell battling for the 5th spot with Brad Holt or Jenrry Mejia waiting in reserve midseason.

As for the Man who signed him…..

Reports from the Daily News and Post suggest that there is no plan to remove Omar from his GM position nor Jerry Manuel from Manager, according to Fred Wilpon.

Let’s first get this easy one out of the way: Get me the same quote on October 5th.

This is the same organization that gave Willie Randolph the same vote of confidence before he went cross-country to be fired. The same organization that said Todd Hundley is Our Catcher before trading for Mike Piazza. Why should I believe anything now? What use would it be for the Wilpons, Fred or Jeff, to announce lame duck status’s for either man and just cause more controversy.

It doesn’t.

Assuming they tell the truth, and the Three Amigos of Jeff, Omar, and Jerry are kept together in 2010, at this point I really do not know how awful it is. Jeff we cannot do anything about, and Jerry is hard to judge when he esentially played short, literally and figureatively, all season.

The big issue is Omar, and as much as fans hate to say this, the injuries ARE an excuse. The lack of depth would not be so noticeable or damaging had the Mets not lost all 3 of the most significant offensive players, and 2 of the top defensive players in key positions, for such a long stretch. And maybe because I have some sort of mental defect that let’s me look at things at all angles, but I still find it difficult to blame Omar for not getting another star player midseason when (a) the doctors tell him the players will be back by the All-Star Break and (B) everyone and their mother is telling him to hold onto the farm.

In the end, considering how devastated the Mets team was by injuries, it was a good thing Omar didn’t make a panic move and trade key prospects for star players. Would Mark Derosa really make that big of a difference, and be worth Bobby Parnell?

In the end, the Mets losing the Three Amigos – Beltran, Delgado and Reyes, is what did the team in. More than the depth, more than Perez, more than anything else. If the choice is to give Omar one more shot and not be able to spend as much on the on-field talent, or to change GM’s and managers and be handcuffed, I’d rather take one more shot with this group.

What can I say? I’m a gambler.

(6 months later, as thanks from Omar after reading this post, Omar signs this guy……….)

The Gambler is Back!

Wagner Back with Mets

If you had Billy Wagner in your pool of 1st Met to return from the DL back in May, you win. (SOB!)

No word yet on who will be sent down to make room for Billy. My guess would be Elmer Dessens.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, IT’S TIME TO GRAB AN IDENTITY

It was nice to see the Mets “walk off” today, beating the Giants 3-2. It’s cool being the spoiler and playing loose, as we saw way too much of this from other teams the last two seasons. I have to admit though it is tough to get overly excited as the “face” of the franchise was knocked on his ass yesterday. The news wasn’t much better today….Even though it was not intentional, per the Giants, this is the second time in the last couple of weeks that David was flipped. This team has no identity. They have, when healthy, a contending team, but it seems like the rest of baseball sees the Mets as a soft team- NOT GOOD. It makes me think – what would the ’86 Mets do in that situation?

Regardless of whom puts on a uniform for the Mets this year, at some point they need to grab an identity. By that I mean – show the rest of the league that they are not going to take any more shit. In baseball circles this is usually accomplished by a good old fashion basebrawl. This is more than hitting one of our guys, it’s about diving over the plate and talking publicly about the Mets (didn’t Cone do the same thing with the Dodgers and it somehow propelled them to beat the Mets?). Jerry claimed to be a gangster, but it doesn’t seem like any gang that I have heard of – maybe he’s a member of the the Sugar Hill Gang!!!

Regarding DWright, I love the guy, he plays hard and he is a gamer. That said, I have had enough with his friendly attitude, patting every MLB player on the ass when they come to third. Why doesn’t anyone pat the Mets on the ass when they get to third? Do the Braves or Phillies do that? I don’t think so. David- it’s not your job to be the embassador for the game, especially since no one is crying for the Mets this year (or any of the last three years). The one young guy that might help in this area is Frenchy – I like this S.O.B. – I hated him and his horse teeth when he was a Brave, but I was wrong about him. I can see him knocking someone on their ass (and driving in 100 runs with a full lineup). H e was genuinely excited to score the game winning run today, and for that reason alone people should continue to go to Citi!

Posted by Gene Anthony

The Wagner Question

We interrupt your regularly scheduled moping for some interesting baseball discussion……

Hi I'm Robert Z. And I'm Emily Doran.

Billy Wagner is set to make his final rehab start tonight, and barring any setback he will be activated Sunday. This will give the Mets about a week to decide what to do with him. He appears to have recovered nicely, hitting low 90s on the gun and not allowing a run thus far through his rehab. He has yet to pitch in back to back games.

Wagner reportedly has already garnered some interest from an AL team. The Mets wisely, and that phrase has been used way too infrequently this season, put him through waiver earlier this month so they’ll be free to deal him now to any team.

But is dealing Wagner the best move?

According to the Elias Rankings, Billy Wagner will be a Type A free agent. That means if the Mets offer arbitration and someone else signs him, the Mets will receive a 1st round and a supplemental 1st Round pick. With the Mets own 1st round pick likely to be protected (a team that finishes in the bottom 15 keeps the 1st Rounder no matter how many type A free agents they acquire), it would go a long way to restocking the farm system.

As an aside, it may not be as bad as many claim, as John Sickels reports.

Closers in baseball are hard to come by. If Wagner is anywhere close to what he was, a team will bite, regardless of the economy. It’s not like waiting on an outfielder or set up man for the price to drop.

Even if no one signs Wagner and he accepts arbitration, the Mets will have a strong setup man next year and a trade commodity. It is a risk at his price, but not an overly large one.

Remember, his rate on next year is reasonable for a closer, so a team on the fringe of a playoff race might take a chance for this year and activate his option for next. Most of this season is over, so the salary for 09 will pretty much be a wash for any acquiring club. Among the teams I can picture keeping tabs on Billy would be Texas, Tampa Bay, Cards, Cubs and Seattle.

It should be interesting to see what Wagner’s fate will be come August 31st.

Now here’s Ollie Williams with his Billy Wagner Prediction.

TORN ROTATOR CUFF!

Thanks Ollie.

Posted by Tom Tucker, I mean Robert Z

And the walls…are crumblin’ crumblin’

I’m not sure what to say.  It’s my turn to post an update and honestly I’ve got nothing left for this team.  It’s hard to be enthusiastic when the team itself has given up on us.  I understand the injuries, the luck and the bad choices in spring training, but other teams fight through it.  Perhaps a point can be made that backups are exposed when they play too often, but how is lack of talent connected to fundamental baseball?  Why are they so absent minded and sloppy?    As the days tick by and the losses pile up, the fans grow indifferent.  It didn’t have to be this way.

If you remove yourself from the outrageous amount of impact players sent away to the WBC (all of which had ruined seasons) and put yourself back in June when the team had the chance to stick with Philly, you’ll see a fan base begging for the obvious and a front office frozen in its tracks.  They were petrified of change with a boner for the status quo.   No matter if it was Omar, Jeff or the Easter Bunny… nothing was done to give this team stability when it most needed it.  Reyes & company were never coming back and they knew it.  Hell, as much as we didn’t want to believe it, we all knew it.  We joked about it in a half horrified way.  Who hasn’t said “”I bet we see Wagner first” all the way back in June?   The front office was so afraid of making another Kazmir deal that it didn’t pull the trigger at all on anything and let the season deteriorate into what it is today.  Frankie was good idea, but it was too little too late.

I’m not giving up, because I love watching baseball.  I wait all year for these six months and as much as I’m enraged that these overpaid circus performers want to take away my fun… I’m not going to give in to it.  I’m going to watch and pretend there is something happening in Flushing.  I’ll check out the September call ups, maybe enjoy some Holt fastballs and then come November I hope that whole damn bunch of them are out on their asses.  Yes, Jerry…even you so long as Bobby V comes in.  If it’s not Valentine, then I guess the Wilpons will do what they do best and hire an inexperienced dry piece of toast.

I love how management is thinking of moving John Ricco in to the GM chair and bumping Omar into scouting or something like it.  This team never brings in fresh blood and I guarantee a Ricco/ Omar tandem is a bad idea just based on Ricco not having been a GM before.  What will it take for Fred to take the team away from Jeff and hire outside proven baseball people to fix this mess?   Can John Ricco cut his teeth somewhere else please? 

Very soon, I’m going to tick up the Benitez Meter a click based on the Johan game, but considering the week Krod has had, it’s going to be a lukewarm click.  Any suggestions for Armando’s next big adventure?

 

Posted By Nik Kolidas

A Tale of Two Citis vs. St. Louis

Alright everybody, let’s all just take a deep breath. There’s not much else we can do this season but laugh. Just when the Mets get our hopes up, they find new ways to let us down. And vice versa. It’s a real Tale of Two Citis…..

Tuesday 8/4: Pujolus Blasts Cards to a 12-7 win in the 10th

After 8 so-so innings pitched by Santana, the bullpen, who’d been so good as of late, came in and lost the game for the Mets. K-Rod blew a save, and the pen gave up 5 runs in the 10th – 4 of which were on a grand slam by the mighty Pujols. We’re thinking about taking away a number on our Benitez Meter, it was that bad. The game looked like it was ours but as us Mets fans know, nothing is a given.

Except, of course….injuries. Tuesday night saw a new type of off-field injury, when Castillo fell down the dugout steps and sprained his ankle. You can watch the clip below….a total America’s Funniest Home Videos blooper moment.

What Would Bob Saget Say?

I hear they're installing these in the dugouts now

It was a truly disappointing evening on many levels.

Wednesday: Mets Decide to Win One, 9-0

A day after a pathetic loss, the Mets turn around a deliver a 9-0 shutout and limit the Cards to just 6 hits. Not before, though, they lose yet ANOTHER player to injury. Oh wait, did I say player? I meant playerS.

Jonathan Niese left the game in the 2nd inning, after tearing his hamstring on a play covering first base. Nelson Figueora came in to pitch 4 1/3 innings and redeemed himself with a fine performance on the mound….and a 2-run triple to boot. Parnell pitched 3 innings, earning his first save and a potential spot in the rotation. Word came that Niese is out for the season and will have surgery on his torn hamstring.

Gary Sheffield, only a few days off the DL, aggravated his hamstring and had to come out of the game in the 6th. He doesn’t think it’s serious, but boy, have we heard that before! And of course, Castillo was out of the game today with his sprained ankle.

Maybe the Mets should try Dr. Tinycat?

So, where do we go from here? I’m afraid these Mets will continue thier bi-polar season right on through September. Last week my eyes were on the Wild Card standings. But after this week, my eyes are (cautiously) on 2010.

A 2010 prospect, perhaps? Why not?!

Posted by Emily Doran

Looks like Reyes is Done for 2009

According to Kevin Burkhardt of SNY & David Lennon of Newsday, Jose Reyes is back in NY as his discomfort in his leg is still there. Both imply that he’ll probably be shut down for the remainder of the 2009 season.

Jose Reyes is probably the best example of the ineptness of either the training or medical staff this year, or management for how they handle injuries. He hurt himself in May, was kept on the roster for several days, finally was DL’d, then while rushing his rehab back about 2 weeks later hurt his hamstring compensating.

At least this season might make Mets fans appreciate him more, as we’ve seen how much the Mets missed his explosiveness at the top of the lineup (especially when Pagan was out), his daily enthusiastic approach to the game, and above all, his defense.

I for one am very disappointed cause from a purely entertainment standpoint, and that is what sports is all about, Jose Reyes is my favorite current Met. In a bad season he’s the type of player you still tune in for. I feel cheated that we only had Reyes for 36 games, the lowest total of his career.

With that said, the best thing to do is do whatever they can to fix him up, rest him up, and get him healthy for 2010. Do what you can to strengthen those legs Jose. If 2009 showed us anything, it’s that the Mets need them.

Bye Jose