I agree that this seems like a better team that last with a marginally better rotation and what seems like a slam dump for the last two innings of the game.

I am disappointed in the team though. It would be nice to be rid of Castillo and Anderson. I would like a better bench and a RH hitter with a bit of pop if possible or at least a tough out.

I read somewhere where it was suggested Gotay can be had for a song. No I don’t think he is the answer, but he had his moments when here and did provide energy which this team lacks at times.

Our OF has the potential to be horrible.

I will give Omar a B. I think he did a solid if unspectacular job. His best work was on the back of the rotation. Everything else was pretty ho hum.

He’s now going to be two years removed from that final surgery, so he may yet be useful. He might never get back to that ’06 level, but if he comes to camp in shape and can dial up his fastball into the 91-93 range with consistency, that’s more than enough with the changeup he has.

The problem with him last year was by the time August was over, he was topping out at around 87-88 mph.

Like you said and which I totally agree, based on what he’s done this offseason, Minaya deserves an “A”

He really did gut the bullpen of it’s primary culprits (minus Smith, who I liked) and added what could easily be the best 1-2 punch in baseball for the back of the pen.

And to repeat, I won’t say this offseason is a failure or only “mediocre” if they are done, but it would behoove them to try and get a good deal with another offensive piece.

Offseason’s like this are going to be few and far between. They should take advantage while they can.

I do see yours and I do agree. The Mets are a better team now than they were at the end of last year and I do think that they are a playoff-caliber team.

Now just go out and kick ass and take no prisoners and prove my lingering doubts wrong.

1) Bring in Manny is a lose-lose situation if it’s for anything longer than a one year contract. A one year contract would be not only ideal but something that needed to be jumped on. Anything longer and he will slack off and the Mets brass will get criticized for signing him. If they don’t sign him, they’ll be criticized for not doing so. If he’ll sign a 1year 20 million deal, sign him up today and order me a jersey, he’ll play his heart out the entire year, in hopes of another long-term contract, which of course he won’t get. He could possibly become the richest player in MLB history if he just keeps signing 1 year-20 million dollar contracts annually, however, he has a desire to be lazy Manny and slack off whenever he chooses.

2) O-Dogg? Yes, sign him now and cut Castillo as a sunk cost and let’s be done with the offseason. What we’re forgetting is the Wilpons lost $300 million to Madoff and regardless of wht they say, it is affecting the organization, as it preventing them from giving up on Castillo and signing Hudson.

3) The most realistic option, sign Dunn or Abreu, but then will Murphy’s progression be hindered? I believe it will and we don’t want that, let the kid play.

So, I do see your point, but I hope you see mine. We are a better team than we were the past three years in every category and that should be good enough to win the division and make noise in the playoffs. Remember our core was very young with little leadership in 06. In 07+08 they learned the taste of defeat, this will be their “show me” year in terms of leadership. I am talking about Jose & David, and the Carlos’ are what they are. Lead with their on-field performance more than anything else. However, I’m really hoping to see Manuel press (as he already started to do) on Jose and David about leadership. If they’re willing to take on that role and this bullpen doesn’t fold behind the shadows of the past 3 years, we will do big things, David Wright will win the NL MVP and the Mets will be World Champions.