Searching for Happiness in the Lost Cause Mets

While the Phillies continue to roll (how good is Jayson Werth?) and the Mets continue to slide (can I give Fernando Tatis a ride back to the Dominican Republic?), it's difficult to find joy in the 2009 Mets season. We are being forced to watch B-list players start on what was supposed to be a title contending team.

The last week has found me barely watching an inning of every game because I already know the outcome. John Lannan is pitching? 4 hit shutout. We're playing the Braves in Atlanta? Lose 3 out of 4. It's pitiful, but the optimist in me has to find something to root for.

It's been difficult to find, but there are a few glimmers of hope that I'll be watching as we head into the dog days of summer until NFL training camp starts. Here they are:

Angel Pagan: I really want to see if this guy can perform at a high level for the next few months. When he's healthy, Pagan looks like a high quality everyday outfielder. He's got speed. He can hit with some pop and he's got a solid glove. The question mark is his health and how he can handle extended playing time. With Reyes out, Pagan is our next best leadoff hitter and I really think he adds a spark. Or will too much playing time cause him to break down?

Jeff Francoeur's arm: I've always known Frenchie had a good arm, but until you see him every day you don't get a true sense of just how good it is. Last night he threw a ball to third in the air from deep right field that was on a rope. If David Wright didn't have his glove up, the ball would have hit him square in the chest. Obviously, Francoeur's bat will be the real question mark, but his arm is something to behold out there in right.

Daniel Murphy's development: Did you know Daniel Murphy was our opening day left fielder? Yup, hard to believe. But now Murphy is looking more and more comfortable at first base. The kid is making veteran plays over there and he seems to mentally be at ease over there. His bat is questionable, but I wonder if the nerves and expectations of playing left field made him lose focus at the plate or try to overcompensate for his lack of fielding by making big plays at the plate. In my mind, Murphy can be a solid defensive first baseman in a few years, but that's not ideally what you're looking for from that position. You either want some power (like Adam Dunn) or a guy who can hit for average (like Olerud or Hernandez). If Murphy can start hitting, we will have an interesting bargaining chip for offseason trades if not a guy the Mets want to hold onto.

Mets Trade Rumor For Roy Halladay Is Bogus

All my angst and ajida is now subsiding. It appears that the rumor about the Mets turning down a trade for Roy Hallady is most likely bogus.

Via Keith Law's Twitter feed, he posts: "Mets-Jays trade report (Jays offered Doc for Martinez, Tejada, Niese, Parnell) is bogus. Shot down by multiple sources."

(Thanks to Brad of Bugs & Cranks for pointing me in this direction and saving me from self-mutilation.)

I know I'm not exactly Bob Woodward with my journalistic sources, but this sounds about right. I'm hopeful the true story will come out in due time, but this deal was too good to be to true. It's hard to imagine why the Mets wouldn't jump on a deal like this for Roy Halladay, but then again the Mets have done dumber things.

So I will calm myself down and hopefully this stirs the pot in the Mets front office about their need to get Roy Halladay.

Mets Blow Deal For Roy Halladay

This is idiotic.

Jon Heyman of SI.com is reporting that the Mets turned down (that's right, the Mets turned it down) a deal for Roy Halladay (that Halladay; you know, the second best pitcher in baseball?).

Want to hear who the Blue Jays were asking for? The Blue Jays wanted Fernando Martinez (injured), Bobby Parnell (okay, sure), Jon Niese (reasonable), and 17-year old SS Ruben Tejada (who?).

FMart, Parnell & Niese are all reasonable requests for the current leading contender for the Cy Young. Tejada is a kid everyone hopes becomes great, but he's 17 years old and still a long ways from getting an answer to that one.

The Mets and Omar Minaya haven't confirmed or denied this rumor, but if it's true this will be possibly the worst move of the season.

Why?

Because the Blue Jays are going to head down the parkway and go trade Halladay to the Phillies who will then sign him to a 5-year deal and we'll have to face this guy five times a year for the next half decade.

This trade would have energized the fan base. The fans would have forgiven the Mets for this season's debacle and start looking forward to next year with a healthy lineup and the most devastating tandem in baseball.

I don't even care that the Mets won last night. I'm so infuriated that the Mets had the potential to get Roy Halladay and didn't do it. Where are all those "experts" who said the Mets didn't have the pieces to get Halladay?

Omar, hit redial on the bat phone and get the Blue Jays GM. Get this done and you'll save your job.

Insult to Injury for Mets Fans: Mets Reject Jays' Offer For Halladay

As if this 2009 season wasn't bad enough...I nearly jumped through the screen when I saw that John Heyman reported that the Mets rejected the Jay's offer for Roy Halladay. I can't even believe Halladay was a possiblity for the Mets let alone, they turned down a proposal for him. According to Heyman's report, which apparently was not denied by Omar Minaya, the Blue Jays asked for Fernando Martinez, Bobby Parnell, Jon Niese and SS Ruben Tejada. If I'm Minaya, I'm like, where do I sign? I can't beleive we have the chance to get the best right hander in the sport and we're just gonna pass on him. For what? So he can go to the Phillies? Somehow, some way, Minaya and the Mets need to get back on the phone and make this happen. I don't care what it takes, just get it done.

Having Santana and Halladay at the front of the rotation might possibly be the greatest 1-2 punch in the history of the game, let alone in 2009/2010. And listen, I'm not thinking this move would get us back in the race this year, but I no doubt would be dreaming about the 2010 season like tonight if they pulled this off. The Mets could tank the rest of the games this year for all I care, I'd still be fired up knowing we have Halladay going into next season.

I never actually thought the Mets would even be at the table so I never really considered Halladay as a real option. I know Dave has been pulling for a deal and rightfully so, I just can't believe Minaya said 'no.'

Look, with Santana and Halladay pitching 40% of the Mets' games next season, we can realistically have a chance at winning 33% of our games with just two guys. Think about that! Plus, if we ever find a way to get back to the post season, and how could they not get in (I know, they are the Mets), think about those two guys in a short series? It would be ridiculous. We all know pitching wins games. Go get him! What are we really giving up anyway? Prospects? Come on, the fact is, this organization produces just about 2 good ball players a generation. I want to win a championship and I want to win now (or next year). Guys like Halladay don't come around often, and when he's made available to you, you go get him. Period.

I mean what are we really talking about? Niese? Let's face it, he's not a can't miss prosepect, he's projected probably as a #3 at best - in fact, we'd probably sign for him to be just that and be happy about it. F. Mart? He looked pretty overmatched this year, I know he's still young, but come on, he hasn't exactly lit it up in the minors either. Besides, you can always find an outfield bat. Ruben Tejada? 17 years old. 17! He's at least 3 years away from the big leagues and...well...he's only 17. Oh, and by the way, we do have Jose Reyes at short, one of the two really good players this franchise has produced in a generation. Parnell? I like him, he throws gas, and I do think he'll be a good major leaguer. In fact, he might be the toughest one for me to give up in the deal. He has the potential to be a good closer but, we already have one, a very good one actually. Look, I'm a huge fan of letting the kids come up and develop into good home-grown NY Mets, but it so rarely happens, and I'm so tired of losing, that I, like Dave, would do whatever it takes to make this happen.

Again, Omar has to pull the trigger on this deal. He cannot let this go. If Halladay ends up going to Philly, the backlash would be so harsh on this franchise, that I truly believe it will take a long time to recover. Plus, if we can't beat the Phillies now, and the last two season for the matter without Halladay, then how are we going to beat them with him? Tell me, just how are we going to get to the post season with Roy Halladay on the Phillies?

And I really hope this isn't about money. Delgado and Wagner come off the books after this year. That's $24 million right there. Halladay I believe is due to make $14 million in 2010. That gives them $10 million to work with. If they don't do this, I will lose all faith in the future of this organization. If they don't know enough about the game, and the business for that matter, to get Roy Halladay when he's right there in front of you, then I don't know that they'll ever get anything. Memo to the Wilpons: Halladay is not Victor Zambrano.

Let's hope the movement becomes so big on this deal, much like the Mike Piazza trade in '98. We cannot let this die down. Blogs, the media, Boomer & Carton, even Francessa have to get on the horn and force the Wilpons' hand on this. Please make this happen!

In One Series, Mets Do And Don't Disappoint

Losing three out of four games to the Braves is disappointing. Having two of those games be total blowouts is disappointing. Losing Fernando Nieve after one inning is very disappointing. Watching Saturday's phenomenal game only to have Sunday's utter and total debacle follow it is disappointing.
Knowing for certain that the 2009 season is over is not.

I requested that the Mets do me the favor of not dragging out this season and they have obliged. Face it folks the 2009 season is over.

Quit calling WFAN talking about the moves the Mets need to make. Quit telling me we don't need starting pitching because we can't score runs. Quit talking about injuries.

Let's focus on 2010.

This season is now all about next season. What guys can the Mets rely on in the future? What are the holes we need plugged? What's it going to take to get Roy Halladay? These are the important questions. No moves need to be made to help this team here and now, but every move should focus on the following year.

I know it's the middle of July, but this organization would be better off letting this season just play out. Sit down with Johan Santana and David Wright and let them know. Apologize to the fans for the mistakes that were made in the offseason and promise us something to look forward to next year. Put Mets Lifers on notice that you know you screwed up and now it's time to improve.

Let's see what we have with Daniel Murphy at first base. Let's have Jon Niese pitch half a season with zero pressure and zero expectations. Let's find out if Nick Evans can become a serviceable every day player.

It's time for the kids to play. It's time to make some changes. It's time to let 2009 go.

For three straight years, either Bryan and I have written a post with this same picture of a white flag. The last two have been in September. This year it's just a little earlier than we thought.

Mets Have Just One Question Left to Ask

Braves 11, Mets 0. Is it football season yet?

Old Men Try to Teach Mets New Tricks

If you haven't seen this story yet, brace yourself for utter and total embarrassment.

It appears some senior citizens in Long Island have some advice for the New York Mets. In fact they had so much knowledge and skills about baseball that they thought the Mets lacked that they put together an instructional video for the team.

The video covers such rare, but essential tips like catching the ball with two hands or tagging up on a fly ball or keeping your eye on the ball as you swing.

It's just another chapter in the utter and total disgrace that is becoming the 2009 Mets.

According to a Newsday article "Claiming that they understand the fundamentals of the game more than the Mets, the Bristal team will focus on a number of basic plays." Wow. These guys actually think they know more than the Mets. The sad part is they might be right.

If you're waiting for Ashton Kutcher to pop out and claim he's just punk'd the Mets, don't hold your breath. This is the real thing.

And oddly enough, I'm kind of hoping the Mets watch the video.

For the full article, check it out on Newsday. Have a box of tissues handy because it's a sad story.