Did Gary Sheffield get the respect he deserved? (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

Gary Sheffield made a positive impact on the 2009 New York Mets even though the season ended in an extremely disappointing way, but most likely Sheffield has played his last game as a New York Met.

When Sheffield was brought to the Mets in April, due mainly to the recruitment efforts of David Wright, there was a huge buzz about it because of Sheffield’s bad boy reputation from his days in Detroit and New York as a Yankee.

With the barrage of injuries to the star players, Sheffield stepped up and played the game as a true professional on and off the field, he was a model citizen and many fans did admit that they were wrong about the perceived negative impact he would have on the Mets.

The other interesting fact is that when the fans were doubtful of Sheffield’s impact and presence, both Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel let the blame and doubt fall on David Wright’s shoulders.  Once it was obvious that Sheffield was a positive influence, the story changed , the whole organization worked together to secure Sheffield.

Sheffield was possibly interested in four teams, the Mets were on of them mainly due to the fact that he wanted to return to New York and David Wright sent a text message to Sheffield and that was the deal maker for the transaction.  Sheffield said “when the face of the franchise contacts me, that means a lot”, so it was done, no mention of Mets front office cooperation or conversation at all from Sheffield.

In late August, Sheffield approached Omar Minaya about being released to go to the San Francisco Giants who were in contention at the time, when Minaya hesitated, Sheffield asked about the plans for his future as a New York Met.

Minaya did not give him any indication as far as a promise for a contract, not even for a one year deal that would give him job security and a thank you of sorts for stepping up and being a positive contributor to the team.

Omar Minaya is searching for a left fielder for the 2010 season and is working hard at securing either Matt Holliday or Jason Bay, but nothing is being said about Sheffield’s possible return, while it may happen, it is very unlikely as Minaya knows that a major shake up is needed for the roster.

Gary Sheffield did miss most of the final weeks of the season due to back spasms and related issues, but by that time the Mets season was over, and the bad blood was there between Sheffield and the Mets front office

Guys like Nelson Figueroa shouldn't be a part of the Mets' long-term future. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

I don’t know if you have noticed the past couple of weeks, but I am starting to get a bit fed up with the team. I understand how people can get a bit excited over the performance that we saw from Nelson Figueroa, but it is quite another thing to start discussing him as a part of the future. I saw an article this morning regarding whether it has finally “come together” for Nelson, and it would be a nice story considering.

But I think it’s not going to happen. The Mets need to be focused on guys who have hope. Investing their already limited resources in an aging 35-year old career minor leaguer would be a big mistake.

Other guys who fit in this profile include Fernando Tatis, Elmer Dessens, Pat Misch and Gary Sheffield. These guys are filling spots right now. Tatisa is the only one the team had plans for, but his dreadful 2009 likely will cue his exit. The players I would love to see get some attention are the young guys.

Keep throwing Daniel Murphy out there. Let Nick Evans get a couple of starts in left. Let Josh Thole run wild when he’s called up in a week or so. We have to see what we have to work with in our system.

Call it me venting, but I think the Mets are wasting their time. There is no reason why guys like Brian Schneider, Tatis or Sheffield need to be playing every day. These guys are old and the primes of their careers are definitely behind them, so the Mets and their fans should really want to see a glimpse into their future instead.

Gary Sheffield thinks that he deserves a contract extension, but the Mets do not share the same sentiment. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

When the Mets signed Gary Sheffield, I admit that I thought he was going to be cut shortly thereafter. This was a guy who was on the downside of his career and had proved nothing in terms of production in the recent past. Surely enough, he would be a pivotal part of the anemic lineup Jerry has had to send out there every day.

Sheffield has been one of the nicer stories in baseball this season. When he signed with the Mets, many worried that he would be a clubhouse cancer, but Sheffield has been nothing short of a class act. In fact, when he hit his 500th career homer, the former Yankee made a replica bat for all of his teammates. That is a class act.

Remember, this guy is just a year away from his dreadful 2008 performance with Detroit when he hit just .225, but he has certainly performed beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. Thus far, Sheffield has batted .286 with ten homers and 43 RBI. He has even played a better left field than expected, and he has shown a toughness and has provided a worthy example.

We know he is playing through pain. His legs are aging and tender, and neither one of them will probably hold up much longer. This is a guy that is best suited being a designated hitter in the American League, but when you are having injury problems like the Mets, then you can’t let anyone rest. Look at Luis Castillo. They brought in Alex Cora to give him a break, but the Reyes injury put him as the everyday shortstop. Case in point.

Usually when people perform, they are rewarded. Fernando Tatis was given a new two-year deal after his Comeback Player of the Year 2008. Unfortunately that hasn’t worked out as we all might have hoped. The Mets did a similar thing with Marlon Anderson, who was DFA’d earlier this season. Do we really want to set ourselves up for a situation like that again? I don’t think so.

Sheffield reveled on Tuesday that he requested an extension from the Mets and the team decided against it. Now he asked to be pulled out of the lineup tonight and reports say he may be threatening to leave the team. No skin off of my backside if you ask me.

Sure I have liked what he has done, but the last thing this team needs is a negative distraction. The Mets could do a lot worse than releasing him and bringing up a younger player. Maybe Nick Evans deserves another chance. Who knows?

All I know is that the Mets need to nip this in the bud before it becomes a matter for concern.

Francisco Ridriguez has certainly been a bit off lately. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY ANTHONY LAFAMAN
STACHE WRITER

Just need to get a couple of things off my chest on this off-day. I think the fans needed this off-day just as much as the players. Honestly it’s been brutal watching this team post All-Star break. Record aside they just don’t seem to be having fun out there.

Wright looks like his dog died via Con Ed manhole electrocution. Can’t blame him. I mean this season has been a real drag on him I assume. His numbers don’t bother me as much as it obviously bothers everyone else. No doubt in my mind if two of those injured stars are in the lineup David’s numbers would be more in-line with his career averages.

You have to remember there is no reason to pitch to him, there is no one behind him that strikes fear into the opposing pitcher.

On Bobby V, of course I’d like him to manage the Mets again. Who wouldn’t? But it won’t happen unless Omar is fired. Minaya and Manuel seem tied at the hip.

On Delgado’s setback. The way I see it, Delgado has to come back for himself let alone the Mets. And since they have no first baseman for next year, unless you all believe Murphy is that guy, then the Mets can offer Carlos arbitration and if he walks they get a pick. Works for me.

On Sheffield not being moved. Seems as if he is the big right handed bat off the bench next year. I wouldn’t give him up for a shitty minor leaguer either. All speculation but whoever claimed him probably did not put forth a strong enough offer for Omar to consider.

On Corey Sullivan, he’s not an everyday player. Can we stop it already with the hype around this guy?

On K-Rod, looks bad. Velocity is down and people are not swinging at his junk.

On the season, obviously I’m upset no playoffs for a third straight year. But this one feels different. I guess it’s because of all the injuries. Once Beltran went down I felt that shock like whoa, this might end up being a disaster year. And it has. I’m not ok with it but I am at peace with the season already. Like I said, I’d like to see a kid or two. And if you don’t want to “burn a 19 year old’s shirt” that’s fine with me. But at least let’s get a look at Ike Davis while the buzz is high. Remember what Mike Jacobs did in September of 05?

Only The Mets Could Pass On Getting Something for a 40 Yr Old With A Bad Hammy

BY AARON YORKE
STACHE WRITER

Yesterday we talked about how the Mets put Gary Sheffield and Pedro Feliciano on waivers in an effort to salvage something from the last remaining useful parts of the 2009 season. Now it turns out that both players have been pulled back by the Mets, meaning they cannot be traded for the rest of the year.

The keeping of Feliciano makes sense: He has one year of arbitration left, is making less than $2 million, and will be a useful left handed reliever on what should be a contender in 2010. However, I don’t see what the Mets hope to gain by not trading Gary Sheffield.

Are they convinced that by letting him stay on this year he will be more likely to sign for 2010 (and for a reasonable price)? Even if Sheffield wanted to stay with the Mets and not with an AL contender that could guarantee him more at bats, I think it would be difficult to get your 2009 franchise home run leader to sign for a reasonable amount.

Sheffield is a useful piece to have. As we have learned this year, you can’t have too much depth. Unfortunately due to the cirumstances of the 2009 season, Sheffield has performed so well in relation to his teammates that an impending free agent deal would almost certainly not be worth the money. It’s difficult to see Sheffield having much value on a team that can afford to pay an outfielder with both offensive and defensive qualities.

The same overproduction that makes a free agent deal inadvisable makes a trade seem like a great idea. Offensive-starved teams like the Giants will see Sheffield struggling through injuries to lead the hapless Mets in homeruns and think “leader” and “warrior” and “gritty veteran” and all of these things will help the Mets get more value than Sheffield is worth.

Now that Feliciano and Sheffield cannot be traded, the only other Mets I could see leaving town are Brian Schneider, who would make a decent backup backstop for somebody, and Fernando Tatis. While Schneider would be unlikely to fetch anything useful, Tatis’ recent hot streak and ability to play multiple positions could make him maybe a little bit valuable.

Still, the point is the Mets missed an opportunity to unload their only decent chip, and now we are stuck hoping that Bobby Parnell can somehow become a decent starting pitcher after really never finding his groove as a reliever.

The guys who have replaced the injured stars have let go, even though they promised not to.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

I still can’t forgive Rose. She told Jack Dawson that she would never let go, but then she did. There was plenty of room on the big door when she was waiting in the ocean to be rescued, but she was more concerned for her own well being.

Sounds like someone we know right? It is the story of the 2009 Mets.

They have hid behind their injuries and stopped playing. I have heard all of the arguments. How can a team win when they are missing three of their top offensive players? Simple. People need to step up. Not only has the hitting been pathetic, but the pitching has been spotty as well.

Even Johan Santana has joined the parade of guys who have disappointed recently.

This makes me think. Maybe it is time to sell on some of the guys who hold some value. Guys who I am referring to are Pedro Feliciano and Gary Sheffield. Matt Cerrone on Metsblog reported that two AL teams indicated interest in Sheffield prior to his hammy acting up, and he also speculated about the Rockies being interested in Pedro Feliciano.

I think it’s time to deal both of these guys. Cash in while you can. The season is no longer going to be mustered into anything significant, so the Mets need to turn their focus to replenishing their anemic farm system. Omar can probably get two or three decent prospects for the two guys, and he should do it.

Then we need to see what the young guys can do.

I hate to say this to everyone, but this team is not coming back, at least while guys like Anderson Hernandez are playing everyday.

The Mets are living a real life "Final Destination" and D Wright could be next

BY ANDREW CAVAGNARO
STACHE WRITER

It’s about that time where those few healthy bodies that fill the Mets’ roster run away and hide. Obviously, there is some sort of peculiar disease or curse that descends upon the Citi Field clubhouse.

After Jon Niese and Gary Sheffield bit the dust today, so did my belief that it was bad luck that has crippled the team. It’s clearly apparent that something more mysterious has darkened the skies in Flushing.

Maybe one of the construction workers at Citi Field buried a Moises Alou or Bill Pulsipher jersey into the ballpark’s foundation.

How about Dr. James Andrew’s secretly conspiring with the Mets’ medical team to acquire more patients. All of the above seem reasonable right about now.

For those still standing, a visit to the nearest church, temple, or mosque may be in order. A seance may do the trick as well to assist in avoiding a fall down the dugout stairs(i.e. Luis Castillo)

If I were David Wright, I’d find the nearest airport and travel as far from Queens as I could. You never know, he may be next.

Building a Team after this Moment has been very hard for the Mets (Courtesy of Boston.com)

BY JOSEPH STONE
STACHE WRITER

I have heard it said the the Mets mission statement over the last two years was to win Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS. That they wanted to eradicate the memory of the loss and somehow change the course of history. I don’t think that’s quite true. I think that was something we the interactive fans and the professional writers inferred upon the team, that that particular game was somehow still winnable.

The Mets, in a wise move, just stuck with the core of a team over the next three years that was thisclose to the World Series in 2006, and are just now feeling the fallout from a long barren run at post-season success. After the outcome of the 2006 season, obviously the Mets, as an organization, felt that essentially standing pat with a team that was so close to the promised land was the right choice, hence the Alou signing as a stopgap to shore up RBI production and keep the train rolling.

Management felt that the veteran presence would assist, and not even a beat would be missed on the march back to October. They were absolutely correct. The 2007 season was going along according to script until…no need for specifics in rehashing at this point, we are all well versed. The team that had steamrolled along all year hit the wall and blew up. It happens. Only once in a blue moon, but strange things can happen in baseball. Ask the Cubs, or the Phillies.

The Rockies of that year were the statistically anomoly that counterbalanced the Mets, winning beyond their fair share at the end of the season. In attempting to recover from that shock to the system that was September 2007, they jettisoned Glavine -good riddance!- and acquired the one piece the team had been missing, the workhorse Ace, Johan Santana. They traded the headcase, Milledge, for two servicable parts in Schneider and Church, thus restocking the cupboard.

On paper the 2008 Mets once again looked like world beaters. The core was still around and the rotation, featuring Santana and Pedro should have been dominant, and was, at times. But, as in all fantasy to reality tales, there was a snag. Petey couldn’t stay healthy. The staff had ups and downs. Nor could Alou or Church stay off the DL. Plug ins like Trot Nixon were busts. The pen, continually neglected, or worse, corrupted with bad pick ups -Matt Wise, anyone?- suffered blown leads continuously, until, after Wagner’s season ending injury, was threadbare and exposed.

Horrible play at second base and in the outfield led to defensive problems that cost an already shaky staff runs. A see-saw battle with the Fillies ended with the Mets on the outside looking in, when our man Ollie basically repeated Glavine’s lackluster season ending performance. We all witnessed it. We all felt the pain. “Pedro is going on Monday,” was the famous last words from that season. However, when spring 2009 rolled around, didn’t you think this was the year, even after all the agita of the past two years? Pelf, Maine, and Perez had another year under their belts.

The team, who owned the Fillies in the season series last year, would come back out with a re-built pen and finally win that Game 7 and head on to the championship that should rightly have been won just a few years previously. As the season wore on this year, and the MASH unit got worse, we fans bitched that the team sucks, management sucks, and, oh yeah, what the hell is wrong with the squad? We found out in a hurry the main problem was depth. There was none. With the team that was assembled for Opening Day, though, wouldn’t you have taken your chances, even with Murph in left field? Four Three years in a row, as a viable playoff team is good news to most fanbases.

Yes, they missed the playoffs two of those years, and in tremendous fashion the one year -I still don’t count 2008 as a choke job, just a lost battle- but isn’t this what we the fan ask of our team? To be in the hunt until game 162? What would you give this year to relive 2008 instead of this year? In hindsight, of course, there are a million moves Omar could have and should have made, all three years, but when you get right down to it, what gems from the farm would he have had to give up to get a B J Ryan, or a George Sherrill last year, or an extra starter the year before, and would it have changed anything? Would the Mets be hiding a third or fourth banner this year, too? Is the mission statement to win Game 7, 2006? No, but so what if it is, I don’t have a problem with that.

Building a team that can win big games should be the mission statement. We the fans are right to expect it, too. That game is gone, but using it as reference, the team can be built to win those types of games. A good GM has to look at his weaknesses and build to them. This season is the inevitable down year that happens to almost all franchises. Injuries torched what was going to be possibly the best of the four year stretch. As for what also is inevitable, though, is that the time has come to shake up the foundation of the team, because the weakness now is the farm system. Someone big needs to be traded to restock the minors. The staff is still moderately young, as well as the majority of the field.

Francoeur, Wright, and Reyes are all under 28 which is early middle age in baseball years. One of the three should fetch a healthy return for their services. Beltran, if fully healthy, could bring a king’s ransom in return. In his early 30′s, he is a senior citizen on the ball field. I personally would hate to see any of them go -yes, even Failcoeur- but if the expiration date on the post-season is up, changes should be made. If it prevents ever being caught as flat-footed as the Mets were against the injury bug as they were this year, I suggest one big trade happen. The need to pick up some young arms and rebuild in Cashen’s fashion is overwhelming. With more young, talented players, the team can weather the storm that any calmity could bring. Reyes and Parnell to the Royals for Greinke, Teahen and Bannister. Just a suggestion.

Too many opportunities out there to better the team, and possibly get younger. The Rangers are chock full of young talent. This would be what a GM using the longview would see. Bust it up a little to get better. In New York, however, this would take an entire regime change to pass muster. Omar painted himself into this corner. If he wants to give it one more good shot, which he essentially has to at this point, then trade for Halladay in the off-season. Trade for Brad Penny, or Javier Vasquez. Build a superstar type staff and go for the gusto in 2010. Just don’t give us another year of trying to win by re-tooling a bit, but also trying to build the farm at the same time.

It makes us all crazy and then we start calling WFAN complaining about the fatal flaws, and Manuel’s inability to write a lineup. Or we write articles to get somebody fired, so we can take their place. I am not resigned to tearing the whole thing down or going out with guns blazing next year. The team has good talent, it’s just getting it on the field. They are legitimate contenders, if all hands are on deck. Is that a reasonable thought? Who knows anymore. If we are waiting for Holt, Davis, Flores, and Godot, though, why not restock at the same time by dishing off some of the highly paid spectators from 2009, and make 2010 and beyond a much brighter prospect.

The Fans Should Celebrate with Gary, The Mets Medical Staff didnt Screw Up! (Courtesy of the NY Daily News)

BY ANDREW CAVAGNARO
STACHE WRITER

I was listening to WFAN the other day and I found the hypocrisy of some Mets’ fans just plain amusing. Instead of applauding the Mets for taking caution with Gary Sheffield, people were bashing them for it.

The belief that Sheffield shouldn’t have gone on the disabled list, since he said he was ok, is almost comical. How many times have we heard a player claim that they were perfectly healthy, only to take the pilgrimage to the DL a few days later.

All season, myself included, a majority of the fans have complained about how the Mets’ staff handles the injured. A repeated argument is that they are rushed back to early(i.e. Jose Reyes), or just not properly diagnosed and cared for(i.e. Ryan Church and the concussions).

Now, for a change the organization is using caution in remedying an injury. Sheffield is 40 years old and his joints aren’t finding the fountain of youth. If anyone deserves to shut it down for a few it’s him. Remember Moises Alou? He is Exhibit A in how the body breaks down after the age of 40.

I know its been a long season and the outcome looks bleak. However, as fans we must stay consistent and avoid complaining about topics that we would have agreed upon a month ago.

Jerry is thinking of gretting creative with his lineup due to the Injuries. (Courtesy of the NY Post)

BY DANIEL SIEGEL
STACHE WRITER

We joke many times when a team is going badly that maybe us fans should go try out and step on the field. At the rate injuries are coming to the Mets, with Gary Sheffield and Fernando Nieve going down this past week, maybe some fans actually thought they had a realistic shot of stepping on the field with the injuries piling up. However, the Mets are no ordinary team as history has shown and these circumstances are no different.

Jerry Manuel recently told reporters that if he ran out of options, he would use Livan Hernandez as a pinch hitter OR at a corner infield spot. Livan Hernandez, the starting pitcher tonight, is going to be used at one of the hot corners? I get the whole pinch hitting idea, I mean look at Micah Owings who is used as a pinch hitter on more than a regular basis for Cincinnati, and Livan does have a good career batting average.

But, a corner infielder, really? Livan was quoted as saying he will play anywhere and that its always been a dream of his to play in the infield. Terrific, I’m so happy that a team that is almost double-digits back in the division race is now looking to make dreams come true. Maybe K-Rod can play center field while David Wright pitches and Mr. Met catches.

This is getting ridiculous. I understand that Jerry Manuel has no options left and that Omar Minaya is deciding whether or not to sell than to get in on a possible Roy Halladay trade, but where do we draw the line? The Mets are a laughing stock both on and off the field and their payroll could feed third world countries.

Whether or not this absurd idea ever plays out doesn’t matter anymore. Just the fact that Jerry stated it as an idea has poured more fuel onto the fire that is this three ring circus called the New York Mets.

To make matters worse, Mets public relations recently spoke on the idea of an old-timers day such as the Yankees recently did, as too much work to pull off with not enough of a response from fans to feel a need to try it.

Terrific, maybe they’ll let the elephants race around the warning track during the next time a senior stroll around the bases comes up.

Stay tuned Mets fans, you never know what may happen next.