![[DNEBA Enterprises logo]](images/delogo-button.gif "DNEBA Enterprises logo"){kind=small}
BMF Glad Manny’s Not a Met
Of course a large part of me would love to sign Ramirez and let him mash in the clean-up spot but my bigger self knows it’s a little too yankee-ish for comfort.
The truth is if we got Manny EVERYONE would pick us as automatic favorites to win it all thus creating a yankee scenario where anything short of a WS trophy is failure. Sorry but to BMF that’s not what baseball is all about.
And as IrishMike points out baseball prospectus is picking us to win the East anyway – without Manny!
The truth is it’d be that much more exciting, and Met-like if the home grown Danny Murphy develops into a solid contributor and by some miracle we win it all with the likes of Murphy, Neise and F-Mart contributing.
I mean let’s face it we’re already getting dangerously close to being a gross big market team. Consider the last few winters have seen us sign Pedro, Wagner, Beltran, Santana, and K-Rod. Those guys have pretty much been the cream of the crop every year and we keep cherry picking them just because we can afford to.
It’s no wonder the cretins in Philly despise us so much. I’d hate us too if I weren’t us
To Philly, and the rest of the NL East, we’re the spoiled rich kids but meanwhile we’re the small market team in our own city. Met fans hate the yankees because they recklessly throw money around so I definitely don’t want to become that kind of franchise… at least not more than we already are.
I really think we have to lighten up a bit as a fan base. We like to complain but we really don’t have it so bad. We fixed our most gaping hole by landing the 2 best closers available and we’ve got young talent like Murphy and possibly Martinez waiting in the wings.
I’m psyched for this season and I’m psyched to watch Danny Murphy play – and that simply wouldn’t happen if Manny were a Met.
Oh man, with the warm weather in nyc the last couple of days can smell baseball in the air and I’m feeling good!
![[Buy the Go Big Pelf T-shirt]](images/BigPelf/BigPelf Tile.jpg "Buy the Go Big Pelf T-shirt")
Mojo Kitty rocks the batting helmet for luck!
February 13th, 2009 at 8:24 am
We have a questionable LF combo, a questionable secondbaseman, a bad catcher, and a RF where concussions go to die…. Oh and we have Delgado…Which Delgado will show up for the season?? I’m guessing the tired old guy who tanked because he hated Willie.
But I am psyched as well for the start of the season…. no matter what they are still our Mets…
February 13th, 2009 at 8:29 am
You hit it on the mark.Getting Manny makes
us a lot like the yankees.I think though that
there is too much expectations of Murphy.He
seems like a guy who really wants to win hopefully he will have a solid season
February 13th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Wow what an amazin’ team? So they have so many huge questions as lesman claims while all the other teams have no such huge questions … yet, yet the Mets are picked by baseball prospectus to finish first?? How can that be?? Uh, who do you think knows what they are talking about more? lesman? or baseball prospectus? hard choice, ain’t it?
February 13th, 2009 at 10:19 am
CAPSLOCK=DISABILITY ACCOMODATION
EVERYONE MUST CONSIDER THAT SINCE ASSUMABLY WE WATCH MORE MET GAMES THAN ANY OTHER TEAM, WE’RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE WEAKNESSES & SINCE WE ONLY OBSERVE COMPETITOR TEAMS WHEN THEY PLAY AGAINST US, THEIR RELATIVE HOLES DON’T SEEM AS DAUNTING AS THEIR RELATIVE STRENGTHS. HERE’S HOW U HAVE TO LOOK UPON THE DIVISION. FOR 3 YRS STRAIGHT WE LED THROUGH 145 GAMES & FAILED IN LAST 17. OF THE 5 TEAMS IN DIV. WHO DID THE MOST TO CHANGE THIS PHENOMINAL FACT? DID ANY OF THE 4 COMPETITORS MAKE SUCH IMPACTFUL CHANGES AS TO NOT TRAIL AFTER 145? OR DID NYM DO MORE TO FIX THOSE LAST 18? I VOTE THE LATTER. SUBTRACTIONS OF SOSA, MOTA, HEILMAN, SCHOENEWEIS, EASLY(MIA IN FINAl 17) & ADDITIONS OF PUTZ, GREEN, CORA AS REPOLACEMENTS SHOULD DO THE TRICK. NOW, IF U FEAR IBANEZ OVER BURRELL OR CHAN HO-HUM PARK, I BELIEVE U NEED A CHUTZPAH IMPLANT OR THAT ATL’S .500 ROTATION IS DIFFERENCE MAKER, GO ROOT ELSEWHERE! BP OBVIOUSLY ISN’T EMOTIONALLY INVESTED! WAKE UP EVERYONE! OMAR’S NO IDIOT! U WERE WRONG ON NADY, CHURCH, MAINE, PEREZ; BUT HE WASN’T HOW MANY OF YOU THOUGHT HE GOT TAKEN IN CAMERON DEAL? NADY? MILLEDGE? PERHAPS U HAVEN’T BEEN PAYING ENOUGH ATTENTION. OMAR’S THE KING OF THE THROWINS & REMEMBER GREEN & REED WERE VIRTUAL THROWINS & I FOR ONE AM EXCITED TO SEE THESE RABBITS OUT OF OMAR’S HAT, LOL!
February 13th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Amen BMF!!!! Thank you!! You are so right. We cannot look like the Yankees. I’ve always said, develop the young players. You build dynasties that way. And let’s face it, Marlins, Rockies, Tampa Bay, Twins, etc. I know they aren’t dynasties but they get to the big game.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Can’t wait for spring training, hot stove was such a tease!
The games I’m really looking forward to are the 2 games with Boston at City. What pitchers will we throw out and face? Will it be like the all-star game or will they crank up the rotation then? Am I getting ahead of myself?
February 13th, 2009 at 10:37 am
of course we got questions at almost every position…but there are no sure things, especially in baseball…
What is Delgado tanks?, what if he hits like the 2nd half of last year?
What if Castillo has another bad year?, what if he goes back to the type of player he’s always been?
What if Reyes show boats and pouts (never understood the pouting critique)? What if he continues to be in the league leaders of Hit, SB and runs while hitting near .300 with 15HRs and playing solid D?
What if the pressure of trying not to fail get to Wright? What if David continues to improve his GG defense, hit .300 with 30HR and 120RBIs?
What about our “weak” LF platoon? What about two of the most “clutch” guys we had last year, both are hard working and have something to prove and are playing for the love of the game..not the love of themselves or money…
What about LosB only hitting .275 with 120RBIs and 30HRs while playing GG D in center…? (wait, was that glass half empty of half full?)
What about Church’s concussions? What about the guy who was our best hitter until he got hurt and was the best defensive RF the Mets have had in the past…um…maybe ever…?
We can play Glass half empty/full for every spot and every team…the fact is every team has questions and the Mets are no different…but they are younger and healthier and aren’t relying on old, injury pron vets to help carry the Rotation, Pen and Offense…
I see a lot of players reporting to camp early and bonding and having a good time (see..Pelf and his helmet and Putz giving Burkart and Pie in the face).
And this A-Roid thing is a blessing in disguise for the Mets…instead of reporters hounding the Mets and two years of September failings….They’re all over at Spank-me camp feasting on A-Roid, Torre and all the other drama going on over there…
February 13th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Oh…I forgot how to fix the Mets problems in the final 17 games of the past three seasons…
.
.
.
Retire Mexs number and cure the Mex Hex!!!!It’s bad enough that Mexs number isn’t retired, but they let complete scrubs wear it!!!
Retire the number with 17 games left in the season, let the current players see what type of player it takes to win in NY and watch this club win out.
LETS GO METS!
RETIRE #17!!!!
CURE THE MEX HEX!!!
February 13th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Can any one tell us when the ST games will played on TV for those who do not live in NY.
If I am not mistaken there was a deal sold on that last year.
February 13th, 2009 at 11:11 am
“Retire the number with 17 games left in the season”
Best idea EVAH!
February 13th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Why must we be so paranoid about the Yankees? I know we are not getting Manny but it has to do with budget concerns and not so much the character though certainly part of the discussion. I would have no problem signing Manny in a perfect world and I honestly don’t care what the other 29 teams think of us. We are already hated by the Phillies because of Reyes, the Nationals because we dumped their players in baseball purgatory, the Braves need no reason because they have southern kids who grew up hated the Mets, and even now the Marlins big wigs are using us a tool to get their players riled up saying the Mets requested not to play them in September. Manny will actually cool down the angry mob of a fan base we have since they cannot be throwing out names like “cheap” and “Freddie Coupon” but alas Bernie Madoff and a global economic crisis I have been a major monkey wrench for that to ever come to fruition.
February 13th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Finally, a blog with some common sense
February 13th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Getting back to this Manny thing……Remember when we all were playing Little League and dreaming of being a MLB’er and playing with the Mets? All your friends and family would be there to watch you and cheer for you. Do you think that it is at all possible that Manny ultimately wants to fulfill that dream of playing before his ‘hometown’? Think of how he would be worshipped in this town. I know that some of you are laughing at the very naive notion that someone (especially Manny) would take less money to fulfill a boyhood dream…..but is it possible?? I’m a realist and realize that everything in this world is now ruled by the dollar but with all of the other free agents gone and Manny still sitting there, you have to ask yourself, WHY? What is he waiting for? Omar should invite the dreadlocked one to finally come home. BRING MANNY HOME!
February 13th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Last year BMF blessed the Big Pelf and he came up with a good year. Now our venerable MF’er has blessed Ol’ Danny “Boy” Murphy. Let’s hope for the same results.
I’m bored, lets get this thing started already.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
BMF, I understand your thinking, but c’mon. You know you want Manny hitting cleanup for this team.
USMF, brilliant idea, now please send me a check for stealing my signoff!
CMG, caring about the Yankees is what we Mets fans do every year, irregardless of our own fate. Personally, I want them back in the World Series when the Mets get back there. I want another crack at big brother with a real closer!
LET’S GO METS!
SIGN MANNY!
RETIRE #17!
February 13th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
I don’t know what but this off season was particularly painful—the hangover following two major collapses, too much Manny speculation, a ridiculous amount of negativity, and oh yeah, everything that’s going on in the REAL world. Alright already, let’s get started! I can hardly wait another minute for the Mets to start playing and the rest of us have something fresh to talk about.
Call me a party pooper, but its a little hard for me in this economy to get on the Wilpons and Omar about not shelling out an insane amount of $$ for an aging, cranky, poorly fielding player, even if he can hit like crazy. I mean, everyone I know is getting laid off, worried about it, or unable to find a job. Or could lose their home, their savings or worse. It makes all the whining about the 2009 Mets go from “typical fan crankiness” to “completely disconnected from reality.” I say bring in the salary cap and put what these guys do in perspective a little. Their not curing cancer at City Field, its a game.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Bingo, I’m happy with the team the way it is right now. The Mets don’t need the dominating personalities causing any drama.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Sorry, didn’t drink the Kool-Aid last year, and I am not drinking it this year.
It’s an 85 win team.
When do we stop worrying about “looking” like the Yankees? You know what? The Yankees have 26 friggin rings, and made the postseason every year for 10 years straight, while we worry about uniform patches and tacky home run apples.
Sorry to piss in the Cheerios fellas, but its an 85 win team in a division thats going to be tougher than last year.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Jake, I’ll buy you a beer next time we’re at Blondies…
Buck, the only problem with your “bring manny home plan” is…Manny grew up a Spanks fan…Manny even pissed off Boston by sitting in the Club house during a game watching the Spanks on TV during a pennet race…
February 13th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
We don’t have to bully other teams with our giant NY coffers, and that’s not what I ask as a Met fan. What I do ask– and hope for– is some semblance of a plan, and– since they are asking for more money from me than if I were a Reds fan– prudent spending in service of that. (A wallet’s only a real advantage if you’re spending smart.)
The problem is… there doesn’t seem to be one. Since the “bring the pride back” business in 2004-2005 (aggressive FA signing/promotion of our young stars), there hasn’t really been a multifaceted on-field or development-related organizational strategy I can see, apart from lots-of-international-signings/let’s-try-and-win-one-nowish-but-not-go-crazy-doing-it. Instead, the team’s decisions seem highly reactive (in contrast to our business planning, which– Citi partnerships aside– seems fairly forward-looking).
Worst thing about Omar? He consistently addresses team problems… from the previous year.
Whether it’s Manny (who seems the best theoretical on-field fit), or Dunn/Abreu/Burrell (all of whom were HUGE relative bargains, compared to their past/projected WAR value)… there was nothing bold done to forestall possible– and likely– holes in the lineup. (What are the odds of all 4 potential offensive trouble spots– LF, 2B, C, and 1B to a lesser extent– all ending up rosy for us? And– God forbid– what are the odds of our big 3, Church, and Delgado escaping injury entirely?)
February 13th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
(NOTE: I am a big Omar supporter… but am wavering a bit after the last year or two, not nearly as much because of the results as the process behind them.
And I do think that the team as presently constructed can do some damage this year… IF everyone– and I mean EVERYONE– stays healthy. Trouble is… we’re not deep at all, and it’s a long season.)
February 13th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
First of all it’s been way too long since we’ve had a John Milner reference on here.
If in fact the Mets vision is “let’s-try-and-win-one-nowish-but-not-go-crazy-doing-it” I think that’s perfect. In other words give me a team that is competitive all year and in a position to make the postseason (and actually make it in once in awhile for the love of God). The hard core “win now” approach never seems to work. The most recent times the Mets did it were the high priced 2002 acquisitions of Robbie Alomar and Mo Vaughn (and the near high priced acquisition of Juan Gonzalez) - how did that work out? How about the 2004 “win now” trade of Kazmir for Benson? When did the Yankees (there they are again) start to flounder in the postseason? When cranked up their “win now” machine and paid trillions of dollars to worthless pitchers like Kei Igawa, Carl Pavano, broken down pitchers like Johnson and Clemens (the 2nd time around) and every other over the hill roided up guy they could find.
I’m heading to the T-shirt store to make up my “Let’s-try-and-win-one-nowish-but-not-go-crazy-doing-it” jersey. Thanks for the inspiration LMFS!
February 13th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
heres my 2 cents, did I want Manny of course I did, was this the time to get him sure, am I still a Met fan and want them to win, regardless of getting Manny or not?, without a doubt. Wanting players that could help is not whining, its addressing what most of the teams fan base thinks could and would help. I still think they could be a great team if many things falls right, thats just it so many things have to fall right to be where I want them to be. BMF I think you mentioned in your blog that we should lighten up, cause we dont have to so bad, im sorry I love this blog but I cant disagree with you more. Sure complaining doesnt help, but why do you think we have it so good as a team. I am not talking about the world, cause yes the world as many problems, and there are much more things to worry about than who the mets sign, but we come here to forget about our problems and watch baseball cause its a break from the daily grind. I am sorry I cant be less passionate, cause im sick of other teams celebrating and I am tired of being almost good.
My point with Manny, of course he wouldnt have automatically given us a championship, but I think its the step we needed to take at this time. I am not saying always spend money, but people forget you have to mix young players with veterans. The problem we had, is our young players and veterans couldnt come up big when it counted, and I just want to bring in someone who could. Yes Murphy is a great story and I want him to do well, but you have him playing in a position he doesnt belong platooning with a bench player who also doesnt belong in the outfield. You see other teams win with their young home grown players because their home grown players come up big when it counts ( go see Utley, Howard, Rollins for the Phils or Upton Longoria for the Rays) I love our guys but im sorry the way the team is now, I dont think they can get it done, they fold when the pressure is on. I hope and pray im wrong but everyone keeps blaming it on the bullpen and just the bullpen, yes the bullpen was horrible, but I think it just covered up the other flaws of the team with being just so much worse.
You dont win on paper, we have all seen this, and I agree you have to have a strong core of home grown talent to win, but they need help also, veteran help, the help that would take the pressure off, even for just one or 2 seasons, we keep putting more and more pressure to people who hate it . Just to see what it would be like to not choke 2 years in a row. It would be worth it to sign Manny, just to get the monkey off their collective backs. Sure we can all come out of the woodwork now saying yeah great job not getting manny cause we all know its not gonna happen, but im sorry if im not patting the mets on the back just yet. Do I want to be the Yankees and have all free agents everywhere no cause I hate them and what they do, but mixing a little of that and a little of this isnt bad, we just have to do a better job of mixing. People forget all of the help we had in the 80’s Hernandez, Carter, Knight, Ojeda, Darling were all people from other teams, they werent home grown. We won cause we had a good mix and we were cocky, and thats all I want again, I dont care if teams hate us, they hated the 86 mets more than the mets of today, but what they did that this team hasnt shown yet, was to not care and beat the F out of everyone else. Oh and one more thing I know the Yanks havent won since 2000, but they are always in the mix, not counting last year, and they have 26 rings, yeah I would hate to be that good every year ( sarcastic ). I just want to win is that so wrong, Go Mets! 4 life
February 13th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Gracias, Irish. Gracias.
Listen… in short, you like rooting for Danny Murphy, Niese and F-Mart. So do I.
So do Rays fans. Except they’ve got a LOT more of those guys in stock than we do. (As do the Braves, and about two-thirds of MLB.)
My main thing is… if we’re smart about drafting/player evaluation (a little money there goes a LONG way), we can be the Rays, except remaining competitive in the times in-between blossoming-player renaissances– THAT’s the gift of having deep pockets. Plus, if you develop guys, then you have more ammo to flip for in-season or off-season help (like Darling, Ojeda, Keith, et. al).
Instead, we’re year-to-year. It’s the difference between driving a slowly-decaying Benz but living paycheck-to-paycheck… and driving that Benz while building your war chest.
February 13th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
AM2177…1st off, I don’t think anyone was calling the “Manny wanters” whiners…
I’ve been on the fence about Manny this whole off season…You can’t deny what Manny’s bat could do…but you can’t completely ignore Manny’s negatives. I’m also very excited about Murph…
Signing Manny would be a big “We mean business statement” to the fans…and after the past two years, Met Fans are desperate for something to give them a little more than just hope…of course signing Manny wouldn’t guarantee anything, but it’ll be hard not to pick a Mets w/ Manny as favs…
Omar has had a plan and stuck to it. It is far to say Omars plans have been typically reactionary vs preemptive…but it is what it is I guess…I believe from the start, O had zero interest in Manny and stuck to it…I’d rather have it way than O caving to fan pressure to make up his mind for him…
I think the long term plan is to get younger, faster and more athletic…O is getting away from the Alou’s, Petes and such and going with teh Muphs, Evans and future F-mart…signing Manny would be a step in the other direction…not to mention, in post steroid era, how many productive years dose Manny have??? Why is it nobody is willing to offer Manny anything??? What is going on in MLB that we don’t know about or fail to recognize?
I’m not trying to bash on Manny, or those how want him. It’s just i can see and understand why the plan is what it is…
People don’t seem to realize that the Mets spent the 2nd most money this off season…and the Spanks spent a ton, but because of a decade of reckless spending coming off the books, they went down in payroll…and nobody is adding much in payroll…
I guess the fan attitude would be very different if the Mets just finished a strong 2nd the past two years rather than blow the PS away in the final week…
I can see this team wining 110 or losing 110…it could really go either way…but we are in a better spot than 90% of the teams out there…I never buy into the hype and I never buy into the doomsday either…a lot can happen…that’s why I find it fun…
Now, for those who like to bitch and whine everyday and have ridicules demands biased on pure fantasy because you can do it on your gameboy and and damn the team for every win or bad play and the next day proclaim them inevitable WS because of one win… and instantly call someone names because they don’t agree with you..then you’re just a waste and not worth the time…
February 13th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Whiner.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Agree with BMF. We don’t need a head case like Manny.
February 14th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
and exactly how old is Livan Hernandez?
February 14th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
ok Im over the Manny thing, can we get a right handed bat, middle of the order kind of guy, who likes pressure and who can hit in the clutch, if anyone can get that im all on board, it doesnt have to be Manny, but we need someone like that then, im sorry Tatis and Jose Valentin are not gonna cut it. Even though I brought Manny up as much as anyone, just note I dont care about Manny, Im not even sure I like him lol but I wanted his kind of caliber player. The Mets can do one thing to help the no manny thing, release castillo and sign Orlando Hudson, why? ill tell u, it would make the rest of the lineup better, u could even bat Hudson 1st move reyes down a little or vice versa, even a 100% castillo which who could really say that could even happen, doesnt hit that much, maybe a nice singles hitter with absolutely no pop, hes not as fast as he used to be so his style of game is useless, ill give him that he gets on base and has a good eye but all in all even if he is back to himself, he is no good to us. Ok you have to pay him anyway, release him sign hudson to a very reduced cause of the economy price, and you will be adding at least a spark to the order, but no, we have to keep him cause no one wants him and they dont want to admit how bad of a signing it was, so were stuck with him. That is horrible business keeping something just cause we have to, im sorry thats not good for a team that needs a little boost, if you have to pay him anyway, wouldnt everyone rather have him off the team then on it? Orlando Hudson is much more gritty then castillo and he actually wants to play here, if castillo starts off slow and the fans get on him and probably rightly so, he is going to be out of it before it starts, u dont want Manny im good, but get someone else who wasnt here last year in the lineup maybe it helps
February 14th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Ok I’m still curious — but I guess nobody else is!
Will we throw Santana for the first game v. Boston at City even though it’s non-impact? Or do we wait to throw him for the first real season game? Maybe Jerry doesn’t even know yet.
Mannyschmanny… like I said, Putz is scary looking. Can’t wait to see a Putz/K-Rod combo!
February 14th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
wynd: no way that Santana throws in that exhibition. He’ll be on track to start Opening day in Cincinnati, which is only a couple of days later. I don’t think the Mets care at all about that exhibition–it’s just a chance to pick up a few extra bucks at the box office.
February 14th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Agreed on Johan - he’ll pitch as needed to throw 95 pitchers on opening day.
Regarding this - “it’s just a chance to pick up a few extra bucks at the box office” - no question but it’s also an opportunity to stress test the new stadium operation. Better to find out the scoreboard doesn’t work or the beer refrigerators are warm during an exhibition rather than a nationally televised actual game.
February 14th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Thanks Dude, I agree Santana for opening day, so I’m thinking it will probably be those other guys showcasing in the Boston miniseries.. the 5th Element, the 5th Dimension, the 5 Spots.
February 15th, 2009 at 11:02 am
Add Livan Hernandez to the 5-Spots! Welcome Livan!
February 15th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
leave us not worry about who picks the
leave not worry about who picks the Mets to do or don’t do. these picks are meaningless in the long run. we’re looking at a brand new season in a brand new ball park. there are too many varibles during the long baseball season to place any credance in predictions. all we can do is hope for the best.
LET’S GO METS
February 15th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Now that O finally landed Livan can the resigning of el Duque be far behind?
February 17th, 2009 at 7:14 am
The Mets are not a bad team..Omar has built a “good” team, one that is competitive but under him and the Wimpons they will never be a great team. The Wimpons want us to spend our money and they don’t care to win it all because they will fill up BnkrupCiti Field every game make bundles of money and they don’t give a rat’s arse for us fans who want a winner.
So instead of signing Manny they go out and get Livan Hernandez….Wow, yet another over the hill injury waiting to happen….
Sure lots of teams have question marks in many positions…but we are in the biggest market in America…We should be able to populate our team with the studs we need to win it all.
In particular after the last two seasons the Wimpons need to prove to the fans that they are serious about winning it all…not just having a winning record….