A few days after Christmas, the Mets signed Jason Bay to a four year deal with a fifth year option.  The total contract will equal roughly 80 million if he gets the vesting option on the fifth year.  Is that a lot of money?  Sure.  A week later, Matt Holliday signed for 7 years and roughly 120 million.  The Cardinals will also be paying him well into the 2020s, giving him a smaller yearly income, much like the Mets are STILL doing with Bobby Bonilla.

On CNNSI.com, Jeff Pearlman writes a whole article on why Jason Bay will be a bust for the Mets.  Will he be?  Maybe.  But there is also an article on the site about how the Holliday deal was better than the Bay deal.  Two years and twice the money for an good player.  Their logic seems to be built more on the failure of the Mets organization than that of the players themselves.  When the Sox go out and sign players like John Lackey, Adrian Beltre, and Marco Scutaro, the press say they are buiding with pitching and defense.  They don’t mention the pressing need in Boston is power, which none of those players provide.  Beltre has been more of a bust than Bay, yet the Boston press look at his 10 million dollar contract as “worth a shot”.  When they spent 12 million on players like Brad Penny, John Smoltz, and T. Saito, sports networks called this a smart move because one of them would work out.  Even after they failed, especially Smoltz and Penny, people blew it off as a team taht has money to try those manuvers.  When the Yanks spend money, and they do, people get mad at the money thrown around, not the players themselves.

Do the Mets make mistakes, yes they do.  Do they have more pressing needs than Bay?  Some would say their pitching is suspect (which they are correct), but they also needed a powerhitter and a left fielder.  Will he be worth the money by the time the fifth year option comes around?  Probably not.  But he could very well succeed in New York, surrounded by players such as Beltran, Wright, Reyes, Franceur.  The Mets won’t make the playoffs without a SP or two, but Bay’s numbers and potential in New York should not be based on things he can’t control.

1.  Bioshock 2 will be a hit while Dante’s Inferno will be a bust due to the same controls as God of War.

2.  The Mets will make the playoffs as the Wild Card while the Phils will again win the NL East.  Who will win?  We will find out in October.

3.  One of the two teams:  The Yanks or the Sox, will not make the playoffs.

4.  The Harry Potter world theme park at Universal Studios will be as good as advertised and a mug of Butter Beer will be delicioius.

5.  Sofie will have a messy experience while potty training…oops this came true like yesterday.  Nasty adventure for yours truly.

6.  I will avoid Facebook games so I don’t become addicted to Bubblepop or Farm Town anymore.

These are just a few predictions.  Please feel free to add your own and again, have a great new year.

Now my biggest concern is the injuries they have.  Let me list them

C:  Brian Schneider, Ramon Castro

1st: Carlos Delgado

SS:  Jose Reyes, Ramon Martinez

OF: Ryan Church

RP:  Frankie Rodriguez

These are the following players out of position:  Gary Sheffield, Daniel Murphy, Oliver Perez

I know everyone says teams all go through this but this is ridiculous.  Their only opening day starters still on the field are David, Wright, Carlos Beltran, and (gulp) Luis Castillo.  Beltran’s knees are bothering him and Castillo hasn’t had a healthy season in years.  I think this is bad for two reasons, yes the injuries are one.  But the bigger issue is the fact that Omar Minaya has no contingency plan at all.  He just gives Manuel major league rejects to use instead of building from within and making trades when he needs to.

They better do something soon before they drop too far out of it.  To look at them and see they are above .500 is a testament to how scrappy and hard working this group is.  Omir Santos has shown he can catch a pitching staff and should actually stay as a starter when those other two rejects make it off the DL.  Daniel Murphy is basically auditioning at 1st base.  Pelfrey is doing well again and Bobby Parnell has shown he is an attribute in the bullpen.

Keep it up Mets.  Hopefully either guys will get healthy or Minaya will do something, anything to help these guys out.