Omar Minaya has taken off the gloves and will now get down to some bare knuckles negotiation when the 2008 Free Agent Draft goes off this June. According to a story in NEWSDAY yesterday Omar is not going to go along with the edict from the Commissioner‘s Office about slotting for draft picks.

 

This change in philosophy comes mostly from not signing RHP Pedro Beato two years ago. Beato was a drafted in the 17^th round of the 2005 draft out of Xavieran H.S. in Bay Ridge Brooklyn and was a draft and follow.  When Minaya was ready to give Beato a $1 mil signing bonus it was denied by the Commissioners Office specifically by Frank Coonelly who is now the President of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Minaya wanted to fight this but it seems the Skill Sets who are pro-Selig and do whatever he directs them to do did not want to rock the boat on this. So Beato was drafted by the Orioles in the 1^st round of the 2006 draft and signed for more than the bonus the Mets were offering. This had to piss Minaya off and I would bet he had a sit down with the Skill Sets and Uncle Saul and stated his case about giving in to the slotting of picks since the only teams keeping up their end were the so called small market teams.

 

So with the Mets having two first round picks Omar knows how important it is for him and his staff to draft a high impact player and money is the least of the Mets problems.

 

The documentary MATHEMATICALLY ALIVE-A STORY OF FANDOM is now out on DVD. This fantastic look into not only Mets fandom but what it’s like to put your heart and soul into rooting for a sports team. Congrat to Joe and Kathy for taking first prize at the NJ Film Fest @ Rutgers U

 

Don’t forget this THURSDAY Night at 9pm SPORTSTALKNY will be on the air via USTREAM and our guests will be Neil Best of NEWSDAY and Author Zack Hample. The chat room will be running and we will take your calls at 631 615-4799 Com’on over and bring a friend

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