Slip Sliding Away: Is Sandy Alderson Waiting Too Long To Make Move?

Added by Eddie Utley on July 21, 2012.

There have been rumors, but will Mets GM Sandy Alderson make a move to improve his team, particularly the bullpen.

The New York Mets fall continues. Johan Santana has looked very human lately. It seems like he’s hit a dead arm period which is to be expected. He’s not throwing much harder than Chris Young right now and his increased use of his slider is showing that he knows it.

But as ineffective as Santana was, so was Terry Collins. He should have pulled Johan after the 2nd and lessened the damage in last nights loss to the Dodgers. Santana just didn’t have it last night. But I guess Collins was anticipating needing to back up Batista today, who has been horrible this year yet he’s starting the Saturday game.

Luckily for the Mets, the Nationals lost too, but when is Sandy Alderson going to do anything to help stop the slide? Supposedly he was in on Huston Street and Francisco Rodriguez but there are rumors that the Mets didn’t want to pay what’s left on their contracts. In both cases it’s about $4M. So if they won’t even pay that then what hope is there that they’d get anyone.

I have to give the bullpen credit though, last night they were good and only gave up one run in six innings. You have to assume it’s all the use and abuse they’ve taken lately that has caused their struggles. But imagine where this team would be if the pen wasn’t so leaky. Jon Rauch has seven losses on his own. Erase the seven and the Mets are tied for first place.

But like the lineup, I expect nothing from Alderson. Frank Frank will be back next week and he’s accepting Bay as “the bat”. Bay will give you the occasional homerun but that’s about it. Seems like he’s not in a platoon either, he’s been playing everyday. Hopefully the Mets find a way to get Valdespin in the lineup because his offense would definitely help.

Hopefully Alderson doesn’t let this season slip away when the Mets are close to be credible. Don’t throw away 2012 for the hope that 2013 or 2014 will be better when you don’t even know if those young pitchers will thrive. It seems like they think the pitchers will be great as soon as they arrive and not go through rough patches.

Alderson DO SOMETHING!