Kudos to Omar

The front page of the NYPOST today ran a story that said that the mets were interested in Brian Mcnamee t0 fill an opening on the team's staff. Manny Acta had left for Washington and there was an 0pening for batting practice pitcher and help in the bullpen. Rick Down, the Mets former hitting coach, was the one who brought the idea to Willie Randolph and Randolph relayed the idea to Omar Minaya.

"I went to Willie and Willie went to Omar, and it was nixed," Down said yesterday by phone. "I think it was nixed because of the Tampa incident. There really wasn't much further discussion on it. The Mets didn't want adverse publicity and in retrospect they were right."

Minaya reported that he looked into the request, but didn't feel like Mcnamee was a good fit. Although Minaya denies it, there was an incident involving Mcnamee and a girl in Tampa Bay where Mcnamee was a suspect in a rape case.

"I was told he could throw batting practice, catch and help in the bullpen," Minaya said. "He was identified as [Andy] Pettitte's and Clemens' guy. And I am always leery of bringing in specialist guys to work with a whole team."

Wow you want to talk about dodging a bullet. It already made me uncomfortable that Paul Loduca was around the young players in the clubhouse, but to bring the biggest name in the steroid ring into the club house would have been a major mistake. Good job Omar, people talk about the mistakes you made last off season by trading Brian Banister, Heath Bell, and Matt Lindstrom, but I think for the long term future of the club this was one wise decision.