Welcome to the Island of Misfit Toys

The Mets have signed LHP Chris Capuano and RHP Taylor Buchholz to one-year contracts. Both pitchers are expected to compete for (and probably get) rotation spots this spring.

Both Capuano and Buchholz are coming off Tommy John surgery. Actually, Capuano is coming off his second Tommy John surgery. Last season for the Brewers, Capuano went 4-4 with a 3.95 ERA in 24 appearances, which included nine starts. Buchholz threw just 12 innings for the Blue Jays last season, having been on a rehab assignment until July. However, in 2008 with the Rockies, opponents hit .188 against Buchholz. In 63 releif appearances, he had a 2.17 ERA.

At least Sandy Alderson's first signing of 2011 was for pitching. We need bullpen help and maybe a starter. I would love it if he could get rid of Oliver Perez, but I really don't see it happening. I do see somebody coming off his second Tommy John surgery beating Oliver Perez for a rotation spot. I'm on Team Capuano. At least Capuano, according to Willie Randolph, "is a hard worker."

I suppose the perfect metaphor for these Mets would be that of the Island of Misfit Toys. Even in 1962, when the expansion draft was held, the Mets were made up of guys that nobody wanted. The 2011 Mets, right now, seem to be guys that nobody wants. I mean, we probably could have gotten something for Fernando Martinez....two years ago. Same goes for Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, and I'll even throw Luis Castillo in for argument's sake. Arguably our only player of high trade value right now is The Man himself, David Wright, and he goes nowhere.

Now, you couldn't get teams to take Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo off your hands because of their overpaying contracts/low performances!

Mets fans are pretty loyal to their team, and have grown to love players like R.A. Dickey, Mike Pelfrey, and Angel Pagan. But what about Misfits like Perez and Castillo? They're on like their own sub-island of the Island of Misift Toys. Not even their own fan base will touch them with a 10-foot pole (yet, Oliver Perez's face glares at me whenever I play Uno with my Mets deck).

So, I welcome Chris Capuano and Taylor Buchholz to the Island of Misfit Toys, where they will mingle with the Charlie-in-the-Box and the spotted elephant. That spotted elephant was awesome, just like out last misfit signing, R.A. Dickey. I don't think either of them will have trouble finding their role on the Mets, because lets face it, they want to do their job; Oliver Perez doesn't.