tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624254435992330014.post5320108793656321024..comments2023-10-28T08:31:25.462-04:00Comments on Subway Squawkers - A Yankees-Mets Rivalry Blog: ESPN: Mets are 'playoff-contending team'Subway Squawkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156896665605326549noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624254435992330014.post-83206042695941265472010-12-02T14:53:11.321-05:002010-12-02T14:53:11.321-05:00I've given this some thought, Jon: What if the...I've given this some thought, Jon: What if the Mets hadn't traded Kazmir? No need to do this in my "Otherwise Sports" blog, it's short and simple.<br /><br />Anyway, I'm not sure Kazmir would've helped much in 2006, as the Mets needed a better bullpen that year; in the NLCS, the starters were not the problem.<br /><br />In 2007, Kazmir might have made a big difference, except the "worst" Met starter that year was Pelfrey. Maybe Kazmir in his spot holds him back. In 2008, Pelfrey then takes the place of the injured Pedro, and maybe the Mets get into the Playoffs.<br /><br />Kazmir doesn't help much the last 2 years, but he gets them into the Playoffs in '07 and '08, and then, who knows? Maybe the Mets turn into the '69 or '86 Mets, instead of the '88, '99 or '06 Mets.Uncle Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11618876073064128027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624254435992330014.post-52965619342601564552010-12-02T12:44:21.489-05:002010-12-02T12:44:21.489-05:00Yes, Uncle Mike, 2011 should be a rebuilding year....Yes, Uncle Mike, 2011 should be a rebuilding year. The last thing the Mets need is a rerun of 2004, when false hope led to the Kazmir-Zambrano debacle.Jon Lewinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15879924630761240519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624254435992330014.post-11551386485436308122010-12-02T11:49:39.979-05:002010-12-02T11:49:39.979-05:00Sandy Alderson, J.P. Ricciardi and Terry Collins s...Sandy Alderson, J.P. Ricciardi and Terry Collins should totally treat 2011 as a rebuilding year. Consolidate their prospects. Train the guys they already have. Figure out what's wrong with their stars. Get the hurt guys healthy. There's nothing dishonorable about "throwing away" one year with the intent of turning one thrown-away year into five, seven, or even ten good years.<br /><br />What would be dishonorable is being .500 at the All-Star Break, and seeing the team, say, 8 games behind the NL East leaders and 6 games behind the Wild Card, and presuming that, hey, maybe we CAN make something of this season after all. If it happens, great. But don't push your luck by trading two or three prospects for a rent-a-player.<br /><br />You know the old saying: "It'll never fit if you force it." It would be better for Met fans for their team to look like they're building for the future and finish eight games behind the Wild Card leader than to go for it now and finish one game behind. Because a close call like that would be seen as, "We came so close, but we failed again." Better to raise a smaller hope (i.e. the old Brooklyn Dodger cry of "Wait 'til next year") than a false one.Uncle Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11618876073064128027noreply@blogger.com