The acquisition of Johan Santana did more than just help Mets fans erase the sour memory of 2007. It also got Omar Minaya off the hook. Many fans had been disgruntled with Minaya for his lack of aggressiveness during the off season. Then, Santana arrived, and all was forgiven. Frankly, Minaya went from a bum to the toast of the town in New York. The fact is, that Minaya pulled the wool over many Mets fans eyes. The shrewd fan knew that more had to be done...and unfortunately, it wasn't. And now, despite the acquisition of Santana, Omar Minaya's plan for the Mets has backfired. Smart Met fans saw it coming. Passive fans saw Santana in a Mets uniform and cheered unknowingly.

Now I'm not saying it's time to panic in Flushing just yet. Despite the slow start, the Mets will be in the thick of the NL East race, but the Mets are a team that is capable of falling apart at any moment...not because of their inept manager, or because of last season's collapse, or their questionable pitching, but because Minaya has assembled a team of senior citizens (by baseball standards) that are breaking down at an alarming rate. Where do old veteran players go to die? Apparently it's to the New York Mets.

In a Minaya's perfect world, Pedro returns to his Cy Young form, El Duque baffles hitters on his way to a 15 win season, Moises Alou challenges for a batting title, Luis Castillo joins Jose Reyes atop a speedy lineup, and Jose Valentin comes through with clutch pinch hits. In the real world, Pedro is limping and resting at home, El Duque is limping with a cast on his foot, Moises Alou is resting comfortably following a hernia surgery, Luis Castillo and his balky knees are on the bench and contemplating another trip to the DL, and Jose Valentin is looking at career ending surgery. Did Minaya not see this coming?

Perhaps there was a reason that Boston didn't give Pedro a four year deal. Perhaps there was a reason that Arizona traded Hernandez to the Mets for near nothing. Perhaps there was a reason the Mets were the lone pursuer of Alou. Perhaps there was a reason the Twins didn't want Castillo any longer. Perhaps there's a reason that no team wanted Jose Valentin this winter.

It's tough to fault Minaya for signing Pedro. He changed the culture of the Mets and helped attract other free agents, but the others....well, there's no excuse. Instead of signing a Kyle Loshe, Minaya stuck with Hernandez and his bunions. Rather than going with a younger leftfielder, he stuck with Moises "Red Cross" Alou. And ask any astute Met fan, and they'll tell you that Ruben Gotay could have performed as well as Castillo at second base. The player now filling in for Castillo...38 year old Damion Easley. But it's all moot at this point. The Mets are what they are... a talented team that has too many old guys. Had Carlos Delgado gotten off to a slow start, he too would have come into question. How long will Minaya stick with the aging veterans? If history has taught us anything, it is that Minaya will stick with them until they start collecting Social Security checks.

This is not to say that Minaya hasn't made some good deals. He did acquire John Maine from Baltimore, but that seemed more like an accident than foresight. Maine was a thrown in when the Mets acquired Jorge Julio. He also acquired Oliver Perez...perhaps another accident, as he was a throw in when Minaya traded for Roberto Hernandez...another 40 year old.

As for Minaya's miscues, there are many. Ther Lastings Milledge deal is still a puzzler. He alone should outperform Ryan Church, who was already grilled by fans for his poor defense in a loss to the Phillies. Remember his signing of 50 year old Julio Franco? How much sense did that make? Minaya signed Scott Schoeneweis to a three year deal, and he's done absolutely nothing for the Mets. Minaya signed a washed up Guillermo Mota when no one else wanted him (he was released by Cleveland). He dealt Heath Bell for nothing, and Bell became a San Diego 8th inning fixture. And let's not forget what Brian Bannister did last season for the last place Royals. The player Minaya got in return, Ambiorix Burgos, had Tommy John surgery. When Minaya felt that Mike Piazza was past his prime, he was quick to let him walk, but when the Mets needed a catcher last season, they trotted out Sandy Alomar Jr and Mike Defilice to catch 40 year old Tom Glavine and his buddies. And who can forget Minaya's signing of the immortal Jose Lima? This season, with Pedro hurting, the Mets have Nelson Figueroa replacing Pedro....a guy who hasn't pitched in the majors in three years. And what was with the hiring of Ricky Henderson last season? Do I need to continue?

So before praising Omar Minaya and calling him the executive of the year for acquiring Johan Santana, be sure to look at his other moves. This team needs to get younger and healthier. You can't blame the GM for guys getting hurt, but when you acquire and retain forty-something players...well, then you can blame the GM. This is not an awful club by any means, but is it any wonder why they faded down the stretch last season? If Minaya doesn't want a repeat of that collapse, he'd better infuse some young blood into this team.



Court Adjourned!