Mets' inactions are hurting them

What big free agents have signed this off-season? Jason Marquis, Garrett Adkins, Mike Gonzalez, John Lackey, Latroy Hawkins, Mike Cameron, etc. You get the point.
How many of those guys went to the Mets? None.
Who has the Omar Minaya signed? Let me think... Chris Coste, Henry Blanco, Mike Hessman, Clint Everts, Ryota Igarashi, and Elmer Dessens. None really what you would call big free agents.

In past off-seasons Omar Minaya has made a big move or two to acquire top talent. This year, he has not signed or traded for a top of the line player. I don't understand how move can be made all around the Mets, and Omar Minaya has done absolutely nothing! Ok, Matt Holliday and Jason Bay are still on the Market, but how has he not signed a starting pitcher, or a starting catcher? John Lackey, Randy Wolf, and Jason Marquis are on the Red Sox, Brewers, and Nationals respectively.
Speaking of the a Natinals, they have signed Ivan Rodriguez, and traded for Brian Bruney, along with the signing of Marquis. Now when the Nationals are making more major moves than you, there is something very wrong!

The Brewers signed Randy Wolf, and Latroy Hawkins on the same day! How did Omar not even factor into their decisions to go there? Shouldn't he want a starter and reliever? Couldn't Omar have signed them too? I would assume so, given that the brewers are a small market team. He could have out-bidded them.
from all of the reports that circulated John Lackey, none said that the Mets had even offered him a contract. How is that possible when you need a #2 starter? Ben Sheets anyone?

According to many sources, R.A. Dickey is close to signing a minor league deal with the Mets... I know it's a minor league deal, but still Omar needs to step up his game, or else he is out.

For more on this subject see Ed Prices' AOL Fanhouse article.

Pedro Martinez, on the Mets' radar?

Pedro? Really?

I'm not sure what Omar is thinking about right now, but it shouldn't be Pedro. Does he really think Pedro Martinez, at age 38, is a good idea at this point in time? Why go through his desperate measure when there are still options out there: Sheets, Bedard, even Garland and Doug Davis.

Pedro hasn't been stellar in a while, let alone satisfactory, and probably shouldn't be entertained with the idea of him landing a spot on our roster. Sure, if the Nationals or the Royals needs a guy for their rotation, sign Pedro for a year. How could he fit into the Mets once again when we know he has no more gas left?

Sure, during the playoffs his change-up was very good at times. But how about the other times when it was crushed? Pedro posted a 3.63 ERA in 44.2 IP with the Phillies this past year, while striking out 37.

All I know is that it would be a horrible idea for Omar to resign Pedro. If they wouldn't resign him in 09... why would they decide to in 2010? With other viable options and decent pitchers still lurking the market, why settle with Pedro Martinez?

I'm just really confused.

Why the Mets may be better off with Jason Bay

The Mets need a left fielder. There is no question about that. They had Gary Sheffield, Angel Pagan, Fernando Martinez, Fernando Tatis, and Cory Sullivan playing left for them last year. Not good.

The Mets need a guy who can replace Carlos Delgado in the clean-up or #5 spot. They need thump in the lineup. That thump was obviously missing last year given that they finished last in the MLB in homers. Bay hit 36 homers last year. That is the kind of power the Mets need in the lineup.

Matt Holliday may have a higher average; but per hit, Jason Bay has more extra base hits (Click here for more on this stat). That tells me that he has higher power potential, and that he is more suited to be in the #4 or #5 spot in the lineup.

The Mets also need someone to drive in all the runners they have in scoring position. They had the 7th most at-bats with RISP (1433), and the 6th highest average (.276) in that situation, BUT they had the 15th most RBIs (526). There is something wrong there. They had a 1 to 1 ground ball to fly ball ratio with RISP; the league average was 0.85 to 1 last year, that 0.15 difference makes a huge impact! The Mets can't hit the ball out of the infield! Jason Bay's ratio is 0.51. Holliday, 0.79. I would rather go with Bay there.

Holliday may be a better fielder and strikeout less, but Jason Bay has more power potential, get on base just as much, and gets more RBIs.

That's my case for Bay, what's yours?

Aroldis Chapman for New York

"I want to be the best pitcher in the world. That's my objective."

The 22 year old Cuban phenom hasn't made a decision yet where to sign, and I believe the Mets should look into him heavily. Chapman is young, full of talent, and could be the Mets' project over the next few years in the minors.

Since the Mets are clearly not spending on top pitching this off season, this would be a good investment. In a post in October here, I said that the Mets had too many holes to fill to pay him the money he seeks and that its not worth it. Now seeing this off season was a bust for pitching for the organization, he would be a great asset.

Chapman has been labeled as "one of three greatest pitchers not in the majors" along with LHP Stephen Strasburg and Japanese RHP Yu Darvish. He is a workhorse and bound to be a star.

Aroldis has a great build and has been labeled as "mature, limber and powerful." His electric fastball sits at 93-95 while hitting 100 and not uncommon for him to hit 97 regularly. He's been clocked at 102 in the first inning and has hit 102 later on in the game as well. His 2-seam sits at 91-92 and also throws a hard, plus-slider at 81 and a plus-curveball at 75.

If the Mets want to start rebuilding for the future and get serious about contending, Chapman is their guy. By signing him, we'd get major coverage and attention as he climbs the ranks in the minors.

He's exactly what we're looking for to shake up this organization. He's young, promising, and full of energy and upside projection. Chapman would be more than welcomed in New York by me. What do you think?

To learn a little more about Aroldis Chapman, watch this video.

2010 Line Up

This is the 2010 Mets team I'd like to see happen. It's both reasonable and a little bit of a stretch, but definitely not far fetched.

C. Molina/Santos

1B. Murphy

2B. Castillo

SS. Reyes

3B. Wright

LF. Holliday

CF. Beltran

RF. Francouer

Rotation:

1. Santana

2. Halladay (If not, then Lackey)

3. Pelfrey

4. Maine

5. Perez

Reasonable, right? If everyone stays healthy, this is a very good line up. Let's hope.