http://www.blueandorange.net/?p=913 Hoping for a Miracle since 2005 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:54:03 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 http://www.blueandorange.net/?p=913&cpage=1#comment-486255 Mark Himmelstein Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:25:53 +0000 http://www.blueandorange.net/?p=913#comment-486255 Well done sir, wholeheartedly agree. I've had similar reactions to the whole "we need pitching, pitching, and more pitching" mantra. To build a reasonable roster, or rather, the most reasonable roster possible, you don't have to unilaterally correct every roster flaw. You start from the ground up, making the best value moves you can, and continuing to make deals that make sense for the team in terms of what you'll get for the money you spend. Jason Bay isn't a great value, but he's a much better buy than a lot of the pitchers who were on the board. He does at least as much to improve the team, if not possibly more, than John Lackey, who cost considerably more. The only pitching contract I regret the FO missing out on so far this offseason is Randy Wolf. This team has enough roster holes that its unrealistic to think they'd all be solved in one offseason, but even if you want to try, its still better to focus on the markets where cost is lower and player value is higher, rather than jumping into every market that fits any team need, regardless of cost. I'd be perfectly content if the Mets had a team like 2006, with a rotation putting up a 5.00 tRA, a weakness overcome by a monster offense, solid defense, and lock-down bullpen. I'm not saying I expect that to happen, but I'd be fine if the rotation was weak and the rest of the roster strong enough to overcome it. Well done sir, wholeheartedly agree. I’ve had similar reactions to the whole “we need pitching, pitching, and more pitching” mantra. To build a reasonable roster, or rather, the most reasonable roster possible, you don’t have to unilaterally correct every roster flaw. You start from the ground up, making the best value moves you can, and continuing to make deals that make sense for the team in terms of what you’ll get for the money you spend. Jason Bay isn’t a great value, but he’s a much better buy than a lot of the pitchers who were on the board. He does at least as much to improve the team, if not possibly more, than John Lackey, who cost considerably more. The only pitching contract I regret the FO missing out on so far this offseason is Randy Wolf. This team has enough roster holes that its unrealistic to think they’d all be solved in one offseason, but even if you want to try, its still better to focus on the markets where cost is lower and player value is higher, rather than jumping into every market that fits any team need, regardless of cost. I’d be perfectly content if the Mets had a team like 2006, with a rotation putting up a 5.00 tRA, a weakness overcome by a monster offense, solid defense, and lock-down bullpen. I’m not saying I expect that to happen, but I’d be fine if the rotation was weak and the rest of the roster strong enough to overcome it.

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