Does anyone know what the Mets are thinking?

Honestly, I can't figure this front office out. I still can't decide if Omar Minaya is a crafty, savvy baseball mind, or a complete and utter idiot. I just can't tell. The decisions being made by this franchise are all over the map. This offseason is driving me insane -- not because it's neither good nor bad, but because I cannot comprehend our financial difficulties or the intended direction of the club.

Why have we taken such measures to steer clear of Manny Ramirez? What, it's not worth investing in one of the top five players in the world, a player who, offensively, is either or second or third best? We're talking about one of the greatest run producers in the history of the game, and a guy who showed absolutely no signs of slowing down after being traded to the Dodgers last season. 

And yet, the Mets appear content with Ryan Church in right field -- who was re-signed this past week -- and a lefty/righty platoon of Daniel Murphy and Fernando Tatis. Where's the pop? We're going to leave all the pressure on the shoulders of Carlos Beltran and David Wright? It wouldn't be logical to expect Carlos Delgado to hit 38 homers and be a contender in the MVP race this upcoming year. Plain and simply, he's old, and the holes in his swing are undeniable. He's still incredibly strong, just not as mechanically sound as he once was, and understandably so.

Why did we let Derek Lowe get away from us, and sign with a hated division rival no less? Why are the negotiations with Oliver Perez going so poorly? What happened to the loads of cash we used to have?

Of course, one answer could be the national financial crisis. However, MLB analysts including Tim Kurkjian and Steve Phillips have said that the Mets shouldn't be one of the clubs suffering mightily in these harsh economic times. They said the Mets should be above the issue, like the Yankees, Red Sox, and Cubbies of the world.

But we can't get Manny, we can't get Lowe, and it doesn't seem like we can re-sign Oliver Perez. Something is definitely wrong. Are the Wilpons broke? Poor investments? Who the hell knows, but it's driving me nuts.

In the mean time, we made one intelligent move: signing utility man Alex Cora. Cora is an outstanding defensive player at both second base and shortstop, and he's more than adequate at third base as well. He's a very cerebral ballplayer with keen understanding of situational hitting, and he can be a solid singles' hitter to all fields.

Now, bringing back Duaner Sanchez -- especially as a seventh inning man -- well, that's a totally different story. Here's a guy with an 85-89 mph fastball with a terrible slider and deteriorating change-up, and yet, here we are, saying, "Hey! We can't wait to bring you back and throw you out there in critical situations! Who cares if you can barely reach the plate?"

Can't take it. I wish I could fathom the Mets' front office.