Will the Mets GM, Omar Minaya, be back in 2010 if the Mets do not make the playoffs this season?
It depends but certainly if the Mets fail to make the playoffs for a third consecutive season it may be difficult for him to return. Minaya did get a contract extension and there is no question that the Wilpons like Omar. But from a public relations standpoint, you wonder how much rope he will have.
Regardless of the Mets failings in late September the last two seasons, credit must be given to Minaya for making the Mets relevant again.
Prior to the Mets hiring Minaya, the Mets were in the midst of one of their many stretches of seasons playing under .500 ball. After winning the National League pennant in 2000, the Mets barely played over .500 the following year then dwelled at the bottom of the division the next three seasons. The failure to sign Alex Rodriguez in 2000, the poor selection of manager Art Howe in 2002, and the horrendous trade of Scott Kazmir in 2004 forced the Mets hierarchy to bring back Minaya and right the foundering ship.
Minaya acted quickly signing Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran. Omar also hired New York's first black manager, popular Yankee Willie Randolph. In 2005, the Mets played much better finishing over .500 with an 83-79 record and challenged for the wild card. Then in 2006, the Mets ran away with the division after Omar traded for first baseman Carlos Delgado and signed closer Billy Wagner. They came within one game of the World Series and that's as close as the Mets have come to a championship since.
The Mets have not played bad the last couple of seasons, in fact they have been one of the better teams finishing with 88 and 89 wins respectively. However, the dismal collapse of 2007 and the failure to make the playoffs late again last season has left a bitter taste in a fan base starving for a championship. It has been 23 years since the Mets last won a World Series and nine since they have been in one. Certainly, no one wants the teams we suffered through prior to Minaya coming here. But after 2006 and having good talent at the prime of their careers, the clock is ticking.
I often think that the worst thing that happened during Minaya's tenure was 2006. The Mets took everyone by surprise in only Minaya's second year on the job. Afterwards fans assumed post season entry would become routine for a few seasons. And with 17 games to play in 2007 with a seven and a half game lead, who would have blamed any Mets fan for dreaming such a thing. But the truth is the Mets had holes and 2006 was accomplished partly because the rest of the division was not very good. The Phillies came on late that summer but by then the Mets were too far ahead. That was not the case in '07 when the Mets bullpen began to falter and the consistency the Mets found in '06 was no longer existent. Still the Mets should have won in '07 but Omar and company did not do enough to strengthen obvious weaknesses by the trade deadline.
But then Omar made a tremendous deal in January of last year. He traded for Johan Santana and for a while, Mets fans forgot about the collapse of '07. Some critics sited that Johan fell into the Mets lap. I disagree. It was obvious that Boston and the Yankees, the other two suitors, did not want to spend the kind of money it would take to sign Santana and part with top farm talent. But the two clubs had to stay in the bidding for the simple reason of not wanting the other team to get him. Omar saw an opportunity and informed management that the deal would come back to them. As long as the Sox and Yanks played chicken, the Mets remained the only other club who had talent sufficient enough to satisfy Minnesota and also have the cash to sign him to a lucrative contract. Another GM could have concluded that the Mets had no chance to lure the lefty ace, moving on to lesser quality pitchers. Minaya stayed focused and ultimately got his man.
Through no fault of Santana, the Mets stumbled at the finish line again. The cry we heard from management last season was the Mets over achieved. The fact that they were in the race to the bitter end was a testament to a team really not ready to win. The bullpen was brutal. The loss of Billy Wagner to elbow surgery was devastating. No pitcher in the the pen was able to step up and save crucial games that could have helped win a division title.
This off season, Omar apparently learned his lesson from the past two seasons. He brought in two top closers, J.J. Putz who will setup closer Francisco Rodriguez. K-Rod set the record for saves last year for the Angels. Sean Green was also brought in and he has the kind of arm that can be used often and in many different situations. Prime culprits Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoeneweis were traded away. Luis Ayala signed with the Twins.
A plethora of starting pitchers were also signed to compete for the number five role, a role that looks to be headed toward Livan Hernandez, El-Duque's half brother. So the focus was pitching, pitching, and more pitching. Not a bad idea. Alex Cora, the former Red Sox, was signed who will help the bench and fill in any position in the infield.
The one area of recent criticism is that Minaya did not bring in a big bat. He defended not signing Manny Ramirez or Adam Dunn because the Mets were second in runs scored last year, tied with the Phillies. He points out that the difference between the Mets and Phillies last season was the bullpen. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to determine the truth in his statement. Brad Lidge, the Phillies closer, saved every game handed to him. The same cannot be said of Billy Wagner or Luis Ayala who was the primary closer after Billy's injury.
Has Minaya made mistakes? Of course, what general manager hasn't?. Trading away Heath Bell, Matt Lindstrom, Henry Owens, and Royce Ring might have made the difference the last two seasons. These four relievers have all contributed to their team's success although none of them pitched for a playoff team either.
It's likely Omar Minaya will be around regardless of what happens in 2009. But he would be a lot more comfortable if the Mets get to the playoffs.
