Time To Focus On 2011?

In an article on ESPN.com, Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus says it is time for the New York Mets to move on from 2010 and start focusing on 2011. Goldstein stated that despite the fact that they are still only 5 games out of the Wild Card, they need to start paying more attention to future players who will replace guys under contract for only a few more years such as Carlos Beltran, Francisco Rodriguez, Luis castillo, and Oliver Perez. He says that the Mets need to figure out whether guys like Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Jenrry Mejia, and Reese Havens can play on the major league level and fill the void left by the future free-agents.

Opinion - With all due respect to Kevin Goldstein, this article makes no sense to me. The reason why Major League Baseball teams have tons of people on their staffs is for some of these very reasons. Determining whether these young minor-leaguers can play on the Major league level is the job of the hundreds of scouts and player development people that the Mets employ. This has nothing to do with the on-field product of the Major League club. The future of these players and whether or not they can play at such a high level should have no effect on the current Mets club. Do I think the Mets should go out and make a major trade involving these prospects? No, of course not, but I don't think acquiring somebody via trade that can improve the current club should be avoided. Besides, the Mets are only 5 games out of the Wild Card, and for that matter, only 6 1/2 games out of the NL East lead. Teams in the past have been able to gain that much ground with over 60 games still remaining. Remember the 2007 and 2008 Mets?