Every once in a while I like to look back at MetsToday posts from the past, when the team appeared to be better and my writing was much more interesting (yet, ironically, had a much smaller audience).

So I went back to October 2008 and found this gem: Which Way Should the Mets Go?

It was written right after The Collapse Part Deux, and some of the biggest issues on the table for the coming offseason included whether to pick up the option on Carlos Delgado’s contract and if they should pursue free-agent reliever Francisco Rodriguez. My feeling was that, with the opening of Citi Field on the horizon, instead of continuing with the band-aid or patchwork route of adding “final pieces to the puzzle”, maybe the Mets should consider trading veterans such as Carlos Beltran and Luis Castillo and start rebuilding with youth.

Check it out, and come back here to comment: Which Way Should the Mets Go?

From the “Where They Are Now” files ….

Kevin Kernan of the NY Post has a nice article on Chris Carter, who is now in Tampa Bay.

When “The Animal” first signed with the Rays, it seemed like an idea landing spot, since the team seemed to be sparse in terms of DH / 1B / OF depth. At the time, it appeared as though Carter would get a legitimate shot to make the big club. Of course, that was before the Rays signed Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon. Carter still is being given an opportunity to make the team, but his chances appear to be somewhere between slim and none.

Still, his attitude remains the same — happy to be in baseball. In addition to changing teams, Carter also got married over the winter (sorry, Erica!), tying the knot with a woman he met during his days in the Cape Cod League. He relayed to Kernan that he was surprised when the Mets released him, but had some very nice things to say about his time in New York.

“Once I found out it wasn’t going to be the Mets, I said, ‘OK.’ I just started working hard. I didn’t expect it to happen. I loved playing for the Mets. I was surprised by it. It was completely unexpected. I didn’t hear any rumors, but I didn’t want to dwell on it too long. I had to move forward because I didn’t have any plans.”

“Every time I think about it, I smile,” he said. “It was the best time of my life being with the Mets. I felt a part of that Mets spirit. It was really special. Shoot, they deserve to win a World Series. Hopefully it’s not while I’m playing because I’m with the Rays right now, but they’re amazing. And I really miss the Mets fans.”

Class act. I miss him even more, now — even if he does throw like a girl.

You know the old adage “be careful what you wish for” ?

In the case of the Nick Evans Fan Club — an underground, but rapidly growing movement — we may get our wish of seeing Evans on the Mets’ 25-man roster come Opening Day, but the reason why may not be so pleasant.

Random notes on Tuesday afternoon’s televised split-squad spring training game between the Mets and Nationals.

Chris Capuano was hammered by the Nats bats. Hitters looked very comfortable in the box against him, took good swings and made solid, hard contact even on outs. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Capuano pitch, and I don’t remember his motion being so linear and flat; after his leg lift he immediately drops his body down and pushes forward, thereby eliminating much of the advantage provided by gravity. I’m not terribly concerned about him just yet, though, as it’s still early and he could just be working on some things. Further, his performance wasn’t awful when you look at the outcome; I just wasn’t terribly impressed by the process.

On the other hand, I am worried about