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What I don't like about the Mets are their management -- they should have aggressively pursued A-Rod, they should be aggressively pursuing Barry Bonds -- but instead they think like a small-market team.

The Mets did pursue A-Rod. But they weren't exactly in the mood to grant him what amounted, virtually, to carte blanche over about a third of Shea Stadium seating. (I exaggerate only slightly, but at the time Rodriguez was demanding the kind of perks which usually get you a reputation somewhere between a flake and a spoiled brat - perks he rather noticeable cut back on, dramatically, when the Mets let it be known they weren't going to sign him. The Mets got burned pretty badly in the late 80s-early 90s with some of the deals they were signing to some of the egos on those teams. They haven't exactly been also rans on their current course.)

As for Barry Bonds, why should they pursue him? He may not hit as well in Shea Stadium as he does in PacBell Park (Shea isn't exactly that amiable a hitting park for left handed power hitters; the park is and has always been more a pitcher's park and Bonds isn't as adjustable a hitter as Mike Piazza in that ballpark). It would hurt more than help both if they pursue Bonds. Moises Alou, on the other hand, might have been a better fit for Shea - he's hit somewhat better in Shea than Bonds has, from what I have seen. And, he's a better glove-and-arm man than Bonds.

If anything, the Mets need better relief pitching. That's their priority need. Armando Benitez is not a crunch-time closer, and Franco is better off now as the setup man after a distinguished closing career. If anything, they ought to be hunting Jason Isringhausen (who came up with the Mets as a hot starting prospect until he had shoulder trouble and was moved to Oakland where he got straightened out and became an excellent closer) to bring him back. Isringhausen is going to get better, I think, and he doesn't wilt as easily in the stretch environment. And he's young enough to still have a good, long career ahead of him if he keeps his focus and doesn't get cute with his stuff.

I gotta disagree with you on the A-Rod thing. If Steve Phillips told me the sun was shining, I'd still look out the window for confirmation. I remember what he claimed about all the perks he said A-Rod wanted, and not only did A-Rod deny it, but not one other team backed up what Phillips said. If Alex Rodriguez had asked for the things Steve Phillips said he did, you would think one GM, like maybe the Texas Rangers GM, would confirm the story, but it didn't happen. IMHO, the Mets were looking for a way out of having to sign him.

As for Jason Isringhausen, he's a goner -- signed by St. Louis -- and the A's have already traded for Billy Koch as his replacement. I agree that Armando Benitez is not a big-game pitcher, but it sounds like the Mets don't want to do anything on that front either.

As for the trade, I think a motivating factor in the Yankees getting rid of Justice is the fact that last season, he generated more tabloid headlines due to his ex-girlfriend's palimony suit than he did for his hitting. (And the process server jumping on the field in Anaheim didn't help matters.) Brian Cashman made a point today of saying what impeccable character Robin Ventura has.

The Yankees are the opposite of the Bronx Zoo now -- this era of Yankees management does not want coverage for any thing but what goes on in the field. Jeff Nelson is still smarting over the Yankees not making a big play for him last season -- he thought it was about money. It was about him publicly badmouthing Joe Torre last season when Torre didn't pick him for the All-Star team. Chad Curtis wrote his ticket off the team when he dissed Derek Jeter. The only way you get second chances on these Yankees is if you happen to be an ex-Met like Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden!