The Wilpon's need to go now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's face it. For the past several years, the New York Mets have been a disgrace to New York. They have suffered two consecutive late season collapses and to put the cherry on top, have completely bombed in their first season at so called Citi Field. Listen, I understand teams end up with their share of bad luck and the Mets are no exception. I say it's more than bad luck in the Mets case. For me, it begins with the ownership of the team. Fred Wilpon and his son Jeff are one of the most inept team owners in the greater NYC metro area along with Jim Dolan and Charles Wang.

I don't even know where to begin on their terrible baseball personnel moves. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that giving Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo long term deals were big mistakes. Now they are stuck with these players and can't even think of trading them because no team will be willing to take on their contracts. And how do you not make a play for pitching in the off season??? The way Citi Field is designed makes it more favorable for pitchers. They really dropped the ball with not getting John Lackey. He would have been a perfect number two starter behind Johan Santana. Now they're stuck with Oliver Perez, Mike Pelfrey, and John Maine behind Santana. Do any of these pitchers scare you??? Didn't think so. As for signing Jason Bay, he's always been a good player but never a great player. I really don't see him making a major offensive impact with the Mets. He will probably be good for 20-25 home runs with them but nothing more.

You know it's a bad sign when the players don't trust the team's medical staff when it comes to treating injuries. Carlos Beltran decided that it was in his best interest to get surgery on his knee a month before spring training started and he refused to listen to the Mets when they asked him to get a second opinion on his knee. Why would he make this decision?? Maybe from experience he has seen the Mets make many blunders when it came to injuries. It wasn't too long ago after Ryan Church suffered a concussion that the team made him fly cross country to California for a road trip and all his symptoms got worse. It could also be from Jose Reyes hurting his hamstring in his first game back after he sat out a week with a tight calf. These two cases are similar because each time the Mets medical staff saw they were fit to play, but in reality they weren't ready.

One final thought, the Wilpon's need to start telling the truth and stop sugarcoating everything. It's been reported that they lost millions in the Bernie Madoff scandal. Some believe that as a result of this, the Mets are broke and can't afford to pay for top free agents. If the scandal really hurt them as much as people believe it did, they should be upfront about it. Instead, the Wilpon's keep telling the fans that everything is fine and we are committed to going above and beyond to get the talent needed to win. Listen, the fans aren't stupid, they can see right through this whole act. If they really need money that bad, they should sell the team. Don't drag the fans along on this silly joyride.

My expectations for this season aren't that high, but I remain hopeful tho. All I want is for the Mets to be competitive and to stay in the pennant race for as long as they can. Nothing is worse than a team out of the race lolly gagging to the finish line. So what will happen?? We have 162 games to see what this team is made of.

Looking back on the past year

As I get ready to celebrate the holidays with my family, I have noticed that the year is almost over. I'm thinking where did all this time go? I remember celebrating New Years Eve over at Long Beach like it was yesterday. Now the next thing I now, it's time to make New Years plans again. With that being said, I felt that this year was one of my better year's in terms of learning about who I'm.

The thing I improved on the most was learning to relax and be comfortable in my own skin. I've always had problems with being anxious in situations where I didn't know many people. Thoughts would cloud my mind such as what are people thinking about me, how do I look, etc. This made me tense and led to negative results. So how did I combat this problem? Well, it was a process that took several years to learn. Little by little, I started going to more social functions and interacting with all sorts of different people. As I got to know these people, I've realized that once I got comfortable with someone, there is no shame in being who you are. This has served me well out in Fire Island, where I've met many great friends. The only way to make new friends is you have to love yourself first. Because if you don't like the person you are, than it will be very difficult to attract new friends. As I applied this logic, I slowly found myself relaxing more and not stressing about little meaningless things. I believe this will improve dramatically in the future.

I also took on some new challenges this year. My biggest one was preparing for the CPA exam. I understood that many new opportunities would open up if I passed the exam. So it was up to me to study for it. I spent almost 2 months preparing for this test while barely going to the gym and partying. I felt extremely confident that I was going to pass this exam no problem. Boy was I in for a rude awakening. I was completely thrown off by some of the questions that were being asked. I had a bad feeling after the test. So when I got my results, it did not surprise me that I had failed. I was disappointed but at the same time, I knew that it wasn't a tragedy. I did my best preparing for it and had no shame in doing so. There will be a time when I take the exam again. And mark my words, I will be ready and that's a promise.

On a personal level, I had a blast this year out in Fire Island. Our house had this awesome vibe and everybody seemed to get along really well. I've made many new friends this summer along with the returning shareholders. There were so many stories that went on that I can't share on this blog. Everyone asks me my favorite part of Fire Island? I tell them, the next weekend I'm out there. Because you never know what adventures await when you go there.

As I get ready for the next year, I get excited about the possibilities that await me. I can only hope that next year will be an improvement over this past year. And there's no reason not to believe that. I'm more relaxed, confident, and willing to see what's out there for the taking. On that note, I want to wish everyone a happy holiday and a happy new year. May next year bring everything you want and more.

Getting ready for the best week of the baseball season

It's no secret October is one of my favorite months. Aside from my birthday, my favorite part of October is the baseball playoffs. This is the time of year when several teams are competing to win the ultimate prize, the World Series. Me personally, what makes the baseball playoffs special is it's a luck of the draw as to who wins the championship. As much as I love football, the team that has the best players wins 85% to about 90% of the time in football. Baseball that's not the case most of the time. I've seen many teams that had a ton of talent fall flat on their face in the playoffs. If you have a red hot pitcher for instance, he can carry you for a long time. Remember, it's not the most talented team that wins, it's the best team. So if you take a bunch of players who might not have the most talent but have the most heart, you can go a long way.

Up until this point, this season has been a major drag for me because the Mets have been almost unwatchable. With that said, starting on Thursday will be the best week of the season as far as I'm concerned. You have two series coming up that will go wire to wire with no clear cut favorite to win. For the American League Championship, the New York Yankees will be squaring off against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. And for the National League Championship, the Philadelphia Phillies will face the Los Angeles Dodgers. The winner of each respective series will play each other in the World Series. I have something I can finally get excited about. The main reason is because I think anything is possible with these two series.

Look at the Yankees-Angels series, there is so many questions to answer. The Angels are one of the few teams that give the Yankees trouble. With that in mind, can the Yankees finally get over the hump and defeat the Angels?? That's one thing to look at. How about Arod's postseason play? Can he continue his hot streak or will he melt away? Plus, which teams pitching will come up big?? The answers to these questions will go a long way in determining who will win the series.

As for the Phillies-Dodgers, this is a rematch of last year's National League Championship. The Phillies, who are the defending World Series champions, want to prove last year's title run was no fluke. They have the makeup to do it but their big question is their bullpen. Can Brad Lidge, who had a terrible year, rediscover the magic he had last year which pushed the Phillies to the title?? He could be the difference whether the Phillies repeat or not. For the Dodgers, can their pitching match up with the dangerous Phillies lineup? Will Manny Ramirez get out of his funk and become the player that he is come crunch time?

I'm not going to make any predictions but I will say each of these series should be very entertaining. It doesn't matter whether you're a huge baseball fan or even a casual fan, each series has something for everyone. During this upcoming week, I'm sure there will be plenty of topics to debate about. So without further ado, Lets Play Ball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What makes a good leader???

Leadership is a topic that I've struggled to understand over the years. The reason for this is because I don't know what style would work best for me. Some people prefer being a vocal leader as opposed to someone who leads by example. But I think we can agree that no matter what style is used, the main objective of leadership is to influence people toward a specific result. It is important for the leader to have the support and trust of their colleagues. Without that, it would be impossible to achieve the desired goal.

For me personally, I would like to think of myself as someone who leads by example. I always believed that actions speak louder than words because if you say something, you better back it up or you will look foolish. That's where leadership can get tricky. At certain points, you need to speak up and provide guidance. Because if you don't say a word, your colleagues might think you don't know what your doing. I'm not saying you need to get in someones face to get their maximum effort. The best quality about leaders that I've seen is having the trust of their colleagues that no matter what happens, the mission will be achieved. Take Derek Jeter for example. He is quiet by nature but when it comes time to play the game, he has confidence that his team is going to win every night. His teammates admire him for his preparation and his intense focus. He knows that in order to win the game, he needs his teammates to have the same mindset he has.

This topic can be defined in so many ways. There is no right or wrong answer about how it can be best achieved. As long as your colleagues have their faith in your ability to do the job, that's all you can hope for. I'm going to stick with my approach about actions speaking louder than words. It has suited me well.

So I'm about to turn 29 years old................

It recently hit me that in two weeks from Saturday, I'm going to turn 29 years old. People have been joking around with me that I'm getting old and what not. But truthfully, I don't feel that I'm getting old. I look at it as an opportunity to mature as an adult and apply the lessons that I've learned in my twenties. I can honestly say the past three years have been the best years of my life. I was a late bloomer if you will. I didn't get my drivers license until I was 26. Heck, I didn't know how to ride a bike until I was 25, explain that one to me.

I understand next year I will turn 30, but it is not something I should fear. If anything, it is something for me to embrace. Obviously, your responsibilities change once you get older. But that does not mean you can't stop enjoying yourself. The point of life is to do the things that you enjoy doing. This is one of the important things that will help keep your mind fresh and relaxed. No matter what age I'm, I will always be a kid at heart. The way I see it is if I dwell on the fact I'm getting old, I will be miserable. I won't let that happen because it will lead to unnecessary stress for me. And who needs that right? Look at the guys who are on "Entourage" for instance, they certainly don't let age get in their way of having a goodtime.

So as I approach my 29th birthday, I'm thankful for the experiences that I've had the past ten years. Without them, I wouldn't be the person I'm today. I'm excited about what challenges await me in the next decade or so. By continuing to have the frame of mind I have, I don't see why I can't succeed. My father taught me that no matter what you do, you should never feel sorry for yourself. With that said, I will keep striving to be the best I can be.

Dear Omar

When the New York Mets hired you in the winter of 2004 as general manager, myself and millions of Mets fans had dreams of the World Series coming back to Flushing. However, after the near miss in 2006, when the Mets lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series, and two monumental late season collapses the past two seasons, you've got me thinking you might not be the right man for this job. Not to mention this season's total disaster where everyone is dropping like flies and there's not enough depth on the roster to maintain a playoff push. I could go on and on about all the bad moves you've made over the years, but I won't do that. Instead, I'm going to outline you my blueprint on how the Mets could be fixed for next season.

Any foundation for a World Series contender begins with its starting pitching rotation. I love having Johan Santana as the ace of the staff but he can't do it alone. The Mets need a solid number two starter to help alleviate the pressure off Santana. Mike Pelfrey hasn't quite done the job this year as the number two starter. But I think if you slide Pelfrey into the number three spot, it will relax him and he will become more effective. I suggest the guy you go after is John Lackey. He will be a free agent at the end of the season and it would be wise to make a play for him. He's pitched in big games in the past, can eat up innings, and would be the perfect complement to Santana. If the first three starters in the rotation are Santana, Lackey, and Pelfrey, I think the Mets would be in good shape. Oliver Perez is an absolute joke and you need to do whatever you can to get rid of him. Every time he takes the mound, he seems lost and has trouble being consistent. Do you really need to put up with that headache?

Here is something I would seriously consider, trading Jose Reyes and getting a new shortstop. I know he's still young, got a lot of talent, and can steal bases. But at the same time, he can come off as being immature and has a reputation for failing in the clutch. Not to mention, at times he can make mental errors in the field. The deal I propose is sending him to the Tampa Bay Rays for Carl Crawford and Jason Bartlett. This deal would address a lot of things. First, Crawford would replace Reyes in the leadoff spot. This also would take care of having a left fielder since this is Crawford's position. He would bring a lot to the table such as speed, leadership, and clutch performances. I understand Bartlett might not be as flashy as Reyes at shortstop, but the Mets don't need him to be. If he can play a steady shortstop, I think everyone would be happy.

First baseman and catcher should be top priorities this off season for the Mets. Carlos Delgado is getting older and I don't see how you can bring him back to the team. All it takes is for him to have one tiny thing bothering his hip and he will be done. I would try to make a play for Adrian Gonzalez of the San Diego Padres, because he could hit for power and he is just about to enter his prime. He would be a good cornerstone for the Mets for years to come. As for catcher, Brian Schneider is a complete bust and he must go. Omir Santos is good to keep as a backup catcher. I wouldn't mind having Bengie Molina as the new catcher. He could hit for power and he would be a perfect bottom of the order hitter to lengthen out the lineup.

As for the bullpen, Francisco Rodriguez is a top notch closer. He has done a great job all year for the Mets. I really think J.J Putz deserves a second chance to be the set up guy. He was hurt for most of the year and he couldn't really get it going. Assuming he gets his injuries taken care of, he still has the ability to dominate opposing hitters. Bobby Parnell will only continue to grow as the 7th inning man. And Pedro Feliciano is as good as any left-handed specialist.

So there you have it. Ultimately, you are the general manager and these moves are your call. Who knows, maybe the Mets could be back in the playoffs next year. Only time will tell.

Taking Risks

When I was younger, I was afraid to take risks. I always had this fear inside that things would backfire on me. So it would be common for me to put everything off to another time. I had developed a comfort zone that I didn’t want to leave. About 3 years ago, my whole life changed in a way I couldn’t even imagine. I signed up for a workshop through work which basically was a self-help organization helping people to get the most out of themselves. One of the major things they preached was stepping out of your comfort zone and experimenting with taking risks. It didn’t matter whether things worked out or not, just as long as you attempted something. This advice gave me the confidence to go out and explore the many opportunities that I had missed out on when I was younger.

The biggest risk I ever took to date was going for my driver’s license. I was petrified of driving because when I was 15 years old, I went go-cart racing and I almost ran over one of the workers at the track. My father pulled me aside and said “Mike if you think you're ready to drive, you got another thing coming. Your concentration was terrible. You need to improve your focus 100%.” So this stuck with me for many years, and I never wanted to drive as a result of it. For a while I was content with not driving, but that changed when I got my job. I realized I would need to visit clients sooner or later, and the only way I could do that was to get my driver’s license. So I signed up for driving lessons, and I quickly learned that driving wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. All I needed to do was put 100% concentration into it and always be aware of my surroundings. When it was time for my road test, I felt cool and relaxed going into it. That changed in a heartbeat when the instructor came into the car. She scared the daylights out of me and caused me to be anxious. As a result, I failed the test. I was devastated and understood that the only way to succeed was to work harder the next time. I practiced for a few more months, and by the time my second road test was set, I was ready. I passed it with flying colors. It was such a huge relief for me to finally get my license. I know there are still plenty of things for me to improve on as far as driving goes, but I can hold my head up high and be proud of myself for accomplishing such a big goal.

Not every risk I have taken has worked out for me. This past year, I finally decided to sit for the CPA exam. This was something I would always put off because I was worried about how studying for it would affect my social life. I was having so much fun and I didn’t want it to stop. One night I gave myself a reality check. I told myself it's time to grow up and focus on my career. With that in mind, I applied to sit for the exam and signed up for the review course. So for a month and a half, I had my nose in the books studying. I didn’t party at all, and I barely made it to the gym. Each day that passed, I was growing more and more confident that I was going to ace the exam. I had this swagger, if that’s what you want to call it, that I was going to dominate. Besides that all my friends and family were rooting me on. But the day of the exam, I was in for a rude awakening. It seemed like every question that was asked was something that I had not seen before. I completely blanked on most of the questions, and I knew I was toast. When I left the test center, I did not have a good feeling about it at all. About a month later, the inevitable happened. I found out I failed the exam. I was very disappointed about it, but I kept in mind that almost everyone fails the first time.

Now more than ever, I’m comfortable taking risks that I wouldn’t have dared take when I was younger. Because I know that whether it works out or not isn’t the point. It’s all about having the audacity and the confidence to go out there and stake your claim. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain. You never know what opportunities are out there if you don’t try.