JB - (Newton Center MA, January 25, 2005) The Marlins signing Delgado might be a blessing in disguise for the Mets. As good a hitter as he is (and he's great), breaking the bank for these one-dimensional players is not a good game plan. Especially if you have any sort of budget. Overpay for pitching and 5-tool players if you must. And that's what the Mets did.
They've taken the back page from the Yanks a few times, but can they take back NY? No, not yet. Atlanta? No, not yet. The Wild Card? Now we're talkin'....
..pause... "PREVIOUSLY on the SPORTS PAGE . . . ..dRAmaTIc muSIc... The Yanks, as always, are the favorites. Randy Johnson doesn't hurt. Neither does Pavano. The Red Sox will be in the Wild Card hunt, but will be a very different team. The big question: Can they survive the loss of Pedro? Matt Clement & Wade Miller have big shoes to fill.
. . ...And on the coast.. ... The Dodgers make puzzling moves, but we'll give Moneyball Podeska a chance to strut his stuff. The Angels (aside from the foolish PR name-change incident) are spending like drunken sailors. And started with a fine team to boot. And s.s..speaking of drunken sailors, I'm 'researching' a growler if Rockbottom Improper Hopper from the Braintree brewpub. Just excellent. One of Massachusetts' fine IPAs! MAN OVERBOARD!! MAN OVERBOARD!!
Doc - (Blauvelt NY, January 25, 2005) I agree completely. I was against this signing from the beginning. Maybe I'm just a spoiled Keith Hernandez fan, but I have always valued good defensive play at first base. I can't see giving a one-dimensional oughta-be-a-DH that kind of money.
The Mets infield this season is young and unproven. If healthy, Reyes is a defensive star at short with a rifle arm. David Wright has the potential to be every bit as good in every way as Carlos Beltran this season and is an excellent third baseman. Kaz Matsui is the biggest question mark in the infield, as he tries to make the transition to second base, but Miguel Cairo is ready to step in if Matsui has trouble with the switch.
So why stick a home-run-hitting Bozo who strikes out a lot on the receiving end of this infield at first base? Let's just take the money we saved in NOT winning the Carlos Delgado sweepstakes and invest it instead in two or three good team players that can fill more holes.
Paying big bucks for Beltran is a whole lot different than breaking the bank for Delgado. Granted, they both are commanding megabucks for the respective .267 and .269 that Beltran & Delgado hit last year. But Beltran is a rising star seemingly now coming into his own, and a player to build a franchise around as the Mike Piazza era comes to a close. Delgado is a veteran with bad knees that will be looking for a DH job in the AL before long, although he's almost certain to have another 30 home run, 100 RBI season if he stays healthy.
Having been a Met fan for all but their first year in 1962, I have learned that the only way Mets teams can consistently win games is with good pitching and defense. This season, the additions of Pedro Martinez, Kris Benson, & Victor Zambrano to the rotation, along with Tom Glavine & Steve Trachsel, give the Mets a starting five with the potential to do what was done in 1969 and 1986.
And with the gold gloves of Carlos Beltran and Mike Cameron covering 2/3 of the outfield, the combination of good defense and good offense is strong all around.
It seems like this is still just a building year for the Mets. They'll have a tough time winning the division, or even getting the wildcard, but promise to be a lot more interesting and hopeful to watch in 2005. They still need to cobble together a bullpen, several players are yet unproven, Willie Randolph will be learning the ropes of being a big league manager in NY, and the Mike Piazza-Jason Phillips tandem behind the plate smells like trouble (why in heck did they trade Vance Wilson for a backup utility player?), but this year's Mets will take an important step towards bringing the franchise back to respectability and promise to give Met fans some fun and exciting baseball to erase all the bad memories of the past few drudging years.
JB - (Newton Center MA, February 1, 2005) Delgado finally signed with the Marlins, who signed Al Leiter earlier in the game. The NL East is an adventure this year. The Mets have some great arms, the Marlins do, too, and the Phillies have a nice balance. The Braves, of course win it every year. And they've added Tim Hudson and closer Dan Kolb. The NL East is a competitive, big money division. There is no Big Stein who will outspend everyone 3-fold. This will be a competitive and exciting race come spring. Rockbottom's Improper Hopper (Braintree) has once again inspired this rant. And it is written.
JB - (Newton Center MA, February 13, 2005) Most of the chips have fallen where they may, and I (for one) am mildly surprised. I shouldn't be. The latest was the signing of Magglio Ordonez for 4 years at about $15 per. The madness continues, maybe not at the Steinbrenner level, but at an insane level for bottom-feeders. Makes me wanna root for the A's and the Cards, but unfortunately I'm committed to the Idiotic Empire.
Spend what you can, but my question is, at what cost? I can't afford more than a coupla ballgames a year at this point in time. The Pawsox have become my go-to for live baseball. But as long as they're selling tickets, and they are, us blue-coller folks are thrown by the wayside. I'm not bitter - at least an average guy can buy some fresh-brewed beer for a reasonable price. The Woodstock Inn in New Hampshire and Rock Bottom Braintree Massachusetts brewpubs will do you a growler (half-gallon) for $6-7. Worth every penny.
Enough rant, onto REALITY! AL EAST: The Yanks, are heavy favorites simply by the addition of Randy Johnson. They won 100+ games last year without him. 'Nuff said. The Sox again are a wildcard favorite. The Orioles, with the great Sammy Sosa aboard, have a heckovan attack, but can they pitch?
NL EAST: The Mets made perhaps the most sensational signings. A pitching staff with the R-L punch of Pedro and Glavine is formidable. Carlos Beltran is a bonafide 5-tool player in his prime. The bullpen is questionable, and Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza we know can't throw and we don't know if he can hit. Hafta favor the Braves, as usual. Tim Hudson (92-39, 3.30) is the real thing. What is it... 12 division titles in a row? More-on 'nuff said! Where were the Yanks on this deal?
