A Glum Note for December 5

We're still kind of bummed about Milledge. We've started thinking about the Mets as an authoritarian system, like a police department or certain major corporations. Near the top, there are never demotions, only promotions. Police commanders are not knocked down to lieutenant; they are fired. CEOs aren't given the VP-Strategy post-- they are likewise "asked to step down." But until that time gross incompetence can reign for much too long. Shawn Green isn't relegated to the bench; he plays out his season and then leaves. It's kind of like this.

So we're in complete agreement with Jason of Faith and Fear in Flushing:

K, quick quiz: If I told you that the Mets had just swung a deal in Nashville (they haven't), and included a link where you could find out the details, what would be your emotions as you clicked through?

If you chose "anxiety," "despair," "dread" or a similar word as your answer, welcome to the 2007 offseason.

Whether they defended the deal or not, Mets fans everywhere have eased to say, "In Omar We Trust." Everywhere around the blogosphere the fans are losing trust, citing the good faith principle, and generally burying their heads in their hands.

Nothing is clear but one thing: the Mets aren't right. They are not making decisions with the best interest of the team in mind. Sometimes that goes against what the fans want; democracy is no way to run a baseball team. But too often it seems that the Mets are controlled by an oligarchy of New York sportswriters, a group so insanely stupid that they make the rule of the masses look wise and even-handed.

There should be no politics about baseball personnel decisions. But because there is, the Mets can never rebuild. They can't let a young player work out his problems on the big club because he is expected to perform right away. This will go on until the Mets' ownership says, "You know what? Fuck the media. Do what's best for the team."

So forgive us if we're a little glum during this, one of the most exciting hot stoves in recent memory.