Ceetar posted this at his very cool Optimistic Mets Fan site yesterday and I liked it and asked him if I could re-post. Here’s Ceetar.
This was originally a comment to a Mets Police post about ripping the Trade Reyes bandaid off, but I decided it deserved a post of it’s own.
It’s really a simple decision. Franchise players like Jose Reyes are very valuable, and it’d be especially silly to let him get away for anything but an absolute steal of a package, and even then I’d be reluctant. This isn’t fantasy baseball; I, and other fans, develop emotional attachment to players and there is value and revenue in that.
Sign Reyes, and you keep a franchise player that the fanbase loves and will define and promote your franchise for, and this isn’t an exaggeration, 60+ years. Keep one of the best players in the game at a premium position of which there is nothing close available on the market or in the minors. Finish the season at or above .500, regardless of if they can make a playoff push or not. Have people believing 2012 will be better, that we’re already into year two of the ‘rebuilding’ process and things are good and people are buying season tickets. The Mets (not the Wilpons) problem is not so much debt is it trying to get the revenue stream back above the level of what a competitive payroll is. To do this they have to keep people interested in the Mets and coming to the park. Who’s more interesting than Jose Reyes right now?
Or you can trade him or let him walk away, and finish below .500. Show people that this is year one of the demolition process before rebuilding starts. Watch no one pay any attention to the Mets all offseason, and no one buy season tickets, or renew season tickets. 2.5million fans this year becomes 1.5million fans next year, and in 2013, and in 2014.. prices come down because no one’s going, revenue drops as a result, less demand on advertising space drops revenue there as well. SNY becomes the Food Network; sure you’ll flip it on once in a while and see what’s cookin’, but it’s not worth DVRing. In an age when it’s so very very easy to watch any team in the league, and with the Mets unwatchable, many fans start half-following the Giants or wherever Reyes ends up playing. If MLB.TV existed when the Mets traded Seaver, how many Mets fans do you think would’ve purchased it to watch him pitch? In 2013 the Mets sell out the Giants series at Citi with the stands awash of really faded Black Mets 7 shirts. The next series against the Phillies is empty, no one wants to see two bad teams play. Citi Field feels empty without #7.
Yeah, what Ceetar said!
The other thing is this: MetsPolice is a very prominent, fan-oriented blog. Just a great place for hard-core types. For MP not to be behind the fan-based movement to keep Reyes just doesn’t feel right – like something’s missing, or gone astray.
Surely the one positive, inspiring, organized movement of Mets fans in recent memory is closely aligned with MetsPolice and its world view re: management, success, and the core of the fanbase.
That’s why yesterday’s post was soooooooooo dispiriting. We already know Mets management reads this blog. The Reyes situation is a MetsPolice moment, a time for excitement, organizing, positive T-shirts and slogans, and increased readership.
This place should be Keep Reyes Central.
Just my .02….
I admire your spirit…that’s the spirit I had in the 70’s and 80’s. We went through an abyss and then rose to the mountain top…went through another abyss (worst team money could buy) and almost to the top in 2000…down again with Art Howe and Alomar….almost to the top again in 2006. Now down…it’s been some roller coaster. I am exhausted from it and my spirit is not what it used to be…plus they changed too many things we all loved (team colors, banner day, old timers day) and that has hurt my spirit even more.
They marketed the 1962 Mets as loveable losers…a team whose future was ahead. That can never work again in NY. It’s all about net present value of assets (players) now…Alderson is Mr. Moneyball. I just want to watch some games and have a team the plays hard and plays meaningful games in September, with or without Reyes. The thing I have the most spirit about is the need for new owners.
I just want to watch some games and have a team the plays hard and plays meaningful games in September, with or without Reyes. The thing I have the most spirit about is the need for new owners.
This sums up the battered, beaten down, defeatist ‘tude of many long-term Mets fans. And it’s as understandable as it is kinda pitiful to see.
I’ve been a Mets fan since 1969 – the ownership does not motivate me. Baseball does. I don’t root for failure. And the best everyday player in Mets history – a fantastic shining star who actually loves the game and isn’t doing us a favor by taking a few swings – is lighting up the league.
It actually seems like some old fogey grouches ’round here are – and let this sink in – unhappy that Reyes is having an incredible year and is the best ballplayer in New York.
Folks, now is today – this is Mets baseball, not some fake imagined future. Man Up, Root Harder!
What are you going to do if they break your heart and trade or don’t sign “the best player in NY”? Will your spirit endure? You will be even angrier than us old fogey grouches are now.
I don’t think I’m defeatist by concluding, after 25 years and only a handful of playoff appearances despite one of the highest payrolls, that I want new ownership.
Is anyone surprised Shannon willingly reposted something that mentions Mets fans wearing black Mets gear as late as 2013?
Nice post…bottom line is baseball is a business. Thanks to the Wilponz, the Mets are now on an austerity package. If they can’t afford Reyes, he must go. If he must go, do it now. Your post makes a good point – it may be penny wise and pound foolish to trade him…it could be more profitable in the long run to keep him, as revenue will not plunge. I have no faith that the Mets will make the right decision.
If money were no object, sign him.
There is 0 point to keeping Reyes if the Mets aren’t going to spend money… none. You don’t have to worry about upsetting the fan base because let’s face it…the fan base has already been pretty much destroyed. Without an influx of free agents (which we’ve already been told isn’t happening), this team is not going to compete, period.
What good is a franchise player if that franchise is constantly looking up at everyone else in the standings? I’d rather be good at 3 positions than great at one…at least then they MAY compete.
If the Mets aren’t going to spend money they shouldn’t be a baseball team.
If the Wilpons can’t afford to own them, they should sell. But since the word has been that the 200million was to protect the Mets from the Wilpons, and that they WILL sign guys this offseason, just not RAISE payroll, there isn’t a lot of indication that that’s the case.
the fan base is just fine actually, it’s a matter if you’re going to water it or let it die.
It’s simple logic to keep Reyes and try to resign him.
Fact: you’re not going to get anything close to his value in a trade. At the very best, it would look like the Tom Seaver trade: OK players but none who you can build a team around. And no team these days would give you the quality they got for Seaver for a two-month rental.
Fact: Once Reyes leaves, attendance drops. Keeping him until the end of the season will add money to the coffers, since it can be promoted heavily, and there will be interest in watching him go for the batting championship and also for fans wanting to see him in case he leaves.
Fact: All guesses about the team’s finances are just guesses. The team is taking a lot of money off the books next year (I’m assuming Beltran and Rodriguez are gone, and, of course Perez comes off). They can give Reyes most of what they’re paying Beltran and still cut salary. Also, they can structure a contract so the first year or two is a lower salary. Reyes probably prefers to stay with the Mets if he can get an appropriate salary.
Fact: If he doesn’t stay, the draft picks will be at least as good as anyone they trade for.