Ownership Must Go

I could not write about the Mets this morning, I had to write about something fun, College Football, in particular The Volunteers of Tennessee. I needed some time to think happy thoughts and distance myself from my thoughts of my beloved Mets.

The really sad thing about the state of the Mets for this 50 year veteran of watching the Metropolitans is I have seen it all, I have actually seen Mets teams that would make this team look good. I have seen the Mets from the days when Casey said “can anyone play this game” to the thrilling moments in Mets history that are etched in Mets fans minds; Fans storming the field after game 5 of 1969 World Series, Rusty Staub, bat in hand with Willie Mays telling fans to stop throwing crap at Pete Rose in left field after his fight with Buddy Harrelson in the 1973 playoffs, the ball hit by Mookie Wilson rolling through Bill Buckner’s legs as Ray Knight races home to tie game 6 of the 1986 World Series and game 7 heroics.

As I watch the second half failure of the Mets the only conclusion I can come up with, it is time the Wilpon family sells the team. What has happened on the field is in direct relationship to management’s financial problems.  

The players we are sadly watching today are the same players we watched in June when they were in contention. We all knew they were playing on a thread. I don’t want to say over their heads, because I believe if all the parts of the Mets were to work at the same time, they would be contending. I think any team whose parts all work at the same time will contend. The Mets of June were contending and even then, all the parts did not work (Bull Pen, No Power)

The failure of the second half has shown the gaps this team has: no consistent power, no bull pen. The Mets of June scored lots of runs for a healthy starting rotation, injuries to Santana and Gee have hurt the Mets, I am actually encouraged by the starting rotation. You cannot ask for a better teammate or representative of the Mets than in Cy Young candidate RA Dickey, add Neise, Harvey, McHugh, Gee, and a healthy Santana you have the makings of a very good starting rotation next year.

The Mets must bring back DWright. This has to be the number one priority of Mets management. He is the face of the team, just like Chipper Jones has been the face of the Atlanta Braves. If the Mets let Wright walk they maybe letting another star walk into the arms of an eastern division foe. The Braves would love to have David Wright walk into the shoes of CJones.

The Mets needs of today will be the needs for next year as well, a bull pen that can hold a lead and power. The Mets have had two power hitting catchers in their 50 years, Carter and Piazza. The Mets desperately need a right handed power hitting catcher. The player I would love to see is another ex Volunteer J P Arencibia. He is under contract with Toronto through 2017, the only way he will end up in Flushing is via a trade and the Blue Jays will want gobs for his services. Power hitting catchers are very much at a premium in MLB and there are slim pickings on the free agent market.

The NY Mets need quality arms in the Bull Pen. The addition of Mejia, Familia and Carson will have a big impact on the team as has Josh Edgin this month. Look for the Mets to continue to seek pitchers for the pen.

Ike Davis and Lucas Duda must hit for power for the Mets to turn the ship around next year. The Mets will continue to struggle if the big guns shoot blanks. Bay is obviously done so in reality they have three outfield positions to fill.

The Mets have many missing pieces but the biggest missing piece is ownership that is committed in restoring the Mets to excellence.

Let’s Go Mets