SpelfNet

Coming off a successful first month of the 2004 season, the Mets front office and GM John Spelferson were given a sense of cautious optimism that the team may be able to be competitive despite an orientation towards a youth movement. Spelferson would not make moves to augment the team unless they remained competitive through the middle of June, and remained confident that reinforcements could come from the team's Minor League depth.

The New York Mets would face a wide variety of opponents in the first month of the 2004 Major League Baseball season. Beginning away at Pittsburgh for three games, the Mets would come home and play the division rival Braves and Expos for six games before beginning an early West Coast trip against the Rockies, Dodgers, and Giants. The month would conclude with two games against the Reds at home as part of a four game series that would continue in through May.

Mets Opening Day Roster, 2004 Mets General Manager John Spelferson knew that most of the major trades that would be required to dismantle the roster would take place later in the year, but during Spring Training he would try to make as many transactions as possible. Though the team was under no real financial stress, the top players Spelferson intended to move was starter Tom Glavine, who had a $10.7 million contract through 2005 and had been unimpressive the year before, his age 37 season, sporting a 4.52 ERA. Glavine's contract and potential for sharp decline lead to very few offers, so instead Spelferson instead decided to move 33-year old starter Steve Trachsel, the Mets' best pitcher in 2003. The Mets managed to acquire 26 year old unproven starter Jake Westbrook and former Mets top prospect Alex Escobar. Both players made the league minimum and were expected to make the Major League roster. Importantly, the Mets' scouting department viewed Westbrook as a youn

I intend to write a halfhearted narrative version of a dynasty of Baseball Mogul I'm playing mostly as writing practice and to make the game itself more significant (by means of attaching narrative meaning). I hope nobody enjoys it; as mentioned, I am mostly trying to stay sharp.