Comments on: The Mets may not even pretend to contend next year

By: tuftsb

tuftsb — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 01:09:56 +0000

“Excuse me, I was the victim of a Ponzi scheme and may owe $ 1 billion. I run a baseball franchise in the largest city in the US and am losing $50 million or more this year and next year. Can you give me some serious eight figures in cash? Don’t worry – please ignore my recent track record. I’ll do a good job handling your money! Just don’t ask for any control or too many questions.”

It would work better if Wilpon declared himself to be a Nigerian prince!

By: tuftsb

tuftsb — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 22:40:11 +0000

Can the Mets actually have a $ 100-110mm payroll if the team is losing $50mm or more this season (and maybe more next year)? In order for Wilpon to keep control of the club in light of the losses, payroll might have to be cut closer to the $80mm level.

But Santana is due $ 24mm, Bay $ 18.13, Wirght $15.25, Dickey $4.25 and Carrasco $ 1.2mm. I believe that they also owe $ 3mm on K-Rod. This equals $67.83mm before getting to arbitration on Pelfrey, Pagan and Paulino, whose 2011 salaries totaled $8.45mm. Assuning that the Mets offer arbitrationm these 3 players will cost at least $ 10mm in 2012. That’s just south of $ 80mm for only 8 players, with no guarantee that Santana can perform.

Hopefully the economic reality that payroll cannot dip under $ 100mm will force Wilpon out as owner.

By: dirtycrumbs

dirtycrumbs — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 21:25:59 +0000

There’s definitely something a little curious about a big market club talking like this, and I think the Wilpons obviously need to go, but even if Alderson had a blank check, what would the team spend it on?

Seeing the recent history of a team burned by brutal free agency signings, and how that’s hamstrung the team’s flexibility going forward, I really don’t have a problem with the team taking time to clean out bad contracts and reverse course on Minaya’s disastrous reign.

I honestly don’t see how signing CJ Wilson and Prince Fielder instantly makes the Mets teh awesome. Free agent band-aids for deeper organizational deficiencies is what created this problem in the first place. The Mets obviously need to radically change their approach – and they are!

If the Mets are to use their resources for good, they need to focus on player development and building for the future… and they did that this year! They signed all their draft picks and (finally!) went brazenly over slot for a bunch of guys.

Alderson’s approach is the sound, sustainable one, and the Mets will be relevant again sooner than later.

By: rnrfan

rnrfan — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 21:05:29 +0000

Uhh…we already ARE rebuilding. If we let Reyes go, the only big contracts we’d have are Bay (who sucks and we can’t get rid of), Santana (hurt) and Wright. So, “rebuilding” is really just letting Reyes walk and maybe trading Wright. Look at the rest of our projected team next year: Thole, Davis, Murphy, Tejada, Duda, Pagan, Niese, Gee, Pelfrey, Dickey, and Parnell. That, my friends, is rebuilding.

By: yankeesfanlen

yankeesfanlen — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:50:29 +0000

Sorry, sdelmonte, I respect your opinion, but if my team said this I would be ballistic. And I would welcome the Metropolitans to be a competitive force again to renew the NYC rivalry we once had.

By: sdelmonte

sdelmonte — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:11:57 +0000

I’m fine with this. The Mets need to be realistic. And I can wait one more season.

By: SmackSaw

SmackSaw — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:08:53 +0000

Well, next year is the 50th anniversary of the Amazin’s. Maybe they’ll lose 120.

By: nyninersfan40

nyninersfan40 — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 19:10:43 +0000

Mets are a joke sell the team please