Are They Joking?

By Shari Forst
Posted Saturday, November 17, 2007

I happened to check out the news on the Mets official website just to see, quite frankly, if there was any. Let's face it now, since no one is talking about A-Rod coming here since he decided to go back to the Yankees (thank God), there isn't much hot stove action for the Mets.

However, when the Mets website came up on my computer, the lead story was how they are wooing Yorvit Torrealba who hit .212 in 55 road games in 2007 as a member of the Rockies. He may be lucky if if he can hit .250 for a season. I hate when the Mets do this; they throw a lot of money at somebody based on a playoff performance that could have been a fluke. I am surprised they didn't chase after Scott Spezio after the 2006 season.

I would much rather have Lo Duca back for another season than throw a lot of money at some 30-year-old "flash in the pan" catcher. I will admit I did not watch any of the Rockies games in October. If it's not my Mets in the playoffs, I could care less about watching.

While Torrealba may have been a phenom for a handful of games, look at the bigger picture. What did he do during the regular season? Not a lot, with a .255 average and eight home runs. I think he is average defensively; certainly not much better than either Lo Duca or Castro.

I know there aren't a lot of catchers out there to be had, but I would rather promote Ramon Castro. He calls a good game, is solid defensively, he can hit and he seems very well liked on the bench and in the clubhouse. What are they thinking? Are they that shallow and short-sighted that they would look to get a player based on a brief moment in the spotlight like this? It's not like they would sign him for 2008 and see what happens, they will be stuck with him for about three or so years.

I do not think Torrealba will pick up where he left off in the playoffs during the upcoming regular season, and I don't know how any baseball professional could think so either. If they don't get him all they have succeeded in doing is helping a mediocre million-dollar player's price go up farther than it already has.

Here's some advice for Omar: LOOK FOR PITCHING!! That's what collapsed this team in the end. Go after Johan Santana and other pitchers of his caliber. Never mind catchers, third basemen and shortstops that you don't need!