I'm always happy to answer e-mail from readers, but I was surprised at the offense people took to this column. Mets fans resented the Yankees being included in the coverage of their huge acquisition of Johan Santana.
Even Matt Cerrone, who runs the highly successful Mets Blog, sarcastically referred to Santana as "Brian Cashman's generous, wonderful gift to the Mets."
I'm sorry, but in this instance, the Yankees were very much part of the story. Put simply, the Mets wouldn't have been able to acquire Santana if not for 1) Twins GM Bill Smith's slow trigger in accepting a short-lived Yankees offer topped by Phil Hughes and Melky Cabrera; and 2) the Yankees' and Red Sox's corresponding, declining disinterest in Santana.
It's not a slap at Omar Minaya, who couldn't have run these talks any better. It's just reality. Many acquisitions involve a pinch or more of luck, and this was one of them.
If you really want to have a deep conversation, know that the Mets needed Santana more than the Yankees did because the Mets have fewer quality arms in their farm system _ at least partly a byproduct of the Mets' refusal, in recent years, to pay over slot in the early rounds of the amateur draft.
You never want to be committing nine figures to a pitcher from another team, as the Mets will do today, contingent on Santana subsequently passing his physical. Pitching is such an unnatural act, and strange, unexpected things happen to the best of pitchers. If you have to spend that kind of money, you'd rather do it on someone you already have, whose emotional and physiologoical quirks you already fully know.
But that's a goal you can establish down the line. This is a time for Mets fans _ like regulars Howard, Poppy and Gary _ to celebrate. You're now more likely to win the World Series than the Yankees. So enjoy Santana, and enjoy the scrutiny that Yankees fans will place upon both Hughes and Brian Cashman, who put his neck on the line by arguing against a Santana trade.
Comments (20)
Ken, I first noticed a nasty-fanatical reaction to one of your Sunday columns a few weeks ago. The tone of many writers was startlingly and the more emotional they became the less sense they made. I agree with today's blog: Mets fans have to forget about the Yankees and Yankees fans. Cheer for your team.
Are the Mets apparently overpaying Santana? Without a doubt. Committing this type of money to a player that takes the field once or twice a week is ludicrous, but the Mets don't have much choice, considering their historic collapse and do-nothing winter.
I am not so sure about their reasons for not paying over slot. In the past, you have mentioned it is due to their chummy relationship with Bud Selig, but I suspect if has more to do with the Wilpons not wanting to spend the bucks to sign the best.
I don't think there is any question that the Yankees have the far superior minor league system. That's a fact. Mets fans should be happy the Twins balked at the Yankees early offer and then panicked.
Keep up the good work, Ken. Enjoy your final week off. I'm looking forward to your articles, columns and blog entries all season. They are quite meaningful.
Ken, I agree with your point 100%, but realize the little brother syndrome that Met fans get throughout the city. Now that we have cause for celebration, reading/hearing that its only because the Yankees didn't want him just rains on the parade. This was the case with Beltran, who was offered by Boras to the Yanks at a lower cost. However, this wasn't as discussed by the media, and as a result, we Met fans didnt complain.
However, with the Santana trade, mostly every piece that I have read, or listened to on TV always mentioned the Yanks-Sox aspect of the talk heavily.. Add to the fact that there are so many people in the media who without reason love to bash the Mets (Mike and the Maddog, Buster Olney and times, and of course Newsday's own Wallace Matthews), and it just gets old. We want our day in the sun, and not have to hear about that Hank and the Yankees are doing, or hearing that we were lucky, etc etc.
As for the emails you received with regards from the column in mention, I was not a part of that, but I can definitely identify with my fellow fans. As the above poster mentioned, you are indeed a fine writer, and have been for years. You can certainly teach your colleagues coughcoughWALLACE MATTHEWScoughcough a thing or three.
-Ravi
Just saw you article on the Santana package...Oye Como Va...sigh of relief !.
Hey Ken.
As always, you're right on point.
Both the Sox and Yankees made far superior offers to the Twins; Minnesota fans should be calling for their GM's resignation. I am not above thanking both teams for 'giving' us Santana. Nevertheless, in a few hours (after the Mets announce the official signing) I will pour myself a tall glass of Johnnie Blue and celebrate.
Your biggest fan,
~Howard
As a Yankee Fan, I'm happy for the Mets that they have Santana rather than Boston Redsox. I would rather have Mets have him than Evil Empire 2 known as Redsox. Good Job by Omar. I read an article somewhere that Hank's says He will be patient with young pitchers and The Mets needs Santana the most. Hank doesn't hate Mets like than Redsox . Good luck in 2008 season I think Twins Gm Bill Smith use the Redsox and Yankees to get out more prospects from these two teams.
If Santana had gone to the Yankees, you know you would be celebrating, Ken. It would be reported as the deal of the century. But I read now that you say maybe the Twins didn't get fleeced in this deal, based on their past history. Hmmm, just wondering, if the Yankees had been able to get Santana, would you say that the Twins got fleeced by the Yankees? You say you don't root for or have a favorite team, but sometimes you just can't hide your allegiances. By the way, us Mets fans are critical of you, Ken, but you know we still love reading your work! Just let the Mets have their day in the sun without bringing up those hated Yankees, just once!
Gary, rest assured, if the Yankees had traded Hughes for Santana, I would be ripping the Yankees. My job is not to let the Mets have their day in the sun without bringing up the Yankees. It's to report what happened. And what happened is the Twins misread the market.
But Ken, the Mets basically gave up NOTHING! And therein lies the difference.
The difference between what? I've said throughout that the Mets did a great job in the trade negotiation. My only criticism was that, due to a lack of homegrown arms, they put themselves in a position where they needed to invest nine figures in a pitcher, which is always a risky venture.
Ken, any team that signed Santana would have had to pay a nine figure salary to get him. As a fan, who really cares about the money? The main thing is that the Mets didn't really have to give up anything significant to get him. He is the best pitcher in the game, he is under 30 years old and he is a 2 time Cy Young award winner. Enough said.
And you know, the funny thing is, if the Mets hadn't signed him, they would be criticized for having an uneventful offseason. And when they do sign him, you talk about the "risks" involved. Either way, they can't win.
Gary, you wrote, "As a fan, who really cares about the money?"
That's your prerogative. I'm not a fan. It's my job to look at them, and every other team, through a critical eye.
To reiterate, for the last time: Great move for the Mets. Great job by Omar. It's a secondary criticism that he needed to do this because of a weak farm system.
Ideally, no team wants to spend nine figures on a pitcher. Some team will do it next year on C.C. Sabathia, but it won't be the Indians, because they have been planning for years to replace Sabathia. Now, in Carmona, they have a #1 starter under their control for five more years.
Gary I care about the money. I cant afford to go to games anymore because of signings like these. I go to one or two a year instead of nine or ten.
And my cable bill is more, and the products that advertise charge more for their products. I want it to go back to 1993 when Bonillia was making 6.5 and that was the most. I know it wont and soon there will be a 40 mil a year player (in ten years or so).
Hey Ken.
Will Mets fans absorb the cost of Wilpon's new Gucci or Ferragamo shoes for Omar?
~Howard
Re your Sunday column, Gorelick would have been a fine choice. But her presence on the 9/11 commision was absurd and insulting. She was an investigative subject, had a hand in numerous flawed policy decisions.
Ken
Several points:
Professionally you are a writer. Personally, I suspect you are a fan or you would be writing about politics or traffic, etc.
I don't know how "great" a job Omar did in the "negotiation." The Twins had no other suitors for Santana. The Mets had no choice but to sit back and let Boston and the NYY pass. Santana fell into their laps. The Twins panicked - clear and simple. They didn't want to wait until closer to either spring training or the trade deadline. That's understandable. But, to intimate that Minaya had much to do with the Twins coming to the Mets is a little hard to believe. It's obvious the Twins waited too long and should have taken whatever the Yanks or Bosox offered a long time ago (if either actually ever made a real offer). You give the Mets too much credit for having anything to do with the Twins coming to them.
The fact remains, the Mets farm system is sub-par. I give credit to the Mets that they were willing to pay Santana the bucks. I like Santana a real lot. Who doesn't? But, I am glad the Yankees didn't trade for him or commit $150 million to him. The Yankees are going to be in the driver's seat going into the next off-season by finally being rid of some terrible contracts. Hopefully, they will be able to get rid of Igawa, too. Send him and money to anyone for nothing in return. Addition by subtraction, pure and simple.
Since this issue of my rooting interests seems to keep surfacing, I'll address it in the near future with a personal history - so you'll see from where I'm coming.
Howard, sounds like some trickle-down hurt for you Mets fans.
Jim, while I agree with you (as you know) that Omar was lucky, he did well for himself by not giving up Fernando Martinez, not to mention Reyes. He also deserves credit for hanging in there and not wasting money (and a rotation spot) on the likes of Carlos Silva, Kyle Lohse or Livan Hernandez.
Hey Ken.
'$12.95 for a hot dog?' 'Yes, sir, that the added ShoeTax the Wilpons added to all concession food, would you like a beverage with that?'
~Howard
I have never thought for one second that your personal preferences have entered into any of your writing. I have never sensed it and don't believe it is the case. If it is, you do an excellent job of hiding it. Anyone that makes this ridiculous claim (hint: Mets' fans) is barking up the wrong tree.
You're right about Minaya from the point of view that he didn't include Reyes or Martinez early in an effort to get the deal done. However, I never really thought there was any chance of Reyes being dealt. Martinez is another question. I am still not sure about his ability to "star" in MLB, but we shall see on that one.
Well there is a lot of passionate comments concerning both the mets and the Yankees. I agree with Mr. Davidoff, that The Twins over played their hand with both the Yankees and the Redsox. However, although we do not know how truthful it may be, but lets assume if Santana was not traded would he be truely sincere in saying the Reason he is not a Yankee or a Redsox is because he refused to give up his no-trade clause unless it was the Mets? We will never know for sure. Too me, I say Minaya gave up too much. I do not know much about Guaria, and Mulvey, but I liked Humber alot dispite his steps backwards last season. Carlos Gomez, is a good player who is just not ready for the big leagues. As a die hard Mets fan, personally as much as I like Santana, mortgaging your future away is never a good idea. At least Santana is entering his prime and is still young. The sad thing about all this is next year alot of contracts are up on some Mets such as El Duque, Pedro, Delgado, just a few to name. The money saved could have been used on fortifying firstbase, and the outfeild, but again next year we will have to shore up the Pitching because we no longer have Mulvey and Humber to step in. But that is if they were truely ready. Make no mistake, there is no guareentee on eithr side that this will be a good trade. If Santana continues to win and brings a championship home then the Mets win. If the Twins get a lot of sucess out of Gomez and Humber and Mulvey then they did just as well too. Only time will tell..