The New York Mets had a year to forget in 2009.
The team was inept in playing the game on a daily basis not to mention they dealt with litany of injuries. Then, they watched their hated rivals facing each other in the World Series, and the Yankees capped off the Mets' troubled season by winning the championship.
In a week from now, the year will be over, but it does not mean the misery will end next season.
The Mets will do okay as long as they don't have injury issues. With that said, they are no better than the Phillies, Braves and the Marlins.
Everyone would have given them a shot to win the division if they spent money on free agents or make an astute trade, but that is not the case here.
Minaya offered no sense of urgency in getting the premier players in free agency this season unlike in years past. Hard to believe it's his decision.
He knows he needs to spend money this year for his team to have a chance of winning the division even if it meant overpaying. It's the only way he can make it through next season.
It's strange to see the Mets act like the Twins by going after fringe players such as R.A. Dickey, Chris Coste, and Henry Blanco.
Those guys doesn't inspire Mets fans to fork up their money for those overpriced seats.
It's clear the Wilpons told Minaya not to be proactive in the free agency market. The Mets owners tend to change their strategy if spending does not work. It happened couple of times after the 1991 season and the 2003 season.
The Mets decided to spend after Minaya pleaded with them to get involved with Scott Boras and free agents when he interviewed for the job and after he got hired.
Also, don't discount how the Mets ownership have been affected with the Bernie Madoff scandal.
It's hard to believe any free agent is coming here. Everyone talks about Jason Bay being a Met, but considering how folks are on the Mets for not doing much this offseason and how bad this franchise is run, he will be looking elsewhere, and no one can blame him.
Look for Bay to be a Yankee after trading Melky Cabrera for Javier Vazquez. The Yankees can use an outfielder, and they like to spite the Red Sox when they have the opportunity.
They shouldn't bother paying the remaining free agents in the market since they are not worth the money. Pedro Martinez, Jon Garland, Joel Piniero, and others will not make a difference for this team.
Trades make sense for the Mets, but Minaya is not that smart to execute one. Plus, the Mets farm system does not excite anyone despite what people want to think.
It's going to be the same team from last year. Sure, the offensive guys will be healthy, but the back end of that rotation is underwhelming, and the bullpen is nothing to be excited about.
The Mets can win 77 to 84 games with a healthy team, but it does nothing.
In this market, it's winning a championship or bust. Losing makes a team nonexistent as the Rangers and the Knicks can attest.
Out-of-market fans shouldn't bother paying for MLB Extra Innings this season, and fans in the Metropolitan Area shouldn't fork up their money to go watch this product at Citi Field.
What the Mets need to do is trade their stars and get guys that they can build around for the next few years. Problem is they need a competent general manager to do that, and Omar does not want to be the man that trade these guys.
It probably will happen in the next offseason.
That's too bad since it's the only way the team can get better not to mention making this coming season watchable.
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