Fred, Jeff & Omar Shouldn't Play With Mets Fans Emotions

Yesterday, the socially conscious Bobby wrote about the haves and have nots of Major League Baseball. The teams with the most money get all the toys, or in this case, the free agents. Today however, I write purely as a Mets' fan. If the Daily News Report is right and the Mets are ready to go at it with the Yankees for the services of lefty C.C. Sabathia, great. But memo to owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon and GM Omar Minaya: Decide what you're going to do, and do it. DON'T tease the Mets fans with a "good effort." Especially now that the Yankees have offered Sabathia a deal larger than Johan Santana's.Either get C.C. or look elsewhere.

Let me be blunt (after all, that's apparently what drives blogs anyway, or at least that's what the people that have me write this tell me) The Mets have messed around too much in recent years to say they're going after Sabathia, and then boom, he's gone. Remember Alex Rodriguez? The Mets thought Scott Boras was too tough? Vladimir Guerrero? Concerns about his back. Manny Ramirez? The Dodgers had a better deal. Honestly, after losing the NLCS in 2006, things haven't been great in Flushing. Two hideous collapses wrapped around the awful firing of a dignified man (Willie Randolph) who at the least deserved to be treated with more respect.

Remember too: If the Yankees WANT a free agent, they'll pay for him. Carlos Beltran went back to the Yankees to try to get a better deal before settling on the Mets-and DON'T kid yourself otherwise. The Mets need to remember: Like it or not, they are the red headed stepchild of NY baseball in this town, the little brother who can't wait to grow up so he can fend for himself.

If the Mets are serious about Sabathia, money should be no problem. It wasn't with Pedro Martinez, and El Duro gave us 1 full year out of 4, albeit while energizing the franchise. But if NOT-if there is no one in the room with a Nelson Doubleday streak in him (the former Mets co-owner was the man solely responsible for Mike Piazza's arrival in 1998) then DON'T bother with Sabathia. The Yankees will surely outbiid you because fans believe the boys in the Bronx will do ANYTHING to win-and Hank Steinbrenner will do anything to live up to daddy George's reputation.

Plus, in all honesty, Sabathia monwy might be better spent on getting a few guys for the Mets' bullpen. As happy as I'll be if C.C. is a Met, I'll know-and so will millions of other fans-if he was only brought in to cover other weaknesses with the club. Truth: If I were Fred Wilpon, Omar Minaya would be gone-he did NOTHING about the pen when he had a whole last off season to do so. Let's see what the Mets do-and how serious they are-this time around. My money says Sabathis will be a Yankee soon.