Mission Statement Part II

So last night I couldn't sleep. It was about 4 a.m. and I found myself wide awake.

It could have been the excitement of seeing my barber Franco for the final time.

or

The sheer shock from this week's amazing episode of "Lost".

Maybe it was the anger I was feeling inside.

How shitty was the replacement for Shauna Hyatt on the world poker tour? In a post-loss interview of Antonio Esfandiari she asked, " Is it more fun to play tight or agressive?" and then smiled like a barbie doll. WWW.BRINGBACKSHAUNA.COM

or

How sad was the Real World Texas? (This sentence makes no sense). Who knew, Danny a sellout? I don't like seeing tension, in fact, I try to avoid it at all cost when it is not in regards to sonning Yankee fans (Note: sonning=prep school thug talk for abusing, shitting on, beating, make one your bitch).

With all these emotions running through my head, emotions of happiness and anger, hope and betrayal, still something was really bothering me. You know, something of meaning, of real substance.

Then it hit me. It was the Mets. I feel guilty about what they are doing.

So I thought about writing something about it night. Something that they call "a mission statement".

The name: "Less Money, Shittier Players: The Future of our Organization".

I envisioned a cover that looked like "The Catcher in the Rye". I envisioned a long-haired guy at Kinko's telling me, "Fucking A. That's how you become great: by putting your balls on the line."

I then decided though, You know what, Sip, maybe you should sleep on this one, see where you are in the morning. So instead of writing, I popped two Tylenol p.m. and quicker than you can spell Mientkiewicz (Sp?) I was out.

I woke up this morning and I still had that feeling in my head. These Mets moves over the last week should only make me the happiest kid in the world. After all, the Mets are such a huge part of my life and they have significanly improved. The fans are happy. The organization is happy. My friends are happy. I should be happy.

But everyday I check espn.com's Rumor Central to see what's going on with basebal's big offseason names and everyday the same 6 teams are on the left as potential suitors. The Mets, every single player.

Rumor: Babe Ruth

The Mets have offered science 7 yrs, $600 mil to bring Babe Ruth back to life and make him a baseball star to fill the void in RF.

I just cant get this feeling out of my head that what is going on is just unfair. This doesn't happen in any other sport, not with a salary cap involved. It's just baseball.

I have friends from other cities making jokes at me:

"The Mets are going to sign every player in baseball."

Now I'm a guy that can give you every rational for why what the Mets are doing is OK.

1. They're not even at last year's payroll
2. They pay two times less than the Yankees

But anyway I think about it, it always comes back to money, the root of all evil, and I have a guilty conscience.

I feel like I am playing in a poker game and being dealt the best cards every single hand. I should win, but the only way I lose is if the other players, with crappier cards outplay me.

I write this piece, not to bring you down but for your support as mets fans. I'm often a glass half empty guy when it comes to sports, especially the Mets, for those of you who know me.

So, in a time when I should be more ecstatic than most baseball fans, I am almost riddled in guilt.

Salt.

That's all I got.

I ask you, as my peers and fellow Mets fans to comment on this. Give me and those like me reasons to see positive and not negative.

I love you all.

Ya gotta believe,

A Dejected SM