Best pickups this off season

Before the season started I think everyone would have pencield in Detriot as having the best offseason with their aquisions. With the Mets a close second or third picking up the best pitcher in baseball.

But is it even a debate at this point since the Mets have added an ace to thier pitching staff who agian is considered in some circles as the best pitcher in baseball ( Although i think B. Webb may be) and also a guy who can hit 2nd, 4th, and 7th and is a quality glove as well in R. Church. I don't want to sound like a homer but this guy has been unreal to start the season. He is batting .321 with 7 hrs & 26 RBIs. Agian these numbers are good but he has also done it from three diferent spots in the lineup.

I know it's still early but if Church continues to play the way he has and Johan performs like he is capable of you have to consider the Mets offseason an A+. I liked to hear the arguements agianst.

Let's Look at what the Mets have done over the last few seasons:

Bad Trades:

Kazmir (SP) for Zambrano (SP)

Bannister (SP) for Burgos (RP)

Jesus Flores (C) to Washington Rule 5 loss

Royce Ring (RP) for Ben Johnson (OF)

Mike Jacobs (1B) for Carlos Delgado (1B): Even Swap but with huge salary taken on!

Good Trades:

John Maine & Jorge Julio for Kris Benson

Jorge Julio for El Duque

Millege (Clubhouse Cancer) for Schneider & Church

Santana for those 4 prospects: well the Jury is still out but Gomez is looking great in Minnesot (2HR, 16SB, 21R, 13 RBI), Those are much better numbera than Reyes! They still have 3 Pitchers they haven't even brought up yet!

Nady for Perez : Almost even swap, but Pitching is more important than hitting

When are they going to learn you can't win without home grown prospects. We trade all our prospects away before they even get a chance to flourish.  Reyes and Wright are two exceptions. Also we have Heilman, and Smith.

 Just look at Arizona, Atlana, Colorado, Florida, Oakland, Boston and many other teams. They are winning with their good farm systems. They don't go out and try to buy a championship the easy way!

Personnally I'm tired of watching overpaid veterans like Delgado & Castillo stink up the field. Thank goodness Glavine is gone!

I hope everyone enjoyed watching Keppinger hit .800 against us this weekend!

We almost traded Jose Reyes for Barry Larkin at one point!

Not really sure where your going with this? I was reffering to this year not the past you can go through just about every team and pull out bad trades. You may be agreeing with me I don't know since you didn't make reference to my point.

As far as your assesment of teams that won chapionships with home grown players although I agree it is a big part of the puzzle it's not entirely correct.

IE: your assesment of

Arizonia - split MVP between Schilling and Johnson both were FA aquisions. Game winning hit by Gonzalez FA.

Colorado -  has never won one?

Atalanta - took them 10xs and they were beneficiaries of a weak division.

Boston

Not really sure where your going with this? I was reffering to this year not the past you can go through just about every team and pull out bad trades. You may be agreeing with me I don't know since you didn't make reference to my point.

As far as your assesment of teams that won chapionships with home grown players although I agree it is a big part of the puzzle it's not entirely correct.

IE: your assesment of

Arizonia - split MVP between Schilling and Johnson both were FA aquisions. Game winning hit by Gonzalez FA.

Colorado -  has never won one?

Atalanta - took them 10xs and they were beneficiaries of a weak division.

Boston -

Didn't get to finish for some reason lets continue...

Boston: front line pitching staff: Schilling (see Arizonia), Beckett thanks Florida, Diske thanks Japan. 3 Big Papi from Twins 4 hole Manny - from cleveland 5th MVP Mike Lowell thanks florida. So not sure that one works. Plus they've won 2 of last 4 if i'm correct so double negative.

Oakland - hasn't won since 89.

I'll give you florida but they are an exception to the rule, because they dump their good players and retool with excellent scouting that no one can match.

Now if you want to say some of those teams were competitive I would argue that the Mets have been competitive for the last four years as well since on their spend spree.

honestly, i believe it takes a combination of both, everyone to perform up to their capabilities, great team chemistry, and a bit of luck for any team plan to work. 

but i do agree that some of these trades made by the Mets have been horrible. 

in fact was looking on here and a trade rumor was the mets trading church for nady 1 for 1.   ok getting nady back would be great.  but getting rid of our best player so far this year. thats so stupid.  don't add by subtracting a part that has proven its performance. 

how about Angel Pagan for nady instead.

Fire Coughlin - Agreed with everything you said especially with the Church talk since that was the premise of my thread. Love Nady and wish we had him but i wouldn't give up church for him now.

To be clear I wasn't arguing that the Mets haven't made some terrible trades. My only point was i blieve this past one to date has looked like a steal. I too believe in growing a strong farm system other wise your the Yankees of the last 5  or so years.

P.S. I believe its time for a name change ;) If not love to know why.