Mets Moving Forward (10/6/09)

First Base. Left Field. Catcher. Starting Pitcher. These four positions will be the main focus of the New York Mets' management and ownership. The Daniel Murphy project at first base needs to be scrapped. Adrian Gonzalez has always been or should always be on the Mets' radar as a replacement for Delgado. Left field can no longer be a platoon situation, the Mets need to spend money and get a power hitting left fielder. Jeff Francoeur was one of the only bright spots this season and he deserves a nice contract to stay on as the starting right fielder. The catching situation is tough because it is difficult to find someone that hits for power or average and can call a game and can throw out base runners. Mike Piazza was half of that, he hit well and was clutch, but he threw out 12% of base runners. Schneider and Omir Santos combined couldn't fill Piazza's shoes offensively and neither were outstanding behind the plate defensively. Before they bring in a catcher though, they HAVE to get a starting pitcher who will complement Johan Santana. Maine, Pelfrey and Perez are all number 3's and lower in a starting rotation. Roy Halladay can be had, but the Mets might have to part with a player they say is "untouchable". The Blue Jays have to trade him now because he will be a free agent after this upcoming year and is going to demand an enormous amount of money when he signs with a team. Jason Marquis and John Lackey are also options, even though they will have to be overpaid. This off-season does not showcase the crop of free agents and players it did last year, so Omar Minaya will have to really earn his paycheck and go out and make some deals to fix the Mets' problems. By now the management and ownership know they built too big of a stadium, with too many outfield gaps and awkward spaces, so their only option is to get players that adhere to the specs and dimensions of the stadium and to work heavily with the stars getting them more acclimated to Citi Field. The Mets must be aggressive with their pursuit of free agents and trades and they have to address the way the medical staff handles injuries and prepares the guys physically for each game. Omar Minaya also must look past his the decisions he made this year like letting Pedro sign with the Phillies, trading away Billy Wagner, the only healthy pitcher at the time who could compete out of the bullpen, signing Oliver Perez, signing Tim Redding and bringing up Fernando Martinez way before he was ready for the big leagues. Minaya did let Luis Alicea, the first base coach, go, stating that he was one of the reasons the Mets had so many base running blunders, but that is really a minor move and a decoy to take the focus off of the real issues. Fix the Mets!! Fix the Mets!! Come to the park and fix the Mets!!