Nails' Deadline Day Plea: Trade for Zito

Hey everybody, Nails here. Wanted to get a couple thoughts out on trade deadline day on why we should trade Lastings Milledge for Zito. As far as I'm concerned, it's a no-brainer.

First of all, it's very important to understand what Lastings Milledge is in order to try and project what he might be. Milledge undoubtedly has a ton of talent. Far more raw talent, I'd say then David Wright.

Some of you who closely follow the Mets minor leagues system may remember that there was a big question a few years back as to why David Wright's home stats were so much worse than his road stats.

Somebody finally came up with the notion that perhaps the fact that D-Dubya was using the time that would be stuck on a bus during a road trip taking hours upon extra hours of batting practice during home stands.

The theory, which seems to have been correct based on the fact that Wright's home hitting almost immediately straightened itself out, was that D-Dubya was tiring himself out before home games leaving himself worn out by gametime.

I bring this up because baseball happens to be a sport where you are far more likely to succeed if you work hard to build upon talent than if you don't.

Curt Schilling's career turned around when Roger Clemens bitched him out after a couple of non-descript seasons early in his career for failing to work hard and take advantage of his talent.

Well excuse me for extrapolating an isolated incident into a general statement, but I could not have found it more unimpressive that Milledge showed up just before game time to one of his first games in the big leagues.

David Wright would never pull a stunt like that. Robin Ventura would never pull a stunt like that. Julio Franco -- of diet and exercise fame -- wouldn't pull a stunt like that.

So, unlike Wright, I don't think we're talking about a perennial All Star -- and certainly not a potential Hall of Famer -- in Milledge. And if he doesn't have that ceiling, he's replaceable.

Second, there is a misconception, floated by a commentator to AFOMG's post a few posts down, that if Zito leaves after the season we are left empty-handed.

If we trade for Zito for the last 3 months of the season (how awesome is it to write 3 months left in the season sitting here on July 31? More to the point, how awesome is it that this season is going so well that we won't even have to play any of 'lil Wilpon's famed "meaningful games in September?" I digress) there are benefits that could impact us for the next 5 years.

A, We can see how he responds to playing in NYC, which will better allows us to make an informed decison on whether to sign him as a free agent.

B, we get him for the playoffs which we certainly need.

C, most importantly and the point of this paragraph, we do get something if Zito leaves as a FA. Did we end up empty-handed when Mike Hampton left after the 2000 season? No. We ended up with two compensation picks which turned into Aaron Heilman and a young fellow named David Allen Wright.

But back to our numerical list. Where were we? Third?

Third, we really need pitching. Long-term, I'm actually much more optimistic on John Maine than many other Y2K loyalists.

Back in 2003, when I was in full-fledged Scott Kazmir jocking mode, I had a long-standing argument going with my housemate Hoffman as to whether Kazmir or a young Orioles prospect named John Maine was better.

I'd send out my famed update on Kazmir's latest start which so many of you have come to cherish and Hoffman would respond with the John Maine update. And, I'm sad to report, there were many, if not most, occassions where Maine was topping Kazmir.

So this kid had big-time potential before his career got a little side tracked. Also, don't forget, one of the rumors when we traded Benson was that we'd done so because Billy Beane loved Maine and we wanted him as a puzzle piece to trade with the A's. And if Billy Beane likes a guy, he has to be a stud... seriously... read Moneyball if you disagree... the guy does no wrong.

That paragraph went off on a rant. Let's redo that paragraph picking up at: Third, we really need pitching.

Obviously come playoff time we're going to live and die with Pedro. And I'm pretty optimistic that his semi-regular mid-summer month off will pay huge dividends come playoff time. Figure he's got about 12 starts left this season... limit him to 90 pitches each start and let him go into the playoffs relatively fresh. He'll be a stud.

Now what? I am very concerned about Glavine. I am hopeful that El Duque will prove to be as clutch as he is by reputation. I don't want Traschsel on the mound and I'm not ready to trust what should be a memorable October to Pelrey or Maine at this point in their careers.

So we need a pitcher... and not a 4th pitcher to get a few starts or even a 3rd pitcher to get several starts. We need a #2 pitcher. Zito is it.

Fourth, I was reading this somewhere recently, it really sends a positive message to a team when they're 15 games in first, there's no pressure to make a trade, but you still go out and make a big one. It says "we have faith in you guys, you are legit, and we are going to go overboard to make sure you have everything you possibly could need to be successful." If the Mets get Zito, there is no reason to have any doubts about this team.

Finally, Zito is simply a great player. 3.51 career ERA in the AL, Lefty, 28 years old, pitches 35 games a season, how could you not want this guy on your team?

Let's get him over here, reunite him with Prof. Rick, let him see NYC at its most pumped up and supportive, show him how fun it is to pitch behind a lineup featuring a Murderer's Row of Beltran, Delgado, Wright, and then make him a Met to play with Reyes, Beltran, Wright, Pelfrey, Maine, and so forth for years to come.

He can be the veteran rock for this pitching staff for years to come. Face it: We're going to need one when Pedro retires since we were dumb enough to trade Scott Kazmir.

- Nails