Baseball’s offseason is upon us, and with it various outlines for how the Mets should revamp their roster.
This is an annual tradition, of course, and a fun way to kill time between the end of one season and the start of another. Sam Page turned in a particularly good plan for Amazin’ Avenue last week, but as Matt Cerrone points out — and Sam admits in the post itself — it’s entirely unlikely to happen.
But that’s not really my issue.
My concern about “plans” is that they might be a drop too similar to what Omar Minaya himself scripts out at the beginning of each offseason, and it’s a habit that often gets him into a lot of trouble.
Take last offseason, for example. On Jan. 13, Minaya said: “Right now, we’re not in the position player market. We’re in the pitcher market.”
I responded with this article, one of my all-time favorites, and one that got me thoroughly trashed around the Internet. Minaya’s metaphor, I maintained — and still do — was a faulty one. The position-player market and pitcher market are the same market.
The market is all available baseball players. The general manager enters the market with a certain amount of resources — in money and players — and must work to get the most value he can in return for what he spends. Obviously a team’s needs are an important factor in determining that value; a good third baseman is worthless to a team that already has a great one.
Last year, when the Mets had a decided need in the starting rotation but also some big-time question marks in the lineup, Minaya determined that he wanted a starting pitcher and went out and spent big on the “best” one available — a certain Oliver Perez.
So to extend this metaphor, think about it this way: I’m really in the mood for steak. When I get to the store, though, I find that there has been a run on steak, and the last remaining piece of steak has been marked up, plus isn’t all that appealing anyway. Meanwhile, perhaps because everyone suddenly wants steak, chicken is on sale. I could buy the chicken and a bunch of delicious seasonings and side dishes to make that chicken taste better, or I could buy the steak.
I would buy the chicken. Minaya, last year at least, bought the steak. That’s the problem with adhering to the grocery list.
The general manager’s job is to put together the best possible baseball team. It doesn’t matter really matter what kind of players he needs to get there — whether his team is power-laden or pitching-heavy or defensively apt — so long as they can win ballgames.
So when he approaches the offseason, his job should be to read the market and use the resources at his disposal to put together the best team. That’s all. Setting a plan at the offseason’s outset would be to imply that there’s no need to adapt to the whims of the market. It’s writing a grocery list and stubbornly sticking to it, ignoring what’s in stock and what’s on sale.
Tedquarters 
I didn’t really understand Matt’s post in response to Sam’s post. Sam laid out his plans, what he would do if he was GM. Same thing we’ll see a million times this offseason by baseball bloggers. Matt then basically poo-poo’d the plan on the grounds that Sam isn’t a baseball insider and doesn’t know how trades work, or something like that. Matt’s post had a “nice try kid” vibe. Really bizarre and seemed like an excuse to put Sam down.
Meanwhile Matt makes a post the other day about how it’s imperative that Delgado not return to the Mets clubhouse because of his personality – does Matt spend a lot of time in the clubhouse? Does he know the players personally? I’m assuming no, so, as an outsider, how can he make such a claim?
Meh, I didn’t get that vibe. I think he was basically saying “I like reading these things, so long as we all understand none of this will really happen.” I think his main point was that Sam’s plan called for 13 moves, which would be a lot, naturally. But he probably should have mentioned that Sam himself admitted it clearly wouldn’t play out that way.
I didn’t see the Delgado post, but Matt and I disagree over that with some frequency. I don’t think the Mets should bring Delgado back, either, because I’d rather they focus on the future, but to me it’s not about personality. I don’t know what goes on behind closed doors, but every time I’ve spoken to Delgado I’ve left thinking that I’d vote for him for president. He seems like a particularly strong-willed and principled dude, though, so maybe Matt knows something I don’t about the problems that could create or has created.
Ted, I know you like Matt Cerrone and I’m sure if he’s not blogging that he may be a cool guy and I know you guys probably get way more behind the scenes then we may, but over the years all Matt has proven is that he assumes and follows the worst sources possible.
Sorry, I know he’s a blogger and colleague, but your columns and every thing else you do over at the great and mighty SNY blows him away when it comes to information and theories. The Mets will need to go on a spending spree or get crazy with the trades to fill the holes in the team. Trade Ollie for a rosin bag, let Delgado reach 500 home runs with an american league team as a DH.
As much as I like outfielders, get Holliday over Bay, get Halladay to sure up the top two in the rotation. Get a younger catcher through trade that is major league ready and get back Alex Cora. Shop around Castillo, I’m happy that he had a great come back season. Finally, trade Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel for Bobby Valentine and Cal Ripken.
I’ve had similar frustrations with the Mets for a while. Too often Minaya has plugged holes with marquee names to be left shortchanged on other needs. I’d rather have a team of solid B-rate players than a few A-rate players mixed and matched with C and D-rate players.
The latter team stands on shaky foundations because if the A-rate players get injured… you see a season like 2009. If the C and D guys struggle, they are replaced and team chemistry is affected. How can even the most loyal fan be expected to root for the likes of guys like Wilson Valdez and Robinson Cancel when they will likely not be on the team for more than a few games? How can a team build camaraderie if they know they won’t be teammates very long (look at the 2009 NY Knicks).
I think the Mets should abandon the idea of building around a “core” (Wright, Reyes, Santana, Beltran) and as you say, just go out there and make the damn best team possible.
Ted,
I remember your column from last winter. I agree completely. I’ve had doubts about the Met’s’ off-season strategy the last couple of years.
After 2007, the focus was on Johan, which is fine, but I thought other areas required attention as well. And 2008’s strategy was too reactive for my taste: gotta fix that bullpen no matter the cost!
This year I think they need to improve the defense, upgrade the catching spot, add more run-production to the line-up, and add depth to the pitching. Mgmt should remain flexible as to how they can achieve these goals, and understand that it may not be possible to address all these areas before April .
There are plenty of different routes Omar can take towards reaching his goals, there need not be one specific plan.
E.g,: you could upgrade the defense simply by dumping Castillo; you could upgrade offensively by replacing Franceur in right (a new bat need not be a left fielder); you can add depth to the starting staff if acquiring a so-called #2 isn’t in the cards; etc.
One thing I’m sure of is that the idea that adding a LF power bat without doing anything to improve the team’s defense is a bad idea.
I don’t understand why they don’t take a sensible approach to this. Spend this offseason getting another hitter and rearrange some of our “core” guy’s contracts so we can make a run at some of the top notch pitchers that will be available in the ’10 offseason. This allows our farm to develop, if we’re in the thick of things next season, we can swing a trade to put us over the top. if not, wait a year and we’ve got better options. Honestly, I think most of us are so frustrated because we don’t see a clear direction and have less confidence in the management than in the team itself. I’m sure many of us would take a less than stellar season if it meant we were able to position ourselves better for the long run.
Ted, In troubled times one should ask the What would Steve Buschemi do?
That’s age old question “What would Steve Buschemi do? Sorry for the Typo.