Stuff

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May 20, 2004

I’m beginning to get on the ‘fire Art Howe’ bandwagon. I’m not saying he should be fired right now (as many other people are saying), but he clearly needs some help with his game strategy. I can understand when he takes Mike Piazza out for a pinch runner sometimes but you don’t take your best bat out of the lineup in the seventh inning of a tie game. Possibly in the eighth or ninth but definitely not in the seventh when you will probably (but not definitely) get to his spot in the order again. The New York Post’s Joel Sherman talks about this in today’s edition.

Sherman also has a column proposing that the Mets should acquire Randy Johnson. His main argument seems to be that if you have a farm you may as well mortgage it. I’m not sure I agree with that. I mean it would be great to have Randy Johnson pitch in Flushing but you also need to think long term. Sure he’s going strong at 40 but in the next few years you’ll have to replace Johnson, Tom Glavine & Al Leiter. But the thing that really gets me about Sherman’s column is what gets me about most columns that propose trades like this. He goes on and on and on about how the team should acquire Johnson but then he gives his reasons for why they should give away the players he proposes to give in such a deal. As usual, that’s where it all falters.

The Mets should try offering Scott Kazmir (elite prospect), Tyler Yates and Royce Ring (decent prospects) and see where it gets. Sure, dealing Kazmir is a risk. But he is just at A-ball with worries about injuries (he’s been out since April 26), stature (how many 5-foot-10 lefties have made it big?) and makeup.

Joel, don’t you think the D-Backs know this information? You’re not doing a very good job of selling him by talking like that. You actually convinced me that if I were in Joe Garagiola’s shoes I wouldn’t even think of this deal. The idea to acquire Johnson is not so bad despite my critiques. But you need to put together a better package and present it properly if you want Garagiola to swallow the pill.

Vic Ziegel has a column in today’s Daily News that basically echoes what I’ve been saying the last few days. Mets fans have reason to be optimistic about .500 but just because the team is close doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy to get too. Hang in there. It’s just a matter of time.

Notes:

  • Mike Cameron‘s pinkie injury turns out to be a ligament tear. Cameron said he will have surgery after the season. Art Howe said he will give Cameron a couple of days off to rest the finger.
  • Leiter’s shoulder is feeling well enough to pitch if there were a pennant race going on. But since there’s no pennant race yet he’s likely to skip his next scheduled start on Saturday and perhaps even make a trip to the disabled list. That’s what he gets for not treating the injury seriously enough early on. A veteran like Leiter should have known better.
  • Todd Zeille needed eight stitches to close the cut he got when he was spiked by Tony Womack while trying to break up a double play. The injury may keep him out of the lineup a few days.
  • Jae Seo (2-3, 4.99) takes on the Cards’ Jason Marquis (2-3, 3.27) at She this afternoon.
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