Effing Round Table: What Is The Mets Most Pressing Offseason Need?

With the offseason upon us, it remains clear that the New York Mets have plenty of needs to address this winter.  Outfield, Shortstop, First Base, Pitching... Which is most important..and why?

Tim O'Brien:
The Mets most pressing offseason need is to not do anything stupid.  The Wilpon's have a history of caving to public pressure and the fans are certainly laying it on thick to make a big signing this offseason.  I say stay the course, don't overpay, let the kids develop one more year...then try to strike while the iron is hot (we aren't winning the World Series in 2014).  Unless of course you can get Stanton.

Craig Petraglia:
The Mets have a lot of holes to fill heading into the 2014 season but Sandy Alderson and the front office have a lot of money coming off the books that they can spend on free agents.  The most pressing need for the Mets to fulfill heading into 2014 Opening Day is protection behind David Wright in the lineup.  With the Captain hitting third, if Sandy can bring in a dangerous hitter, no matter the position, whether that be an outfielder or first basemen, Wright will see better pitches to hit and can be even more of an asset offensively.  it will be interesting to see how Sandy spends his money, as the Mets need an upgrade at the shortstop position, the corner outfield, as well as first base, but Mets fans are getting restless and it's time this front office spends money and rolls the dice in order to make a pennant run in the upcoming season.

Rob Patterson:
The Mets have a lot of problems, but none more pressing than the team's outfield.  The departure of Marlon Byrd left an unexpected hole that must be filled..especially if there is an intention to see Juan Lagares as the everyday center fielder.  The Mets need bats..power bats.  Bats that can round out the middle of the lineup and make up for the light hitting players like Lagares, Murphy and d'Arnaud.  Those players are available, via both free agency and trade, and the team's front office needs to find a way to make it happen!

Jason Wilson:
Corner outfielder who can bring the wood to the yard. Why? Because they need it and the run production was noticeable when Marlon Byrd left.

Kieran Flemming:
The Mets' most pressing offseason issue is adding a bat or two that can hit for power. I know how much the organization values on base percentage, but the lineup desperately needs more pop. Be it at first or in the outfield, that is where the team needs the most help.

Bryan Damis:
We are beating a dead horse here but the Mets need power. Plain and simple. David Wright has power to the deepest part of the park and that's not going to work. With such a poor home record comparably to a respectable road record, the Mets need a power hitter who can pull the ball to the shorter parts of the park.

Seth Shapiro:

Power.  Power.  Power.  Particularly a left handed power bat to hit either in front of or behind David Wright.  The two names that come to mind are either Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies or Jose Abreu, the free agent slugging first baseman from Cuba.  While I prefer Gonzalez because he is the proven commodity, the thought of acquiring power in Abreu without giving up any prospects or players from the major league club is quite enticing.

Wow! That was pretty much unanimous... Do you agree? Is acquiring a power bat the order of the day, or do the Mets have other areas to address first? Let us know in the comment section.

Harvey's Injury No Justification For Delaying Spending

As soon as the news about Matt Harvey's injury, and his likelihood of missing 2014, hit the headlines, the feeling of doom was almost palpable. 2014, once seen as a year when the Mets would begin to fulfill some of their promise, was going to be one more year of incompetence on a budget, fielding bargain basement players while we await Harvey's return.

Don't accept that answer. Refuse to be okay with waiting, again.

Matt Harvey was an incredible revelation but he was also just that: a revelation. While there was a lot of expectations on his future, nobody expected him to be what he was this year. His absence in the rotation leaves Jon Niese, Zack Wheeler, and Dillon Gee, supplemented by either a veteran presence or two of the franchise's highly touted prospects. Pitching will not be what holds this team back, and makes using Harvey as a rationalization to not spend nonsense.

They sold the fans on a three year plan, and spent this year telling us how exciting our future is. Guess what: It's time for the future. It's time to take some of the great prospects you've gotten and build a team around them. Field a big league ball club in 2014, or risk disenfranchising perhaps the most loyal fan base in baseball. We've stuck with the team through thin and thinner; we expect them to keep their promises. I truly believe Sandy wants to crack the purse strings open this offseason and next in an effort to build a real contender. It's up to the Wilpons to give him the green light to do so.

No more excuses, guys. It's been long enough.

Follow me on Twitter @kmflemming 

Is This What Rock Bottom Looks Like?

Did you watch the Mets game last night? Me neither...  Were you in attendance?  If you were there is a legitimate chance you hit a home run, considering the Mets' pitching staff has surrendered eight in the past forty-eight hours!

Last face it.. Citi Field is a pitchers ballpark. No, that can't be right..  Wait, what?

The Effing Mets appear destined for yet another fourth place finish. That shouldn't be a surprise to many, but it's a result that has been met with quite a bit of contempt. Is it Terry's Fault? Sandy's fault? Perhaps it's the result of the injury bug? Or maybe it's the result of the Wilpon's bank account..or lack thereof?

Call it what you want. That fact is, this team sucks right now and with no real "stopper" in the rotation, things aren't likely to change. The 2013 season has slowed to a snail's pace, with the offseason feeling more like a reprieve than the confirmation of yet another failure. 

When will it end? I don't know..do you?  The real question is..does the front office?