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If It Looks Like A Collapse |
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Written by Mark Healey
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Thursday, 25 September 2008 |
 So, blowing a 3 ½ game lead
isn't a collapse? Managers that can't keep the clubhouse
from “pressing” or the bullpen from leaking, have the media
begging the team to gibe him a two-year extension, and general
managers that preside over budgets that represent the highest
payrolls in the sport, yet could miss the postseason for the third
time in a four-year tenure get four-year extensions?
Man, I want to work for the New York Mets. I'd last about 30 seconds, but it would be fun to work in an environment where failure is rewarded and self-delusion is the office dynamic.
Omar Minaya, whose contention since the trade deadline that his farm system had untouchable players, or that there “was no one available” is getting a four-year extension for what, exactly?
His inability to convince the ultra-conservative Wilpon ownership group that Manny Ramirez would dominate the NL pitching? Because his “baggage” is really getting in the way of the Dodgers' NL West title hopes. We still don't know what Oakland was asking for in return for Huston Street, but is there really a price that the Mets would put on avoiding a second straight collapse?
Yes. A collapse. Sorry, Omar, but when you fired Willie, your reasoning was that this team is “supposed to win”.
So Uncle Jerry made gave everyone a sticker, after that mean Willie made everyone sad, got them to build a 3 ½ game lead over the Phillies on Sept. 10. It followed that 13-10 win over the Nationals with eight losses in it's next 13 games, including a 9-6 defeat on Wednesday night.
Oh, and for the Mets blogger that called this a great pennant race, the Mets definitely will want to hire you. Tony Bernazard loves that kind of spirit.
Speaking of Bernazard, Eddie Kunz is nowhere to be found, Nick Evans is hitting .260 with little power, Fernando Martinez is two years away, Wilmer Flores hasn't even seen his 20th birthday or High-A ball and is the No. 1 prospect but the Mets farm system is much better than everyone in baseball thinks it is. Player development at its finest.
A solid Dan Murphy does not a farm system make.
Minaya was on WFAN's Mike'd Up yesterday, crowing about Luis Ayala, Brian Stokes and how no one was available at the deadline. Well, Chad Bradford was, and he has a 1.00 ERA in 18 games with AL East leader Tampa Bay. He also has a pretty tidy postseason ERA of 0.00 in his career and has performed well in the NY spotlight. But silly me, the Mets already have a side-armer in Joe Smith. Can't have more than one on a team at one time. It's not like the Mets have two many guys that throw overhand, right? Street, as mentioned before, was available as well. Not to the Mets though. Seems the price was too high, and they didn't have a match with Billy Beane. Could it be because the Mets didn't have a single prospect the A's wanted? Or were the kids too good to deal?
It's a good thing the Mets held onto these untouchable guys, because they'd be in deep trouble. It's a really good thing that the fuzzy-happy-joy-joy aura that emanates from Jerry Manuel hasn't allowed this clubhouse to tighten up. Even better, Jason Bay and Xavier Nady were clearly not going to outproduce Fernando Tatis and the aforementioned Evans, so the Mets' prudent decisions are obviously working like clockwork.
Extensions for everyone! I can't think of a better way to start the new era of the Brooklyn Citi-Fielders!
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 25 September 2008 )
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