That's a ridiculous statement to make. The Mets pitching staff is what carried them for a long stretch of the season last year and was a big reason why they actually had a lead to blow at the end of the year. The NL is such a pitiful league at this point I don't believe you need "dominant pitching" or a "true ace" to carry you through the playoffs. Just look at the past 2 NL champs. Point is, there's no player out there that is even going to have half the impact on a team that A-Rod would. So why wouldn't you try to get him? It's about making the team better right? Would you rather over pay for a mediocre guy like Josh "Dragon Slayer" Fogg becuase the Mets "need pitching" or get the best player in the game?
A-Rod will be better value, and I know what he's going to get. Besides, we don't need a middle of the rotation guy, we have plenty of those.
Get me A-Rod, Garland or Blanton and then look to free agency for the bullpen help. I'll take that offseason.
My bad. But what I said in response is true anyway. The above offseason would more than do it for me too. Easier said than done though.
If the Mets signed Arod I'd become a divorced man because I'd never be able spend time with my wife because I'd be watching the Mets.
No.... explain where the 2 quality starting pitchers are going to come from? When Kyle Lohse is the #1 pitcher on the FA market it says go after Arod and deal with pitching next year.
wish list Lo Duca- maybe only option Delgado- who wants his $16M contract this year plus $4K buyout? Castillo- solid 2B who can bat #2 Id keep him. We would have lost the division faster without him Glavine- BYE Mota - who wants him? Green- I agree
The only way we get 2 quality starters is if we trade. So we give up stuff for two pitchers, instead of giving up nothing (talent wise) for A-Rod. This would guarentee a playoff birth, where it has been proven that you can win with guys like Maine and Perez leading the rotation (I'm expecting progression in '08), and El Duque has always been awesome in the playoffs. With the 2 quality starters, we could do what we did this year. Random question: Is '08 next year or this year? When can I start saying this year?
On the Daily Show tonight, Jon Stewart asked David Wright about switching positions for A-Rod. He said, essentially, that if the front office asked him to consider he would listen, but right now, he's focusing on playing 3rd base. Good interview by the way, check it out if you can.
The more I think about it the more I think the Mets are going to make a serious run after Arod. A) It would put the Mets on the back pages instead of the Yankees B) It would create a serious buzz about the Mets and Citifield C) It would help solidify SNY as a top regional sports network D) A Rod would stick it to the Yankees E) You'd have Wright, Reyes, Beltran and Arod together for the at least the next 4 years and I'd imagn if Reyes wasn't traded he'd be givin an extension F) There is no quality pitching in the FA Market G) In 2008 the contracts of Pedro, Alou, El Duque, and Mota come off the books with ability to save another 12 million on Delgado. In 09 guys like Shoenwiess and Wagner come off the books as well. The team isn't going to lose money by signing Arod, in fact they likely won't approach the 200 million dollar payroll because of the up to 40 million that can come off the books next year. The more and more I think about the more it appears that the Mets might be the front runners. I really liked Anaheim but they have too many expiring contracts coming up in the next 2 years. Vlad will be a FA in 09 so signing Arod to play with Vlad doesn't really make sense.
There is no question ARod makes perfect sense for the Mets, which is exactly the reason I don't think there is any chance they get him.
Oh and the 08/09 FA pitchers Johan CC Sabathia Ben Sheets AJ Burnett (player option) Derek Lowe John Lackey (team option) Jake Peavy (team option) Brad Penny (team option) Oliver Perez RP Joe Beimel Brian Fuentes Brandon Lyon Joe Nathan Okajima (team option) Brad Lidge K Rod Rafael Soriano This just furthers my case about going after Arod now because next year you can go out and get some of the pithing you desperately need.
That's just a monster list. I"m really gearing up for A-Rod, and I'm so terrified that I'm going to be horribly disappointed.
Prepare to be dissapointed. I refuse to let myself get sucked into the media monster like I did in 2000, only to be let down. So at this point, my belief is this is not going to happen.