Niese has the talent for the job, but there are other factors

BY AARON YORKE
STACHE WRITER

There’s just four days remaining until pitchers and catchers report, but the battle for the Mets fifth starter job likely won’t be decided for another month and a half. That’s because Nelson Figueroa, Fernando Nieve and Jon Niese all pitched well enough in 2009 to be considered for a spot in the major league rotation. It’s likely that two or even all three of them will be more productive than Oliver Perez, but thanks to all the money he’s “earning” the Mets will have to choose just one of the three candidates.
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Redding has certainly had his good days and his bad days.

BY AARON YORKE
STACHE WRITER

It’s late in the season. Those of us that aren’t busy wondering if the Rockies are good enough to beat the Phillies are trying to be optimistic about 2010. Will the Mets spend money on free agents or will the Wilpons order Omar Minaya to cut payroll? Could a trade for Adrian Gonzalez or Roy Oswalt be possible? If the Mets do spend money will it be on John Lackey or Matt Holliday? Not a lot of fans are wondering what role Tim Redding will have on the 2010 Mets (if any). That’s what I’m here for.

Thanks to injuries to Jon Niese and Johan Santana, Tim Redding was able to do the improbable by returning to the starting rotation after being banished to the bullpen and pitching horribly there. From July 7 to August 19, the bearded one made 13 relief appearances with a 5.63 ERA. 13 strikeouts and 10 walks in 24 innings is no way to go through life as a major league pitcher, and yet Redding was “promoted” to starter on August 22. He responded by shutting out the Phils for 5 innings and has pitched admirably since. Despite a strikeout-to-walk ratio that is only slightly better than his bullpen figures, Redding has pitched to a 2.98 ERA in his second stint as a starter. Three of his last four starts have gone 6 innings and allowed just a single run. So should the Mets keep him?
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How do you think Jason Bay would look in Left Field at Citi Field? (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

When time finally runs out on 2009, there is going to be a plethora of people who believe that injuries are to blame for the failures of 2009. Don’t get me wrong. It definitely contributed, but there are some things that this team needs to do to get back on track. Now I am not talking about the obvious things like getting a healthy Reyes and Beltran back, but I have devised a five-step off season plan for the Mets to get back in the game.

1) Sign Dave Duncan to replace Dan Warthen

This would be an excellent acquisition. Known as the guru of pitching, Duncan is the guy who has been known to literally fix guys in 15 minutes. The Mets have quite a few candidates of patients for Dr. Duncan to examine. First and foremost is Oliver Perez, who has been unable to get out of his own way this season. The next guy would be Mike Pelfrey, who a lot of people think has taken a step back this season. I tend to agree. I don’t see him as a number two right now, but more of a number four. Younger guys would benefit from the acquisition of Duncan too. He could work with guys like Jonathon Niese and Bobby Parnell.
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Alex Cora would bat second in my lineup of injured Mets. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

Recently, while I was trying to decide what kind of new story to write, I got a very good idea from a friend. Can I go and see if I would be able to field a full team based on who is currently out of commission right now. Well, I can’t nab a full team, but I can do a lot with what I’ve got. Here’s my starting lineup.

1. SS Reyes
2. 2B Cora
3. 3B Wright
4. CF Beltran
5. 1B Delgado
6. RF Francoeur
7. LF Martinez
8. C Martinez
9. P Nieve, Maine, Putz, Niese
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Some Mets fans still have their Heads in the Clouds

BY JOSEPH STONE
STACHE WRITER

This might have been funny, if there was a punch line. Oh wait, at this point “Mets” is a punchline. Bleh. Another beating at the hands of one of our fellow second division friends. At least we all now will be able to appreciate the plights of the Third World fans located in such exotic locales as the Repulic of Pittsburgh, the sunny tropical island of Kansas City, and that lovable military junta on Washington, D.C.

Thank God beer is sold by the case. Too bad Budweiser hasn’t started putting morphine in there, too. This has passed brutal and gone into unimagined territory. The 2009 season for the New York Metropolitians is officially over. Oh, I know several of you old fashioned fans will look to your calendars and say, “Hey, dumbass, there’s still a month and a half left of games.” I’ll counter with a witty rejoinder, such as “Well, DUH!!!”, or some such statement expressing my disgust at your bourgeois thinking.

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Its Gonna Be Awhile Before We See Jon Niese in a Mets Uniform Again (Courtesy of Rising Apple.com)

BY AARON YORKE
STACHE WRITER

It was just a regular day at work for me. I stepped out around a quarter after twelve to hit up the QC (aka Quick Check for those without a clue) for a 6 inch chicken ranch. On the way there I turned on 660 for the Mets game against St. Louis and was fortunate enough to listen to Howie call a David Wright home run. Pretty awesome: it was 2-0 Metsies and I was about to grab a three dollar sandwich.

When I got back into the car after purchasing my lunch, things had taken an ugly turn. Nelson Figueroa was on the mound, and even worse, it was not in a game he had started. It turns out that Jon Niese, the golden child of destiny that I didn’t want to trade for Roy Halladay had gone and busted up his leg in a valiant effort to advance the Mets’ 2009 playoff campaign. Now it looks like Niese will need surgery and is done for the year. Fantastic.

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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.

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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.

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Brad Holt may be the best pitching prospect in the Mets' system.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

Through the last few weeks, we have seen some of my fellow writers propose some interesting moves to make. The Mets have struggled, and each writer played the role as General Manager to try to fix the team.

Some of the players that were recommended to be acquired include Roy Halladay, Adam Dunn, Matt Holliday (who has since been dealt to St. Louis) and Victor Martinez. There has been Adrian Gonzalez chatter as well. But, believe it or not, there is a smart course of action for the Mets.

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Jonathon Niese is a very important part of this team's future. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY ZACHARY SCHULMAN
STACHE WRITER

After watching the Mets win their first series post All Star Break, I saw a lot of what I think the Mets future should be. Seeing how Citi Field plays out, it is clear that the Mets should build their team around pitching, speed, and defense. The hitters should be ones that go gap to gap and have the ability to steal bases.

Looking at today’s lineup, many of the players can contribute next year to the hopefully new look Mets. Angel Pagan has played a very steady center field. He covers ground well and is very fleet of foot. He also can drive the ball and get on base. Next year I can see him as the possible starting left fielder or at worst an Endy Chavez like fourth outfielder providing some much needed depth.

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