New Marty Noble Mailbag on Mets.com

Marty Noble has a new mailbag posted on the Mets web site. There are some interesting things up there to warm up this brutally cold northeastern day.

Why are the Mets looking to dump Kris Benson?
-- Andrew S., Lodi, N.J.

They're not. But before they traded Jae Seo to the Dodgers for Duaner Sanchez and Steve Schmoll, they were looking to upgrade their bullpen and thought they had an excess in one area -- starting pitching. They weren't about to deal Pedro Martinez or Tom Glavine -- each of whom has a contract with no-trade provisions -- and Steve Trachsel has veto power over a trade as a 10-5 player. That left Seo, Benson and Victor Zambrano.

They still might trade Benson, but making him available is in no way a dump job.

I've been one of what seems to be a minority that would like to see the Mets hold onto Benson. I was disappointed in the way he finished last season, and like many of you, was concerned about his inability to get any strikeouts as the season went on. That being said, I thought Kris proved that he can pitch in pressure games here in New York. His two performances against the Yankees in particular were eye openers. Because of that, and the fact that Pedro, Glavine, Zambrano and Trachsel are all to some extent question marks, I'd like to see what Benson could do in 2006.

Now having said that, I could see the Mets dumping Benson's salary to make room for a big pitcher like Zito. Even in that case, however, I would still love to see them keep Benson unless he was part of the actual deal. If Benson can develop more stamina, he can be a really good third starter for this team, and at $7.5 million per year, he's not that expensive in today's market. I'd give him one more shot to prove he can do that.

There was also an interesting question on what Noble thought was the all-time Mets rotation. I probably wouldn't base my picks completely on career stats but look at guys like Pedro (who obviously hasn't been here long), Bobby Ojeda (a couple of good years and injuries) and Mike Hampton (1 and out).

Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Pedro Martinez, Dwight Gooden and David Cone would be my picks. A step below would have been Ron Darling, Bob Ojeda (by far the Met's best pitcher in 1986), Al Leiter, John Matlack, Mike Hampton (hey, I hate him, too, but let's be honest) and Sid Fernandez.

My bullpen would feature southpaws Tug McGraw (tougher on righties with the screwball), John Franco, Jesse Orosco and Randy Meyers and righthanders Armando Benitez (he wouldn't close), Roger McDowell and Skip Lockwood. McGraw would definitely be the closer -- that screwball was a great pitch and the man had no fear (the anti-Benitez).

This weather sucks. Pitchers and catchers in one month...