Any time the sports community experiences death there’s talk about putting the game in perspective. Often, the human competitive nature makes a game appear more life and death than it really is. When you “peel the onion,” what really happens if you lose? Nothing. There is still plenty to enjoy in life, even the game, when your favorite team is on a down cycle. Putting the game in perspective certainly came to mind when WBALTV reported the news that the passing of former Orioles pitcher, executive, and broadcaster Mike Flanagan was due to him taking his life over public perception that his tenure in the front office was the reason for the team’s failures.

Flanagan experienced so much success in the game. He won the Cy Young Award in 1979, two World Series titles in Baltimore, and was an All Star. After his playing days he served two stints as Orioles pitching coach, and was the Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations.

The failures of the organization existed long before he was the executive vice president. The one constant has been owner Peter Angelos, who has been more of a detriment to the Orioles than any executive, coach, manager, or player. His meddlesome and emotional style of running the team has prevented any executive to put a sustainable rebuilding plan in place.

In an era where people stress about their sports, work, and the financial markets way too much, the death of Mike Flanagan should be a reminder about what really is important. As I said last night on Twitter, whether its baseball or mopping floors – you work for a company – an inanimate object that isn’t worth losing your soul over. When it becomes the sole purpose of your existence, then it’s time to evaluate one’s physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Apparently the pain of failure was too much for Flanagan to take. Knowing the he is survived by a wife and 3 daughters I suspect the Orioles were an important, but not the most important thing in his life. I know the Orioles failures sure seem irrelevant today. Hopefully many that lose perspective on that fact are reminded about it.

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The news that the Washington Nationals are not looking to pursue Prince Fielder should concern the Mets with their own free agent, Jose Reyes. According to Bill Ladsen of MLB.com, The primary reason is that first basemen Michael Morse and Adam LaRoche are already under team control for 2012.  Instead, the Nats may be more focused on finding a center fielder and a leadoff hitter. Reyes is clearly the best leadoff hitter on the free agent market. He would also be an upgrade over the disappointing Ian Desmond.

All reports indicate the Mets will make every attempt to sign Reyes to a reasonable 5 or 6 year deal. Most of this information was pre-hamstring injury, but if Reyes finishes out the season healthy, I see no reason to believe anything will change. Washington is the irresponsible variable since they have proven the past to be willing to overpay on the free agent market. Jayson Werth secured an absurd 7 year/$126 million dollar deal. They also sniffed around the Cliff Lee talks. I can see the Nats offering Reyes “Carl Crawford money.”  A 7 or 8 year deal for Reyes may be something the Mets can’t afford, but even if they could, it may behoove them to pass, take the two Type A Draft Picks and look for Plan B.

What is Plan B without Reyes? Probably handing over the shortstop job to Ruben Tejada or prospect Jordany Valdespin. Perhaps they could use the savings to sign a centerfielder such as Grady Sizemore or Nate McLouth (provided their team option isn’t picked up) for the top of the order. Looking at available free agent pitchers only Edwin Jackson is semi-enticing. Again, not someone I would spend big dollars for on a multi-year deal.

It very well could be Reyes or bust for the Mets this offseason. Of course, they could keep the payroll extremely low while the Wilpon/Madoff scenario is figured out. Jason Bay and Johan Santana are owed a combined $51.5 million dollars in 2013. That in of itself could hamstring the Mets from signing Reyes, or improving the team for a couple of seasons. The less money on the 2012 books, the better long term.

Would Reyes sign with the Nats? He can’t pass up that kind of long-term deal. He wouldn’t be all the far away from New York, and could be one of the faces of a young and upcoming team.

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Joel Sherman makes a great point about how teams continue to lock up their young starting pitching long-term. He presents a scenario where the Yanks have CC Sabathia and four homegrown kids in the rotation as early as 2013. It’s been a long time since the Yankees went that route, but perhaps the performance of Ivan Nova this year has shown them its ok to take a risk on young players, especially pitchers.

Wouldn’t a rotation of Sabathia, Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova, and then two out of the David Phelps, Adam Warren, Dellin Betances, and Manny Banuelos group be a fun thing to watch? Even more important is the fact the Yankees owe $150 million dollars to a third of the roster that season. It’s essential to incorporate value into the roster or that $200 million dollar payroll become $250 pretty quickly. What’s next, $300? I think we saw this past winter there actually is a budget in the Bronx.

I think the fans will enjoy seeing their own pitchers grow and develop, then complain about the failures of another big free agent signing like C.J. Wilson or the Japanese import Yu Darvish.

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Gary Matthews had a lot to say about the Mets during yesterday afternoon’s 7-4 Phillies loss. When Mike Pelfrey and Josh Thole jawed with Placido Polanco over his perceived attempt to lean into a pitch, tempers flared. The Phillies television announcer then called the Mets “crybabies.”

Andy Martino of the Daily News reported that a reporter saw Matthews in the hallway behind the broadcast booth. ”Tell them Sarge said it – the Mets are crybabies,” Matthews repeated to the reporter. “That’s why they lose.”  Matthews then closed his fists and made crying motions under his eyes. ”Make sure you have tears, like this,” he said.

I think the Phillies announcers are homers and have an agenda when it comes to the Mets. They, just like the city, have the “second city” mentality to New York. They know they aren’t New York- to their credit they don’t try to be New York- but still have institutional anger because of it. Even when the Mets aren’t relevant in their lives they still find a way to make them more than what they are. The Phillies should just ignore the rants of a second division club, not add fuel with a war of words with the press.

With that said, the Mets deserve this kind of treatment. Until they start to win teams are not going to respect them. I agree with Pelfrey and Thole going after Polanco- it’s about time they stood up to the Phillies-but there are still a number of players that sat back and allowed the Phils to treat them like a D-League Sunday softball team this week. It’s ok to lose, but to go out there an embarrass yourself (see Angel Pagan), by misjudging routine fly balls, not sliding into home plate, or not showing up to the plate on time is just plain amateur.

Things have started to point in the right direction around here, but there is still a ton more work to do. I will have my “loser meter” out the next five weeks to see who really wants to be part of the solution, or is more concerned about going home for the winter.

Winning teams earn the respect of the competition. Even teams that lose professionally gain respect. The Mets still have many players that don’t get the latter. Gary Matthews is just vocalizing what many around the league are probably thinking.

You can hear Matthews’s comments below courtesy of Crossing Broad.

Mike Silva is a freelance writer and radio host since March of 2007. This website is his own personal "digest" of New York Baseball He's also hosts NYBD Radio on Blog Talk Radio and 1240 AM WGBB. Check out his sports media commentary at www.sportsmediawatchdog.com. Check out his official website, www.mikesilvamedia.com

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Tags: Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Edwin Jackson, Gary Matthews, Grady Sizemore, Jose Reyes, Mike Flanagan, Milwaukee Brewers, Nate McLouth, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Prince Fielder, St Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals