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In three games against the Yankees, all losses, the Mets scored just three runs on nine hits in 27 innings.
Prior to yesterday’s game, Jerry Manuel 
was asked if his team will need to acquire offense if they slip below .500, to which he said:
“If we get below that mark, and we continue to struggle offensively as we are, I think that it’s a no-brainer. I think we have to visit that. I think that has to be visited or talked about at some point. It would be dishonest if I said no… You’re going to write the headlines tomorrow: ‘Jerry said we need a bat! We need it now!’ (laughing) That’s all good, though.”
Manuel explained that adding a player can boost morale, much like Gary Sheffield did at the start of the season.
…that’s fine, jerry, i think we all agree… but, do you want to give up your 24–year-old, 96–mph throwing set-up man to get him… that’s the question facing Omar Minaya, who is working the phones, just like most GMs… i don’t envy omar… tough spot… how dismantled is this major league team, to the extent that one bat or two will even matter, at the risk of trading more young talent… if the team is so dismantled that it’s not going to make the post season anyway, do you still trade prospects just to sell tickets and TV ads… or, do you keep them, let the season play out and deal with the consequences, such as potentially losing your job… like i said, tough spot…
In the end, Manuel said, “I have to deal with what I have here.”
…funny, i think a lot of Mets fans are saying the same thing today…
Not grabbing Dunn/Abreu for .20 on the dollar and depending on Murphy could not look like any worse of a decisions then they do right now as the Calender turns to July…
i’d even take pat the bat right now…i really do think the mets do just enough to keep us happy and buying tickets but do not go all the way to really put a CHAMPIONSHIP team on the field, i.e. mark texiera, sabathia, derek lowe, etc.
abreu and dunn to a lesser extent.
forget about the bat, if the premium is so high for decent players why not trade sheffield, cora, schneider to a contendor and fleece them out of their prospects?
Because those players won’t garner you any top notch prospects. No contender is that desperate for a catcher that they’d pay a premium for Brain Schneider. The only player who might garner you anything of value would probably be Sheffield and that’s only if an American League team was desperate for a DH.
I accept that we can’t sign EVERY FA.. but so far the offseas plan of replacing wags with K rod and adding in Putz, who had the shoulder spur the entire time, and was a question mark, just looks horrid.
Now we’re talking about trading a Parnell type like Matt notes above, for a guy who was there for the taking, and just begging to be signed like Dunn…
I just don’t get it.. My paitence with Omar is done.
kd – i know those players won’t bring much in return, but they can bring back something, anything and those players i just mentioned are not part of the solution they won’t be here next year anyway. why not get something for them now?
what most people don’t understand is that the phillies are eventually going to get hot and they’re probably going to add an impact player before too long. i don’t believe for a second that any of our injured players are coming back this season.
Well I’m not convinced about some of them, but I do believe we’ll see Beltran and Ollie (for whatever he’s worth…)
The Mets minor leagues is filled with the kind of guys they would get in return for trading the guys you mentioned. They don’t need to pick up AA roster filler.
Now if Delgado had stayed healthy and hit some then he could bring back a real prospect.
Livan Hernandez could be an interesting trade option if it gets that bad. And maybe some of the pen pieces as well.
Its not time to sell off anyway, the Phillies have let us stay in it… so far. But it might not be for long.
I doubt one move will pull this team out of the muck…there may be too many holes to fill and too many injuries to overcome.
I think expectations levels have to change at this point. This team is just not equipped to compete with the lineup they throw out there everyday…no matter what Manuel does with batting order.
That said…there is a small window of Johan being the best pitcher in baseball (maybe two or three more years) so maybe you say damn the torpedoes and go for it all.
Don’t trade any of the youth unless it’s a difference maker that we can sign and keep like Doc Holliday. Otherwise do what you can with what you have. Start Evans, FMart and Murphy everyday. Dont rush back Reyes or any of the other injured. Time to start hoping for the best and preparing for the worse.
The Blue Jays ARE NOT going to trade Roy Halladay
If they did we would be looking at Pelfrey and Niese just to start a package, both of which will probably be needed in the second half. Not to mention Fernando Martinez and Mejia…
I was not an advocate for signing Dunn in the off season and boy was I wrong. However, two wrongs don’t make a right. I would consider training Parnell to get him now, but I would not give up 2 prospects. I am not a big Parnell fan. His minor league stats are not impressive and right now he just seemed to be a pitcher who hits 95+ on the gun. His breaking stuff is average at best and he does not consistently throw strikes. Maybe this will develop more over time, but I’m not convicned he is a keeper.
I just don’t think Omar can trade Parnell for Dunn… when he didn’t have too 4 months ago.. that’s like you said, two wrongs don’t make a right…
dunn and abreu would look good in the outfield right about now.
btw, i’m done with murphy. flash in the pan
were you done with him last week also?
again, a rookie hitter not being perfect all season long…wow, i didnt see that coming.
Omar depending on him maybe a fault…Jerry not letting the kid play every day maybe a fault…but give the rookie a break. He’s played great D at first for the most part…had a horrible 2 games there this wknd.
yea because a rookie starting pitcher who’s pitching out of relief should be perfect all season long.
yea throws high 90’s with average breaking stuff now…def not a keeper…just like matt lindstrom.
What is so special about Lindstrom? Have you seen his numbers this year? He’s also on the DL with elbow problems. He’s had 1 decent year so far.
My point on parnell is not to get enamored with the radar gun. He certainly has not shown much command at any level so far.
Ohh I forgot to add Manuel is still a bum.
I am uncomfortable with trading away our young talent, I think we stand tight, start playing fundamental baseball (stop giving runs away) and continue to look for steals in the market (this slumping economy has to be good for something!)…
lets play good baseball first with this roster…i agree.
If we play sound baseball and still lose, then we can use help.
I’m not giving up on the season, but it sure sounds like Manuel is. I really hate the “woah is me” stuff coming out of his mouth. His lack of in-game managerial sense may not cost us as much as all the injuries, but it doesn’t help. As far as managing personalities, the fact that Cora needed to come out and take on his “we just need to stay afloat” stuff shows me a lot about what kind of leader Manuel is.
Like Randolph, very good coach, not a leader.
And you want more good ABs? How about actually taking your own advice and playing guys who have the hot hand? Reed is almost MIA and has done nothing but put together quality ABs. Yet the fascination with Tatis continues making our offense and defense worse. And, to me, jerking Murphy in and out of the starting lineup is exactly what contributes to the lack of confidence both offensively, and defensively, we saw from Murph yesterday.
I’m not giving up on the season, but I’m about ready to give up on Jerry Manuel.
Hes very unlike Willie, first off. Willie was a bad coach and bad leader.
Manuel has a good repor with his players…he’s just not a good in-game manager.
I believe a number of Yankees and Brewers would disagree with you about Randolph’s ability as a coach. The man knows the game.
Art Howe was also said to be a very likeable guy. A lot of people really didn’t like Bobby V, and don’t like Lou Pinella. There’s a HUGE difference between being liked by your players and being a good leader. Manuel is a great guy by all accounts, but he’s not a good leader. That’s beyond in-game managing to me.
theres a difference between being a bench coach and being a manager though.
Besides all Manuel’s poor in-game decisions, the guy is coaching a Spring Training roster, and has been for a while.
I don’t think WIllie could have kept this team afloat for as long as Jerry has.
Don’t think we’re really disagreeing on Randolph. But I do think a better manager could get more out of this team even as constituted, and I feel like Manuel is at every turn playing the “it’s not my fault” card to evade any culpability and that doesn’t help the team, and I think Cora’s reaction to Manuel’s “stay afloat” line is testimony to that.
I think Manuel has mismanaged Murphy badly to a point that an asset has become a liability. He’s buried Reed at a time we could use him most, and forced Tatis out there at first and OF when we don’t have time to let a struggling, defensively-challenged bench player find himself. He’s made terrible bullpen decisions overusing some (Parnell) and underusing others (Stokes) and not pushing starters at time to “take one for the team” and pushing them through 7-8 innings (Pelf).
With Livan’s fine season, and Nieve’s emergence, I think this team could still be competitive. But the mixed messages and mismanagement I see out of Manuel convinces me that he’s not going to get the most out of what’s on the team.
I agree with all of that. I mentioned poor in-game manager, but that extends to before the game as well. Yes, he’s playing with a depleted roster, but he isn’t really helping himself out. And why are there so many errors, and mental errors?
it wont matter if we add a bat if we keep playing poor fundamental baseball.
Jerry needs to fix what he can control before he gets any help.
I don’t think we should trade away young talent unless it was for someone legit, and that’s not going to happen. I don’t want to overpay for a quick fix.
Either way, it’s not going to make a difference if we keep making mental and fielding errors.
Fix what we can control first…then maybe worry about an addition.
Can everyone leave Jerry Manual alone. It isn’t his fault he has to play third class talent every night. The blame should be on Omar and the Wilpons PERIOD! How would this team be producing if we had Orlando Hudson, Adam Dunn, and/or Bobby Abreu for 20 cents on the dollar? Instead Omar brings in a bunch of role players and has beens. Maybe the Wilpons were being cheap so that’s there fault. If not, than the blame goes on Omar. Name one manager that could get more out of Daniel Murphy hitting .245 (the golden child) and Fernando Tatis hitting probably under .200??? The team is mad up of bumsssssssss …it isn’t Jerry’s fault.
agree with most…except for the fact DMurphy has played well when he starts consistently. He hit a slump in May, but then starts turning it around and then sits for 3 games.
Tatis played well last year…as a bench player…now he has to start everyday, and maybe thats why he only played 3 of the past 7 seasons…he cant play everyday anymore.
Starz31, you are right Murphy will make a great DH someday but as long as he has to where a glove forget about it.
he had 2 real bad games there this wknd, yes…but before then, he was playing very well at 1B. He has good hands and decent range…we need to remember, he was never a 1B before.
You are correct, he is a third baseman. We know he will never see time there in this organization. Problem is I don’t see the progression that should be happening. I am not sure if it is his inability to learn at the pace of the big leagues or Jerry and his coaching staff. I am leaning towards the latter because they say that Murphy has a great woirk ethic.
Have to say I disagree on Murph. Last night aside, I think he’s actually shown some good hands at first. I think he’s going to end up making a Delgado-like first baseman defensively with more experience. Problem is that without power, you need to be more than that to be a successful first baseman unless he can find a .330 stroke.
I personally won’t let it rest on Manuel. I don’t blame him for the injuries, and I’m okay with this team not making the playoffs. But I think he has shown a poor ability to manage his personalities, his bullpen, his lineup, and the games themselves. So no free pass just because he’s been dealt a bad hand.
ScottN I’m sorry but there are thousands of baseball players around that can hit .245 and play serviceable 1st base. We need a big bat at first not a serviceable first baseman that can’t hit over .250. The Murphy experiment has to end. You could deal with it maybe if Beltran and Reyes are back but they aren’t and we need offensive production NOW!
There is enough blame to go around. First of all the young so called talent of this team that everyone is so careful not to mention in a trade is not producing or progressing. So maybe we as fans have to stop kidding ourselves that we have valuable talent in the wings we don’t. So that falls directly on the front office that has assembled this group of youngsters. Secondly Jerry and his coaching staff have to be held accountable when the team makes the same dumb fundamental errors night after night.
i can agree with that.
FMart has shown he can play defense…but the kid is not ready to hit ML pitching. 20 years old, but more so has never finished a full season before, at any level.
He’s really our only good potential prospect, that we’ve seen yet.
The Mets young talent is progressing, actually they are progressing very well. All their talent though is at the AA level or below and they are all 19 and 20 and a year or 2 away from making it to the big league team. That is unless 8 injuries occur and they are rushed up like what might happen if anyone else goes down. Holt, Mejia, are both doing well in AA and hey just got called up there now. Neise just had 24.1 scoreless innings in AAA.
Wilmer Flores and Jeffrey Marte (both 19) are hitting above 300 in high A ball. Ike Davis last year’s 1st round pick just got promoted to AA and is 7-for-16 (.438) with five walks (.571 OBP) and three doubles (.625) in his first five AA games through sunday morning. They also have 19 year old Ruben Tejada who wasn’t supposed to be a great bat but it hitting .290 for AA binghampton and was almost called up when Cora was thought to be lost for a long time.
So the Mets farm system is looking pretty good, They just don’t have any guys close to the big leagues or MLB ready talent, unless you include Murph, F-Mart, Neise or Evans. That’s what teams look for during the trades. And why most Fans think the mets have nothing to offer.
Flores is 17.
Also, you need to get your facts straightened out . Neither Flores or Marte is in high A ball. They are in low A ball in Savannah. Neither is hitting near .300. Marte is in the .220’s and only recently has Flores gotten his average into the .270’s.
Sorry,
I read it this morning and glossed over for the month of June part of the news.
My bad on that.
Amongst all of this, where is the Great Leader David Wright. This was his team now, he was going to take it by the reigns and show everybody, at least that is the spew that was tossed about.
Your “core-less” Mets, missing the wrong part of the core.
This is an unwarranted cheap shot. Tough for Wright to pick it up when he has Ryan Church hitting behind him and nobody getting on base in front of him.
i think the bigger issue isnt so much the 3-4-5 lately…its been the 1-2 in the order….i dont even think the 1-2 guys have gotten on infront of wright, sheff, church yet since beltran went down…or even before that…i like cora and everyone raves about his leadership…but we are slowly starting to see why hes a career backup…if he picks it up and is getting on base for wright, sheff, church this team could be putting up some more runs
i ment gotten on back to back infront of 3-4-5
which leads to no chance of a big inning
the guy cant hit…he’s good at taking pitches…but the only way he gets on base is through a walk or hit by pitch…im curious how much that thumb effects his hitting, b/c it seems, he pops it up every time.
Wright injured his thumb? Or are you talking about Cora?
That Yankee fan who interfered with Wright catching the ball on Saturday should have been thrown out. If a Mets fan had done that to A-Rod or Jeter at Yankee stadium, he would have been thrown out.
noo…i meant cora.
Ok, thanks for the clarification, when i read the rest of the responses, what you said def makes sense.
Cora and Wright are both trying to lead this team and are both doing it exhausted and banged up themselves, but everyone is making them the goats of the weekend.
oh and i was at that game with that fan interference…it was ridiculous. Anytime i see that with any other team, the guy gets ejected…or at least talked to by security. they never once went down there. i couldnt believe it. he interfered with a play, how does that go unpunished?
exactly, luckily for the Mets, they got out of it because Redding struck out Cano, but something should have been done by the security guards.
That was blatant interference, if Wright dove into the stands, that’s another story.
He reached his glove in and got smacked down, i would not be surprised if a few ribs got cracked on the wall.
He’s too nice, if he had put up any kind of protest, something may have been done, but no guarantees even if he did argue.
that said…we dont have a better option at SS.
with a sub like this, defense is most important, and he’s done that well.
many superstars manage with less behind them, Wright just seems to be given the courtesy excuse and my point was more that he is no leader, leaders step up, not slant sideways
lmao…yea, lets blame David Wright. This is all his fault.
Yeah, he is only leading the NL in batting average and is second in stolen bases.
Yes he was hitless in this series, slumps happen when you least want them to , and he hit into a DP yesterday, but stealing 3rd in the eigth was gutsy, a wild pitch or passed ball by Posada gets a run home.
slumps happen for david wright always when you LEAST want them and contrary to the fairy land belief the Yankees like every other team that has waltzed into CitiField this year indicated that homeruns are possible to be hit.
No it is not all his fault, but he is a leader like I am the next elected president. He is a wet diaper, no one is going to follow him.
I’ve always defended Omar Minaya, but I’m starting to be of the opinion that if the Mets don’t make the playoffs that he needs to be fired.
Look, Omar shouldn’t be fired just because of this season. That would be unfair, especially due to all the injuries to the Mets roster that were unforeseen (unlike the Moises Alou and El Duque inevitable injuries we all predicted last year).
The reason Omar should get fired are the following:
1) His mishandling of the Mets budget. It doesn’t take a great GM to spend $140M. I mean most fantasy baseball GMs could do the same. The problem is that Minaya often mishandles the budget. Whether it’s bidding against himself and giving Luis Castillo a 4-year contract that many thought was a terrible contract from the moment he signed it (this isn’t a hindsight issue) or simply spending money on the wrong players (i.e., Alou, El Duque, Perez, etc.)
2) Minaya has been unable to develop high-quality depth. Sure the Mets have developed F-Mart, Murphy, Parnell and Pelfrey and there’s Holt, Mejia and Wilmer in the minors, but there isn’t the quality of depth that would have given the Mets the ability to go out and get that mid-season reinforcement.
3) Minaya’s mismanagement of the roster is another reason to fire him. Whether it’s not placing a player on the DL sooner or allowing his medical staff to mishandle a player (i.e., Church, Delgado), Minaya bears the blame because the buck stops with him.
4) Because this is a city of result. This is the 5th year in the Minaya reign. The Mets are better, but they should be with the a $140M-plus payroll they should. What they need to do is win. If not, then you need to get a new GM that can take them over the hump.
That said, Minaya WON’T GET FIRED because the Wilpons were dumb enough to give him an extension that has not even begun after last year’s collapse. I have no idea why one would ever do that. Oh well.
I don’t think you will get very many people arguing with you over any of those points. For one you picked up Delgado’s option in a down market season, when you could have signed Dunn and Abreu for about 3 million more it turned out combined.
He has also failed to get a Outfield Bat for 3 years now, and He’s failed to upgrade the Catcher’s spot. He got a little lucky with Santos, but the Schneider/Castro duo was pathetic at best.
He’s been an Up and Down GM. He hasn’t been the worst or the best. He has his high points and his low points over his tenure. The one thing you can say is the Mets have been in constant contention since he’s been their GM. They might have collapsed for 2 straight years, but they were in it until the end.
My opinion on Minaya has gone the other way since the offseason. I think he has finally figured out how to make things work with the unique situation that is a team that wants to compete and have a strong farm system.
If they were to fire him now we would have endured all of his on the job training and he would be ready to be a great GM for someone else. Have to keep him and let him see his plans through for a few years.
His big problem early on was signing low impact players like Alou to short term deals that cost high draft picks, and doing this once or twice an off season. I like that he only signed Frankie this offseason, it doesn’t cripple the draft, but the team still fills its needs. Not signing an OF to a two year deal and losing a draft pick was a brave new step for Omar.
When you develop needs, signing 3 or 4 FA’s in the same offseason is the way to go. You only ruin one draft, and the teams get lesser draft picks in return. I’d rather lose picks 1-4 in one draft than lose every 1st and 2nd round pick each year while patching holes instead of signing impact players…
The problem is that neither Bobby Abreu nor Adam Dunn would have cost the Mets a draft pick, since neither was offered arbitration from their previous clubs.
I also don’t believe in the notion that we need to keep him because now he’s learned from his mistakes after all this on-the-job training. The man has been a GM for 7 years or so (counting his Expos days). He should have figured it out a long time ago. With that kind of thinking you would still have Steve Phillips around.
I didn’t even get upset (since I was expecting it) when Mo walked, since I had no expectation that the Mets were scorin gin the 9th.
THere seems to be a divide now between the “don’t give up hope” and the “look to 2010 crowds”. I am in the middle. I hope they can pull off a miracle to stay in the race, but I recognize that they aren’t likely to overcome all their problems (and that the Phils are due for a hot stereak).
So, this week is big. 1-6, even 2-5 (punctuated by a sweep in Philly) and the season is effectively over. I just don’t see them suddenly pulling back to .500 through the trade deadline, and having most of the wounded come back and have big finishes, combined with lousy years by about 5 other teams currently ahead of them.
Assuming they do fall 7-8 back in July, and the DL news isn’t fabulous on most guys, I am all for trying to sell off some spare parts to generate some depth for the minors (and dreaming big, at least 1 guy to really help next year).
And I think it is a myth that fans will stop coming out, or riot against the team, if Omar does something smart for a change. Most people will recognize that the slew of injuries killed 2009, and that he is looking to make 2010 (or, 2014 now!) better.
COme on, trading Sheffield and playing Evans is a big deal? Moving Livan and keeping Nieve or Neise in the rotation? Can they trade Castillo to a contender? If so, do it and play Cora. CHurch or murphy is more of an indication of moving on early.
IMO, if it is guys that are not likely to be on the team anyway next year, trade them at the deadline and move forward. ANd only trade away prospects or valuable parts for a player under control (like a Teahan), not a rental.
Frankly, they don’t win unless the big guys come back, and if they big guys come back, the spare parts aren’t needed.
Anyway, we will have a much better idea of where the team stands and what the chances of the playoffs are a month fro now at the deadline. Nothing is likely to happen now.
I’m content with what we have IF we can play baseball. This teams NEEDS to play fundamental baseball to have a chance at staying afloat. Then, we can see where we are with our DL-all-stars.
We took 3of 4 from St louis…we can keep this going. We just cant afford stupid errors and missed signs, and bad baserunning. Thats something we CAN control.
I don’t think the Mets should look to 2010. They are only 2.5 games out of first place. That said, I don’t think they should trade their top prospects for the Mark DeRosas or Nick Johnsons of the world.
I say go out there and try to compete with what you have. If you can make a small trade to compliment this roster that would cost you very little, then do it but don’t trade F-Mart or Holt for a rental player like Holliday or Huff to go for it this year. I don’t think one player will cure the Mets ailments. They have multiple holes.
I do think the Mets need to better utilize their current roster. Why is Tatis starting? He is not hitting at all.
(i) I would play Nick Evans in left, Jeremy Reed in center and Ryan Church in right with Gary Sheffield getting 3 or 4 starts a week in left or center.
(ii) I would start Murphy at first every game regardless of whether the pitcher is left-handed or right-handed. How else will he learn to hit lefties consistently?
(i) i dont think you meant sheff in center, but i assume you want fmart sent back to AAA…im ok with that once we get pagan back. id rather let fmart play over reed though…not a big dropoff in production with at least a potential for fmart to get settled.
(ii) and how else will we learn if he can hit lefties.
(i) You’re right. I meant left or right for Sheffield’s starts.
(ii) I hear you about F-Mart, but my concern is that his at-bats are just ugly. There is no plan up there at the plate. I just feel that Reed gives the Mets more quality at-bats RIGHT NOW. In the future, F-Mart should improve, but I think he’s best served by going to AAA when Pagan comes back.
well said stick, I’m right there with you on the fence…
winning 3 of 4 in St. Louis is about the only thing keeping this season afloat right now. Even bigger in that the Cardinals may end up being a WC opponent if the Mets could somehow get it together and make a run.
Dropped pop up aside Castillo has been fair value this year. Cora and Argenis Reyes (or some scrap heap signing) handling 2B wouldn’t seem like an improvement for 2010.
Teams that are making playoff runs are stocking up now, so that theses moves will have the most impact
It’s only 3 games. Is Parnell that good that he is irreplacable? If the trade is made for a young player that’ll be productive for a couple of years, then I don’t see the harm.
Don’t feel the love for Mark Teahen. 9 HR 28 RBI is not that good. Can I get Billy Butler instead?
I still feel Adam Dunn puts us over the top. Parnell & Murphy isn’t a bad package.
Dunn would be nice…and he’s a player that would fit in well IF we get some of our regulars back.
That said, the nats are going to want alot, and i dont blame them. I have no idea if thats enough.
He’s one of the reasons they can get fans at the park (depending on the opposing team) plus he’s affordable and has another year.
Would I do that trade? hmm..its a tough one, I like Parnell’s potential more than murphy’s. (who doesnt have a position if we get healthy)
Look Jerry stinks but I will take him over Willie anyday. AND we are stuck with his stupidity. SO…
The mets have a lineup outside of Wright that just dont score. They dont have the ability, LOL. Fact is, if we can tread water till the Allstar break and get Reyes and Beltran back HEALTHY we will be much better. I do not think trading for one player is going to make a difference. Dunn in this lineup wouldnt really help them win right now(he would look nice behind beltran, delgado and wright).
Fact is..we need to accept what we see right now and hope they turn it around. It makes no sense to make a deal by trading away young talent when you do not even know this team can win with everyone healthy! They havent dont it for 2 years. hahahahaha. So screw, lets play the games and see what happens.
By the way, I went to the game last and knew they were going to lose. and if anyone is upset about yesterday, they should have their head examined. The game turned out better than I expected. I was certain they were going to give up at least 6 runs. I was drunk by the 3rd inning knowing we were going to lose. hahahaha
This is F’ing stupid. We needed a bat a damn month ago. In that time we’ve lost too many games, and time, to Philly. They stunk worse than us and there was such a great opportunity to move up in the standings. We didn’t need a Dunn or a Huff, but a pro hitter. F-Mart is too young and raw. Murphy is over rated by most Mets fans. The guy stinks. Cora is a bench player. We’ve been playing with minor leaguers at 2 key spots. Tatis has been terrible too.
But those 2 holes in the lineup killed us. And not adding at the very least an average bat has shot us in the foot, and mark my words, ended our season. This past month killed us by thinking we could just get by. Guess what? Philly’s going to get healthy soon too. So when Ibanez gets back what makes you think they’ll still stink it up? Does Delgado and Reyes coming back automatically make us better than Philly? It didn’t last year.