Inside Cheez is a very Yankee-centric blog, mainly because the Bronx is where my baseball allegiance lies. But every once in a while, my baseball mind shifts to Queens (especially when my Yankees are losing 9-3 to Tampa, as they are tonight). Yes, it's an ultra-rare post about the "amazin" Mets!
As usual, GM Omar Minaya is the subject of my latest Mets musing. Is this guy trying to get fired, or what?
Everyone is well aware that the Mets had a boatload of injuries in 2009, and this, as much as anything, was the reason for their disappointing season. But the puzzling moves of Omar Minaya certainly followed a close second.
This year, Mr. Minaya is at it again. First, when the Mets needed a #2 starter more than just about anything in the off-season, Minaya passed on Angels ace John Lackey. He claims he made an offer, but we all know he offered just enough to appease the fans, and not quite enough to appease Lackey. Without a true #2, just like last season, it's Johan Santana and pray for rain.
Now the injury bug has reared its ugly head again, with center fielder Carlos Beltran and first baseman Daniel Murphy going down with injuries. Both will be out until May at least. As luck would have it, two of the Mets top prospects, outfielder Fernando Martinez and first baseman Ike Davis, had monster springs. How perfect! Now the Mets can fill these spots with two hot-hitting prospects, and see what they're made of until Beltran and Murphy return, right? Wrong.
Martinez and Davis were sent down to AAA, and taking the place of the injured? Exiled Anahiem Angel Gary Matthews Jr. and career backup Angel Pagan in center, and strikeout machine Mike Jacobs at first, who has been jettisoned by the Marlins, Mets and Royals previously.
Does Minaya really think Matthews Jr. and Pagan have a greater upside than Fernando Martinez? At the very least, Martinez would equal the numbers of these two retreads. It's more likely he'd do much better.
And Mike Jacobs? Seriously? This guy wasn't good enough to play first for the Kansas City Royals! You heard me, the Royals! Ike Davis, even if he struggled, would be a better option than Jacobs. And please, don't give me the "we don't want to rush him" bit. The worst that could happen is: Davis hits .100, and gets sent back to AAA.
It's time for the Mets to stop babying these prospects. Bring 'em up, and see what they've got. If I'm Minaya, I'd much prefer to go down swinging, with my top "young guns". Entrusting two key spots in the line-up to borderline major leaguers just doesn't make any sense.
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