Poll: Focus on the bullpen

Not much of a shocker.

In the last poll, I asked what was the biggest off-season concern?

Here are the results:
Bullpen -- 90%
Hitting -- 4%
Starting pitching -- 4%
Defense -- 0%

I can't argue with that.

I agree the Mets need to focus on the bullpen, but it won't be as expensive as everyone thinks. The Mets have a lot of money to spend, and they may need to go for at least two starters. Hitting should come second, even though I want Manny Ramirez like a fat kid wants cake.

Next up: To Manny or not to Manny? That is the question.

Say hello to Derek Lowe?

Is Derek Lowe on the Mets mind? Seems it.

From John Harper in the Daily News:

Even so, for a long time it felt like their night, after Derek Lowe had given them a gutsy five innings on three days' rest, surrendering two runs and no doubt making him even more appealing as a free agent to both the Mets and Yankees.

In fact, one person familiar with the thinking of the Met decision-makers said yesterday Lowe is "very much on their radar."

Gutsy veteran, with good numbers? I like it.

Since 2002, Lowe has thrown at least 182 innings, with a high of 222 in 2005. The last four years, his ERA has been sub-4. Since '05, he's walked a high of 59 in a season, and struck out 146, 123, 147 and 147 in those four seasons.

Where do I sign? I'll take him.

I am so baffled by this article I don't know where to begin

Confusing and pointless. I've read this article three times and have found nothing which makes sense.

An article about Shea Stadium, written by Denis Hamill (who?).

It begins with the his own lament, one of a "fan" who went to the final game at Shea Stadium. From there, he complains about how much it stunk that the ceremony was held after the game. He's only a few weeks late, no worries.

Then he seems to make up two characters, affectionately called "Dumb" and "Dumber." He claims that he sat near these guys on the final day, but also references to other days too? He seems to have made up this fictitious people to make some sort of point, but it really makes no sense.

The article continues with more whining about Wall Street, some silly "How do you spell 'dot com?'" joke, and oh, look, more economy humor. Hilarious.

Then we get to the point in the "story" when the closing ceremony began, and Hamill has to come out and say one of the more ridiculous things I've ever heard:

But then a painful moment came when Willie Mays, one of the top five baseball players to ever wear any uniform, was introduced to tepid applause. Soon followed by Mike Piazza, a pretty good catcher, but say, hey, not even in the same sport with Willie Mays, and the place went nuts.

Let's take a look at this, Mr. Hamill.

• Yes, Mays is far and away a better player then Piazza. Undeniable fact. But to Mets fans, most of who aren't old enough to have seen him play in his heyday, he doesn't mean much in the history of the franchise.
• Mays played all of 135 games for the Mets, in the very dim twilight of his career.
• Sure he could have gotten a better hand, but as I stated before: as a Met, he wasn't that much.
• Piazza, on the other hand, is a player who crafted his Hall of Fame-to be career with the Mets over nearly eight years and 972 games.
• Piazza hit one of the most emotional home runs in Shea Stadium, and New York City history on Sept. 21, 2001.
• There are so many other things I should be listing here, but if you're any sort of Mets fan, you already know the contributions that Piazza put forth during his time with the Mets. Mays, though an amazing player, did not do that sort of stuff with the Mets, and it was surprising he was even at the ceremony at all.

Guess what this awful article ends with? More economy jokes!

Thank you, Mr. Hamill. I think we all know who the "Dumbest" one is now.

Want to move Wright to first? Maybe next year

The Mets may have found a replacement third baseman, and he's been right under their nose.

Shawn Bowman, a 23-year-old third baseman has been absolutely raking so far in the Arizona Fall League.

Through five games, none of which the Peoria Saguaros have lost, Bowman is hitting .545, with two doubles, two home runs, and five RBI's. He's slugging 1.273 and OPS'ing 1.888. Due to those insane numbers, he's earned the AFL Player of the Week.

I've heard rumors about people wanting to move David Wright to first base due to his often shoddy throws across the diamond. I wouldn't want to lose Wright's glove at third, but Bowman has a pretty steady glove of his own.

In his first pro season, back in 2004, Bowman committed 24 errors in 244 attempts. The next year, he was charged with 19 in 186 chances. Since then, over the next three injury-riddled years, he's committed 13 errors in 172 chances. Not great, but not bad.

Trade bait? Possibly. Especially because Wright seems to have the hot corner all to himself for a long, long time.

Jake Peavy being shopped?

I've always been a fan of Jake Peavy. Wouldn't mind seeing him behind Johan Santana.

According to the Union-Tribue out of San Deigo, Padres GM Kevin Towers is already in talks with some teams.

From U-T:

Towers said he has heard from clubs interested in trading for ace pitcher Jake Peavy. “We're having talks,” he said.

The GM said he wouldn't be surprised if the Peavy talks heat up next month.

Obviously, the Mets don't have much to trade out of the minor league system. Maybe a package of Luis Castillo, Aaron Heilman and Nick Evans can swing it (obviously joking).

Still, he won't cost as much as CC Sabathia, but the Mets already have an ace on their staff. I just can't see them adding another front-line starter while the bullpen is still a mess. But hey, you never know.

Manny is already on the Phillies $#!% list

Just another reason to have him sign on the dotted line.

In Game 2 of the NLCS, Manny Ramirez was at the plate when Brett Meyers decided to uncork one. The ball buzzed past the back of Manny's head, but no harm was done.

Game 3 was a completely different story. Russel Martin gets pegged in his first AB. Then he gets a bit of chin music on his second appearance at the plate. Retaliation is coming, of course, and Shane Victorino was the nearly unlucky batter.

Hiroki Kuroda spun one right past the back of Victorino's head, before Victorino grounded out to first. As the inning ended, the benches cleared. Who was the angriest member of the Dodgers? Manny Ramirez.

Don't tell me this is all part of his "plan." Don't tell me he's "playing for a contract." That's a gamer right there. And that's something, somone, the Mets need.

The Final Score (jeez, I'm linking to them a lot lately) has a picture up of Manny getting heated. I dig it.

But back to the Phillies $#!% list.

Via Tyler Kepner, in the New York Times:

“He knows the cameras are on him,” reliever Chad Durbin.

Well, obviously.

The Dodgers’ Manny Ramirez, who had a Brett Myers fastball whip behind his back in Game 2, made the biggest fuss in the fracas. He charged in from left field, and coaches restrained him from going after … somebody. The Phillies weren’t really sure, though Ryan Howard did say he told Ramirez during the game that Myers had not been trying to hit him.

Still, the heat of the moment takes over.

If the Phillies hate him, please Mets, sign him. Just another great reason for Manny to patrol left field in Citi Field.

Want your blood to boil?

Just read this:
Mets are legends in their own minds by Wallace Matthews.

It makes a few seemingly unfounded arguments and exploits them to make his "point." Enjoy.

Dear Lupica: Do your research

Sometimes, it helps to do a bit of Google-ing around.

Latest Mike Lupica article, published Oct. 12:

But you go for Manny Ramirez now, even after the way he has produced for the Dodgers, and you pay a lot more than $100 million, or whatever he and Boras are going to be looking for after the .400 finish Ramirez gave the Dodgers, after he dragged THEM across the finish line all by himself.

Article from Oct. 6 in the Rocky Mountain News:

Agent Scott Boras has let it be known through his media outlets that the expectation is for at least five years and $85 million in a deal for Ramirez.

That took me all of one minute.

Count Manny out for the Mets

My heart and dreams were shattered at the same moment.

Ben Shpigel of the New York Times is out covering the NLCS in LA, and he had the opportunity to chat with Manny Ramirez. Talk shifted to the Mets, and Pedro Martinez.

Via Shpigel:

When reminded that the Mets could use a right-handed slugger, Ramirez must have mentioned at least three times that he didn’t think the ball carried well at Shea Stadium. Reminded that the Mets are moving into a new stadium next season, Ramirez hardly seemed to notice.

Great. He won't be a Met because he doesn't like the way the ball carries at Shea.

Time to look elsewhere.

I miss Uncle Cliff

Cliff Floyd was easily one of my favorite Mets. I don't know of anyone who didn't like him. He looks like a big ol' teddy bear.

That's why I want the Rays to win.

Yes, they have Scott Kazmir, and it stings to watch him pitch and prosper with the Rays and not the Mets, but I want Uncle Cliff to win.

I'll never forget that game against the Angels, in the bottom of the 11th inning, with Cliff Floyd at the plate. Tie game, and he rips a ball to right field, but it hooks just foul. The very next pitch: crushed over the right field wall to win the game.

Truly a great moment. I was sad to see Floyd go, especially with all the injuries. But Floyd has really helped the young Rays, and acted as a leader through the season.

Go Rays, but more importantly, go Uncle Cliff.