Art Howe is a good baseball man in any regards he knows the game
well, his only flaw was he could'nt motivate a team for 162 games a
year. That is why Oakland let him go so easily, knowing the game well
does not make a person a great manager.
Art can't be blamed for all the woes of this team, Piazza was hurt
some of the year, the bullpen was decimated by injuries and the
middle of the infield as well. I'm not sure if Piazza is a good fit
for the current team, but in this spend thrift market of major league
baseball it would be hard to get equal or fair value for him.
The Met's have alot to look forward too if they sign Hidalgo and
Benson for next year. It would give us three solid outfielders for
the first time in a longtime, three guys who can both hit and are
adequate fielders. If Piazza stays, they can keep the middle infield
intact and if David Wright continues his progression towards stardom.
The bullpen comes back healthy and the additions of Benson and
let's not forget Zambrano will give us a good pitching staff. This
team will be able to contend for the national league east next season.
Lenny Dykstra was a valuable spark plug of the Met teams of the
eighties and would be a great motivator to keep this team of veterens
and youngsters(Wright,Diaz,Valent,Brazzell and Keppinger). This is a
team ripe with talent and potential and just needs the right person
to motivate them for success.
I also heard Gary Carter is also in the running, which I don't
think would be a good choice cause he has always been more focused on
Gary Carter. I don't think he can keep focus on twenty five other
guys for a full season.


Humpy