When Jerry Manuel took over the managers office form Willie Randolph, the one statement he made that resonated with Mets fans was that his team would be tough and fight through whatever adversity was in front of it. His quote was “Gangsta’s on the field, Ladies on the bus”. I thought it was a great motto and felt maybe Manuel would be a speak softly carry a big stick kind of guy but I was wrong. If anything Manuel let the rash of injuries suffered by his team, become a crutch for losing and all around stupid baseball. Gangsta’ my ass.  but, so far this spring, Manuel looks to be getting his Gangsta’ on.

I’ve been critical of Manuel for not coming to the Jason Bay coronation and not being around for that weak ass Winter Caravan the Mets rolled out this off season, but now I know what Manuel was up to, he was planning his going out in a blazing glory strategy for the season.

Manuel knows that his contract is chump change and the only reason he’s back is a combination of the injuries and Omar Minaya’s contract. Minaya got to stay because the Skill Sets are tired of paying guys not to work for them. Omar does not have the juice he once had the organization and if and when a managerial change is made he will have little input in the new hire, hell if the wheels fall off early, the outcry from Mets fans will so loud, even the tone deaf Skill Sets will hear it. So in a long winded way, I’m saying Jerry Manuel has nothing to lose here if he puts pressure on management to take the best twenty five players he feels give him and the team the best chance to win.

We are already hearing him push for Jenry Mejia to make the team as the 8^th inning set up man and you can bank on Manuel pushing either Hisanori Takahasi or Fernando Nieve to make the starting rotation over a struggling Ollie Perez, and dumping OP in the bullpen, while making it known that he was not responsible for his awful contract, and with Ike Davis at first base over Daniel Murphy. If Manuel thinks Davis would be better than Murphy at first he will make it public knowledge.  

It’s a win/win situation for Manuel. If he gets his way and gets to take the players he wants North, it’s possible he could not just make it through the season but get an extension as well. If he doesn’t, and the team tanks, he gets to spend the summer at home in Cali waiting for the Mets checks to clear. We all should have such problems. 

When I can not only go online and buy tickets to opening day and do so two hours into the exclusive pre-sale time frame, you know this organization has its work cut out for them to not have a repeat of last season.  If Jerry Manuel can convince Jeffey Skill Sets that bringing  Mejia and Davis up North to not only help the team win but also sell tickets, then J-Man will not just be a Gangsta’ he’ll be The Godfather.

tip of the Mets cap to Metstradamus for the picture

You always tell kids in Little League (as Ron Darling stated) when a ball goes under a fence, raise both your arms straight up in the air. Willy Taveras  must have missed that lesson when he was seven but his folly is Omir Santos gain with an inside-the-park-grannie.

Ollie Perez threw strikes today and the Nationals and most of them were tattooed by Nationals batters. The Mets will spin OP performance like a Maytag washer. Don’t worry he still feels great and looks very fit in his snow white’s.

On the other hand, Hisanori Takahashi was incredible punching out 6 in 3 innings of work. That’s NON-ROSTER LHP Hisanori Takahashi. LHP Pat Misch also was stellar in his 3 innings at work. Sometimes the solution to your problems are right under your nose.

Frenchy loves to show off that cannon he has throwing out Kevin Mench and Pete Orr at the plate. Each play was no contest.

Big Pelf took a shot off the leg yesterday but and X-Ray didn’t show any damage. Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday.

Everybody Loves Ike

Has Charlie Samuels lost his mind? How the hell does Chris “The Phuckin’ Phillie” Coste get uni number 3 ?

So the Oakland A’s have made a competitive offer to Ben Sheets and want and answer not later than tomorrow. Okay, what is a competitive offer and how many competitors are in this race? From all the innuendo we’ve heard on Sheets, the Mets, A’s and Texas Rangers are in the loop. Rumor is Sheets’ management is looking for an $8 mil base plus incentives for this year and an option for 2011. Now as much as I would love to have Ben Sheets on the Mets, but $8mil for a pitcher who could be a either a stud or a cripple is a tough decision to make. But then again the Mets did give Alex Cora $2mil bucks to be a leader on the bench.

I can not see any way that the A’s would give Sheets $8 mil even the Rangers, as they go through a transition of ownership, would have a hard time paying that kind of coin.

If I’m the Mets I call Sheets’ agent and offer $6mil guarantee with incentives that could go to $10mil if reached (post season starts include in that) and a mutual option for 2011. Then take the other $2 mil and give that to John Smoltz.

If they can do that, not only solidifies the pitching staff but I’ll get off managements back for a while and maybe even praise them for a job well done.

So far the Mets Mini-Camp has proved that OP is great shape and that Johan Santana will again try to help Ollie as much as he can both with his pitching and with his psyche. Jon Niese took the mound for the first time since he ripped his hammy and felt pretty good. Daniel Murphy is a camp and is doing what most fans wish all the players would do, work hard and try to get better but he still catches hell. Wait until he gets traded and becomes a solid ML’er, I will be insufferable or more insufferable than I already am, if that’s possible. 

Kevin Kernan seconds my position that the injury excuse from last year was a smoke screen to how badly last years team executed all facets of the game.   Time for Jerry Manuel to Man Up this spring and prove that he can manage and teach and to prove that he is just not waiting to get canned so he can go back to Sacramento and collect a check sitting on his porch.

I still baffles me how the Skill Sets don’t get upset or try to change the perception of their organization after time and time again being told they run one of the worst organizations in baseball. At some point you need to show some spine and fight back. Everyone from media to fans to bloggers keep kicking the organization in the ass waiting for them to fight back. It’s at the point now where I feel like a bully for calling out the Skill Sets as often as I do, they just take all these kicks in the ass and ask for more. It’s more sad than strange. Com’on Jeffey show some fucking fight will ya!!!!!!

As far as I’m concerned there are three spots open in the rotation. Johan Santana is of course the ace and with his pittance of a contract picked up Big Pelf gets a spot as well. So who gets the other three spots? John Maine and Ollie Perez are in the mix if both are still around as the rumblings are that Maine could be non-tendered and maybe Omar can get someone drunk at the winter meetings to take on OP but even with them still on the roster, I say the need to show that they belong. Both pitchers along with Big Pelf, Jon Niese , Fernando Nieve and Nelly Figs should fight for the 4 or 5 spot. Which means the Mets need to bring in two solid big league pitchers, so here are my candidates:

John Lackey

Lackey would be the signing of the off season but how much will it take and do the Skill Sets have the scratch to pay him? This will be the theme of the off season. Jeffey Skill Sets proclaims he and his daddy and Uncle Saul are far from broke, in fact we found out they made $48 mil off of Bernie The Kid Madoff Field of Scheme ,so do they go toe to toe and dollar for dollar with the Bronx Bastards for Lackey’s services? Do the Texas Rangers get in the mix as well as Lackey is from outside of Dallas and rumors are he’d love to pitch in Arlington and for Nolan Ryan. What to do, what to do and how high to you go? 5yrs/$75-$80 mil which is AJ Burnett money ? As much as the Highlanders need another starter and all their bluster about going after stars, I don’t think even they can take on another contract like that. So let’s see how much hair Jeffey’s got on his balls and make that offer to Lackey and see if he turns it down.

Jason Marquis

Word on the street is Marquis wants to be a Met but at what price? Marquis made a shade under $10 mil last season, so what would be his price 3yr/$36-$40 mil ? He is a workhorse and he has won 10 or more games the last 6 years with last year and 2004 as 15 game win seasons but is he a number 2 starter ? More of a 3 or 4 if you ask me.

Randy Wolf

Omar Minaya fucked up royally last season when he didn’t sign Wolf. He now has a chance to redeem himself. After signing with the Dodgers last year for about $5mil, Wolf finds himself on the free agent stroll again and a two year with an option should be what it takes to sign this journeyman.

Aaron Harang

I have always been intrigued by Harang and if the Mets wanted him and are willing to pick up the bulk of his contract they could get him for a couple of low level minor leaguers. The last two seasons have not been good for Harang  and he is due $12.5 mil in 2010 and $12.75 in 2011 and if he is traded his contract calls for Harang to make $14 mil mutual option or a $2.5 mil buyout. If I were the Mets GM I’d grab Harang at worst he’s a solid 3 at best he’s a strong #2 and excellent compliment to Santana.  This is the best low risk high reward move the Mets could make.

Bronson Arroyo

If Omar wanted to break Mike Francesa’ heart he’s go after Mike’s Man-Crush Arroyo. Both Harang and Arroyo cleared waivers last summer as their price tags are prohibited. Arroyo is owed $11mil in 2010 with a club option of $11 mil in 2011 or a $2mil buyout. Would you deal for both Harang and Arroyo ? I’d be very tempted to go for both and  I don’t think the price would be outlandish but again the Mets would be taking on close to $24 mil in salary for both so that looks like a long shot but taking either Arroyo or Harang would be a plus for the Mets.

If you’re Omar you also have to at least kick the tires on Erik Bedard and Ben Sheets again low risk/high reward types. Both pitchers are coming off suergy and both can be had for 1 yr deals so why not take a look see.

So if I’m ranking who I’d go after to fill the starting rotation next season it would be:

1. Lackey

2. Harang

3. Arroyo

4. Marquis

5. Wolf

5a. Bedard

6 Sheets

I think Lackey is a pipe dream as it will take a lot of years and money to land him so I don’t see him as a Met. Harang and or Arroyo is a much better bet via trade and I can see either Marquis or Wolf in Mets clothing next year.

Dave Duncan is pissed off at the Cardinals and the St. Louis media for the treatment of his son Chris who was sent to the Red Sox for nothing. Duncan is in the last year of his contract (as is the Stinkin’ Genius Tony LaRussa) and is talking like he wants to go elsewhere. And what a better place to go but Flushing NY.

So if the Skill Sets want to prove they mean business then make Dave Duncan the number one targeted free agent this winter. 

How much is it worth to the Mets to have Duncan work with Big Pelf and Bobby Parnell? Or how about Ollie Perez? If Duncan can get anything positive out of OP he gets a street named after him in Queens

After yesterday’s ass whipping by the Braves a game where another player went down with a leg muscle strain and a player who allegedly is getting released by today pitched like his usual shitty self the thought came over me as maybe the Mets should get involved in a reverse pennant race, the race for the top pick in the 2010 Entry Draft.

Right now the Nationals again lead the way for the first overall pick in the next draft with a 26-65 record and lead the Mets by 17 games for that pick. Unless the Mets assign the rest of the big league team on the DL (not a bad idea, eh?) and bring up the whole Buffalo Bisons team then the Mets have no shot at beating DC for the top pick. The next team in line would be the Cleveland Indians who at 36-57 lead the Mets by a mere 8 games. Now passing the Indians could be done with the help of keeping Tim Redding not only on the team but putting him in the rotation and giving D-Wright the rest of the summer off and pitching Ollie Perez on two days rest.

Say this happened, no not Wright’s vacation or Redding and Perez every other day but say the Mets tank to the point of finishing with the second worst record in baseball, they would have a shot at drafting Bryce Harper.

You’ve all read about Bryce Harper, who has been hailed as the next great thing since the birth of Jesus. Harper just 16 years old will skip his junior and senior years of high school by obtaining a GED and enrolling in Junior College with the sole purpose of being drafted number 1 in the next draft. Now where this gets interesting is if the Nationals have that pick would they draft Harper who will probably ask for part of the franchise to sign after dealing with Scott Boras in their dealing with Stephen Strasburg? Can the Nationals shell out big bucks for two potential super start players? Would Freddy Skill Sets call in his marker with the Used Car Salesman to rig the draft so the Mets could get their hands on Harper? Am I drunk? Oh sorry no,  but when your team is 10 games off the pace and players are dropping to wayside every game the only thing to hang your hat on is securing a top 10 draft pick. Sad isn’t it?

After watching Big Pelf suffer through another bad outing and a partial melt down on the mound where I think it’s now at least three straight stats that D-Wright had to go to the mound early to have a heart to heart with Pelf.  Add the struggle back from injury to John Maine,  Bobby Parnell’ difficulty making pitching adjustments the second time around,  Ollie P being Ollie P, Tim Redding not rehabbing correctly from off season surgery, not dealing with J J Putz injured elbow and back to the reporting to pitchers and catchers in late February when Johan Santana seemed to be on a training schedule that did more harm than good and the whispers that maybe it was a mistake caning The Jacket, Old School Dan Werthen should be squarely in the cross hairs of management to be the first coach relived of duties by the end of the weekend.

As much as Rick Peterson is one of the great pitching minds around it wasn’t a mistake to fire him during the season and when Old School Werthen came on board he made a difference but it seems to me that Werthen is either fed up or just out of ideas on how to get the best out of the Mets pitching staff. The most telling non-move from last night that brings me to this conclusion was the fact that Werthen never left the dugout in the first inning when Pelfrey was struggling with his command especially his fastball that was up, up and away, even Gary Cohen couldn’t believe that Werthen never came out after first Wright then Santos went out to check on the young righty as the situation was crying for an old head intervention. Maybe Werthen has given up, maybe he’s tired of going out there and spewing the same old advice, maybe he’d love to put his foot up Pelfrey’s ass but management is holding him back. Whatever it is, it’s a problem and one that needs to be addressed not for this season as this season is over but for 2010 and beyond.

Are you getting the vibe that J-Man may not want to be fired as Mets manager? Last night during his post game presser Manuel made a joke at the expense of the Mets medical staff, that validated those of us that have questioned the front office, the training staff and the doctors.  When asked about Gary Sheffield leaving in the 5^th with a leg problem, Manuel said “They’re calling it cramps,…. surgery is Thursday” and then he let out a laugh which translates to me Manuel saying to the fans “you guys are right this organization is a joke” After realizing that his boss will not be happy with his comment (J-Man has been called on the carpet about talking about making trades to bring in reinforcements) he tired to get SNY to not air the footage, fat chance Jerry besides you said nothing that we weren’t thinking ourselves.

Last night looks to be Tim Redding’ last appearance as a Met word in the NYDN is Redding will be released and another move in the minus column for Omar. I said back in spring that Redding looked fat and out of shape but just his track record alone should have been a red flag for the Mets to sign him. But don’t worry Julio Lugo is working out at the Mets academy in the D.R. and will be here once he passes waviers. The longggggggggggggggggggggg summer continues.

The headline on Adam Rubin’ story says” Mets Deny Claims That Jose Reyes Suffered A Set Back in Port St. Luice” The Mets are also denying that today is Saturday, water is wet and the organization is in FUBAR (Fucked Up Beyond All  Recogntion) mode.

Usually I go to the shower and no one says much but today I had on my BELTRAN 15 t-shirt, and my Mets Beach towel, along with my SANTANA 57 sling bag is I kind of put it out there that my allegiances lies with the Mets.

Now I love that I never know what has happen in Flushing until I hit the scout master lounge but today as I was shaving another scout leader comes in and sees my Mets regalia laid out on the bench and ruins my morning “Hey howa ’bout those Mets winning last night” UGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!

I’m very happy the MEts won and that Ollie P is back to being Ollie P with all the walks and all the drama and again adding to the lore of his by beating a top team in the league. I’m also giddy that Danny Murphy got a start and not only hit two doubles but made an incredible play at 1st Base. Please tell me Keith said that he i simpressed with Murph at 1st? Maybe now J-Man will let 28 play everyday. But my one pleasure while I scratch my mosquito bites, being suprised on the results of last nights game was ruined.

I hope that guy is in a kyack on the lake later so I can tip him over.

Sorry for no posting yesterday but I am preparing for my annual Boy Scout camping trip to Ten-Mile River  and my son decided it would be nice to get new sleeping bags and a frame backpack since he is taking  hiking and wilderness survival  merit badge classes this trip, so it was off to Campmor in Paramus NJ and from there it was on to Coney Island and our first Brooklyn Cyclones game of the season and it looks like if there is any meaning full baseball being played by the Mets organization this summer it will be at Key Span Park.

The Cyclones won their 8^th straight home game last night coming from behind in the bottom of the 9th to win 3-2. Nicholas Santomuro had the game winning hit with a blast off the left field wall. The Cyclones are now 12-2 this season and have a 7 game lead over Aberdeen in the NY-Penn League’ McNamarra Division.  

At some point we Mets fans just have to come to the realization that this is not a very good team and stop screaming for a trade because right now a trade is like a band aid on a gunshot wound ,what should be debated is what direction is the organization headed and what can Omar Minaya do to fix what is a team that is so fundamentally flawed that everyone from the fans, owner, on field personnel, front office and coaches and managers throughout the organization should be embarrassed to wear a Mets uniform.  Its one thing to suck but to suck and not have the grasp of the basic fundamentals of baseball is scandalous. For all the heat Minaya takes for not making deals and for the one’s he makes that don’t work and for the bad contracts he has saddled the organization with (can’t wait for Ollie Perez to come back against the Dodgers next week, glad I’ll be in the woods for that) the lack of baseball intellect on display by the Mets has not gone reported and Omar has not been called out for it.

Omar is like me when I go to IKEA, I can pick out some really great book shelves and a gorgeous entertainment center  but when I get them home , I have no clue how to put them all together.  Minaya has an eye for talent and can find some bargains in the dumpster but he is at a loss at putting a full roster together.

Which is the big problem with the Mets, too many square pegs not fiting in round holes. Too many players out of position and too many players old and over the hill that break down physically and production wise when they are tested on a daily basis.

With his contract extension kicking in after this season Minaya isn’t going of to be fired  but there really needs to be a shake up in the front office maybe bring in a Paul DePodsda type of exec to work with Omar to bring a different perspective in judging talent and maybe better way of constructing a 40 man roster. Something needs to change as the way it’s laid out now ain’t working.

It’s good to see the light bulb go off over Jerry Manuel’ head as he finally realized what all Mets fans have that he is burning out Parnell and Pedro Feliciano. The cool and groovy demeanor of J-Man is also starting to wear as well as someone needs to put a foot in ass of Big Pelf. I love Big Pelf and I want him to succeed to the highest level but he starting to become as unfocused in his starts as Ollie P.

His body language on the mound is a bit unsettling as he fidgets with his cap and tries to regain his composure. It has to be unnerving to the team. I mean D-Wright had to get in his grill as Wright is seldom to speak a discouraging word even as the skies of $iti Field grow cloudy each game.

It’s nice that Manuel has realized that Brian Stokes is on the team maybe he thought he was part of the ground crew or a beer vendor.

After each appearance by Parnell and Feliciano I need an ice pack on my arm just watching them go out there every game.

Ken Takashai and Jon Switzer should not be on the big league team. The only reason either one is here is due to their ability to throw with their left arm especially Switzer who got the call up over Elmer Dressen who is having a better season in Buffalo that Switzer but is right handed. Should be here and Switzer on DFA list

An now that Creepy Tony LaRusa and his Cardinals come to town in first place in the central just what the Mets need HAPPY!! HAPPY!!! JOY!!! JOY!!!