The Mets fired General Manager Steve Phillips and named Jim Duquette interim GM yesterday. I expected yesterday's press conference to take place ten days earlier, and when Phillips called up SS-S Jose Reyes, I thought he might have saved his job through the end of the season. However, Phillips' head has been on the block for over a year, and Mets' owner Fred Wilpon should have dismissed him when the team switched managers this past off-season. If New York had made the move after the 2002 season, then the new GM and Manager Art Howe could have begun working together immediately, though I believe the Mets' would have hired Howe regardless of who was in the front office. Instead, Phillips remained with the team as a scapegoat in waiting for the time when even casual fans would realize the Mets' weren't going to make it out of the cellar in 2003.

Phillips took power in the front office in July of 1997. Under his reign, the Mets reached the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time in club history. In their second playoff appearance, the team faced off with the Yankees in the World Series, allowing Mets' fans to reclaim some of New York's baseball glory for the first time in a decade.

Mike Piazza is the face of the Mets and Al Leiter has been a cornerstone of their rotation for the last five years; both were early Phillips acquisitions. While Armando Benitez, another Phillips pick-up, doesn't seem likely to remain in a Mets' uniform much longer, he's provided the end of their pen with stability for four years. Unfortunately, Phillips ability to judge talent waned after his first two years with the club and the roster is now littered with players not worth the money or talent expended on their acquisition. The Mets needed to fire Phillips, but he certainly wasn't one of the worst general managers ever to run a club.

Duquette will execute the duties of the GM for the remainder of the season. New York will consider removing the interim qualifier from Duquette's title at the end of the season, but they first want to conduct a thorough search as required by the Commissioner's Office. Wilpon made the move at this time because he wanted Duquette to have room to maneuver before the trade deadline. The Mets intend to improve this year's team, but New York also will be looking towards building a team that will be successful for the next several years. While ownership doesn't view this as a multi-season rebuilding process, they are looking to add to the farm system not pillage it.

I'm interested to see what actions Duquette will take, as I think it will be difficult to avoid the pitfalls that have led to the team's current position while making immediate improvements. There is some talent in the minor league system but few of their prospects are in the high minors. I think Reyes should return to the minors, though I don't believe remaining with the big league team will severely hinder his development. RHP Aaron Heilman does not look ready for the majors at this time and should be given at least a few more months at AAA. Right-handed reliever Orber Moreno has compiled a 20:1 K:BB with 10 H allowed in 16 IP at AAA Norfolk in the International League and should receive a promotion if the Mets trade Benitez.

LHP Mike Stanton should return to the disabled list today or tomorrow as he's set to undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair a tear in the meniscus of his left knee today. While inflammation and fluid build-up in the knee led to his last DL stint, he and the Mets believe he tore the meniscus during his June 10th appearance in Texas. Recovery from surgery is expected to take between three and six weeks.

RHP Jason Roach will replace Stanton on the roster and start in place of LHP Tom Glavine on Saturday. New York drafted Roach out of the University of North Carolina-Wilmington with their 20th round pick of the 1997 draft. For the first three years of his professional baseball career, Roach played first and third, though he appeared as a reliever once in 1998 and twice in 1999. In 2000, the Mets decided his future was as a pitcher rather than as a position player. After bouncing between a few levels in 2000, Roach split 2001 and 2002 between AA Binghamton in the Eastern League and AAA Norfolk. The 27-year-old has compiled a 43:16 K:BB with 57 H and 4 HR allowed in 53 IP for a 4.25 ERA over 16 appearances including nine starts at Norfolk this year. While he doesn't have the upside of Heilman due to his age, Roach currently appears more prepared for the majors and should pitch effectively at the bottom of the Mets rotation as long as needed.

Glavine left his June 5th start against the Brewers in the second inning with an inflamed elbow, which reportedly was the result of a bone spur. Evidently, Glavine has known of the bone spur for years, but it supposedly isn't in a position to cause damage to the rest of his elbow and rarely bothers him. He expects to be back in the rotation on Monday. His recent troubles indicate he may need to have the spur removed later this season. However, provided he doesn't damage himself elsewhere trying to pitch around his elbow problem, surgery to remove the spur shouldn't cost him much more than six weeks.