SaberMets.com: Mets Malcontents

February 03, 2004

Mets Malcontents

As Jim Duquette puts the finishing touches on 2004's inevitable failure, Met fans are left to wonder, "Will there ever be a rainbow?". This article by Ed Tsunoda at NYFanSites.com sums it up:

Though the start of Spring Training is an arbitrary line in the sand, the Mets' have yet to convince their fans that this year will be much different than 2003.

There are two general schools of thought amongst Mets' fans. Those who believe the Mets are one big hitting right fielder and one top of the rotation pitcher away from being real wildcard contenders in 2004, and those who believe that nothing short of a full-on rebuilding program will return the Mets to postseason play.

The Mets, in an attempt to appease both, have accomplished neither.

Tsunoda really hits the nail on the head here. Seemingly, half of the fans want the Mets to go all-out, throwing large sums of money at Vlad Guerrero and others, hoping to build a contender from the outside-in. The other half would prefer the Mets lock all of their free-agent money away for a brighter day, and spend their time and resources developing prospects and younger players who could eventually form the nucleus of a Mets dynasty.

As Tsunoda points out, the Mets put one hand in the free agent bowl and one hand in the prospect bowl, mixed them all together, and ended up pissing everyone off. The people who wanted the Mets to spend this offseason suffered a huge letdown when Guerrero signed elsewhere, and were left holding their junk wondering how Mike Cameron and Todd Zeile are going to transform the Mets from unlovable losers into a team that you wouldn't be embarassed to tell people you root for.

Tsunoda goes on to say:

It seems the Mets have elected to make some minor changes in an effort to avoid losing 95 games again, and put off the major reconstruction project until the top kids in their system like David Wright, Scott Kazmir, Matt Peterson, and Justin Huber are ready to join Jose Reyes as the core of the new Mets. That's likely to mean another long summer for Mets' fans, half of whom would only have been satisfied by adding a superstar like Guerrero and a pitcher like Vazquez, the rest who wanted to see the Mets make a real run at rebuilding, and none of whom have gotten what they wanted.

I would argue that the Mets are in better shape now than they were a year ago, or even at the end of last season. Despite losing promising but unspectactular minor leaguers like Marco Scutaro, Matt Watson, and Lenny DiNardo, the Mets still have all of their top prospects (Wright, Kazmir, Peterson, Huber, Victor Diaz, Royce Ring, etc.), and have improved the on-field product at the Major League level. Cameron, Kaz Matsui, and a platoon of Shane Spencer and Karim Garcia represent moderate-if-not-significant upgrades at several positions, and six months of Jose Reyes is bound to be better than two.

Mets management is in the unenviable position of trying to build a franchise that will be competitive for a number of years while trying to keep a fleeting fan base interested in a sub-par ballclub. It is an impossibility for them to satisfy the entirety of their fan base because so many different baseball management theories are represented. Sabermetric bloggers have one theory (or more), while old-school hometowners have their own ideas.

Like others, I wish there were some things that the Mets did differently this offseason. Regardless, I am counting the days until pitchers and catchers report as I wait feverishly for Spring Training to begin. I miss baseball, and I miss Mets baseball most of all. Even on my bad days, I still look forward to watching my Mets play ball. They could win big or get blown out, and it doesn't matter all that much. A bad day with baseball beats most good days without baseball.

Eric | February 3, 2004 - 12:12 AM EST | TrackBack: 20
Category: Mets

Comments

I've always been one that supported the rebuilding program only because of the idiocy of the front office and their inability to invest money wisely. This offseason has been a continuation of it somewhat, but may differ in some respects. If Mike Cameron follows the Mets free agent trend, he'll have a horrible year at the plate, but he will still be a defensive stud in center. Matsui is a gamble. We all know how they have faired with importing talent, but it seems like he has established himself as a solid player.

The rebuiling program would never work though, we have to realize that. The Mets play in New York, miles away from the Yankees. George Steinbrenner's shadow hangs over Shea Stadium 24/7 and the truth is that the ogranization couldn't stand to go with out a "competitive" team.

Doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to the season, I can't wait.

Even if it is going to be the same old story over and over again.

Posted by: Matt - February 3, 2004 at 04:57 PM EST

It's just accurate to characterize the acquisitions as "moderate-if-not-significant" upgrades. The Mets had by far the worst production in the major leagues, as well as below average (or worse) defense at second base and center field last year. They have upgraded tremendously at those two positions -- tremendously. Cameron will hit more than league average for his position, and that's even before you adjust for park effects. And he'll win a Gold Glove. That is, IMO, as big an upgrade at any position as any team will realize from a FA signing -- right up there with RF for the Angels and Yankees. And while Matsui (as the "net" upgrade at 2B) is more of a question mark, I still have no doubt he will represent a substantial upgrade, especially defensively.

RF -- now that's a "moderate" upgrade.

Whether two enormous upgrades and one moderate one is enough to return them to respectability depends almost entirely on whether they can stay healthy, because they have several injury-prone regulars and a terrible bench. If they can be relatively lucky with injuries, they will make a big step forward. And that should be enough to declare one off-season a success on the road back to contention.

Posted by: Sam M - February 4, 2004 at 01:04 AM EST

OOPS! That should be "It's just NOT accurate ..."

Posted by: Sam M - February 4, 2004 at 01:06 AM EST

The Mets' problem is that they don't want to rebuild because they are afraid to suck. They should look at what the Cleveland Indians have done in just 2 short years. Yes, they were terrible the last 2 years, but now they have a young nucleus, and a tremendous farm system.

I wish the Mets had made the commitment to rebuild, but I'll still be there every Sunday. Only 2 weeks until Spring Training starts!!!

Posted by: Andy C - February 6, 2004 at 05:11 PM EST