Jan 04 2009
How Long does Omar Minaya have left?
Willie is gone. Glavine is gone. Heilman is gone. Castillo may be gone soon. Pedro, El Duke and Alou will probably be as well. Everyone else that can really be blamed for any type of role in the last 2 season collapses are pretty much gone. So what happens if the Mets start the season slumping this coming year. Who is left to blame? After the current acquisitions of JJ Putz and K Rod, the Mets seem lined up for a post season birth. So what happens if they don’t win the division? Wild card? Whose head will role next?
The fans and press seem to love Manuel, and so do the ownership, so I doubt if he will be axed after 1 season. Should the Mets trade a David Wright or Jose Reyes as has been mentioned? Or should the Mets look at Omar and say, let’s face it, he’s not the guy to get us were we want to be.
There is only so much blame a General Manager can take credit for. He puts the pieces on the board, but the players have to go out and play the game, and perform to the best of their ability. Omar tends to gravitate towards big name signings, and in my opinion hasn’t gone out and gotten the Role Players that help a team win. One example of a good Role Player is Jason Werth for the Phillies. Where are guys like that on the Mets????
Omar has definitely made some great moves the past couple years, but he has also made some blunders. Let’s review some of his highlights and low points.
Hightlights
1. Trade for Johan Santana in 07- Hands down the best deal he made under the Mets.
2. Signing of Carlos Beltran in 05- I would say that this definitely is in the top 5, if not the second best overall.
3. Signing of K Rod as closer in 08 - Timing of this was cructial.
4. Signing of Wagner as closer in 05 - This was a key aquisition to get the best closer in the game available at the time.
5. Obtained Carlos Delgado from the Marlins for Mike Jacobs in 06 - I was a big Mike Jacobs fan, but this was a good trade.
6. Signing Pedro in 2004 - this was one of the first of his signings, and although Pedro has underperformed as a Met, it was still necessary and should not be second guessed.
7. Trading Kris Benson for John Maine and Jorge Julio - I didn’t like it at the time, but it turned out good.
8. Signing of Glavine - Once again, hindsight speaks here, but it was good at the time.
9. Nady for Mike Cameron in 05 - Cameron didn’t want to be in RF, and Nady was solid as a Met.
10. Oliver Perez and Roberto Hernandez for Nady - I know the Mets love Nady, but they sold him high and got value for him.
Honorable Mention: Lastings Milleage for Ryan Churh and Brian Schneider - This deal could work out yet.
He has had a bunch of other signings and trades during his time with the Mets, but none that I would consider super highlights.
Lowpoints
1. Picking up the option on Alou in 08 - He was injured half of 07, was 41 at the time, and has a history of injuries. What was he thinking?
2. Signing Castillo to a 4 year deal - I don’t disagree with signing Castillo, but 4 years was ridiculous. 2 years would have been fine.
3. Ambiorix Burgos in exchange for Brian Bannister from the Kansas City Royals. - This was a flop. Now he’s in jail.
4. Re-signing Glavine in 07. - He was too old at the time and they knew it.
5. LHP Jason Vargas and LHP Adam Bostick from the Florida Marlins in exchange for RHP Henry Owens and RHP Matt Lindstrom - These 2 Lefties will never see time as a Met, but Owens and Lindstrom both have NASTY stuff and either one of them could have stepped in as closer last season.
6. Releasing Ruban Gotay this past season - Gotay is a good role player who hits from both sides of the plate, has speed and is good defensively. He’s a lot younger than Easiley and Anderson as well. Let’s not forget, his spot on the team was filled by Brady Clark this season, who was sent down after 5 games. Also, Gotay was a great replacement if they get rid of Castillo.
7. Heath Bell and Royce Ring to the Padres for Ben Johnson and Jon Adkins. - A lot of people liked Heath Bell. I think Willie wasn’t a big fan of him though, and that caused this trade.
8. The firing of Willie Randolph - This wasn’t a player transaction, but this was handled very poorly, and definitely effected the team.
9. Not firing Willie Randolph sooner - Randolph saw a collapse in 2005 (the were in the hunt until the final month), Division Champs in 06, but lost in the NL Championship Series with the better team, and a collapse in 07, and a terrible start to 08. He should have been fired MUCH earlier than he was, but it didn’t go down that way. Bad choice.
10. Signing El Duque to a 2 year deal in 06. - Once again, old at the time and injury prone. He didn’t even end up playing the 2nd year of his contract. This should have been a 1 year deal with a club option.
Obviously if you view the above, the good transactions far outweight the bad, but there were enough bad deals (and the lack of a title) to justify the firing of Omar, should it come to that. If the Mets aren’t in first by the All Star break, the rumors will start, but he will make it through the 2009 season before a decision is made. Just my 2 cents.
