From the Farm To the Front Office, the New York Mets' Lack of Depth Runs Deep

Only 48 games left to watch the continual disappointment that is associated with the New York Mets.

Every major news outlet and the team itself seem to have abandoned hope and beards and efforts that the Mets could pull off a resurrection of the ’69 Miracle team which did something at the time no other sports team could: Go from expansion basement dwellers to once in a lifetime story.
 
Now, instead, the media is throwing words such as spoiler and auditions to give the avid reader or sports TV watchers something of interest. In truth, the auditions are over. Jon Niese and Fernando Martinez are down and more likely than not Daniel Murphy is going to be your everyday first baseman next year whether he covers bases or not.
 
Auditions are for spoilers and fired up youngsters trying to make a bid for staying power. What the Mets have are merely nothing more than a soft bunch of retreads, borderline major leaguers and one burned out and over-worked star.
 
It looks as if Jerry Manuel may be fighting for his coaching career at this point.  No one can blame Manual for the rash of injuries that has plagued this team but when he was given the job last year it was under the assumption that being the anti-Randolph would somehow raise everyone’s spirits.

Losses to the lowly Padres and Diamondbacks and the sloppy play that followed have been a direct indictment on the manager, a sign that he has lost the team.
 
GM Omar Minaya, once the golden boy, appears to have some dirt on that shiny coat. Rumor has it Assistant GM John Ricco is likely to step in and take on more of his responsibilities. Ultimately, succeeding him as GM.

In this scenario, Minaya would stay on in an advisory role to player development since Ricco’s strong suit is more administrative.
 
In other words, Ricco was more known for statistical analysis and the financial ramifications of certain moves and not player personnel. Although, Manual credits him with the Franceour trade.
 
But maybe this has been what’s been plaguing the Mets all these years. The Mets continue making lateral moves: bench coach Jerry Manuel for Willie Randolph, Assistant GM John Ricco for Omar Minaya.

As we watch a team decimated by injury, lack of farmhands, and answers from the front office it makes the phrase, "A fish rots from the head down" seem to make more and more sense.