The State of Sports Nov. 29th

-Baseball

-Mets problems with payroll?
Who could forget the 2003 116* million dollar payroll of the New York Mets. An off season to remember as they signed a lot of people to make their team a more competiative force in the NL East. It was only 40 million more from thier previous last place finish team that could only boost Mike Piazza as thier only all star. The management figured that money was the answer and spent like never before to overtake the Braves and thier 11 year run as NL East division champs.

Yes, we all remember the 2003 Mets. Mo Vaughn goes on the DL without playing a game for the next three years. They not only finish the division in dead last again, but lost 9 more games than they did the year before with a 72* million dollar payroll, and had the worst attendance out of any team with a payroll higher than the Cincinati Reds (59 Million; and had 200,000 more in attendance). That means that the '03 Rockies (67 Million and 74-88) ,and the '03 Orioles (73 Million and were 71-91) did better than the Mets that year in attendace figures.

The Mets were embarrassed. I still think their organization is just so embarrassed that so much spending could get out of hand. I mean, who knew that Mo Vaughn was going to get arthritis? Who knew that Tom Glavine wouldnt be at the NL top 10 in Innings Pitched for the first time in 11 years? Who knew that Pedro Astacio (Made 7 Million) would only start 7 games? Who knew that Mike Piazza and Jeromy Burnitz (Made combined 27.7 Million) would only combine for 500 at bats?

The Mets fired Jim Duquette and hired Omar Minaya, who was previously working in the Mets orgaization and was the '03 Expos GM. The Mets hired Minaya who is puting a Latino face on a team with a city that has an emerging Latin American population. With signing Pedro and Beltran to long term deals. And Minaya succesfully launched a regional cable network as well, for his new team face.

But, I would like to contend that he may spend his team into the ground once again this year. Lets say that the Mets excerise the 9 million option on Glavine. The Mets would be saving at least 30 million dollars on players off the payroll such as Kaz Ishii, Doug Mienkiewicz, Brandan Looper, Mike Piazza, and Mike Cameron. So now the payroll with Glavine is roughly 80 million. We would have to add the 6.7 million option picked up on Trashel and .5 million on Marlon Anderson, and the payroll is 86.5 Million, before the additions.

With the additions, the pre-opening day payroll of 110.5 Million. These additions include recent signee Billy Wagner, and new first baseman Carlos Delgado. This is before the Mets go after a bullpen that could help out their cause and another outfielder to replace Mike Cameron. So, this payroll could escalate before the beginning of spring training.

Minaya is going to put a team on the field thats going to attract people to the ballpark. In fact, they had extra revenues of 20 million dollars in ticket sales this year. He will attract people to his ballpark and his team still will not be better than the Braves, or Phillies. Maybe even the Nationals.

Bottom line is the Mets have a bullpen being carried by Wagner. They are going to still have a subpar fielding team. And a rotation whos best pitcher will come close to winning a cy young award, and have every other starter not even get another person with 12+ wins. The Mets have offense and fan appeal to draw people in. Where will they be after this year. Is Minaya going to get the next best free agent availible and continue to raise the payroll of his team.

Marlins have a legitimate reason to be in dead last in the division this year. The Mets on the other hand will still field a mediocre team with a large payroll, that is just before the luxury tax threshold.