Whose Fault Is It?

Often when a team struggles or falls into a slump, fans look for someone to blame. A team just can't be over-matched one day, or possibly get shut down by a strong pitching performance. It's always someone's fault. In the case of the Mets, most people point to an obvious target: Willie Randolph. Randolph is the field general. He sets the lineup, calls the plays, and decides when it's time to go to the bullpen. It's Randolph's job to get the team motivated and playing good baseball. When they blow a lead, or leave runners in scoring position, Randolph's the guy fans and the media alike look at. Besides, when a team falters the manager's the first person that gets the pressure put on him. Occasionally the front office will fire a warning shot and fire a hitting or pitching coach, but usually the manager's the next to go. When it comes to the Mets, I find it hard to place blame on one person. Their current disaster is a group effort. Although the guy I find to be on the hook is Omar Minaya. New York's favorite GM, who travels ballpark to ballpark, parading around like he's Mick Jagger is the one who put this team together. Having the benefit of the Wilpon's checkbook would seem like a benefit to most GM's. If it was spent wisely. When he first came to the Mets he made some shrewd moves. Signing Pedro Martinez, giving the Mets an ace. Signing Carlos Beltran. Acquiring Carlos Delgado, giving the Met bat at first base. Signing closer Billy Wagner to a four-year deal, something the Mets were missing since John Franco. Acquiring Paul LoDuca from the Marlins for peanuts. Stealing a then unknown John Maine from the Orioles for Kris Benson. Minaya was building a team to contend for years to come, something Mets fans haven't had since the mid-80's. Then something clicked inside Minaya. And it happened after Carlos Beltran looked at strike three in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS. Minaya saw the championship team he had built fail in the playoffs, and he went into panic mode. It's then he made two moves that have come back to haunt the Mets. Traded Heath Bell and Royce Ring to the Padres for Ben Johnson and Jon Atkins. Traded Brian Bannister to the Royals for Ambourix Burgos. As little as those trades seem, both of them hurt the Mets in 2007 and began a downward spiral of questionable moves. While Bell became a premier setup man in San Diego, Johnson contributed minimally and Atkins didn't smell the grass at Shea Stadium. Rick Peterson was unable to help Burgos with his control, his main issue in Kansas City. He was eventually sent to the minors, and injured his arm, requiring Tommy John Surgery. Bannister on the other hand had a breakout season and finished third in AL Rookie of the Year voting. You really can't blame Minaya for that, I suppose - not every trade goes your way sometimes. What you can blame him for is thoughtless signings. Scott Schoeneweis - three-years, $10.8 million Orlando Hernandez - two-years, 12 million Luis Castillo - four-years, 25 million These signings are definitely a far cry from the likes of Wagner, Martinez, and Beltran. They also were poorly thought out. Schoeneweis was never a good pitcher. With the exception of three months as a member of the Reds at the end of 2006, where his ERA was 0.63, he was a mess (his ERA with Toronto, the team he began the season with was over 6.00). El Duque is 42. At least that's what he's telling us. He also hasn't had a healthy season since 2002. Castillo was 32 when the Mets gave him his four-year deal. In his prime he was a top defender, and a catalyst at the top of the lineup. That was before knee problems slowed him down. Why you'd give an aging second baseman with knee problems a four-year deal is beyond me. Minaya also failed to address an intangible area. The bench. Aside from Damon Easley and Marlon Anderson (who both have seen better days). The Mets is one of the thinnest in the league. A strong bench is an asset, but it's a necessity when you have a veteran team. Older teams rack up more injuries, which require more roster depth to count for lost time. Minaya failed to address that. Of course Minaya masked all these poor signings and areas he failed to address with the acquisition of Johan Santana. Becasue that's supposed to make it all better. No doubt Santana is the best in the league. Saying he's not is a fools argument, but he can only do so much when the cast around him isn't producing. While Willie is the guy on the hot seat, Minaya's the one who gave Willie these tools. Essentually setting him up to fail.