Will The Real Omar Minaya Please Stand Up
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by Aprisco
Holy, what is going on with the Mets? Let's start out with a question to Mets fans: give me 5 reasons why the Mets blew it last year? Now did any of those reasons involve catching? Hmm, last time I checked Paul Lo Duca was one of the only players on the Mets who DID NOT choke in September, driving in over 20 runs that month. Lo Duca had some "issues". Apparently unique to him in professional sports, he cheats on his wife. And maybe he's rubbed some of the Latin players the wrong way with his comments about their unwillingness to talk to the media which could have been handled better. And he's a bit of a hot head. But apparently replacing him has become an obsession for Omar Minaya.
Let's review: The Mets signed Yorvit Torrealba. A light hitting and defensive catcher who has declined defensively. Ok, let's get on to the Mets' real problems, the horrible pitching staff and the outfield. Ooops, the Mets didn't sign Torrealba. We don't know why. He may have failed his physical or maybe Omar found a way to get rid of steroid boy Guillermo Mota while obtaining another catcher. All we know is, Minaya won't comment and Torreabla may be filing a grievance against the Mets. Let's move on, the Mets acquire Johnny Estrada for Mota. Excellent. Estrada is an average catcher with some ability to get a base hit. The Brewers are apparently blind because anyone who remotely payed any attention to Mota's season last year wouldn't trade a jock strap for him but great for the Mets. Let's move on to the Mets' real needs.
The Mets are set to trade Lastings Milledge, excellent. They must be on the way to acquiring Johan Santana or Danny Haren. No, wait a minute, it's another catcher......Brian Schneider and Ryan Church. Well, not sure what to say now. Schneider is an upgrade defensively although he has also declined the last few years. Ryan Church will likely replace Milledge offensively next year but obviously Milledge has a way higher upside and is a way better athlete. Ok on to the pitching staff....the Mets make a free agent sign. Is it Carlos Silva or Livan Hernandez? How about Freddy Garcia or Bartolo Colon, man if they get back into form that could help the Mets. No, it's only another catcher.....Raul Casanova, signed to a minor league deal. So I guess if Schneider, Estrada, or Castro all go down Casanova is ready to go. One thing is true about baseball, you can never have enough mediocre catchers.
Well Omar has been inquiring about pitchers anyway. Give Omar credit for asking the Marlins about Dontrelle Willis. Oh wait, he actually said he thought Dontrelle was not available. I guess he was distracted with all the catcher transactions. At least he may have inquired if Dontrelle was available from Detroit. Reports have circulated that Detroit may be interested if the Mets also take Pudge Rodriguez in return. Detroit obviously well aware of the Mets need to pile on as many catchers on their roster as possible or, making a cruel joke of the whole situation. I think the Mets should do it. Maybe try to play all their catchers in the infield in one game.
So when will Omar Minaya address the state of his pitching staff? Well Omar might reply he has done well so far, after all the Mets subtracted Mota and Tom Glavine and Glavine even went to a division rival. Now the Mets get to beat him up and maybe move ahead of the Braves. Good job Omar!
It really seems like Omar Minaya has lost it, bumbling around and making rash decisions. When asked about this off season he has had one defense, he did get John Maine (a #3 starter at best) for Kris Benson, who's only success is that he somehow managed to coax Anna Benson into marrying him. Well that trade was a while ago and New York is a "What Have You Done For Me Lately" kind of town. It's still December Omar, you still have time. I think you solved the Mets' catching riddle, let's move on to the pitching staff.
