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[Vic Sage]

]Even if they hadn't done anything this offseason, they still would have been legitimate contenders next season, if only because they were unlucky last season and their young players are expected to improve.

our very own William Peter Rottblatty made this very same point some time ago, in a lengthy thread accompanied by an avalanche of statistical evidence.

Neyer... a step late and a dollar short.

[metirish]

Steve Phillips accesses the needs of teams, here is Stevo on the Mets...

] New York Mets Need: Second baseman The Mets have had an exciting offseason. They have remade their team and energized the fan base. There are still a couple of holes remaining, the most glaring at second base. GM Omar Minaya says he is willing to go into the season with Kaz Matsui as his starting second baseman. The problem is that every time Matsui's name is announced at Shea Stadium a chorus of boos rains down upon the field. He has shown that he can't handle the boos, and to make matters worse, even though the boos are directed at Matsui, they affect the whole team. There is too much negativity in the stadium every time he is in the starting lineup. Matsui is more talented than he has shown, but he will never overcome the boobirds. His offense and his defense have suffered because of it. The Mets need a gritty, hard-nosed guy who can hit and, more importantly, play defense. The Mets' pitching staff is primarily a contact staff; the pitchers need playmakers behind them. The infielders need to turn double plays when they get the chance. The Mets also need range from their second baseman because Carlos Delgado is limited in that department at first base. The answer is Mark Grudzielanek. He has range, arm strength and grit. He will get dirty and take a hit to turn a double play. He is also a slasher on offense. Just ask anyone on the Cardinals' pitching staff how critical he was to their success. He turned the most DPs among second basemen in the majors last year. Grudzielanek would be a perfect fit for the Mets.

[nymr83]

]Grudzielanek would be a perfect fit for the Mets.

IF we can get rid of the Matsui contract i think Grudz is better, but he's not better enough to justify paying both him and matsui, imo.

[Frayed Knot]

Except that one of the papers said today that the Mets have turned away from signing Grudzelanek.

[MFS62]

Maybe that's because he just signed with KC.
That's tampering, y'know.

Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

]New York Mets Need: Second baseman

Or one of the ones they have to step up.

]The Mets have had an exciting offseason. They have remade their team and energized the fan base.

See 2002 to remind you that doesn't mean much when the games start, Steve.

]There are still a couple of holes remaining, the most glaring at second base. GM Omar Minaya says he is willing to go into the season with Kaz Matsui as his starting second baseman. The problem is that every time Matsui's name is announced at Shea Stadium a chorus of boos rains down upon the field.

The problem is that he hasn't been productive.

]He has shown that he can't handle the boos, and to make matters worse, even though the boos are directed at Matsui, they affect the whole team.

Highly speculative.

]There is too much negativity in the stadium every time he is in the starting lineup. Matsui is more talented than he has shown, but he will never overcome the boobirds. His offense and his defense have suffered because of it.

There is too much negativity in the stadium full stop. Surrendering to the boobirds is ceding control of your organization to abusive yahoos.

]The Mets need a gritty, hard-nosed guy who can hit and, more importantly, play defense.

They need someone good. And, no, his hitting will not be less important than his defense. His relative grit is irrelevant.

]The Mets' pitching staff is primarily a contact staff; the pitchers need playmakers behind them. The infielders need to turn double plays when they get the chance. The Mets also need range from their second baseman because Carlos Delgado is limited in that department at first base.

Pretty redundant, but I get your point.

]The answer is Mark Grudzielanek. He has range, arm strength and grit. He will get dirty and take a hit to turn a double play. He is also a slasher on offense. Just ask anyone on the Cardinals' pitching staff how critical he was to their success. He turned the most DPs among second basemen in the majors last year.

Why does grit always translate as a kind of ethnic white guy?

]Grudzielanek would be a perfect fit for the Mets.

You should know. Hey, he's off the market. What say we get Robby Alomar again?

[Centerfield]

I love words like "grit".

Does anyone remember the Canon "If business were that easy" series of commercials? There was one where the CEO of a company was talking to the marketing reps of another:

Marketing Reps: "Hi. We have no experience in your field, no capability to meet your requirements, no business plan whatsoever, but we do have spunk."

CEO: "Spunk huh? I sure do like spunk!"

[Guest Edgy DC]

Keep in mind that a lot of the time Matsui missed last year was because of his willingness "take a hit to turn a double play."

We may have to hire Phillips again just to say nebulous stuff like that. Not that there's a GM in baseball who won't praise nebulous traits of a player when he signs one.

[MFS62]

Centerfield wrote: Marketing Reps: "Hi. We have no experience in your field, no capability to meet your requirements, no business plan whatsoever, but we do have spunk." CEO: "Spunk huh? I sure do like spunk!"

Lou Grant (Ed Asner): You know what, Mary?
Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore): What, Mr. Grant?
Lou Grant (Ed Asner): Mary, you have spunk.
Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore): Thank you, Mr. Grant
Lou Grant (Ed Asner): And do you know what else?
Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore): What, Mr. Grant?
Lou Grant (Ed Asner): I hate spunk


Later