This year, I’d like to give thanks for baseball, the New York Mets, and their loyal/crazy/passionate bloggers.  Thanks to them, I enjoyed 2011’s 77-win season like no other 77-win season before.  When Jesse Orosco hung on to finish off the Houston Astros in Game 6 of the 1986 NLCS, Keith Hernandez said to him, “Way to make it interesting.”  To Joe Janish and the good folks at Mets Today, and Mets bloggers everywhere, I say, “Way to make it interesting.”

Thankfully, here are the Blogs:

• John Delcos wonders if Joe Nathan would have been worth the price for the Mets.
• Mets Fever says the Mets are still interested in Huston Street.
• Media Goon nearly reached Red Hulk status while trying to purchase his 20-game ticket plan.
• LoHud Mets figures out if Jack Wilson is a free-agent fit.
• Tedquarters (with a nod to Optimistic Mets Fan) reviews a Tostada from Wayne, NJ, the home of my alma mater.
• Amazin’ Avenue takes an in-depth look at Bobby Valentine, and endorses him for the next manager of the Red Sox.  Based on this piece, I’d hire him.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you Mets Today readers.  We’re most thankful for you.

Joel Sherman’s latest claim is that the Mets offered Aaron Heilman to the Rockies in return for Huston Street, and then refused to make the deal when Colorado insisted on the addition of Pedro Feliciano.

This is so laughable on so many levels I don’t know where to start.

First of all, if the Mets thought another team would think so highly of Aaron Heilman, why didn’t they offer him straight up for Matt Holliday? After all, that’s basically what they were telling the Rockies — since Street was the centerpiece of the Holliday deal with the Athletics. If I was Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd, and Omar Minaya proposed Heilman for Street right after I obtained Street for my franchise player, I’d not only tell Omar to stick it, I’d never take another call from him. Yes, I understand that other players were sent to the Rockies, but Street is the guy who has the most value at this moment.

Even sillier is the idea that the Mets would balk at adding Feliciano to such an unrealistic deal. Are you kidding me? Last I checked, there were about a dozen LOOGYs available on the free-agent market, for cheap, who can do what Pedro Lite does.

While it’s true that Huston Street’s stock has plummeted somewhat, he’s still a 24-year-old with almost 100 big-league saves. No one gives away that type of asset for two middle relievers entering their 30s and coming off their worst seasons. Remember what the Mets received in return for the Turk Wendell / Dennis Cook package? Exactly.

Now, if the Mets offered Heilman plus Jon Niese plus another youngster, I might believe it. Or if they offered Heilman and Ryan Church, I’d consider it realistic.

Personally, you know I think Heilman is much better than what he showed in 2008. But his current street value is nowhere near what Sherman is suggesting.

In a surprise move, Brewers closer Salomon Torres retired from baseball last week. Yeah, we’re a week late here but it takes a while for the pony express to get here from Wisconsin.

Torres chose to quit baseball in order to devote more time to serving God and his family.

Torres had the best season of his up-and-down career, saving 28 games and posting a 3.49 ERA for Milwaukee, who despite the retirement, chose to pick up the $3.5M option on his contract. The startling news further weakens an already emaciated Brewer bullpen, and puts them in the market for just about any relievers that are available.

So, add another team looking for a closer … and a setup man … and a few middle relievers … and a LOOGY.

Will this adversely affect the Mets’ pursuit of bullpen help? Possibly. While the Brewers aren’t likely to outbid the Mets on anyone, they could pluck some bargains (Kerry Wood) and have enough young talent to deal away for someone such as Huston Street or Bobby Jenks.

With the Matt Holliday trade all but confirmed, CBS Sportline’s Scott Miller suggested that the Colorado Rockies may flip Huston Street to another team.

Per Miller:

The Rockies will receive outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, left-handed pitcher Greg Smith and closer Huston Street in return, though they may not keep Street. One source said Monday that the Rockies are prepared to turn around and trade him — though to which team he wasn’t sure.

St. Louis, the New York Mets, Detroit, Cleveland and Tampa Bay are among the clubs in the market for a closer this winter, though the Tigers do not appear to be involved with Street.

Strange that the Rockies would be so quick to move Street, considering that the Rockies are currently without a closer and Street is a young and inexpensive one for now and the future. If it’s true Street will be moved again soon, there must be a deal in place, as he is the only individual in the deal with legitimate MLB success in his career. Yes, Greg Smith was impressive in his rookie season, but you don’t trade one of the best hitters in the National League for a guy who lost 16 games.

Is it possible that the Rays would offer someone like Carl Crawford in return for Street? Are the Cardinals prepared to exchange Ryan Ludwick for the young reliever? If so, the Mets don’t have a chance in … wait, perhaps they do — Ryan Church would seem to be an ideal fit for the god-fearing Rockies.

Think about it — Church has a great name and the perfect makeup for the mile-high bible-toters (NEW testament, of course). It’s amazing that Church’s public display of anti-semitism was completely ignored by the New York media (and likely applauded by the Rockies) for an entire year — what are the chances he can keep that old “secret” buried another season?

Personally, I don’t care what Ryan Church believes, so long as he hits and plays hard (in that order; there’s always Endy Chavez to not hit and play hard).

But I digress …

What do you think? Would you trade Ryan Church for Huston Street? What if the trade also included, say, Jon Niese and Jeff Francis? Fernando Martinez and Brad Hawpe? Speculate away …