Stuff Your Sorries In A Sack, Mister!

By Shari Forst
Posted Saturday, October 6, 2007

I received a lame form letter apology from wonder-boy Jeff Wilpon right after the monumental collapse, which left the Mets as "outsiders looking in" on the playoffs. I think this letter made me even more mad at what happened.

First of all, Jeff Wilpon's only accomplishment as far as I am concerned is the fact that his father Fred (with all of the money) was born before him. He knows nothing about baseball, and as a fan I didn't need a form letter from him overstating the obvious.

We all know why this team fell apart in the final 17 games of this season. Jose Reyes mailed it in since the All-Star break. The starting pitching started to falter and they traded away the only decent middle relievers I have seen in a long time for an assortment of mediocre to awful losers. There was no way the team could win battling back from five and six runs down when the bullpen couldn't hold a cup of water, no less a lead.

Carlos Delgado had a pretty sub-par year, but didn't we expect that at some point? The Mets give extended contracts to guys like Pedro and Delgado to get the most they can out of them for a year or two, and the philosophy is we will worry about the bad final years of the contract later. Well people, it's time to start to worry. Delgado's numbers this season were not much better than Mo Vaughn's, a man whom we all hated. The Mets don't need to pay obscene amounts of money for a professional hitter who ends up hitting barely .250 and grounds into that asinine shift on the right side of the infield with runners on. They paid for a guy who drives in over 100 runs consistently and we should expect nothing less.

Then we have Mr Milledge, who although seemingly has some above average talent, makes up for that by inciting losing teams to come roaring back the next day with his little-league celebratory behavior after getting his hits.

The starting pitching aside from Perez and Maine needs to be completely retooled. I never thought Glavine wanted to be here; he just made the best of it. He had moments where he looked as if he was giving a master class in the art of pitching, only to seem like he could care less in that final game. I haven't seen such a cavalier attitude in an important game since Kenny Rogers blew it in 1999 and shrugged his shoulders. Go back to Atlanta Tom, thats where you want to be anyway. El Duque was OK when he wasn't hurt; however, he is ancient.

Paul LoDuca is fairly old for a catcher after two seasons here, and although I love him as a clubhouse cheer leader and leader, it may be time to look for someone younger at this point.

It seems to me that in 2008 the Mets have a lot of rebuilding to do. The corner outfielders are collectively over 70 years old; first base, catcher, starting pitching and relievers all seem to need revamping, if you ask me. That's what happens when you try to buy championships instead of cultivating and nurturing them. Here is a novel idea--since this team has money to spend, how about spending it wisely and getting players to fill these positions that are in their prime? Or an even more insane idea--start cultivating the farm system and bring up a few players like Wright and the 2006 version of Reyes. Enough with bringing in 41-year-old Moises Alou and hoping he can stay healthy all season, and enough of sigining 32- and 33-year-old guys for four- and five-year contracts and worrying about their waning careers later.

Next time Jeff Wilpon wants to write the fans a letter, let's hope he makes it one that tells us he will be leaving the organization to pursue a career working for Daddy in real estate, where he belongs!