I know some of my opinions are unpopular, and I understand why, but I do like to be honest.
I don’t want John Smoltz on the team.
I imagine John Smoltz is a great guy, he’s a Hall of Famer, probably a great teammate.
He’s also an Atlanta Brave.
He’s not some random guy who was on the Braves like Jeff Francoeur. Â Â Smoltz was on our hated rival Braves from back around the turn of the century. Â We don’t like those Braves.
I didn’t want Glavine, and I was happy for Glavine when he went home to Atlanta. Â He’s a Brave.
Oh, John Smoltz will be 43 in May and had a 6,35 ERA in 15 starts in 2009. Â I’m not sure how that makes the team any better. Â I’d just as soon hand the ball to someone twenty years younger and hope for the best.
Getting all the guys you couldn’t beat and slapping throwback Mets jerseys on them isn’t how I want to win. Â When I’m at the ticker tape parade in October I want to wave at our guys, not theirs.
Do you want Smoltz?
I don’t, but hey, it worked for the Yankees when they got Strawberry and Gooden and Cone and Clemens, et al.
I don’t think Smoltz has anything left to help us.
I’m with you Shannon. Smoltz could wear a Met uniform, but he’d never be a Met.
If it were up to me, I’d pass on John Smoltz. Yes, he might have some value as a mentor for the younger pitchers… but I will never be able to look at him and see anything other than an Atlanta Brave.
(Of course, if it were up to me I would have signed Ben Sheets by now instead.)
If we had anything at all resembling a farm system, all this chasing after free agents whose careers could be over at any moment would be unnecessary.
Keep your eyes on the ball, people.
I could live with Smoltz as a reilever, not as a starter. If I were the Mets, I would sign Washburn or Garland, if not both. But my wish of never seeing Perez pitch for the Mets will never come true. I prefer Washburn, because he is left handed. Can not have too many left handed pitchers to face the Phillies.
Additionally, I know it is a previous post, but there is NO, and I mean NO excuse for Jose Reyes to not be at this mini-camp. It is just another example of how he and the team do not get it. Isn’t it better to get all o f those questions out of the way now, as opposed to next month? Reyes, supremely talented, totally empty between the ears.
If they need a pitcher, there aren’t many left after today (Sheets, Garland gone). I don’t care what he was if he can still pitch. And the Mets aren’t just chasing the Phillies anymore. The Braves and Marlins are going to be there. So if Smoltz can help beat them, bring him on. He did have a 4.26 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with the Cards (in the NL, rather than AL East). There’s not much out there, so they’d better get Washburn or hope that everyone is ready. Santana, Maine, Perez, Pelfrey, Niese won’t be bad if they’re all healthy.
And, regarding your tweet, Doc last pitched 10 years ago. At this point, batting practice pitchers probably throw harder. I’d be happy to see him at Citi regularly — as a special assistant to the GM or something.