Archie Bunker's Army

Well, if you consider NOT signing a dodgy-fielding first baseman with enormous power who hits equally well for average, a success, then I guess we can assess that Omar's magic touch is still in intact. Even though Carlos Delgado signed with the Marlins rather than the Mets and added insult to injury by claiming he chose to sign with the Marlins largely because they have the best chance of competing for a championship among the four finalists for his services, there are many different ways to spin this, some of them valid, some of them absurd. First of all, adding yet another long term, big money contract (Delgado ended up signing for $52 million over four years ) was probably not in the best interests of the Mets' long term interests. You can't buy everyone and even if you can, it doesn't necessarily buy success. Getting Doug Mientkiewicz instead of Delgado to fill first base, at first glance, seems like a pretty small consolation prize but as Baseball Ameri...

Since I'm growing weary at the slow pace of both the drearily sweeping broom of the potential Mike Cameron to the A's for Loco and a worn out reliever trade and even more weary with the Mets In Final Four For Delgado Sweepstakes non-news dairy product, I thought I'd break the snooze pattern of the news and have a reasonably brief and somewhat shallow look at where everybody else in the NL East stands to date. Atlanta Braves Record in 2004: 96-66, first place BIG off season moves involved getting outstanding and young starting pitcher Tim Hudson from the Oakland A's in response to our signing of Pedro. Hudson v Pedro will probably favour the Mets this season and according to Hudson, if he isn't signed by the Braves by March, he will be a free agent next season. So if the Braves don't ante up quick, this will be a one and out year for their future starting pitcher. They also got reliever/closer Dan Kolb from Milwaukee and Jorge Vasquez from Kansas Ci...

Does it seem like only yesterday that the fragile 32 year old centerfielder formerly known as Mike Cameron volunteered to move to right field to accomdate Carlos Beltran IF (snickersnicker) the Mets actually signed him? Ha. Cameron, no doubt, believed there wasn't a snowball's chance in Omar's Dominican Republic that the Mets would sign Carlos Beltran, as did most of the baseball world and thus, believed he had nothing to lose by making such a proposition. Not only did he have nothing to lose, but he might look a good team player in the process. Well, that little moment of myth-making can be laid to rest. That's right. Now, after being caught in a lie, the bitch wants to be traded . Apparently, he wasn't really willing to move to RF after all. It was all a practical joke. A simple misunderstanding. Apparently, he'd only been clearing his throat. Say it ain't so after all, Mr Cameron! Tell us your offer wasn't just a stream of self-servi...

Now that the Mets have Beltran in the Bag , the focus becomes on who they might sign next now that the free agent fever has hit them. Well, for starters, to fill their hole at first base, they are trying to set up a meeting with Carlos Delgado . All along the rumour has been that it was either Beltran or Delgado as the consolation prize. We didn't see it coming that the Mets might sign both . On first take, wow. Delgado's bat would really wreak havoc in concert with Beltran, and Piazza, Wright, Cameron and (if he stays) Cliff Floyd. He batted .269 with 32 homers and 99 runs batted in for Toronto last year, but also averaged 39.5 homers and 123.5 R.B.I in the previous six seasons. Beltran has already chimed in. "It would be seriously tremendous if we sign Carlos, too," Beltran was quoted as saying in the Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia on Monday. "I would love it if that could be achieved because we are good friends, but I know he has to make the b...

Let's give a kick to the Yankees franchise whilst they're still down. Rather than get into a bidding war with the suddenly imposing pockets of the Wilpon family, King George and his Yankee Machine declined to bid on Carlos Beltran thereby allowing himself to be outbid by his crosstown rivals for the first time in his 32 years as The Boss. Steinbrenner ultimately decided early Saturday evening that he could not meet Beltran's price. The Yankees were concerned about boosting their already hefty luxury-tax payments. In any case, the most sought-after free-agent in baseball, outfielder Carlos Beltran has agreed to a 7-year, $119-million deal with Mets. Shea What?! is about right, whoddathunkit? In a sign either of his senility or his undying desire to rid the Cubs of Sammy Sosa, the usually coherent Phil Rogers of the Trib weighs in with the explanation that The Mets can still afford Sosa . Ha! More to follow, more to add, more to celebrate and more to sha...

Although with King George's greedy clutches waiting in the background it is no done deal, the Mets chances of signing Carlos Beltran just grew enormously as Beltran rejected the Astros final offer . There are rumours that the Cubs and Yankees are still in the running with the Mets but to date, only the Mets and Astros had shown any certain intrest by offering a contract and with the Astros now out of the picture, the Mets are the favourites. The Yankees, of course, with Steinbrenner loath to allow the Mets any crosstown splashy publicity which would take the spotlight off of him and his signings, continue to loom ahead and there is always the chance that they will jump into this chase before it is over. However, not having made any offer to Beltran and allowing the possibility of Houston to have signed him without bidding a cent on him, seems an indication that the rumours of the Yankees finally showing a modicum of fiscal restraint might possibly be true. The Cubs are ...

Well, they're getting closer in that at least they're unloading catchers now. Unfortunately for the Mets, they unloaded backup catcher Vance Wilson , a sort of Del Gilbert of the early 21st century, and chose to keep the selfish, overpaid and underachieving catcher, Mike Piazza in his stead. Wilson was the Mets' representative to the players union and was an active presence in the clubhouse, taking on a leadership role despite his limited playing time. "Vance Wilson is a professional backup catcher," Tigers president Dave Dombrowski said. "He is one of the best in the business at his role in addition to being a quality individual in the clubhouse." Ironically, the catcher they chose to keep, Mike Piazza, also had limited playing time and has NO presence to speak of in the clubhouse, other than as facial hair stylist extraordinaire, and leader of the Worst Defensive Catchers in the World Association. Whereas Piazza regularly throws out a...

The stakes are rising quickly. With only four days left for the Astros to resign their free agent Carlos Beltran, the Mets officially met with Beltran in his native Puerto Rico for a reported four hour session. It was also rumoured that they offered $100 million as an opening bid. Lest one think this expedition stops at ONE Carlos, it should be noted that Met special assistant Tony Bernazard dropped this particular bombshell that the other Carlos; the slugging first baseman Carlos Delgado, is also being chased on this trip. "Our interest is centered on Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado," Bernazard told the media. "We are still trying to determine if we should sign one or both." One or both ? Certainly too delicious to contemplate, netting a pair of Carlos' in one season. In the meantime, speculation continues to run rampant that the Yankees can't afford Beltran any more with the recent acquisition of The Unit and won't be a player in...

Well, the calendar turned, one day closer to the Astros' January 8th make or break day with Beltran and the Mets still have not announced the signing of Carlos Beltran. However, they have a plan . "Continuing his home visits tour, general manager Omar Minaya will head a Mets contingent that will visit Beltran in Puerto Rico on Tuesday, the latest example of the aggressive face-to-face recruiting style Minaya employed to steal Pedro Martinez from the Red Sox last month." Hmmm. Wonder how the plane was able to take off with all those sacks of cash on board. "Minaya plans to sell the idea of Beltran's becoming the club's biggest marquee attraction. According to a person familiar with the situation, Minaya also will cite the many marketing opportunities available as the city's newest Hispanic star." Well, it certainly won't be the hard sell on Mets historical tradition, will it? Even Bobby Valentine got into the act when he did ...