F-Mart, Omar and Jerry, 5th Starter

Let's start backwards today, Jerry Manuel has said yesterday that the 5th starter's job is still an open competition. It's still early in spring training for anything to be decided about the 5th starter as well as the bullpen. Rod Barajas thinks that Jon Niese is ready for the big leagues and compared his stuff to the likes of Cliff Lee and Jon Lester.

One thing I think needs to happen is Nelson Figueroa has to been on the Opening Day Roster. The Mets have screwed him around for too long and he's an extremely valuable asset, as he can start, pitch in long relief and in short relief as well as spot start. He showed us last summer that he has the stuff to succeed.

Omar Minaya said that Fernando Martinez will start the season in the minor leagues, but Jerry Manual said that F-Mart has a chance to be the opening day center-fielder. This is the first time in a very very long time that I've agreed with Omar over Jerry. Fernando Martinez is only 20 years old, he had a cup of coffee in the majors last year, batting below the Mendoza line at .176, with 16 hits, 11 runs, 1 HR, 6 Doubles, 5 walks and 14 strikeouts.. All this before the freak accident that caused him to injure his knee in Milwaukee. He simply is not ready. He has not played a full season in the minors and has been in the Mets organization since he was 16 years old. Angel Pagan and Gary Matthews Jr. will be a suitable option in Center Field until Beltran comes back. Martinez is supposed to be the future of this organization, there is no reason to rush him to the majors and screw up his development. He's young and still needs to prove himself in the minors.

That is not the issue. My biggest problem with the Mets is the lack of communication between Manager and General Manager, and even ownership. This is not the first time that Omar's statement has contradicted Jerry's initial statement. Something needs to change, and it needs to start from the top. I am of the belief that the Manager should be the one dealing with all the on-field issues while Omar deals with the behind-the-scenes activities that are of utmost importance to the Mets. These two are obviously not on the same page and there needs to be a sit down so that they can work in unison and make sure these media disasters are averted.