One myth can now be cast aside. The Wilpons are not broke and will not be going into small market mode. They would not have signed Jason Bay if they were. Give the Wilpons and Omar Minaya for being smart with their money.

1. The moves in the bullpen signal a clear philosophy. Low investment with the potential for high yield investments in Kelvin Escobar and Ryoto Igarashi may represent 8th inning alternatives. The Mets must also believe that Bobby Parnell can be the same, otherwise they would have sent the talented righthander home this offseason with instructions to prepare to start.

2. The Mets are always making noise about wanting another lefthander to complement Pedro Feliciano. They brought in numerous lefties last year but kept playing roster whack-a-mole with them all. If they have really been serious about needing to fill this role, they would have actively pursued former Met Darren Oliver whom ultimately signed a one-year deal with the Texas Rangers. They also made no move for Mike Gonzalez who probably wanted to close anyhow. So I don’t think that the Mets really want to pay alot for someone for this role.

3. I believe there is a reason that 2B Orlando Hudson has not signed with anyone yet. He’s waiting on the Mets to get rid of Luis Castillo. Maybe there’s even some back room conversations. Now that the Mets have filed the left field hole, some certainty exists for Minaya. He can now move Castillo and sign Hudson. Unless there’s something else going. See #4.

4. All’s been quiet on the rumors that the Reds were trying to move some big salaries. Earlier this month, there was some speculation at MLBTradeRumors about Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang being moved. Other high salaried Reds mentioned were Arthur Rhodes, Brandon Phillips and Franciso Cordero. There are some matches there, especially if other clubs get involved. It is from this scenario that Minaya can acquire a starter, a lefty reliever, a set-up guy or an upgrade an 2B. Stay tuned.

4. I don’t believe the Mets have ruled out contending, but they know that they are banking on a healthy return to form by Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran. With them plus Bay, David Wright should be better. Wright found out what George Foster did in his first season when it was just him. It’s unlikely that Carlos Delgado will not be returning. It would be nice if Daniel Murphy became at least a Dave Magadan circa 1991. To be fair, it’s really been Minaya’s only viable option to pursue with respect to the line-up.

5. Dan Warthen needs to be right in that whatever the final upgrade in catching matches a some sort of improvement in Oliver Perez, Mike Pelfrey and John Maine. Whomever they group with Henry Blanco, they won’t be counted on for offense, but it will be ok if Murphy and Jeff Francoeur are hitting sixth and seventh.

6. Last season was an aberation with respect to injuries. The Mets made no changes in their sports medicine team, and it shouldn’t have. Admittedly I have a soft spot for these guys, but I do not communicate with any of them. I’ve always maintained that a communication problem existed and that the presence of Tony Bernazard poisoned this as well.

7. There were some changes to the coaching staff. I hope they were based mostly on Jerry Manual’s wishes and not Omar Minaya’s prejudices fueled by Bernazard’s manipulations. Firing a manager’s coaches makes a manager impotent. The beginning of the end began for Davey Johnson and Willie Randolph when the front office dismissed some of their staffs.

Spring training is just 6 weeks away. Minaya has been signalling that the team will be better at that time. He’s wisely let the market come back and has saved the Wilpn’s some money they may have to spend later in the event the Mets actually do contend. With more positive moves, Minaya will haveweathered the media firestorm that surrounded him and it will pay off once camp opens.

No drama.

Only hope with a dash of reasonable expectations.

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One week ago, Omar Minaya confidently emphasized the club’s patient approach to this off-season. Having lost the confidence of fans and the favorable press he once enjoyed, Minaya badly needs to be right. The future of the franchise is at stake.

So one week later, that patience thing better be working out.

It still could, but as the free agent talent pool shrinks the Mets self described patience meanders its way to dithering.

Gone now are players whom know how to win in Jason Marquis (Nationals), Garrett Atkins (Orioles) and Darren Oliver (Rangers). The Braves apparently are about to sign Troy Glaus to play first base. The once publically coveted Orlando Hudson is said to be talking to the Nationals as well.

As bad as it was last year, it’s hard to imagine how the last place Nationals are kicking the Mets ass so far this off-season. Nevermind the fact that they are closing the gap with Marquis, reliever Brian Burney and first ballot Hall of Fame catcher Ivan Rodriguez.

Players are not afraid to go to the Nationals. They have alot the Mets cannot offer. The Nationals were an energetic, fun team to watch at the end of last season. They have a new manager and GM with a mandate. The Nationals offer a sense of certainty that their organization is moving in a positive direction. The Mets have nothing of the sort.

It’s being noticed, too.

Meanwhile the Mets signed journyman knuckleballer, R.A. Dickey. Most Mets’ observers went beyond a yawn to a snicker.

Minaya and the Mets are not going to be able to survive the negative perception that will come with the failure to secure the services of a Jason Bay. Unless that is they know something we don ‘t. As no one in the Mets hierchy talks to the NY print media anymore, this could easily be true.

The negotiations for Bay and Bengie Molina might simply be just business, and that in the end the Mets won’t be outbid for them. And maybe they know that the upgrades they seek in the rotation will come from a trade. See all those Cincinnati Reds rumors. Several starters remain unsigned such as Joel Pineiro and Jarod Washburn.

Right now there isn’t enough roster change that helps Jerry Manuel’s team to go into next season with any confidence. If the current perception of dithering manifests as reality, the narrative that emerges about 6 weeks from now in Port St. Lucie will not be pleasant.

Collectively, everyone will be waiting for the manager to get fired. The Wilpons will look like fools to have kept Omar Minaya around after last season while the Mets struggle to finish ahead of the Nationals in the NL East cellar.

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