Mets Youngsters Could Cost Omar a Job

Every season brings hope . For the New York Mets, like most every team, it also brings the spark of new players and new blood in the club house and on the field. The Mets have several young players still competing for key positions at this juncture of the spring training festivities.

Take, for example, Ruben Tejada. He is trying out for a roster spot for the middle infield. He would not even be in the position to do so, if not for notable injuries. He is very young in baseball terms, 20, to be in the big show, but certain events have transpired that have helped him be in such a position.

I think of Fernando Martinez, who's only 21. He has been crushing the ball, in Florida. He also has a history of not playing a full season in the minors, due to various injuries. Let's say that happens again, is he really ready for the majors? We all get impressed by power displays, but impression takes away our ability to reason.

We all say 'he's ready'. Why? Because he can hit home runs against guys who have no chance of making their respective teams or major league pitchers still working out the bugs? Let him prove himself healthy in the minors before we end up with another Beltran situation.

I also feel compelled to mention Jonathan Niese. He is 23. He has good stuff and may very well win the fifth starter's job over Takahashi, Nieve or Figgy. However, does he have the experience to be relied on consistently as a starter?

Probably not. That's why he'd be a fifth starter and not a third starter. But if he fails, he will be picked apart mercilessly, and that shows on Omar Minaya for picking him and Jerry Manuel for bringing him up. He could do well and make them look like geniuses, that's what we're all hoping. But he hasn't pitched a full season in the majors, there could be some bumps.

Another player I think of, and most certainly the most talked about player in this spring, possibly in all of baseball, not just New York, is Jennry Mejia. Mejia is the 'next'. Pick your comparison. He's been linked to every name in baseball history seemingly. He is supposed to be the 'next Rivera or the next Doc'. He's, also only 20 years old and has only been pitching at any level for five years.

That's the definition of inexperience. That track record might make you a starter in the NBA or the NHL, but not in the majors. Major League baseball is all about matchups and knowing situations. Experience. Which is something minor leaguers learn to a point, that they carry over into the bigs.

I have said several times that they shouldn't rush him. I believe, that Jerry Manuel will, in fact, rush him up to the show. He may be wonderful. He may not. The Red Sox hitters, the other day, weren't impressed with him as Jerry and all of us have been. Perhaps, they make a little sense. Remember, this is the time of year that the pitchers are supposed to have an advantage and the hitters are just starting to catch up.

Maybe we'll see that adjustment, maybe we'll have to wait until the season is under way to see the NL east adjust to him. Maybe. no one will. No one has seemed to adjust too well to Johan in the NL east, have they? The point is, Omar Minaya and his crack team of 'baseball people', including scouts, hand picked these kids. If they fail this year in roles they were given due to injuries, then, Omar has failed to a point.

Although, I realize it wouldn't be entirely his fault. Manuel has something to do with it as does the injury bug. Omar picked these players for the farm a system and to come up at some point. Manuel decides if he wants them now or later. Therefore, Manuel will rush some of these kids for fear of otherwise having a bad season and resulting in his termination.

By doing this, these youngsters could excel in the opportunities or fail. If they excel, then the organization has found its future now. If they fail, they may still be the future, but Omar and Manuel will be the past.