Letter from "Omar Minaya"

I got this letter e-mailed to me from "Omar Minaya". Its a generic letter, but its pretty informative. (Its also the closest thing to Mets news I have seen in a month.) Here it is:

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Dear Craig,

Last winter, I wrote to you about our plans for the Mets. Nowthat our season is over, I want to follow up with a review ofour 2005 season, and our goals for 2006. But before we talk baseball, I want to thank you for your support of the Mets this year, including the best home attendance total since 1989. Your loyalty and commitment gives our ownership, staff and players the inspiration to strive for even more in 2006 and beyond. We are pleased with the progress the team made this year. Pleased, but not by any means satisfied. I wrote to you this winter that I would settle for nothing less than a championship, and that remains the standard for success. I believe that we have made great strides toward our goal, and have shown flashes of tremendous potential - but I am also the first to admit that there is still work to be done. Our lineup has a combination of speed and power that makes us dangerous - we were second in all of baseball with 153 stolen bases and in the top half with 175 home runs. Our starting pitchers, particularly the front of the rotation, performed well, and when Kris Benson and Steve Trachsel were both healthy,we found ourselves with an abundance of quality starters.

Our bullpen pitched well at times, but we had difficulty closing out games toward the end of the season. Overall, our pitching staff was one of our strengths, finishing third in the League and eighth in MLB with a team ERA of 3.76. However, we have said that our team will be built on pitching and defense, and the gloves did not support the arms well enough this year. As a team we made 106 errors, which permitted 49 unearned runs to score. These figures ranked us in the lower half of all clubs. We will certainly be working to correct these and other areas needing improvement in the coming months.

The Mets finished the 2005 season with our highest win total, and highest standing in the division, since the World Series year of 2000. The wins and losses alone, however, do not tell a complete story. There was a tangible change in the atmosphere at Shea Stadium, with a new sense of enthusiasm and belief that extends beyond just the fans. Our players, having briefly tasted again how sweet it is to be in playoff contention, are hungrier than ever to get to the post-season next year. Our core group of young players and new acquisitions joined our veterans to provide our fans with countless memories as we fought late into the season for a playoff spot.

Here are just a few of the reasons to look back on 2005 with pride and toward the future with optimism:

++++++++++++++++++++The "Kiddie Corps." ++++++++++++++++++++

A group of youngsters from our minor league system made a tremendous impact on the 2005 season. They gave our team energy, with an obvious love of the game and youthful bravado that had the whole city cheering them on. A few in particular stand out:- The 2005 Mets were the first team in MLB history to have both the starting 3B and SS be 22 years old or younger and play 150 games or more. You cannot say enough good things about, DavidWright. Only 22 years old and in his first full season, he finished either first or second on the team in virtually every offensive category: games (160), runs (99), hits (176), doubles (42), home runs (27), RBI (102), total bases (301),walks (72), stolen bases (17), on-base percentage (.388), slugging percentage (.523), and batting average (.306). Impressive as they are, though, those numbers, again, do not tell the whole story. He also provided the team with character, hustle, heart, and a leadership that belies his age. In addition, his no-holds-barred pursuit of foul balls gained him a cult following, and we became almost accustomed to his penchant for the spectacular (Who can ever forget his over-the-shoulder, diving, barehanded catch in San Diego?). While he made several spectacular plays, David muffed too many balls this year; he would be the first to tell you he is not happy with his error total of 24. However, with his extraordinary work ethic, we are confident that David will improve in that area next season. It will be a joy to continue to watch one of the game's top young talents continue to blossom for the Mets.

There is, perhaps, no more exciting player in baseball to watch than Jose Reyes. He attacks the game with abandon and can energize a crowd with one thrilling race around the bases. Having played a full season, he has put to rest any questions about the leg injuries of the past and showed us all how speed can truly change the game. His 60 stolen bases are the second-highest single-season total in Mets history, as are his17 triples. To get the most of his speed, however, Jose must get on base more often. His on-base percentage of .300 is too low for a premium lead-off hitter. On defense, his range, quickness and arm-strength make him one of the best young shortstops in the game.

Aaron Heilman and Jae Seo re-established themselves as promising young pitchers this season. Having heard about their prospect status for so long, we tend to forget that they are still young pitchers by MLB standards. At 26, Heilman posted the lowest ERA (0.68) in the majors among relievers with 30-or-more innings after the All-Star break. Aaron was particularly effective in front of the home crowd. He went 4-1with a 1.62 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 61.0 innings at Shea. However, Heilman's breakthrough performance actually came as astarter when he hurled the 23rd complete-game one-hitter in franchise history on April 15th vs. Florida in a 4-0 victory. Seo, 27, developed a devastating curveball and splitter this season to go along with his outstanding fastball/change-up combination. Jae won six consecutive decisions from May throughSeptember and was 8-2 overall with a miniscule 2.59 ERA. Seo's brilliance allowed the Mets to go 11-3 in his 14 starts.

When Mike Piazza broke his hand in August, 24-year-old Mike Jacobs was called up as an emergency back-up; he promptly made history. "Jake" became the first player ever to hit four homeruns in his first four games, including a pinch-hit home run in his first big league at-bat that put him on the map. And though it would have been impossible to keep up that kind of production, he continued to impress. He went on another powersurge at the end of the year to finish with 11 total home runs and a batting average of .310 in 100 at-bats. While Jacobs may have been a bit of an unknown to those outside the Mets, he has been on the organization's radar for years: this year he won his second Sterling Award as the top position player in our minorleague system.

+++++++++++++++The New Faces. +++++++++++++++

When we acquired Pedro Martinez, and then Carlos Beltran, the identity of the Mets changed overnight. Those two players made us serious contenders, not only on the field, but also in the free agent and trade markets. We will continue to see the benefits of those signings for years. - What can you say about Pedro? He is one of the greatest pitchers of all time, and he injected our team with pride and energy, both on the mound and in the clubhouse. He has the ability to light up a room with his personality, and to carry a team with his talent. Each time Pedro pitched for us, it was more than a game. It was an event. He responded to the challenge, and turned in one of his finest overall seasons in years. He gave us a chance to win in every time out. He tossed four complete games, and piled up 217 innings. Pedro finished the year with 15 wins, a 2.82 ERA (fourth lowest in all of baseball among starters), an opponents' batting average of .204 (second lowest in MLB) and 208 strikeouts (tied for fifth-most in baseball). He showed us that his brilliant Hall of Fame career is still going strong, and that we are in store for much more from him in the coming years.

Coming into this season, expectations were set perhaps unreasonably high for Carlos Beltran - in part because of his salary, and in part because he hit .435 with eight home runs in 12 postseason games last year. He was viewed as a savior to the offense, and that expectation is unfair to any player. Carlos remains a special player ... one who can change a game with speed, power or defense. In addition, at 28, he is still a young man and now has under his belt a full year on a new team in a new city. We are all tremendously proud of the effort he gave and the way he handled himself this season, and recognize that he played through pain for most of the year - first, playing with a strained quadriceps, and then with a facial fracture after the horrific collision with Mike Cameron. Even so, he finished the year with respectable numbers, hitting .266with 16 home runs, and 34 doubles, while scoring 83 times and driving in 78. As I said, I think expectations were too high for Carlos before the year, and right now, they may be too low. Next season I am confident we will all see his true abilities shine through.

+++++++++++++++++++Valuable Veterans. +++++++++++++++++++

Cliff Floyd and Tom Glavine enjoyed resurgent seasons in 2005.- The chants of "MVP" that filled Shea when Cliff stepped into the batter's box illustrated his capability when healthy for a whole year. He was a leader on this team, nurturing some of our younger players and coming up with clutch hits to help us win ball games. Cliff has heard the word "potential" used all too often, as injuries have robbed him of years of production. He has a fiery desire to win, and seems to respond best when the spotlight is on him - a trait that is invaluable on a stage like New York. Cliff's big bat slugged a career-best 34 homeruns and drove in 98, and was a consistent force in the middle of our lineup. In addition, he made more than one highlight reel with his defense in left field and led the National League with15 outfield assists. Despite being a big leaguer for more than a decade, Cliff turns just 33 this winter. When he stays on thef ield, we can count on him to produce.

Tom Glavine continued to build upon his Hall of Fame credentials. Glavine, who is closing in on 300 career wins, became the 29th major league pitcher to win 275 or more games with a brilliant, two-hit, 11-strikeout performance in an 11-0 victory over Colorado on September 29th. Tom relied more on his curveball and splitter to baffle National League hitters. The results were simply amazing. Tom posted a sparkling 2.22 ERA in 15 starts after the All-Star break.

I also want to acknowledge the contributions of our perennial All-Star and future Hall of Famer, Mike Piazza. It is unclear what the future will hold, but there is no question about Mike's many accomplishments in a Mets uniform. Mike's arrival in 1998 turned our team around. His big bat and on-field leadership sent us to the playoffs in 1999, and to the World Series the following year. Mike Piazza has given us many great Mets memories. It was a personal privilege to witness the warm reception by our fans during our two final homestands and the extraordinary honor of a 10-minute standing ovation during our final game this season. An ovation like that says it all.

++++++++++++++++++++Rookie of the Year. ++++++++++++++++++++

Willie Randolph did as much as anyone to change the direction of the Mets this year. He is a perennial winner who helped every member of this team believe that they had a chance to win every time they took the field. With 83 wins, Willie finished tied for the fourth highest win total in Mets' history for a first-year manager. The last two MLB rookie managers to finish with a winning record after inheriting a team that finished at least 20 games below .500 the previous year were Mike Scioscia(2000) and Davey Johnson (1984) - each went on to win the World Series two years later. Willie's poised demeanor helped our young club ride through some slumps and keep the resolve to bounce back every time. With that being said, I also know that Willie is not happy to be on the outside of the playoffs looking in, and that he will do everything in his power to change that situation by next October. Like many Mets fans, I am a dreamer. I have always tried to think big and reach for goals that may, to others, seem beyond reach. However, I am also a realist who knows that dreams often go unrealized without hard work to back them up. In baseball, that means bolstering your strengths and addressing your weaknesses. This off-season, I will continue to dream big dreams for the future of the New York Mets. I can promise you that our entire organization, with the support and resources provided by our committed owners, will be working tirelessly to ensure that we are doing all we can to turn those dreams into a reality. I thank you again for believing in the Mets, and look forward to a productive winter. I hope to see you back at Shea in a few months.

Sincerely,

Omar Minaya
Executive Vice President & General Manager
New York Mets

Extended Hiatus

Due to the fact that there is NOTHING Mets related to report, I will be on extended leave until the World Series is over and the hot stove actually gets hot. Until then enjoy the playoffs.

Ghost on Hiatus

I am going away for a long weekend and will not be back until Sunday. It's my 1 year anniversary and we are taking a little hiatus. A couple of quick notes before I go. I want to apologize for getting a little lazy with posts recently. It has become very difficult for me to find things to write about as I watched the season melt away right before my eyes. That said, I will be doing an end of year review of the season, and preview what this team needs to do in the offseason. As always your comments are welcome. I will also be updating the site all offseason with hot stove rumors and reports. Its always fun to speculate and debate which guys we would like to see in the blue and orange next season. All in all its been a great first season for the site and thank you all for your continued support.

Tomahawked

I can't help but to laugh at the irony of a Met win in Philadelphia giving the Braves the division title. I mean, the Braves would have won it anyway, but I still think its ironic.

As much as I loathe the Braves, you have to give them credit for this rediculous run. 14 years is a long time.

When this streak started, the Braves were in the Western Division, and the Marlins didn't exist. They have since won the World Series.

Twice.

The Yankees have won four times.

The Braves have won once.

The Braves winningest pitcher during the stretch is Tom Glavine who has spent the last two years on the Mets.

I graduated high school, college, and have worked for four years at my current job.

High school ninth graders have never seen the Braves not in the playoffs in their lifetime.

When the streak started, Julio Franco was 33 years old. That year he lead the AL in batting with a .341 average.

Jose Reyes was 8.

Barry Bonds had 142 career homeruns.

There have been three Presidents of the United States.

When the streak started the Braves had a team payroll of $20,423,500.

The highest paid player in baseball was Darryl Strawberry at $3,800,000

The Braves team payroll today is $86,457,302

The Yankees team payroll in 1991 was $27,815,835

Alex Rodriguez is making $26,000,000 this year.

The Yankees team payroll today is $208,306,817

In 1991, Howard Johnson lead the NL in homers with 38. In 2005, he would be tied for 4th.

Tom Glavine won the NL CY Young, Terry Pendleton won NL MVP and Jeff Bagwell won rookie of the year.

But the amazing thing, besides all of that, is the amount of turnover this organization has had, and the way they manage to keep winning no matter who is on the field. When pitchers Mike Hampton and John Thomson went down with injuries, they were able to turn to Jorge Sosa, who had a career record of 11-26. He's 13-3 this season. When Raul Mondesi and Brian Jordan stunk, the Braves turned to rookies Jeff Francoeur, Ryan Langerhans and Kelly Johnson. When new closer Danny Kolb didn't work out, the Braves traded for Kyle Farnsworth, a move we commended them for here at Ghosts of '86. When catcher Johnny Estrada went down, Brian McCann came up from Double-A, no matter what the situation, the Braves found a way to pull through and continue to win ballgames. So again, as much as I hate to say it, hats off to Bobby Cox, Leo Mazzone, and John Schuerholtz, for a heck of a job, the Mets should only hope to follow your model.

Anybody Want Tickets?

I have 2 tickets available for Sunday Oct. 2 against Colorado. I only want face value for the tickets. I can't go to the game. Email the ghost for more info.

Folded Ace

According to Mets manager Willie Randolph, now that the Mets have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, 34 year old Pedro Martinez will be shut down for the year. He was originally sheduled to have two more starts, but with the team being eliminated, they have decided to save his arm for next season. Pedro is in the first year of a four-year $53 million contract. He has had an ailing back and foot all season, and the Mets would prefer him to be healthy for next year. In his last start, he was on a pitch count, and was pulled after 5 innings and only 75 pitches.

Closed for Business

Alot has been made about Braden Looper and his ineffectiveness as the Mets closer in 2005, and that the Mets have been at a disadvantage compared to the teams that they were battling for the NL Wild Card. I’m going to take the closers from Washington (Chad Cordero), Houston (Brad Lidge), Philadelphia (Billy Wagner), & Florida (Todd Jones) and statistically compare them to Looper’s mess this year, showing that the Mets have been at a statistical disadvantage when it came to closing out games this season.

I will be compiling their current stats as it should give a good indication as to why the Mets weren’t in an ideal situation to win the Wild Card, based on their closer situation.
I took 3 of the most used and basic numbers to determine the success of a closer,saves, blown saves, and ERA, but I also added in FIP, or Fielding Independent Pitching. It’s a measure of all the things for which a pitcher is specifically responsible. FIP determines a pitchers ability while not including the fielders happenings. Whether a fielder makes an error that eventually turns into an unearned run, or not, this stat takes into account everything the pitcher is responsible for. Such things as hits, BB's, strikeouts, HBP's, etc. This stat shows a real legit number as to how effective or uneffective a pitcher is towards his team. The formula is (HR*13+(BB+HBP)*3-K*2)/IP, plus a league-specific factor (usually around 3.2) to round out the number to an equivalent ERA number. I like this stat because it helps you understand how well a pitcher pitched, regardless of how well his fielders fielded. FIP was invented by Tangotiger.

Braden Looper, is 4-7 with a 3.94ERA, 28 saves, 8 Blown saves, and a FIP of 5.00
Chad Cordero is 2-4 with a 1.84ERA, 46 saves, 7 Blown saves, and a FIP of 3.68
Billy Wagner is 4-3 with a 1.54ERA, 34 saves, 3 Blown saves, and a FIP of 2.96
Brad Lidge is 4-3 with a 2.27ERA, 37 saves, 3 Blown saves, and a FIP of 2.16
Todd Jones is 1-4 with a 1.60ERA, 37 saves, 3 Blown saves, and a FIP of 2.42

It’s obvious by looking at all those stats; Looper has been by far the worst closer within the NL Wild Card contention. The next closest closer to Looper’s 5.00 FIP is Cordero, who’s leading the Majors in saves, and his 3.68 FIP is 1.32 less than that of Looper’s. That’s quite a distinct distance between the two. You could’ve probably already guessed this, but of all the closers mentioned above, Looper has the worst LOB% of the 5. Looper has a LOB% of 74.2, with Cordero being the next closest with 80.8%.

Another key stat, probably the most looked at stat for a closer, would have to be saves and blown saves. As shown, Looper has the most blown saves among the 5 closers listed, and the least amount of saves. That goes to show how unproductive Looper has been as the Mets closer in 2005. Looper was never a full blown closer with the Marlins, which makes it even harder to swallow that the Mets would adopt him as their everyday closer until now.

However, looking at how Wednesday night’s game played out for the bullpen; it would seem as if Looper’s tenure as the Mets closer is all but gone. Willie seems to have gotten the hint that Looper shouldn’t see the 9th inning as a New York Met anymore. Now he’s just going to blow saves in the 8th inning like he did last night. A lot has been made of how bad Looper has been for the Mets, but as you can probably guess, I just love continuing to prove exactly how bad Looper has been.

-Erik the Cheesehead

Tonight's Game: What Could Have Been

Tonight's game had all the foundations set for the makings of a classic. A mid-September game between division rivals battling it out for the wild-card, with their respective aces on the mound in Pedro Martinez and Dontrelle Willis. There is only one problem.

Neither team is in it anymore.

Pedro Martinez (15-7, 2.80 ERA) is 5-3 with a 2.64 ERA in 16 career appearances, including 12 starts, against the Marlins. He is coming off a gem, tossing his 17th career shutout in a 4-0 victory over Atlanta on Friday night.

Dontrelle Willis (21-9, 2.48 ERA) is trying to become the major league's first 22 game winner. He 7-1 with a 1.93 ERA in 10 career starts against the Mets.

All the writing is on the wall for this to be a classic, but instead of a sold out stadium, with fans going crazy and the playoffs on the line, they will be playing to see what rookies will do against two of the premiere pitchers in the game, with nothing but pride at stake.

Out of the Loop

Braden Looper is finished as the Mets closer. He is now blowing saves in the eighth inning. He is at the point where he is becoming unwatchable. I have zero faith in him coming into a game and getting a job done.

Any job, not just closing.

I don't care if the Mets go after BJ Ryan, Billy Wagner, or Kyle Farnsworth, they just need to get one of them. Looper is actually making me yearn for the days of Armando Benitez. At least Benitez gave us a chance. Looper doesn't even do that. The minute he comes in the game my first thought is of how he might blow this game that was different from how he blew the last one. I think I have seen him blow games in every way imaginable, including blowing the same game twice. He stinks and he needs a one way ticket out of town.