1) New Team Doctors - No team seemed to misdiagnose players more than the Mets Medical staff. They botched up Church's concussion, Wagner's initial diagnosis, Hernandez' bunions, the extent of Maine's arm problems, and so on. John Maine was shut down despite needing minor surgery at season's end.

2) Trade Castillo - Even Minaya has to admit that the Mets made a huge mistake signing Castillo to a four year deal. The Mets will have to pay a bulk of his salary to unload him. And despite rumors, the Mets don't need to go after Orlando Hudson who is a free agent. The Mets are sending Daniel Murphy to the instructional league to play 2B, and that's the way to go while they bring back Easley and Argenis Reyes as insurance.

3) Say goodbye to Schoenweis, Heilman, and Sanchez - Heilman isn't washed up, but needs a change of scenery. The boo-birds have gotten to him, and he still pines to start. Scott Schoenweis also needs a change of scenery....like selling insurance. Duaner Sanchez seems done and has lost too much velocity to be effective. The bullpen needs a complete makeover. Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano, and perhaps even Ayala are keepers, but this team needs dependable relievers ASAP.

4) Let Pedro, Alou, Hernandez, and Valentin walk - Pedro aside, if Minaya brings back any of the other three, he needs his head examined. Pedro could garner a one year deal with incentives, and be allowed to compete for the 5th starters spot. He is owed at least that chance, but the others need to go elsewhere. This team is far too old and needs to get younger in a hurry.

5) Rehire Manuel if Bobby V isn't available - No one gets more out of his team, and is a better strategist than Bobby Valentine. He took a mediocre 2000 team to the World Series. He may not be the motivator that Manuel is, but he's brilliant at making the right moves. Just ask the Japanese team that he leads into the playoffs year in and out despite being a foreigner. With that said, if not Valentine, then bringing back Manuel should be a no-brainer. The collapse was Minaya's fault...not Manuel's.

6) Go get Manny - If Pujols is the best hitter in baseball, Manny is the most talented...bar none. If he gives 100% day in and day out, no one can touch him. His fun personality could just be what the Mets need to get over the hump. In past years, Manny wasn't a fit with the Mets. In 2009, he's the BEST fit.

7) Get Varitek - The Mets need a leader behind the plate. Schneider is a solid receiver with no bat. Castro has a decent bat but is oft-injured and at times seem to bare less about playing baseball. Ironically, the one player the Mets had with desire in 2007 was LoDuca, and the Mets didn't want him or his personality back. Despite his injuries, perhaps that was a mistake.

8) Get Derek Lowe - Sabathia is an ace, and the Mets already have an ace. Two aces on the same staff could be a risk. Sheets is hurt too often, and the Mets already have too many injuries. Derek Lowe is the perfect fit to join Santana, Maine, and Pelfrey. AJ Burnett is an option as well.

9) Keep your younger players and go free agent route - Don't deal your young players for aging veterans. Because Minaya had no one else to bring up, he promoted Murphy and Evans and it worked. Perhaps he'll see that a young player being promoted could be more useful than a 36 year old aging player who Minaya signed as a favor. The Mets need to keep their young players by going the free agent route. If you want to trade a player, move Church who played over his head the first half of the season prior to his concussion. Murphy, Evans, Parnell, Neise, and Kunz must all remain on the 2009 roster.

10)Let Neise or Parnell be your 5th starter - Don't be afraid to entrust a rookie with the number 5 starter role. If the Mets had given up on Pelfrey like they have with so many others (Bannister comes to mind), they could have missed out on a special pitcher. Neise or Parnell need to compete for the 5th starter job.

Met notes

While the national media lists David Wright ahead of Carlos Delgado in terms of being a MVP candidate, the NY media is ripping Wright for his lack of clutch hitting. In addition, the media is being unkind to Jose Reyes following another September collapse. Odd how those who do not follow the team on a regular basis can tout Wright as an MVP candidate based on stats, while the local media clearly realizes that Delgado was the team MVP. Delgado and Beltran have been spared the blame for the collapse.

The Mets finalized a four year deal with Omar Minaya despite his 25% success rate. How bad will that deal look if the Mets finish in 3rd place next season? And despite the Yankees success over the past fifteen seasons, Brian Cashman's job security was in question, when he clearly deserved an extension with no questions asked. ...Only in New York.

How's that deal looking now that sent Bannister to Kansas City for Burgos? Bannister didn't have a great year, but is still pitching decent for a bad ball club, while Burgos is running from the law following the hit and run death of two women.

While the Mets Shea celebration was a wonderful thing, I have to wonder why in the world it was done after the game that the Mets lost...making it a bittersweet ceremony.

WFAN Mike Francesa was trying to convince his listeners that the Mets would be better off trading Reyes and/or Wright and letting Manuel go. Dopey.



Court Adjourned!