http://forum.newsday.com/forums/thread/10808/ Sorry Met fans,This isn't the season to hope we overcome the previous seasons.The core, 3 of 4 , are down. Alway's a worry on this team was a reality. Very poor preparation for this, very poor offseason when we could have had " a few good men ". Namely, Juan Rivera, Felepe Lopex, Orlando Hudson. wait till Sheff and Cora break down. They weren't expected to play everyday. All these players (FA'S ) cover all except catcher, maybe CF. Cheap investment, could we have been a better team , especially with the recent injuries ?Lack of preparation like this is inexcusable. Can anyone spell spell Alou ?Play 158 every year and not be prepared for fallout ?Go Mets, next year . Build a solid team. 2009-06-23 21:24:17 http://forum.newsday.com/forums/post/68495/ 68495 Hey Afan,Love the line, &quot;the mix is not good&quot;.Players from the 40's,50's 60's 70's and into the 80's ( 86 Mets ) had a comeradity thats terrible lacking today.Players in the past hung out together, had barbarcues, talked baseball, got in each other faces and hell, beat the crap out of each other until they jelled.Today, well, that's a foregone thought. This doesn't happen. The only time together is game time preparation, gametime and post game and then they are gone.They all have TV interviews, appearances elswhere, advertisements to do. Absolutey, no time for their teammates.Baseball is a tradition that should stand time. Shame on the game today. The core is a terminology thats outdated in today's baseball .Here's a core, Frank Robinson, Boog Powell, Brooks Robertson. Eddie Mattiews , Hank Aaron and Rico Carty. Mays, Cepeda, and McCovey. There was a time a player cared about being a team and playing like one. Today, their just to busy with other things to care.It's not working with this core Afan, I'm just not sure if it can with any core these days.Go Mets, wheel and deal smartly. 2009-06-26 18:23:21 RONHUNT33 <forumuser@vmix.com> http://forum.newsday.com/forums/post/68463/ 68463 RonHunt, you've done a good job with this assessment. Is touting the &quot;core&quot; and their individual stats really a smoke screen? There's a possibility of it being a cover up for poor scounting, talent evaluation, decision making, etc. The difficulty with the core, as I see it, is that the team has not jelled as a cohesive unit. Things that should have brought them together, how the last three years have ended, hasn't created a united cause. The Phillies, in the 2007 NL Divisional Series, were swept be the Rockies. Last year, they won a WS championship because of he resolve and effort. This man-to-man united purpose, caused by adversity, was not seen on the Mets in 2007 and 2008. Mentioning the Yankees is a goo d example of what may be happening with the core. George Steinbrenner, through Free Agency, sought signing the best player available at each position. This was assessed on their stats and what was offered as a lucrative contract. The end result was the lack of a cohesive team chemistry that contributed to winning. The problem with the core, who individually have ability, but the mix is not good. The Mets, including their loyal fan base, are not getting a team that gels and plays well together. If it takes breaking up the core, then, by all means, do so. Something, after four years and regretable failures, is not working! 2009-06-26 03:43:55 Afansince1967 <forumuser@vmix.com> http://forum.newsday.com/forums/post/68458/ 68458 Hey West Coast,I hope your right.But I'm trying to be real too. No dissrespect intended. Core is down besides Wright.Will Wright change now to a homer hitter ? Try for 40 to 50 ? His team is strugguling.We are only 2 -3 out, but, this gets ugly soon. it's a weak division etc..This gets ugly, because we only concerned ourselves with off-season pitching vs. the need for off-season having some versitile players. My worry, this seems to fall on deaf ears. No offense intended. You know I am a big preacher of hitting. Juan Rivera, Felepe Lopez, were cheap off-seasons signs this past year. They cover all the bases and cover all the outfield positions.Instead of 2 1/2 half games out, we could be in the lead by much more. With the injuries.Poor planning, poor executive decisions have happened. NY fans are smarter then anyone. We know foolish decisions and we voice it. I'm for one doing it now. Not to you mind me.We don't need a 100m player at every position. See Yanks. We need, a better balanced team and need utility players that play more then 1 position.We need to be versitile, we need to be ready for all obstacles. We need to be prepared to overcome all.We need to be good, no, real good. Then have the kids ready.Go Mets, lets learn how to put a GOOD team together. 2009-06-25 21:13:39 RONHUNT33 <forumuser@vmix.com> http://forum.newsday.com/forums/post/68456/ 68456 Hey Met Fan,Sure I'm down on this team, as well as a million other Met fans.You have stuck up for me in the past and I do really appreciate your support over some dark times.You've made good points about Hudson/Castillo. Granted, the deals couldn't be done.Rivera, corners position and backup 1st baseman, could have been signed. Lopez, 2nd 3rd, short, besides all outfileld positions, could have been signed.We would have been a better team, considering possible injuries to the core. As far as Sheff and Cora go, I like them alot, but, they weren't expected to play 140.Assuming we don't lose Wright to an injury soon, where is this team ?I ask the question, not to be rude, but to be realistic. I've seen alot of talent over the years go to other clubs via trades.This present team, needs a miricile. Especially over the dog days of summer.I don't know where to go here Met fan. It ain't looking good.Go Mets ! 2009-06-25 20:39:49 RONHUNT33 <forumuser@vmix.com> http://forum.newsday.com/forums/post/68455/ 68455 Hey Crunch,The Juan Rivera , Felipe Lopez line where examples where this team had an offseason to improve and better strengthen the core, based on play 158 every year.Crunch, me and you have talked about the possibility of injuries to the core based on 158 out of 162. As far as I recall, you worried about it like me. Am I right so far because I don't want to missread you.Your concern is how Omar will be viewed. I look at the offseason like you know I would, we did relatively nothing to improve the offense or the core for the possibilty of injuries down the streach.While we did a great job of improving the bullpen, and this was the big argument here, we didn't do enough to improve the offense in an off-season where free agents were cheap.Look up Juan Rivera and Felepe Lopez stats. They are playing well. We are talking about 2 guys that cover all infield positions and outfield. They wouldn't have cost 14 milion for X number of years.My view of Omar maybe a &quot;A day late and a dollar short&quot;. He's been good, but , &quot;He could have been a contender &quot;.In my mind Crunch, he's been 50-50. Unless this team turns into the 69 Mets, which would be a great way to end the 40th anniversity, I'm not sure this present team has it.Go Mets, I'm there for them no matter what happens. I'm a Met fan. I honestly don't see it getting better, but I do hope so.Go Mets ! 2009-06-25 20:16:59 RONHUNT33 <forumuser@vmix.com> http://forum.newsday.com/forums/post/68422/ 68422 Ronnie, there actually is a budget that Omar has to stick to. To me, and apparantly others, being only one and a half games out of first place with ALL of these injuries is actually a good thing. Give Omar a chance; see what he does with the trading deadline. 2009-06-24 21:54:03 '69,'86,andnow'09 <forumuser@vmix.com> http://forum.newsday.com/forums/post/68391/ 68391 Hey Ron, I feel your frustration, I do. But with all the bad that has happened we are only 2 1/2 games out. Not time to give up. And there is a silver lining to this, we have seen David Wright as demonstrative as we have ever seen him by getting in the faces of Pelrey and Schneider in the dugout last week. Losing Delgado has made it easier for him to step up as a leader, soon I'll bet you will see him in the face of veterans when he needs to. The players on the DL will start coming back and it will be like Omar made some trades but did not have to give up one player to get them. Maine and Perez in the rotation, Putz and Wagner in the pen and finally, Reyes, Beltran and Delgado back in the line-up. So don't pack it up just yet Ron, it doesn't seem to be your style. 2009-06-24 08:37:17 WestCoastMetFan <forumuser@vmix.com> http://forum.newsday.com/forums/post/68387/ 68387 Sorry you feel so discouraged. This team is down alot of players. Still think they are the best in the division at full strength but that's a long way off now. Sheff and Cora, Santos and L. Hernandez, were good pick-ups. As far as your trio, all were looking for fulltime positions to sign. Castillo blocked any move on Hudson or Lopez. Frustrated or not, that was the reason. By the way, minus a pop-fly, Castillo has played quite well. Juan Rivera was also looking for a full time position. The desire to develop Murphy blocked that move. Remember, Rivera was coming off two straight sub-par seasons where his OBP was under .300!!!!!! I understand we have $45MM coming off the books this year. That should give us a good chance to reload in the offseason without sacrificing our top prospects. That was your suggestion two days ago and it was a good one. By the way, you discount the leadership that Sheff and Cora have brought. We all were looking for that edge and these guys brought it. Omar can't be blamed for injuries to 3/4 of the core, 2/5 of the rotation, and the set-up guy to K-Rod. Loosing 6 key cogs like that takes most teams way below .500. This team is still fighting every night despite it's injuries. Remember the Phillies aren't much better and until 10 days ago had no key injuries to speak of. Lose Ibanez and a failing Lidge and they lost 6 in a row!! Injuries do matter. 2009-06-24 07:47:20 metsfan4ever <forumuser@vmix.com> http://forum.newsday.com/forums/post/68378/ 68378 RonHunt, despite the injuries and the often mental mistakes by this team. You can't just throw in the towel and say &quot;wait till next season&quot; without making an effort to improve this team. I agree with you that we shouldn't panic and trade away our top prospects, but if Omar takes on an approach of &quot;wait till next season&quot;, then he is not doing his job. The Mets don't need to make a huge splash or blockbuster move and trade away their top prospects to improve this team. This is where Omar needs to be creative and also stubborn by not giving in to other teams, who know that the Mets are vulunable and will try to take advantage of them. This is where Omar needs to prove that he can find the pieces without mortgaging the future. By not doing anything, will only ignite the fans who will say that Omar isn't doing his job. 2009-06-24 03:33:15 captain-crunch <forumuser@vmix.com> http://forum.newsday.com/forums/post/68371/ 68371 Sorry Met fans,This isn't the season to hope we overcome the previous seasons.The core, 3 of 4 , are down. Alway's a worry on this team was a reality. Very poor preparation for this, very poor offseason when we could have had &quot; a few good men &quot;. Namely, Juan Rivera, Felepe Lopex, Orlando Hudson. wait till Sheff and Cora break down. They weren't expected to play everyday. All these players (FA'S ) cover all except catcher, maybe CF. Cheap investment, could we have been a better team , especially with the recent injuries ?Lack of preparation like this is inexcusable. Can anyone spell spell Alou ?Play 158 every year and not be prepared for fallout ?Go Mets, next year . Build a solid team. 2009-06-23 21:24:17 RONHUNT33 <forumuser@vmix.com>