The World Series is about to begin, featuring a matchup between two venerable franchises who — surprisingly — have never met before. The San Francisco Giants will be talking on the Detroit Tigers in serious competition for the very first time ever. You would think there would have been some instant when Ty Cobb clashed with John McGraw, Hank Greenberg stepped in against Carl Hubbell, Al Kaline was being compared to Willie Mays or Will Clark stared down Jack Morris, but no. It would have happened back in aught-eight , but for the misadventures of some fellas named Fred Merkle, Johnny Evers and Hank O’Day, but that’s a story for another day. This looks like it should be a fun meeting, even though there probably won’t be a lot of scoring. This is something we Met fans might need to get used to.
As I stated earlier, I’m waiting with baited breath for the annual Front Office Follies to begin. I want to see how Sandy Alderson looks with his sleeves rolled up, doing some heavy lifting in getting a contender built in Queens. I don’t want to wait in vain. Sandy has said he probably won’t be all that active in the free agent market – not a bad way to go in a weak free agent year – but will be active making trades to shore up the outfield. This has me wonder if he truly is a magician who can create something from nothing. Until this past Saturday, the names I heard were Chris Young – no, the other one — Jason Kubel, Gerardo Parra and Peter Bourjos. Young has since been traded to the Oakland A’s. In any case, none of these names are going to interrupt my sleep for the excitement they generate. Sandy may very well be able to gather a collection of discarded feathers and fashion an outfield, but can we be sure what sort of bird it will be? It could be an eagle, fierce and powerful. It could be a dove, fluid and graceful. I fear it may be a turkey, slow and dumpy. The Mets won’t be shopping in the aisles containing Michael Bourne or B.J. Upton, nor will they take Carl Crawford on layaway.
If it turns out to be Kubel, Parra or Bourjos, it may not be enough to keep the wolf from the door.
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The turkey is a noble creature…
mmmmmmmm Turkey.
Turkey for Thanksgiving, but whats for Christmas? I hope it’s not coal in our stockings. (Again!)
Winter is coming
Im guessing more like Big Bird…loveable and friendly, but otherwise relatively useless.
Ive seen some mean turkeys.
Ive lost all faith in Sandy.
Chris, Sandy didn’t do well during the season, but cmon, The offseason hasn’t even started yet. Give him a chance.
He didn’t do particularly well in the offseason, either. He built up a lot of goodwill with the Beltran and K-Rod deals mid-2011 but he spent an *awful* lot of that goodwill in 2012.
I guess its more systemic than just individual deals. That I dont believe in “Sandy Ball” is the bigger issue. I disagree about the off season not starting though, given what we have seen already. Im tired of the low energy, unwavering, disinterested, double-speak that comes out of his mouth every time it opens. He has whole inning conversations in the SNY booth that say nothing. Sure he’s keeping a cool hand, but its ice cold. No one sees the vision. Are we fighting for 2013? 2014? ever? Are we “rebuilding”? The Red Sox have already hired away a manager with a standing contract. Ozzie is no more. And we are sloooooooowly talking about DW and RA as if its some sort of secret that they are negotiating. Nothing seems urgent. Nothing seems aggressive. Nothing more or less seems like nothing. We made no coaching staff moves but strength…which will have no outcome. So, Im tired of the do-nothing with no energy Sandy approach. And TC saying he can with with the personnel he has just makes me scream. Its not possible. Its like the entire management staff are in Alice in Wonderland.
Just because you act early in the offseason doesn’t mean anything. Free Agency hasn’t even started yet.
I don’t want Sandy to make moves just for the sake of making moves. I think we need to sit tight and wait until the Spring Training to evaluate how Sandy did. It could only take 1 move to call the offseason a “sucess”
I’m looking for the Mets to add one exciting outfielder. They already have plenty of young pitchers. I guess the infield remains in tact (unless they trade Murphy). I’m resigned to Thole/Shoppach behind the plate. Basically, I’m willing to wait this out another year.
In my perfect Mets world they trade Dickey for two meaningful prospects (including the impact OF). And make a trade for another OF (Duda or Murphy and a minor league arm). Generally, I’d like the team get faster and more athletic.
I dont think I’m asking for much.