Rubin: Omar Seems to Be Ignoring Aging State of the Mets

Bay Ridge Dave · 09-30-2008, 01:43 AM

GM Omar Minaya seems to be ignoring aging state of Mets

Quote:

Omar Minaya said the process of preparing for the 2009 season began as he drove home from Shea Stadium on Sunday night, after the Mets lost to the Marlins and were eliminated from postseason contention on the regular season's final day.

And this much is clear to the GM about his winter task, he concluded: "We have a tough challenge in front of us."

Minaya, speaking Monday in the old Jets locker room at doomed Shea Stadium, declined to confirm that Jerry Manuel will return as manager during an address mostly filled with vagueness. Regardless, it's clear that Manuel's "interim" title will be lifted as soon as tomorrow, after he signs a multiyear deal to remain the skipper.

Monday at the stadium, Carlos Delgado and John Maine were the highest-profile players to clean out their lockers. Rookies Daniel Murphy and Bobby Parnell, who both will play in the Arizona Fall League in the upcoming weeks, spent the morning at Shea, as did fellow rookies Jon Niese and Nick Evans. Damion Easley, Pedro Feliciano and Brian Stokes were among the handful of other players to show up in the clubhouse to collect their belongings.

The dismantling of Shea Stadium will begin next week, and the Mets' roster will have to be overhauled, too.

"You have to start off by saying to yourself, 'Be open to everything,'" Minaya said.

Whether Minaya has learned any lessons from the past four seasons of his tenure as GM, which include just a 2006 postseason appearance, remains to be seen. One of the Mets' major vulnerabilities has been a susceptibility to injury caused by a large percentage of aging players. In fact, the Mets broke camp at the end of spring training with the oldest 40-man roster in the majors. Yet even Monday, Minaya was citing Jamie Moyer and Mike Mussina's success with the Phillies and Yankees, respectively, when asked if he intended to re-sign Pedro Martinez. (Odds are Martinez winds up elsewhere, with Oliver Perez a free agent too, leaving the Mets two rotation voids.)

Minaya essentially said every team in baseball is going to have "one or two or three 'risk' guys,'" who are vulnerable to injury because of their age. But that failed to acknowledge that the Mets had more than three players this season who fit that profile - getting limited or nonexistent contributions from Moises Alou, Orlando Hernandez, Martinez and Billy Wagner, plus injuries at inopportune times to other 30-something players, including Damion Easley and Marlon Anderson, which contributed to the team's failure.

Minaya, who signed Luis Castillo to a four-year, $25 million contract last winter, also refused to acknowledge that he'll shop the 33-year-old second baseman this winter, although it appears straightforward that he will be dealt, with the Mets eating a large percentage of his remaining contract. When it was noted that Murphy is being sent to the Arizona Fall League to play second base, Minaya suggested the Mets had been locked into that since early in the season, as if the league could somehow dictate to the Mets which position one of their marquee players must play.

freakzilla11 · 09-30-2008, 07:24 AM

Not a bad article, but I wouldn't call Wagner's contribution 'non-existant' or 'limited.'

Green Must Go · 09-30-2008, 08:16 AM

This team is doomed as long as Omar is at the helm. He just doesn't get it.

Bay Ridge Dave · 09-30-2008, 11:11 AM

MINAYA: CASTILLO COULD STILL REVITALIZE CAREER - New York Post

Quote:

Omar Minaya considers second baseman Luis Castillo's career as a Met still salvageable. Especially late in the year, a gimpy Castillo was the frequent target of fan fury for an injury-filled season in which he hit .245 with just 28 RBIs in 87 games. The veteran infielder still has three years and $18 million left on the controversial deal he signed last winter. If Castillo works on his conditioning in the offseason, Minaya doesn't see why he can't revitalize his career in New York at age 33. "In this town, fans give players second chances," Minaya said yesterday. "The fans will give you a second chance if you perform. When they boo, they just want you to do good because they are so passionate about baseball."

All I will say is that Omar better be just hyping this clown so that the Mets can at least get a game-used jock for him. If Omar really means this, he is a jackass of the highest order.

Quote:

The New York Mets assigned rookie left fielder Daniel Murphy to the Arizona Fall League next month as a second baseman. Minaya, though, said that doesn't signal a permanent move to second by Murphy or the end of Castillo's time as a Met. "It could mean he could be a first baseman," Minaya said of Murphy. "You can expand his game [by having him play the infield in Arizona]."

freakzilla11 · 09-30-2008, 11:24 AM

Omar: "I think the ship is still salvageable."

Bay Ridge Dave · 09-30-2008, 11:26 AM

mets84 · 09-30-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bay Ridge Dave

MINAYA: CASTILLO COULD STILL REVITALIZE CAREER - New York Post

All I will say is that Omar better be just hyping this clown so that the Mets can at least get a game-used jock for him. If Omar really means this, he is a jackass of the highest order.

Heh, I was thinking the same thing: "he's just saying that for trade purposes... I think. I hope."

kingdiggler · 09-30-2008, 11:32 AM

Problem is, is that omar will say it so much he will start to really think castillo has something left. Get this dude a bus ticket out of here.

lgm6986 · 09-30-2008, 11:32 AM

"Mijo, start that thing up and let's get going to the Salsa Festival!"

KingOlerud · 09-30-2008, 11:37 AM

MINAYA: NEWMAN COULD STILL REVITALIZE CAREER

lgm6986 · 09-30-2008, 11:44 AM

MINAYA ENDORSES HILLARY

METS' GM MAKES BOMBSHELL PREDICTION IN NEWLY RELEASED 8 TRACK: OMAR EXPECTS SEN. CLINTON TO REVITALIZE RUN FOR PREZ

kingdiggler · 09-30-2008, 11:44 AM

Other people who could revitalize their careers:

Jimmy Carter
Heath Ledger
Victor Zambrano
MC Hammer

lgm6986 · 09-30-2008, 11:48 AM

MINAYA TABBED TO PRODUCE NEW BROADWAY VERSION OF 'RAPUNZEL'

OMAR TO CAST TELLY SAVALAS IN LEAD ROLE; BELIEVES HIS HAIR CAN STILL BE REVITALIZED

Bay Ridge Dave · 09-30-2008, 11:49 AM

WTF did I start here? LMAO

metman · 09-30-2008, 11:51 AM

Omar Minaya Announces Signing of Screwdriver And Hammer

"I love toolsy players that can't take walks"

09-30-2008, 08:16 AM	#3 (permalink)
Green Must Go Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Obama has his eye on your wallet Posts: 11,993	This team is doomed as long as Omar is at the helm. He just doesn't get it. __________________ Obama's least favorite scripture: Even while we were with you, you gave you this rule: "Whoever does not work should not eat." - 2 Thes 3:10

09-30-2008, 11:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
Bay Ridge Dave Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Day-o, Day-ay-ay-o Posts: 12,613	LOL

09-30-2008, 11:32 AM	#8 (permalink)
kingdiggler Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Flax Seed in my cereoooooo. Bowels screaminoooo Posts: 4,350	Problem is, is that omar will say it so much he will start to really think castillo has something left. Get this dude a bus ticket out of here. __________________ "To avoid being mistaken for a sellout, I chose my friends carefully. The more politically active black students. The foreign students. The Chicanos. The Marxist professors and structural feminists." Barack Obama It ain't socialism, it's his thug thizzle.

09-30-2008, 11:44 AM	#12 (permalink)
kingdiggler Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Flax Seed in my cereoooooo. Bowels screaminoooo Posts: 4,350	Other people who could revitalize their careers: Jimmy Carter Heath Ledger Victor Zambrano MC Hammer __________________ "To avoid being mistaken for a sellout, I chose my friends carefully. The more politically active black students. The foreign students. The Chicanos. The Marxist professors and structural feminists." Barack Obama It ain't socialism, it's his thug thizzle.

09-30-2008, 11:51 AM	#15 (permalink)
metman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,655	Omar Minaya Announces Signing of Screwdriver And Hammer "I love toolsy players that can't take walks" __________________ SHUT Your FESTERING GOB...You TIT!

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09-30-2008, 11:32 AM	#9 (permalink)
lgm6986 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3,959	"Mijo, start that thing up and let's get going to the Salsa Festival!"

09-30-2008, 11:37 AM	#10 (permalink)
KingOlerud Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Met Hero, Luis Castillo Posts: 9,145	MINAYA: NEWMAN COULD STILL REVITALIZE CAREER

09-30-2008, 11:44 AM	#11 (permalink)
lgm6986 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3,959	MINAYA ENDORSES HILLARY METS' GM MAKES BOMBSHELL PREDICTION IN NEWLY RELEASED 8 TRACK: OMAR EXPECTS SEN. CLINTON TO REVITALIZE RUN FOR PREZ

09-30-2008, 11:48 AM	#13 (permalink)
lgm6986 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3,959	MINAYA TABBED TO PRODUCE NEW BROADWAY VERSION OF 'RAPUNZEL' OMAR TO CAST TELLY SAVALAS IN LEAD ROLE; BELIEVES HIS HAIR CAN STILL BE REVITALIZED

09-30-2008, 11:49 AM	#14 (permalink)
Bay Ridge Dave Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Day-o, Day-ay-ay-o Posts: 12,613	WTF did I start here? LMAO

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