Sandy Alderson was brought in to rebuild a franchise heading down the path of becoming a train wreck. During his reign here in Flushing, he has started to implement a new mindset and a new philosophy on how to play baseball. That started with bringing in Terry Collins, bringing in bullpen pieces on a year-to-year basis, and re-placing an emphasis on developing talent and having a farm system. Now, there are some fans that have supported Alderson the entire time and understand that it takes time to rebuild a franchise. There are others, however, that are tired of the losing seasons and want results on the field.
2014, as said countless times before, has been the year that this front office has circled as the time the Mets can start to really invest in the big league level, which will lead to the Mets competing for a playoff spot. So, with the 2013 offseason just around the corner and that highly touted 2014 season close as well, has Alderson put pressure on himself and the front office to make a big splash this office?
The answer is yes. With the endless rumors of potential trade targets like Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki, Giancarlo Stanton and free agents like Shin-Soo Choo and Jacoby Ellsbury, Alderson has to do something. Now that doesn’t mean invest money poorly or give a guy a massive contract. But Alderson has said over and over again that 2014 is the start of the turn-around. And the Matt Harvey news supposedly hasn’t change “the plan”. Actions speak louder than words. If he wants to gain back the trust of the fed-up fans (which there is a larger population), he needs to make some move. A move that is different from bringing in a veteran like Marlon Byrd or John Buck. But an impact player, like signing Stephen Drew or Phil Hughes, that is an out-of-the-box option that can get people excited about the team again.
Alderson’s skills are about to be put to the test. He has been given time to rebuild the foundation and rid the team of contracts. All that is behind him now. Starting this off-season, it’s time to move forward. Alderson must show the fans that he is as invested in the success of this team as they are. This is the opportunity to gain the fans back that have given up on this franchise. It’s your move Mr. Alderson, make it count.
Sorry but I’m gagging here! Phil Hughes? Impact player? Phil Hughes with his 5 ERA? Are you kidding? What’s the point in signing him when the Mets have so many young arms that can easily be put into the 5th starter and for a lot less. better to put what limited funds the Mets have into signing an outfielder like Choo or Ellsbury.
I meant it more from the standpoint of not bringing in aging vets like Byrd and Buck and bringing in young talent that can help the team compete for a playoff spot. I personally think, under the correct contract, Hughes is a guy the Mets should target. He’s pitched in New York before and could thrive with a change of scenery.
Key word there is talent. Which Phil Hughes has none of. If you want to bring in a pitcher not named Garza or Ervin Santana, look at Ubaldo Jimenez and you’ll find your steady #4 starter to give you 30 starts.
He needs to stop the double talk and the hedging crap…maybe this…could be that…and put a team on the field that can win 95 games for several years in a row. It’s been WAY too long since the Mets crashed and burned in 2007 or since a World Series victory, 27 years ago. Over a quarter century since the Mets owned New York. The Braves won 13 years in a row, got old, tanked, rebuilt and are back to winning and the Mets still suck. Unacceptable. No more excuses.
To keep me from being disappointed, the Wilpons need to open up the purse strings. I’d like to see Sandy Alderson able to spend ~$30M in new money this offseason on some combination of the FA and trade markets. I hold the Wilpons accountable there, because it’s my opinion that if Alderson has the money at his disposal, he’ll spend the money. If he doesn’t spend it, he didn’t have it. As for Alderson, he needs to avoid land mines like Bronson Arroyo, and if he does wind up signing a QO-tagged FA, he’d just better be right. Because with the Mets’ financials, it sure seems like the margin for error is razor thin, especially when it comes to multi-year deals. I’m nervous, but excited for this offseason. It’ll be the first real test in awhile for the Wilpons, and hopefully the first real opportunity for Alderson to start building at the Major League level.
First off, I think you’re best off to disabuse yourself of the notion that this team will make the playoffs in 2014. That’s simply ludicrous.
This winter Sandy needs to add two bats. One of them should be under 30, the other can be over 30. The pair should have combined to hit 100 HR over the last two seasons. And he needs to come out of the winter with Thor and Harvey still in the fold.
Everything else is negotiable.
^yep.
Between 6/18 (Young,Wheeler) to 8/27 (Byrd, Buck trade)the Mets were 32-31 and played the month of August without Wright and Parnell. They need to replace a RF, a SS and improve offensively either CF or LF. Free agents are less disruptive but Sandy seems good with trades also. There is no reason that the Mets can’t be competitive next year. I agree JG: Wright, Harvey, and Syndergaard stays and everything else is negotiable.
What does Alderson need to do to please me?
Well, he’s already ticked me off by re-hiring Terry Collins. He could help make up for that by demanding that his manager carry his 7 best relievers rather than carrying two lefties regardless of how lousy they are. He could cut ties to Byrdak, Carson and Feliciano and not look back.
He could make a decision one way or the other on first base.
He could remind his manager that it’s a terrible idea to bat a guy with a sub-.300 OBP in the top of the lineup.
He could be honest about the restraints that ownership puts him under. He could stop claiming he has all this money to use and simply chooses not to spend.
He could give Jacob deGrom and Darin Gorski legitimate chances to win rotation slots in Spring Training instead of inviting some broken down veteran to camp hoping for better health than they got from Shaun Marcum and Chris Young. Shoot, the youngsters are highly likely to get better results than the 4.61 ERA that Marcum in 2013 and Young in 2012 combined to deliver, too.
He could draft a college outfielder in the first round.
He could look to go overslot with his first picks rather than his last picks.
He could deliver a Triple-A affiliate closer to home and build loyalty with that franchise.
He could finalize a deal for the new radio affiliate
He could tell us if he’s interested in being the next commissioner of baseball or if he wants to see the rebuilding job through to its completion.
Brian I love your comment! I hate Terry and I am sick that he was rehired for two more years!
Backman, Tim T, and anybody else not named TC for manager! Moving forward needs a better manager if they expect to start winning!
Great traffic on this article. They should most certainly put any add’l money into SS and RF. The whole rehiring of Collins already has me disgusted for 2014. But that gives Alderson an excuse for failing next April and May, firing TC, bringing in a new manager and declaring 2014 another “wait till next year” year. I’m totally good with the Mets dealing Davis or Duda as long as they get something tangible back because if he ends up in Colorado or some other place and puts 35 plus HRs we’re all going to go nuts. We have to get something of value back to protect against that possibility.
PS: I loved Brian’s comments too.
What does Alderson need to do to please me?
Well, he’s already ticked me off by re-hiring Terry Collins. He could help make up for that by demanding that his manager carry his 7 best relievers rather than carrying two lefties regardless of how lousy they are. He could cut ties to Byrdak, Carson and Feliciano and not look back.
He could make a decision one way or the other on first base.
He could remind his manager that it’s a terrible idea to bat a guy with a sub-.300 OBP in the top of the lineup.
He could be honest about the restraints that ownership puts him under. He could stop claiming he has all this money to use and simply chooses not to spend.
He could give Jacob deGrom and Darin Gorski legitimate chances to win rotation slots in Spring Training instead of inviting some broken down veteran to camp hoping for better health than they got from Shaun Marcum and Chris Young. Shoot, the youngsters are highly likely to get better results than the 4.61 ERA that Marcum in 2013 and Young in 2012 combined to deliver, too.
He could draft a college outfielder in the first round.
He could look to go overslot with his first picks rather than his last picks.
He could deliver a Triple-A affiliate closer to home and build loyalty with that franchise.
He could finalize a deal for the new radio affiliate
He could tell us if he’s interested in being the next commissioner of baseball or if he wants to see the rebuilding job through to its completion.
I loved it so much I wanted to say it also, but want to add one thing: ABREU!!!!!!!!
Gus I agree with everything you say. There is no point in making a public statement that the Mets are in a bind and don’t have the means to support a 100 million dollar payroll. Isn’t it obvious? Why else would Alderson continue his bargain basement shopping. Sometimes what you don’t say speaks louder than any press conferences you may make. I wonder how much of an impact Harvey’s injury had in re-signing Collins. I really don’t think the Mets would of re-upped Collins except that 2014 is now considered a continuation of the rebuilding process rather than a potential playoff year.
Thank you Pete, but I said everything Brian said up above. It sounded so good, I wanted to say it too!!! LOL!! My input was the Abreu comment at the end. Nonetheless, thank you.
The front office needs to show us progress. We’ve been hearing the payroll should be 85 to 95 million next year. That’s gives Sandy and company 30 to 40 million to play with after Wright and Nurse’s contracts, arbitration and pre-arb contracts.
I don’t expect Robinson Cano, Jacoby Ellsbury or Matt Garza, but I do expect change.
I expect a productive SS, an outfielder with power and at least a platoon player with
power, even if only against lefties.
I expect that the Mets will take legitimate
steps toward signing Abreu and Tanaka (both
in their mid twenties with a lot if talent) and if
they get beat by other teams, fine.
Basically, I expect Alderson and company to
do what they’ve been saying they’ll do: put a
better product on the field now that they have
the money to do so.
It shouldn’t be that difficult.
There are six or seven acquirable SS, multiple
OF with pop and pitchers to fill in for Harvey.
Our team is really only a few players away. Our bullpen is fine. 3B, C, CF and 2B are good.
The rotation is one pitcher away from being fine for the year Harvey’s gone and a 1B platoon would easily produce a 250 AVG with a 750 OPS and 20 HR’s. That’s not mind blowing, but it’s serviceable. We only need 1 full time outfielder. The other side could be a lefty/righty platoon with Den Dekker until Puello is ready.
That means 30 to 40 million has to go onto 3 players (a platoon OF will cost the minimum ), something that can be done.
I don’t expect a championship next year (although that would be nice) but there’s no reason this team shouldn’t be one of the teams that when September comes by, is one of the teams in contention for the wild card.
Hey Scott! The Mets bullpen ranked near the bottom in the major leagues. Parnell just had neck surgery so we don’t know until he starts rehabbing as to his recovery time.Serviceable at center and first base? What about a lead off hitter. The Mets are not going to replace Harvey. Everyone in the rotation will move up and the team will sign Dice-k for the 4th slot. The farm system will provide your 5th starter. With so many question marks on this team if they can finish 500 that would be an improvement. Don’t forget how many teams are in front of the Mets and they too will have the added revenue from the new television contracts. Last if you expect the team to be in the wild card hunt then they have to show significant improvement playing at home.