How to Handle the New York Mets

I know I have been off for a week since my last post, and longer than that since I’ve really explored a topic. Today, I will present some of my thoughts on how the New York Mets can turn a franchise that has not made the playoffs since 2006 and had back-to-back epic collapses in September into a contender once more. It all starts with restructuring.

First, I feel that it is the best course of action to incorporate my favorite teams under one umbrella organization, the way the Boston Braves (football, hockey and baseball) and European clubs (like
Barcelona) do business. Now, in my model, all of the teams in question will have the same headquarters and management staff but will keep their current stadiums. Therefore, the New York Mets, New Jersey Devils and New York Jets will now be known as AC New York.

What does this reorganization do to help the Mets? First, it gives them more accountability. Nobody wants to be the weakest link in an organization of your peers. The other multimillion dollar athletes would TOTALLY make fun of them. There is more name recognition for all of the teams and more pride at stake. Now I’m not sure that any of this is legal or if anyone actually operates in this manner, but I believe it is the ONLY way to salvage the team.

Once the Mets become a part of this mega-club, what do they do with the coaches and management? Easy. Fire them (which they kind of already did). I propose leaving Rex Ryan in charge of all football coaching and baseball management operations. He can hire a coach that won’t fizzle out and make decisions that will ultimately cost the Mets the game. Also, he is one helluva motivational speaker. Observe:

This man knows how to rile up a team, make playing fun and keep players hungry and well-nourished. What more could we need?

Now, I know it takes much more than coaching ability to get a team to win. You also need to have players that want to win and have the ability to be better than everyone else out on the field. Rex Ryan knows how to field that team. And if he doesn’t have the best talent (i.e. Mark Sanchez, Jerricho Cotchery, Matt Slausen, etc.) he sure as hell doesn’t let his players know that. He motivates them to do their best, seize the opportunity and compete in every game. The Mets could use some of that fire. Their players don’t event want to go visit war veterans. Pathetic.

First thing I would do when I inevitably am named to the front office of AC New York is cut my losses. Release Carlos Beltran, Luis Castillo, Oliver Perez and every other massively overrated player signed by Omar Minaya and company. We can get some of the Jets players to stand in the outfield and chase down balls, and I’m sure they can throw a lot harder than Ollie. My mind is racing with all of the different combinations.

I can’t tell you how frustrating it is to see teams with similar and smaller budgets for players wipe the floor with the Mets day after day. The difference is that they have TALENT and know how to make that talent grow. The Mets just try to go out and sign the biggest name, not stopping to evaluate the player or project how productive he will be in the following years. Since signing Beltran, for example, his offensive numbers have steeply declined year after year. That is garbage. Get young talent, don’t Strasburg him by bringing him up too fast, and make a winner. To quote the overly aggressive guy from the Everest College commercials, “Why you makin’ it complicated? It’s EASY.”

Once all of the pieces fall into place, the Mets will surely be on their way to the postseason and another shot at a World Series title. I’ll let Tom Berenger as Jake Taylor tell you what comes next (and I apologize for the quality):