Dear Santa,

Me again. Merry Christmas and all that.

It's certainly been another long year with its ups-and-downs and an ending on a fairly sour note. The happy memories (Pelfrey's and Murphy's emergence, the re-emergence of Delgado, my first foul ball) are mixed with the sad ones (Shea's swan song, Mets ending the season a day late and game short, the Phillies not losing the World Series).

Despite the mix of experiences from 2008, I'm again left with that sour taste I experience after 2007. As such, I again write you with what I hope to find under the tree for the Mets this Christmas day:

1) Derek Lowe. One of the things that Minaya has done well this offseason is make statement moves for the Mets that also make sense. I liked the K-Rod signing, and liked even more that J.J. Putz is here to step in should K-Rod need a break. And Lowe, at this point, feels like the one statement move left for the Mets to make. He won't cost prospects (though he'll lose us a few draft picks), and he gives the Mets a perfect complement to Johan Santana: a workhorse to back up the ace. It's true that John Maine could step into that role with a solid bounceback season in 2009. But Lowe to the Mets makes that an easier transition and less of a gamble.

2) 18 Million Dollars. That's how much it will cost to eat Luis Castillo's contract. I've already made my case for why Castillo can't return to the Mets in 2009, but still he remains. As with Lowe, trading Castillo is a statement move that makes sense. It sends word that the Mets won't tolerate sub-par performance while ridding the team of a player whose best days are behind him. It's not like a Castillo revival would mimic Delgado's in any way. He wouldn't be a big loss, and coupling the move with bringing Orlando Hudson to Citi Field will help ease that transition.

3) The Ability to Ignore the Yankees' Every Move. I know I've asked for some big ticket items at 1 and 2 on this list, but they're baseball moves. They upgrade the team from it's current state. That being said, I'm not asking for those moves because of pressure by other teams. Every time the Yankees shovel more money at another player (like the $180 million they threw in Mark Teixeira's direction), it ratchets up the pressure by the media and fans for the Mets to steal the headlines back. For as much as Minaya needs to wheel and deal a bit more, those moves can't be reactionary in nature. It's mind boggling where the Yankees can find $420 million to throw at 3 players, but throwing money at ballplayers hasn't worked in the last few years for them. Just ask A-Rod.

4) A No-Hitter. You didn't deliver last year, and so I'm asking again. A Met didn't throw one in the Polo Grounds era nor the Shea Stadium era. Let's put this one to rest with a Mets no-hitter in the inaugural season of Citi Field.

5) A Resolution in Left Field. If plan A in left field for the Mets were Daniel Murphy, they would've cleared up all the rumors long ago. Instead, we hear that Manny Ramirez probably won't be a Met, Pat Burrell could be a good fit for the Mets, and Adam Dunn continues to draw no interest. I'm sure Xavier Nady will return to the rumor mill now that he's clearly expendable in the Bronx. But whatever will be, will be. Just let it be sooner, OK?

6) The Return of Banner Day. Every time the words "Citi Field" are uttered, it's followed by the phrase "The World Class Home of the Mets." It's as if A) Citi Field is now automatically the next Wrigley Field, and B) the park is bigger than the team. Early reports suggest Citi Field conjures up feelings of Citizens Bank Park in Philly, which in turn mimics Camden Yards in Baltimore. The short version: They all look alike.

The only differences nowadays in the modern-day mallparks are the traditions built within the park. Hence, bringing proven Mets traditions over to the new ballpark will help that transition, and make Citi Field more of a home and less of a "world class facility" that the Mets happen to play in. Banner Day is one such tradition that was born in Shea and literally added local color all over the ballpark. Bring it back.

7) A World Series trophy. If you don't ask, you'll never get it.

Thanks, Santa. I hope the weather doesn't slow you down this Christmas Eve. Give my regards to the Missus.

Merry Christmas,

Matt

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I'll be spending the holidays up north, and most likely away for the latest rumors regarding all things Mets. If you don't hear from me sooner, may you and yours have a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Festivus, or whatever you might celebrate this holiday season. Stay warm, and let's go Mets!