One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. The Post’s Bart Hubbach reports that the Met’s will be “taking advantage” of the list that became available this weekend when they were cut loose by their clubs.

Good. Some much needed depth and power can be had from the group that includes Jonny Gomes, Jack Cust, Ryan Garko and Garrett Atkins. Amongst pitchers, Hubbach reports that relievers Clay Condrey, Mike MacDougal and Matt Capps could interest the Mets.

I’d look for the Cubs to go after of of these to compete for the closer role. They need someone to close games badly. Getting one of the other two would benefit the Mets’ bullpen.

I’d take any of the others whom can play first and the outfield.

Overall it will be much easier for Minaya to bring in two from this group than it will be to get one of the big three – Holliday, Bay or Lackey. Some reports have the Mariners have entered the bidding and Bay has been quoted as saying he would love to play near his Canadian home.

At the very least, the thought that the Mets were going to take advantage of the heft that was removed from their payrol last year. The Wilpons have told the basball people to they can improve the club via free agency.

But to really put themselves back into the conversation – which in New York is crucial – they will have to sign one of the big three. Getting a couple of non-tendered won’t get it done for a critical media and a wounded fan base.

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I don’t play golf, but Tiger Woods is my favorite athlete. I’ve not had many of them, but for some reason, I found Woods to be my guy. It had nothing to do with his private life. It was something about the athlete and his game. Maybe it was because he was like I wanted to be in all ways and on every day.

But it’s not that way anymore.

This one’s for you, Man.

Sadly though, Tiger, you are like the rest of us. You’re human and have weaknesses. The never ending allure of instant gratification consumed you. It wasn’t enough to be Tiger Woods, a billionaire, and married to the most beautiful woman in the world. I cannot tell you here and now that I would not have acted like you. But you did.

Yeah, I’m 50 and not 30 something like you are. Half a hundred is a different story, and you’re not here yet. But maybe you can hear me.

Yeah I hear ya back , dude. But you can get it all sorted out.

Reports indicate that your wife will be leaving you after the holiday. Can’t blame her and won’t. Your transgressions are too much for any wife – no matter how devoted – should be expected to endure.

You’ll never be the same, Dude. But at some point, you will have to forgive yourself enough so you can move on. You’ve lost the love and devotion of a beautiful woman and her family, but you are still a dad. It’s still alot to have left.

At some point it will be time to be the best that you can be for the people you love most.

You probably know what that means now.

So play…as soon as you can. It’s the path to healing for you and everyone around you.

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Bill Madden throws cold water on the chances of the Mets signing Jason Bay.

Can’t say that I blame Madden. The Mets haven’t really made a good deal since bringing Johan Santana to New York. Jeff Francoeur fell in their lap. Their questionable frugality in signing amatuer talent was on display when they gave away Billy Wagner who will be closing this season for a division opponent.

Plus the unthinkable…who really wants to play for the Mets right now? Minaya’s powers of persuassion are not what they once were, thus putting the Mets in the position of having to clearly outbid for the services of talent. The Mets could meerly be used just to drive up the market for players whom have no intention of signing on to what can understandably be looked at as a dysfunctional organization. A seasoned observer such as Madden is sure to be aware of just this possibility.

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I’ve always been a fans of Matt Cerrone’s use of polling data of Met fans. One today gives me a reason to believe I’ve been right about something. I wrote the following in a post last week:

The Mets’ historical identity of being built around strong starting pitching has always appeared to be absolute. Last year’s failure of any starter to assume the role of a #2 behind one of the game’s best necessitated the club’s turn it’s attention to acquiring one. Met fans have a comfort level when their clubs are built around it’s stating pitching.

Metsblog offers a choice to fans to select between John Lackey, Matt Holliday and Jason Bay. Lackey leads all with 44%.

The Mets are an organization with a relatively short history in that there are fans alive who were there at the beginning. The first taste of glory came with a team built on strong starting pitching in Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and Jon Matlack. No one will never forget the Dwight Gooden led staffs of the late 1980′s. It was the Mets dependency on starters which prompted Joe McIlvaine to give up Rick Aguillera along with four other players to get Frank Viola during 1990. Reacquisitions of Seaver, along with such pitchers as Brett Saberhagen, Al Leiter, Mike Hampton, Tom Glavine and Johan Santana support this hypothesis.

Even after a season such as 2009 that witnessed such offensive impotence, Met fans still put a premium on starting pitching.

I voted for Holliday in the poll, as I see the Mets need for a right-handed bat to be the greatest. They must compete with the Phillies whom have very good lefthanded pitching in Cliff Lee, Cole Hammels, J.A. Happ and Jamie Moyers. Righthanded hitters like Holliday and Jason Bay may not be available again.

Maybe I’m being allowed to buy into the weakness of catching last year and am optimistic of a positive return of some of the starters – except for Oliver Perez that is. And don’t get me wrong, if it’s any of these three, I’ll be pleased that the Wilpons are trying to win.

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Full disclosure. I’m an FSU graduate. But the Tallahassee Democrat has a story this morning that calls into question ESPN’s reporting. It doesn’t help ESPN’s credibility that the lead reporter in the story is a University of Florida grad whom attempted to get FSU to do something they could not legally do.

The reporter for this investigation is listed as Tom Farrey who, according to his bio on the ESPN Web site, is a 1986 graduate of the University of Florida.
Murphy wrote Doria and said that FSU administrators helped Farrey “as much as we could with his story without violating federal laws protecting students’ privacy rights.”
“We reminded Mr. Farrey of those constraints and how they strictly prohibit us from releasing information about students in such small groups that the identity of the individual student would be obvious,” Murphy added. “He asked us to do that and apparently would not accept that answer and tried to get numerous other administrators, who also had expertise in student admissions, to give him this information. They could not and did not do so.”

I saw the end of the piece on Outside the Lines. It focused on two former FSU football players, Fred Rouse and Paul Griffin. There appeared to be an attempt by ESPN to highlight learning disabilities in relation to the two players. Federal mandates require documentation of IEP’s (Independent Education Plans) and accomodations for students with disabilities. If documented, they can be taken along with them to college.

I have no knowledge of how these are implemented in college although we strictly adhere to them in public schools. A former academic advisor, Brenda Monk, was fired for admitting to typing papers for at least one student-athlete. Monk was portrayed sympathetically when the interview took them to her burned down home.

As a graduate of FSU, I have been concerened about the scandal that involved 61 student-athletes. But this Outside the Lines report demonstrates clear bias on ESPN’s part by not accuartely reporting on the reasons why university officials could not cooperate in the manner they requested.

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If the Wilpons are serious about Jason Bay, they are serious about John Lackey. If this is indeed the case Fred and Jeff have pulled off one of the best stealth operations in baseball free agent history.

There is no reason to commit to a left fielder, if they are not going to get a starter. It appears that the Mets will not be out bid for Bay, and if this is the case, they will spend for another starter like Lackey.

Brilliant move if this is the case as they effectively kept their cards close to the vest

Let’s face it. If we had not sustained so many injuries, we would not have faltered as we had. To be fair, 2009 may have been an aberation and the addition of Bay, Lackey and Molina might mean more than we can imagine..

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The late offers to Bengie Molina and Jason Bay show me that the Mets are being patient and that they are looking to compete in 2010. The signing of Henry Blanco and the persuit of Molina show that they really feel that last year’s catching affected pitching. A number 2 starter is a must, but signing two proven veterans could do the trick. I just hope the Mets reputation has not been hurt so bad that free agents no longer want to play for them. Nonetheless, the stories that the Wilpons are broke and won’t be spending money are not entirely accurate.

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Tepid is what recent rumors regarding Mets interest in John Lackey have been. But Adam Rubin’s story today changes all that. Aside from pursuit of catching help the Mets have been quiet. If the Mets are indeed going to be in the running for Lackey, it means that the Wilpon’s aren’t broke and that they are fully committed to competing next year.

The Mets’ historical identity of being built around strong starting pitching has always appeared to be absolute. Last year’s failure of any starter to assume the role of a #2 behind one of the game’s best necessitated the club’s turn it’s attention to acquiring one. Met fans have a comfort level when their clubs are built around it’s stating pitching.

If Rubin’s story is inaccurate, some of those tepid denials will filter it’s way into the lobby in Indianapolis. But the Mets like doing things close to the vest. How far will they be willing to go with Lackey remains to be seen. Will they get into a publoc bidding war with the Yankees?

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