All this winning is terrible...

[Centerfield]

...if management takes it as a sign that everything is okay.

Four game win streaks are nice, but two of the wins came with the Mets scoring 3 runs in 20 innings. Blanton and Maroth are good pitchers, but it's not like this was Brandon Webb and Jake Peavy. The offense has been bad for some time now and it's getting to the point that just waiting for these guys to come around may not be the answer.

Of our 8 regulars, it seems pretty likely now that five of them (Delgado, Beltran, Wright, LoDuca and Valentin) have taken a step back from their 2006 numbers. (Some more than others, Paul LoDuca and Carlos Delgado both sports OPS under .700. Beltran is below .800). Alou, and his replacements, have given us little in LF. The only players producing at the same level or higher are Green and Reyes.

I'd love to see the team get a starting pitcher, but I think the much bigger need is a run-producing corner outfielder.

[Benjamin Grimm]

]I'd love to see the team get a starting pitcher, but I think the much bigger need is a run-producing corner outfielder.

Me too.

Especially since Alou and Green are unsigned beyond this year. There's room for another outfielder or two in 2008. I don't think it's likely that the outfield of the future (Beltran/Gomez/F. Martinez/Milledge) is going to be sufficient for next season, so they'll need to get somebody. And they might as well get that somebody during this season, when he might be a difference maker either in the pennant race or in the postseason.

[metirish]

Jermaine Dye gets mentioned a lot,he's a FA after the season,what would it take to get him and would the Mets want to sign him for the next few seasons...I really don't like guys that can walk but if he's the difference maker I suppose it's worth the risk....figures to be a lot of teams wanting him though....is he injured right now?

[Guest Edgy DC]

I don't particuarly need an outfielder. I'm enjoying playing a little Russian Roulette watching Green's resuscitation, Gomez's development, and Alou's daily drama, but it's continually hard to fathom all the talk about pitching help in light of the offense's struggles.

[Guest Mr. Zero]

Dye is a recent member of the "nagging quad" club.

[seawolf17]

Yeah, Dye's hurt. I'd like to see another bat too, but I don't know how they'll get anyone else to fit. Unless Alou is done done, then where do you stick him and Green if you add a healthy Jermaine Dye? I don't know that either one gives you anything off the bench, and neither one is likely to be dealt or cut.

Maybe we can resurrect Ryne Sandberg and stick him at second base and get some extra offense that way.

[RealityChuck]

Edgy DC wrote: I don't particuarly need an outfielder. I'm enjoying playing a little Russian Roulette watching Green's resuscitation, Gomez's development, and Alou's daily drama, but it's continually hard to fathom all the talk about pitching help in light of the offense's struggles.

Because the team was supposed to have iffy starting pitching this year, and when sportswriters get an idea into their head at the beginning of the season, it remains until the end (because otherwise, they would be wrong about something).

The problems with the starting pitching all assumed worse-case scenarios for all players; an average scenario meant the pitching would be adequate.

It would be nice to get another hitter to take up the slack, but that's Fantasy, not reality. The team can win with what it has.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Well, yeah, they CAN win with what they have.

They can also finish in third place with what they have.

There's certainly room for improvement with the 2007 Mets. I don't like the idea of not doing anything because they might be good enough.

[Guest iramets]

Agreed, Mr. Gang. Also

RealityChuck wrote: It would be nice to get another hitter to take up the slack, but that's Fantasy, not reality. The team can win with what it has.

it's only Fantasy until it happens, which for all you know Omar is frantically working on 24/7 these days. Then it's reality, and your line at that point , sweet Chuck, then becomes "Yes! We needed another hitter all along! How brilliant is Omar? I knew he could come through!"

Or will you denounce the move, claiming that Omar was living in a fantasy world? I doubt it very much.

Whatever the effect, you always know the cause, don't you? It gets tougher the other way around.

[Centerfield]

What Yancy said. I also don't see having an extra outfielder when Alou comes back as a problem. Platoon Green and Alou if need be. Have one guy be the first guy off the bench. I'd certainly rather see Alou pinch-hitting in a key spot than Julio Franco.

When they passed on Zito, Omar mentioned that a plus from that was financial flexibility during the season. That means they have money to spend...spend it.

[Frayed Knot]

Dye - who, to my surprise, is only 33 - is having a Delgado-type year and has had more of that type of so-so year than he has real good (2006) ones. IOW, Delgado is at least as likely to perk up the offense as an influx of Dye is.

I'm not objecting to bringing in another bat but I'm not sure I'd want it to be him.

[Guest Rotblatt]

I agree. I don't mind adding another pitcher, provided he's either young & talented or just plain underrated, but I hardly think it should be a priority.

A corner outfielder with a little pop and good OBP would go a long way for us. AND could allow us the flexibility to put Beltran on the DL or at least give him a few days off, which we don't really have now. Or allow us to play Green at first more often, and bench Delgado, who is just killing us offensively. He's got an OPS+ of 84, or right around replacement level. And he's a fucking first baseman--and a poor one defensively, at that.

If Alou & Milledge were healthy, I think we'd be alright, but Alou sounds nowhere near healthy at the moment.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

No improving the offense without improving the Carloses too. I don;t see them going away.

[Elster88]

I don't see how bringing Dye in helps. Hasn't he been terrible this year? I think Alou will be around for the playoffs, which is what we need. And I think we'll make the playoffs with what we have.

Next year Gomez starts in right and Gotay at second. Then we'll need a leftfielder.

[Elster88]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: Well, yeah, they CAN win with what they have. They can also finish in third place with what they have. There's certainly room for improvement with the 2007 Mets. I don't like the idea of not doing anything because they might be good enough.

Well yeah they can finish anywhere between first and last with what they have. Like any other year. So that's not helpful. But here's a question: If they don't make any moves for the year, what place do you think they will finish in?

I say first. And my guess is Alou magically feels well enough to play come playoff time. And then we'll be rid of him for 2008.

I'd like them to get Oswalt because I'd like our rotation solidified for the playoffs. And because he's under contract and Glavine is getting old. I don't see much point to bringing in a guy like Jermaine Dye.

[Gwreck]

Elster88 wrote: I'd like them to get Oswalt because I'd like our rotation solidified for the playoffs. And because he's under contract and Glavine is getting old.

The chance of getting Oswalt, now that he's signed a lengthy contract extension for a reasonable price is less than zero.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Calling Mr. Oswalt with the rebel flag tattoo
There is a vacancy for pitchers who don't practice no voodoo
Carving "S" for "Schoeneweis" here on Willie Randolph's head
When we've had enough of that, maybe we'll finally get to bed
To feel like we're alive before we wish that we were dead

Call Mike and Mad Dog, no one listening will suspect
Offer trade proposals for your strange scenario
They think they can land him for Mulvey
Chance of that is less than zero

[metsmarathon]

we could target ken griffey jr...

[Elster88]

Gwreck wrote: ="Elster88"]I'd like them to get Oswalt because I'd like our rotation solidified for the playoffs. And because he's under contract and Glavine is getting old. The chance of getting Oswalt, now that he's signed a lengthy contract extension for a reasonable price is less than zero.

Of course you have no way of knowing if this is true or not.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Elster88 wrote: Well yeah they can finish anywhere between first and last with what they have. Like any other year. So that's not helpful. But here's a question: If they don't make any moves for the year, what place do you think they will finish in?

I'm saying that without making a move, they're as likely to finish in third place as they are to finish in first.

[metirish]

Johnette Howard on weather the Mets need an arm or bat.

Big Bat theory

[Guest Edgy DC]

="Elster88"] ="Gwreck"] ="Elster88"]I'd like them to get Oswalt because I'd like our rotation solidified for the playoffs. And because he's under contract and Glavine is getting old. The chance of getting Oswalt, now that he's signed a lengthy contract extension for a reasonable price is less than zero. Of course you have no way of knowing if this is true or not.

Actually, I do, in that "less than zero" is a mathematically impossible probablility.

(Sucka thinks he's gonna be the pedant around here. Uh-uh.)

[Elster88]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: ="Elster88"]Well yeah they can finish anywhere between first and last with what they have. Like any other year. So that's not helpful. But here's a question: If they don't make any moves for the year, what place do you think they will finish in? I'm saying that without making a move, they're as likely to finish in third place as they are to finish in first.

Ugh, I hope not. I still think they have the talent to finish first as the team stands.

[Gwreck]

Elster88 wrote: ="Gwreck"] Elster88 wrote: I'd like them to get Oswalt because I'd like our rotation solidified for the playoffs. And because he's under contract and Glavine is getting old. The chance of getting Oswalt, now that he's signed a lengthy contract extension for a reasonable price is less than zero. Of course you have no way of knowing if this is true or not.

He's under the Astros control until 2012. The contract extension was 5 years at 75 million (plus a $16 mil club option for 2012), which is under market value.

Is my name Tim Purpura? No. Am I sure he's not being traded? Yes.

[Elster88]

Gwreck wrote: Am I sure he's not being traded? Yes.

I understand you're "sure".

[Gwreck]

Perhaps it would be better if you could provide a persuasive counterargument or proposed situation in which the Astros would deal Oswalt to the Mets.

[Elster88]

My contention was never that it was likely Oswalt would come here, nor do I want to start talking about WATPs like a WFAN caller that learned how to write. All I was pointing out by responding to your statement was that it's possible, that the chances are greater than "less than zero".

[Gwreck]

Elster88 wrote: All I was pointing out by responding to your statement was that it's possible, that the chances are greater than "less than zero".

Setting aside the "anything's possible, the Mets could offer Reyes, Wright, Humber and Pelfrey" types of examples, I challenge you to offer a hypothetical situation in which the Astros trade Oswalt.

Did I use hyperbole? Absolutely. Am I wrong? I doubt it.

[Elster88]

Like I already said, I have no desire to engage in a WFAN-style WATP debate.

[Willets Point]

I still think the Mets should trade/demote/cut all the players older than 33 and let the youngsters play. This team is going nowhere as it is.