Good job by Jeff Wilpon yesterday by meeting a difficult issue head on. Amid all the criticism heaped upon him – including my own – he demonstrated leadership for an organization badly in need of it.
When Omar Minaya came to town, somehow he became the face of the franchise. For better or worse and whether or not it was intended it became the Mets’ reality. But while Minaya became famous for his interpersonal skills, his rock star status didn’t actually lead. The 2007 collapse, fueled by the meddling of Tony Bernazard who made Willie Randolph impotent, was the first sign that Minaya really wasn’t in charge.

An odd triumverate emerged between Minaya, Wilpon and Bernazard. Ironically not unlike the Davey Johnson coined three headed monster of Frank Cashen, Al Harazin and Joe McIlvaine of the 1980′s. Power sharing really doesn’t work – especially if no one realizes they’re actually sharing power. When everyone is in charge, no one is.

So it was an amazing 24 hours for the Mets. Bernazard’s ouster and Minaya’s meltdown forced Jeff Wilpon to take the reigns. It seemed that he did a very good job of it yesterday. At least for the time being Jeff Wilpon will need to be the face of the franchise he’s spent his entire adult life preparing to be.

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And do Jerry Manuel’s comments let the cat out of the bag?

Manuel managed the White Sox when Albert Belle and Frank Thomas were there, so he’s accustomed to dealing with star players who can be difficult to handle. Manuel said that Ramirez’s bat would take care of any perceived problems.

David Wright’s statement of support and Jeff Wilpon’s denial leave it less than certain what the Mets will do, and it could be part of the sort of high stakes poker played by Scott Boras. It’s a sure bet that Boras would love to draw the Mets into a bidding war with the Dodgers for Ramirez while at the same time getting the Mets to resign Oliver Perez.

At any rate, I admire the Wilpons and Minaya from not getting into a bidding blitz. The beginning of spring training is over the near horizon and will seem like its upon us after Sunday’s Super Bowl. It’s easy to see why the Mets can feel they can stand pat with the players they have. Aside from his curious acquisition of multiple left-handed light hitting outfielders, Minaya’s done well. He took care of the last two innings in a manner which exceeded expectations and the pieces are there to refit the bullpen in a new, more confident image.

But virtually nothing was done for the line-up and the bench. Alex Cora is a net equal to Damon Easley and there are way too many lefty-hitting outfielders to choose from. It appears that fo the right side the club is depending on Fernando Tatis to have the same kind of year along with the development of Nick Evans power.

Its not hard to see what the acquisition of Ramirez would mean in the fourth hole batting in front of Wright and Delgado. Let’s face it, Ramirez is the most dangerous right handed hitter to play in the big leagues since, well, maybe never. The size of ballparks has changed in the NL and teams can get out slugged more frequently than in previuos years. No wonder teams carry 13 pitchers.

But maybe its that the Mets do not have the money to compete as they once did before Jack Madoff. With the first morning of pitchers and catchers maybe two weeks away, the cards that the Mets have are playing will be flipped up on the table. If neither Ramirez or Perez or at least a Ben Sheets is not signed, then it will be clear the poker hand they had wasn’t very good.

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