Gwreck

If the Mets aren't going to make the playoffs (which they're not), the best possible position they can be in is to have as bad a record as possible to get a better draft pick spot for next year. Finishing with one of the ten worst records in the majors would be ideal since it wouldn't cost them a first-round pick [u:2suqgg37]when[/u:2suqgg37] they sign a big free agent this offseason (ie. Jon Lester or Max Scherzer). As for Mejia: I maintain there is no reason to delay the surgery. I really think it's stupid to think about "if" he can pitch despite the hernia. If the Mets were seriously competing for a playoff spot then it might be a different consideration.

Alex Rodriguez was in the majors in 1994 but was sent to the minors in advance of the strike.

This is idiotic. If he needs surgery, get him the surgery. We are not playing for anything in 2014.

Wait, Wilmer Flores is batting sixth? Flores - Recker - DeGrom - Young is not a good back half of the lineup. DeGrom might the the best hitter of those four.

CIN at CLE, last night: Yan Gomes of the Indians hits a double. At about the same time as the ball gets to the wall, an errant throw from the Reds bullpen comes on to the field and goes the same direction as the relay - towards second base. David Murphy, the lead runner, is tagged off third because he sees the loose ball behind second. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_08_05_cinmlb_clemlb_1&mode=wrap#gid=2014_08_05_cinmlb_clemlb_1&mode=video

Thanks, that was totally irrelevant and you still ignored the question: How would this possibly be something the Mets were hoping "wouldn't ever get out" ?

A half-dozen players talked about it on the record. How would this possibly be something the Mets were hoping "wouldn't ever get out."

The most recent TP turned against the Mets was in 2010, a Tejada grounder to third with runners on first and second. That game is more memorable for Jon Niese's finest ever pitching performance, a one hit shutout against the Padres. If memory serves, a first inning hit was the only Padre baserunner. I believe the most recent Mets triple play was started by Angel Pagan at Nationals Park, with the Mets benefiting from a delayed out call on a potentially trapped ball.

Frustrating game. At least it wasn't scorching hot out at the park. Lots of Giants fans in attendance but they were well-behaved. From my perspective, either Lagares or Young would have been able to catch that ball but not both of them at the same time. As always, I blame the fielder not yielding to the centerfielder. When Wright was arguing, he tossed his bat, helmet and wristbands. The latitude he got suggested to me that the umpire knew it was a bad call. When Duda actually argued a bit as well, it seemed pretty clear we were getting squeezed. They could've won 3 of 4 this series and only got one. Not good at all.

Jose Santiago? or Juan Padilla?

Least valuable Met seasons, 21st century: At -1.1 WAR: Ruben Tejada, 2013 Jason Bay, 2012 Jay Bell, 2003 At -1.2 WAR: Willie Harris, 2011 Lucas Duda, 2012

I'm not really ok yet as the Mets still appear hitless

I don't see a Brian McRae card there.

I remember all of the names in this thread so far. I started looking over rosters and realized I had absolutely no recollection of Justin Hampson or Jack Egbert. But even those players, I might have been able to recall as Mets. Brian Buchanan, on the other hand? I would've lost a large sum of money had I been challenged with a wager there.

Edgy MD wrote: He may be Dan Uggla, but that's really sad. I have nothing personal against the guy* but the dude's due $13 million next year. Sorry that your career's fizzled out but that's not too bad for severance pay. * Those three errors in the all-star game notwithstanding.

Price is [crossout:2ebx0fyd]under contract for 2015 as well.[/crossout:2ebx0fyd] not eligible for free agency until after 2015.

They pulled Jackson from the field in the middle of an inning so he's definitely going.

Edgy MD wrote: Competitive balance picks can be traded. And traded to Boston, of all teams. How absurd is it that these things even exist? Not really. It was part of the last CBA with the players' union, right?

The Red Sox apparently also traded John Lackey today; to the Cardinals.

Great. I'll take this opportunity to revise and/or clarify my description of "impact player" to instead be "player of sufficient upgrade to make team into legitimate playoff contender given the mostly solid team core that pre-exists"

I'm all in favor of upgrading left field too. I just don't see an impact player available at that position the way there (supposedly) is at shortstop with Tulowitzki.* I am unimpressed with that list of free agents. I am unimpressed with the in-house options. I am curious if there are any viable trade options but unaware of any good ideas at this point. *I'd also consider a free-agent signing of Hanley Ramirez in the offseason for shortstop.

Outfielders who will be free agents at the end of 2014. Outfielders Norichika Aoki Emilio Bonifacio Melky Cabrera Nelson Cruz Michael Cuddyer Rajai Davis Chris Denorfia Jeff Francoeur Jonny Gomes Franklin Gutierrez Tony Gwynn Jr. Scott Hairston Torii Hunter Raul Ibanez Reed Johnson Darnell McDonald Mike Morse Colby Rasmus Nate Schierholtz Grady Sizemore Seth Smith Alfonso Soriano Ichiro Suzuki Ryan Sweeney Josh Willingham Chris Young Delmon Young

Setting money aside, there are basically see three ways to get top-tier talent: a. draft and develop; b. sign as free agent (which costs draft picks); or c. trade (which costs prospects). The Mets have had several notable failures in category 'b" and that is likely where the issue of "spending money poorly" comes from. Those failures are the most frustrating. Failures in category "c" are much more tolerable, in my opinion. Additionally, while past results are no guarantee of future performance, I like the Mets' chances in category "c" a lot more. Examples that come to mind: the Roberto Alomar trade was a bust, but nobody the Mets traded away ever amounted to anything. The Carlos Delgado trade: nothing doing with those prospects; all it cost the Mets was money. I like the Mets' chances to compete for playoff spots in 2015 and 2016 with one or two big supplements to the core team they've developed. I'm fully prepared to trade away a Syndergaard or similar prospect to acquire Tulowitzki's contract. So what if the Mets get only 2-3 good years from Tulowitzki and then have sunk costs at the end of the contract? That's where the financial advantage to playing in New York comes in. Ownership should be able to eat that cost, especially if the acquisition pays off in playoff appearance(s). Losing one (or even two) prospects but no draft picks sounds like a fine way of improving the team at this point.

Brian Giles

Luis Gonzalez