What I Expect From the New York Mets This Offseason

I listened to most of the interview with Omar Minaya and Jeff Wilpon Monday on WFAN.

I wish it had been with someone other than Mike Francesa, who is very biased and amateurish when it comes to the Mets. However, Francesa is the guy that gets the ‘big’ guests due to reputation and seniority, so we have to deal with it.

Here is a list of things I expect from the Mets going forward. Also, a list of things Francesa should have asked. (He may have asked them at one point and I missed it, but not in the first hour.)

I expect the Mets to be big players in the quest for a power bat. Probably in left field, unless a doable trade comes along for a guy like Adrian Gonzalez, which seems unlikely. Matt Holliday seems to be the best choice. Hopefully he doesn’t stay with the Cardinals.

Management and ownership are committed to spending on what they feel will improve the team to make it competitive next year. This is the most important piece of news. They made no mention of a budget, a cap on spending, or any number. This doesn’t mean there isn’t one, but it also suggests they are flexible to get the job done.

They’ve already been discussing and planning, but obviously until teams and players exercise options after the World Series, you can’t know what’s going to be available for sure.

“You’re lowering ticket prices for season ticket holders. Will those ticket prices come down for game day sales? Will there be less gold level games as was reported?”

The Mets have not offered season ticket holders a percent discount for buying all 81 games in the past. To me, this suggests that Ceaser Club Bronze, and Metropolitan/Baseline Box seats, will be cheaper. These are the two areas they mentioned, and are probably the most overpriced in terms of the cost to quality ratio.

They intend to add more Mets stuff to Citi Field. More memorabilia, a Hall of Fame, and naming things after prominent Mets.

Medically, they’ve adjusted how they’re going to get and release information. Their excuses were a little bit weak, but I'm happy they’re aware that there was a problem.

It was true that they listened to the Dodgers' (or was it the Giants?) doctor when Reyes hurt himself on the road trip. I remembered commenting on it, wondering why the Mets were letting the opposing team decide whether their shortstop was ready to play.

The problem was in the decision-making in that they were soft on the severity of the injury, figuring that Reyes would be okay to play soon, and that taking him out of the lineup for a cross-country flight to New York wasn’t needed.

Another question Francesa didn’t ask, or didn’t ask for clarification on: “I just heard Reyes is having the surgery. Will he be ready for Opening Day, 100 percent? Will he be full strength, full speed?”

Instead, Francesa praised the doctors and the hospital, and went on to ask about other things.

It gives me faith that at least Omar knows what needs to be done. I just hope he’s aware of the little things that need to be done and not overlooked.

I like Cora, but am not necessarily sold on him being the answer. I think it might make more sense to have power off the bench. The Mets don’t need to build a 300 home run team, I think they just need the threat of power to help scare pitchers a little bit.