luck and allow us to surpass the defending world champion Philadelphia Phillies. Optimistic? Maybe. But possible.Now, the Mets roster has been ravaged by injuries and the question mark becomes...what to do? I think, despite us being only two games back of the Phillies, if Reyes, Beltran and Perez/Maine don't come back before the All-Star Break, the correct course of action is to reload. Not tear it down and rebuild, a la the Florida Marlins, but retool for next year. What does this entail? Glad you asked.
- Playing Murphy 5 days a week at first. Last year, he hit the cover off the ball; this year, he's been up and down. But if he's proven one thing at this point, he can field the position. First base, despite the legendary stache, has been somewhat of a revolving door for the Mets. Olerud. Zeile. Piazza (!!!). Jacobs. Reed. Anderson. Offerman. Should I go on? Now, Delgado has been a great player for us, but his time is up. To bring a 39-year old DH back again to play first would be repeating the Alou mistake again. With an eye towards next season, Murphy should be on first, or at least showcased a la Jacobs.
- Slowing down K-Rod. Yes, I know, he's been incredible. Better than expected. Worth every penny. But the hard-throwing K-Rod of years past is only available in bunches. He is an off-speed pitcher most of the time now (an incredible one at that). If the season is punted, what is the point of him wasting his valuable bullets on a meaningless season? This means he only pitches in some save opportunities, but we get to further evaluate what we have in Green, Stokes and possibly Holt at the end of the season.
- Slowing down Feliciano. Again, incredible season. But does anyone think that Howard, Dunn, Utley and Ibanez are going anywhere next season? Left handed relievers often rely on deception to get outs, and although Feliciano does not as much as, say, Okajima, he does vary his arm slots and pitching styles frequently. Letting these dangerous lefties to get more looks at him can only be harmful next season.
- Trying Parnell in the rotation. I know, I know, he's been crap lately as a reliever, what makes me think he could be a good starter? Well, I don't know, you don't know, and the Mets don't know if he'll be a good starter. The Mets have been lacking a hard-thrower in their rotation since the days of...help me out here...Gooden? The few games Dotel started early in his career? Worst case scenario, he flames out as a starter, goes back to the pen, and works through whatever he is going through. Best case, he shows some promise and there is some competition for Pelfrey, Perez and Maine next season. Now, this means someone gets bumped from the rotation...which leads me to my next point.
- Trading veterans. Now, I'm not talking about Beltran, Wright, Rodriguez or Santana here. But wouldn't Philadelphia or the Dodgers like Livan Hernandez at the back of their rotations? Or maybe Tim Redding? Wouldn't a team like Texas or the Angels have use for a Sheffield/Delgado DH platoon? Brian Schneider? Anyone? No? Ok, moving along, couldn't the Mariners use Luis Castillo? Or maybe the Cardinals? Doesn't he seem like a player LaRussa would love? Or, Tatis to the White Sox? Kenny Williams is a little crazy. Maybe someone needs a good backup outfielder in Reed? Boston could use Cora as SS insurance, no? The point is, free up some money, some playing time, maybe even get some ok younger players back who can keep us from filling the minor league teams with the likes of Mike DeFelice or Bobby Keilty or, gulp, Jose Lima. Maybe a good reliever emerges. Or a decent backup second baseman, or half of a lefty/righty platoon for a corner outfield spot. Whats to lose?
- Trading FOR veterans. I know, seems a little counter-productive...but not really. I'm talking about veterans, younger veterans, who can help this team for next season. Someone like...Adam Dunn? Jeremy Hermeida? Brian Roberts? Wade Davis? Carl Crawford? Alex Rios? Now, they all have their flaws, some might not be attainable or cost too much, but they can be effective pieces of a contending team next season. And maybe their teams are looking for something better THIS season?
- Give Wagner and Church a chance. What the Mets organization has against these two (non-Latin) guys is beyond me. Leave Church alone for the rest of the season. He's under team control for a few more seasons, is relatively cheap, and gives good defense in a tough position at CitiField. He draws some walks, can steal a base here and there, hits for a little power, and carried the Mets for the majority of the first half of last season. Lets see what we have with him for next season. Also, lets see what Billy Wagner has left. Yes, he's annoying. Yes, he's a loud mouth. So what? He was death on lefties when he was full-speed, so even if he shows some flashes at the end of this season, lets exercise his option for next season. Yes, it's a little expensive, but only for one season. Imagine a bullpen where you trot out a healthy Wagner in the 7th inning, a healthy Putz in the 8th (assuming his option is exercised as well) and a rested K-Rod in the 9th???????
- Think outside the box. The Mets organization has hesitated to do anything wacky. Except for playing Tatis at second. And short. And in right. Oh, and considering starting Takahasi. Oh, and closing with Luis Ayala. Oh, and playing a rookie third baseman in left. Oh, and playing an aging catcher at first. The thing these all have in common? They were forced. Lets see Murphy at second. Or Parnell in the rotation. Or Holt closing. Or Thule up here to mash some pinch-hit homers. Reward fans and evaluate what you have at the same time. Pick up Mike MacDougal off the scrap heap. Maybe he can get straightened out. Oh, wait, too late.
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