Omar Minaya received a three-year extension, carrying him at least to 2012, with team options for '13 and '14.
I'm all for it. In Omar We Trust, as they say.
Yes, the Mets have missed out on the playoffs the last two years. Yes, the bullpen has been the thorn in their own side, and not much was made to resolve that fact last off-season. But here the Mets are, just one game out of the playoffs for another year. Is that good enough to keep bringing him back?
Minaya has a very, very difficult job to do this off-season. Looking at the team from a pessimists perspective, Omar might need to fill two starting pitcher spots, at least three or more bullpen spots, a first baseman, maybe even a second baseman, a left fielder, and almost the entire bench, sparing a fourth-outfielder.
Though people will call for one, a youth-movement is not coming. The Mets are set to open their brand new stadium, Citi Field, next season, so don't expect them to field a team of 24-year-olds fresh out of the minor leagues.
Minaya has done a spectacular job reshaping the franchise, for better or for worse is up to you. You cannot forget that baseball is a business, an entertainment money-maker. I have no problem with "Los Mets" because the money pours in from there. Also, we've read much about how African-Americans are shying away from baseball, while the Latino countries are simply pumping out baseball players as fast as they can.
It's a product of the city, the business, the niche. As long as they perform, it's fine with me.
It also seems he's learning his lesson with veterans. After Tom Glavine, Pedro Martinez, and Moises Alou, though they were all serviceable for a time, they all faltered when the team really needed them. The influx of call-ups like Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans might be enough to signal a change in the "Omar Doctrine."
The Mets have a lot of money to spend this season, somewhere between $40 to $50 million. It's going to be a long off-season, full of Minaya rumors, and he better be ready to catch some flak if the Mets three-peat the "collapse." If, god-forbid, it happens again, I can guarantee Minaya will be jobless next October 1.
Still, I like what he's done, especially with trash-heap guys like Fernando Tatis. The Johan Santana trade will be a gleaming gold star on his resume, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Manny Ramirez in left next season. He has his favorite players, and they're all pretty well known. Omar has a playbook, but it's almost paid off three straight years.
Is almost good enough? Guess we'll just have to wait and find out. Hopefully we don't have to wait until 2012.
