Buyer and CellarFor those of you who don’t care about theater, there is a hit show both on Broadway and on tour entitled “Buyer & Cellar.” In this play a young actor named Alex More gets propositioned into running a shopping center of old Hollywood and Broadway collectibles. The only hitch is that this shopping center is in the basement of Barbara Streisand’s home, and she is the only customer. There is a scene where she comes down and asks the value of a particular item, as if she didn’t already own it. The young actor makes up a ridiculous story and inflated price, just to keep her entertained. At the end of this scene she pays what she wants for it, then puts it right back where she got it the next day.

Sandy Alderson has items of value sitting in his basement as well. He has a finely aged Bartolo Colon sitting around, a few outfielders of varying vintages, and some new items down in the minors just waiting to be showcased. There have been reports over the past couple of weeks that Alderson will soon determine if the Mets are buyers or sellers. As of this writing, the Mets are 10 games under .500, 3-7 in their last 10 games, 19-22 at home, and 20-27 on the road. There have been moments in games, if not entire series where the Mets look to have turned a corner with their starting pitching, bullpen, hitting and defense. Then they get swept by the Chicago Cubs or somebody and dig their hole a little deeper. So just in case Sandy Alderson isn’t clear about this matter, he’s a seller.

The Mets have actually looked good at times, and while that 90-win proclamation made before the season is really sticking in Mets’ fans craw, there are some reasons to hope that this may be the last year of failure and ineptitude. The cry of “wait until next year’ has been ringing hollow for almost a decade now. But wait…could it be…actual light at the end of that tunnel? The problem is that our dear GM is acting a bit like Barbara Streisand. He is in possession of some potential trades items that might make that light a little bit easier to see. Instead, he seems content to keep them in the basement where only he can prescribe their value and deal with them on his own terms.

It should be clear to every Mets fan far and wide that this is not the team that will take us to the promised land of October baseball. There are highlights to be sure. Since June 1st, Lucas Duda has a slash line of .276/.374/.561 with six home runs and 19 RBI. Juan Lagares continues to prove that he should be playing everyday. And the bullpen, consisting of mostly young farm arms, is looking better as the season progresses. Unfortunately we are still saddled with six outfielders, a shortstop that is barely holding onto his job, and some young talent that is either stuck in the minors or just coming back from a demotion.

Sandy Alderson has good reasons to value his young arsenal of arms and shouldn’t trade them away lightly. There are plenty of other pieces, however, that can and should be moved simply for the sake of getting younger players more time in the field. Colon, Bobby Abreu, Chris Young, Eric Young, Jr., Andrew Brown, and Wilmer Flores are just some of the names that could easily be tossed around in trade discussions, and that’s assuming Daniel Murphy is now off the board. Not all of them will go of course, but each has a specific value to another team. Our front office though, seems to be contend to keep them down in the basement, collecting dust.

This team will be exciting next year because of the young talent coming up or coming back, not because of it’s aging veteran presence. David Wright and Curtis Granderson can handle the young guys well enough. It’s time to allow some overvalued or improperly used players to go, creating room for the next wave of players to step in. People are clamoring for Eric Campbell to play more, but there is barely any room on this roster as it is. Everyone may have their favorite target of who needs to go and why, but it’s getting pretty clear that somebody or somebodies need to go. The return isn’t exactly the point, but it would be nice to get something back. Rather, we fans need to start seeing the team that is going to take us through 2015 and beyond, because 2014 is starting to be an ugly reminder of years gone by. So Mr. Alderson, with all due respect, perhaps its time you come up from out of the cellar.

10 comments on “Sandy Alderson is a buyer or cellar?

  • ReneNYK1

    You know it’s time to stop being a late season seller and start becoming a late season winner.

  • Jerry Grote

    “there’s barely any room on the roster now”

    Let’s remember that this roster has created a 40-49 record.

    Once you start there, you realize that there are approximately 23 roster spots (22, if you include Matt Harvey) that are available for the likes of Soup if he’s capable.

  • pete

    With the same front office, manager,ownership and payroll I have my doubts about a positive future for this franchise. Exciting next year? Really? Does that mean the Mets will finally play .500 at home? Go to any sports website and take a look at where the Mets stats are in comparison with the other 29 MLB teams. If Sandy Alderson was calling out his players with his 90 win proclamation it sure fell on deaf ears.

  • eraff

    It’s certainly time to give ab’s to players that might (Flores, Campbell)…Take ab’s from to players who can’t (C Young)…not mention Players who won’t— Bartolo, Abreu…won’t be here as part of a winner because they’re too old.

    Move forward…ID your young players…as you put it so well, show the fans the emerging team and players that will be part of the next phase…… and add to it!!!

    Editor’s Note – Please do not capitalize words in your post, as it is a violation of our Comment Policy.

    • Metsense

      Well said – even without the caps.
      Colon if they get a decent return.
      Matsuzaka, Abreu and Young should not be on the roster after July 31st as their impact in 2014 is minimal and non existant in 2015.
      The rest of the tradeable roster should not be sold for prospects so the liklihood of a trade of these players for major league players is remote.

  • Chris F

    buyer = winner (potential)
    seller = anything not bolted to the floor for which a good return can be had
    cellar = high draft pick for being at the bottom

    2014 Mets? = cellar, seller

  • Rob

    Just an observation.
    I live in South Carolina and last night got to see a Mets home game (against the Braves). All the empty seats were unbelievable. Even behind home plate there were more empties than occupied. Has it gotten that bad in NY.
    My last thought. I watched Vic Black throw nasty pitches. Even the Braves announcers commented positively. Then Black throws a pitch that shatters a bat. Then the manager lifts him. I couldn’t believe it.
    The manager has to go and if I (and everyone watching tv) could see all the empty seats. It is time management woke up. It’s worse then I thought…..

    • Metsense

      Rob, try a Game Chatter, it sounds as if you would enjoy it.
      in the search box just type game chatter and usually that days game will be linked

    • Patrick Albanesius

      Rob, it is that bad. I know players give it their all each game, but from the owners on down, this team has no focus. 2014 was supposed to be the year of changes, and while some young talent is starting to take over, the team is still stuck without an immediate plan. The simple fact that the GM claimed this team could win 90 games and now doesn’t know if the team is a buyer or seller on July 8 is a huge indication about the team’s confused goals and expectations.

  • pete

    Talk about a team without a plan? SA touts his kids as the stars to build around but brings in Valverde and Farnsworth as his answer to the bull pen woes! How is that showing any confidence in His currently constructed team? If the Mets are going to become the successful franchise SA envisions it has to come from within with a couple of Key additions ( via FA or trade).

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