Unfortunately, I do not think this is necessarily rock bottom. This could be the beginning of a few miserable years. However, this does not have to be the case. If the Mets play their cards right, make a few GOOD decisions, and plan for the future, they could be playing some playoff baseball in 2010. It is my belief that the actions of Mets management from now until January 1 will determine whether the Mets will be playing baseball or golf in late October of next year. Here are the top 5 things I think Mets management MUST do in the next 5 months if they want to have a chance of making the playoffs in 2010.
1) Shut Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran down for the rest of 2009- These are two of the integral parts of "the core" and rushing them back to play in meaningless games will do more harm than good. Both guys are under contract for 2010 so Omar, Jerry, and the Wilpons have to realize that they need to be 100% healthy for ALL of 2010. Had the Mets not tried to have Reyes and Beltran play hurt earlier in the year, the standings may be VERY different today. Thus, management must learn from their mistakes and hold Reyes and Beltran out of the lineup for the rest of this season.
2) DO NOT shut down J.J. Putz, Billy Wagner, and Carlos Delgado- Delgado is not under contract for next year and probably won't be back. Thus, they really have no vested interest in him being healthy for next year (that sounds really bad though). Having him back in the lineup will only provide the Mets with some extra offense and make those late September games somewhat exciting. At the very least, Delgado has done alot for this organization so I believe they owe it to him to allow him to play the last few weeks of this season.
Putz and Wagner are much different. The Mets hold an $8 Million option for Wagner ($1 million buyout) and a $8.6 Million option for Putz ($1 million buyout) and if they pitch somewhat effectively at the end of '09 it would make sense to pick up AT LEAST one of the two players options (if not both) and then try and trade them for starting pitching or power hitters in the offseason. However, it is very unlikely that they will pick up either player's option if they have not played in 2009; thus, the Mets should make sure that both pitchers pitch sometime in August & September (if possible) so that they can properly evaluate whether there will be potential suitors for Wagner and/or Putz, which in turn will help them determine whether to pick up either (or both) of the options.
3) Bring up the kids and let them play- Guys like Angel Berroa, Gary Sheffield, and Livan Hernandez have no future with the organization beyond 2009 . So, lets use the rest of 2009 to look at some of the young guys in AAA and AA to see what they are made of. Here are a few guys I would like to see playing in Flushing in August & September:
Eddie Kunz, Dillon Gee, Adam Bostick, Ike Davis, Ruben Tejada, Nick Evans, and Josh Thole.
Thole is the guy I want to see in Flushing more than the rest as we need a catcher for 2010 and he is really knocking the cover off of the ball in AA (.345 average, .415 OBP, 1 HR, 40 RBI). While his power numbers are not great, it is hard to ignore his BA and OBP.
4) Commit to the young guys for 2010, but bring in 1 power bat & 1 quality starting pitcher- The Mets have brought in MANY aging veterans over the last 4 years and we are beginning to see how fragile these 36 year-olds can be. Thus, they should stick with guys like Niese, Pelfrey, and potentially Parnell in the rotation and let them develop into quality starting pitchers. Rather than go out and bring in an aging veteran to hit .233 (a la Brian Schneider), see if Josh Thole can catch everyday. He very well might not be able to at this point but they should give him a chance to prove himself (hopefully in 2009). The same goes for guys like Daniel Murphy. While he has not produced the numbers you would want out of an everyday first baseman, he is still young and working on his game. Thus, I think he need to go through the necessary growing pains involved in playing in the MLB.
On the flip side, I do think they need to sign at least 1 power bat and 1 quality starting pitcher to help round out the lineup & rotation. I would love to get Holliday or Bay in a Mets uniform but I don't think they will be leaving St. Louis and Boston respectively. Thus, the best route for a power bat might be via trade (anyone want Putz or Wagner???). If a trade cannot happen, I would look at guys like Marlon Byrd, Rick Ankiel (although I am not sure how he would do in NY), and believe it or not, Manny Ramirez (although he is probably LA bound for 2010).
John Lackey, Rich Harden, and even Brett Myers
Some members of Mets Management/personnel must go after 2009. Here is a list of who I think should/should not be "relieved of their duties" with the Mets:
Jerry Manuel--DON'T FIRE
While he is definitely not perfect, he is not to blame for 2009. The plays seem to like him as does the Media. I think he deserves 1 more chance with a team that is actually healthy.
Dan Warthen--FIRE
While I like him, it is very hard to explain how the Mets are leading the league in walks despite playing in a ballpark the size of Manhattan. I think its time for Dan to go.
Howard Johnson--DON'T FIRE
A few weeks ago my answer might have been very different. However, it seems as though he has really had an impact on Jeff Francoeur, which in my mind justifies his return for 2010.
Omar Minaya--FIRE
After 2 collapses on the 162nd game and a year like 2009, how can one justify keeping Minaya as the GM (asside from money issues). Additionally, his "off the field" antics have embarassed the organization, which the Mets definitely do not need. I think the Adam Rubin issue was truly "the nail in the coffin." Unfortunately, I do not think he will be fired due to the fact that there are a few million dollars owed to him in the next few years and he is very close with the Wilpons.
Mets Medical Staff--FIRE
All I have to say is Delgado, Putz, Beltran, Reyes, Sheffield, Castillo, Maine, Perez, Nieve, F-Mart, Schneider, etc. If I were to list all of the reasons they should be fired, I would get carpal tunnel and would then need to be added onto the DL...we don't want that. However, what I will say is that not only did they not properly prevent injuries (as much as one can), they did not properly treat them (this goes all the way back to Ryan Church last year).
Obviously, its time for a change in Mets land
