I'm not sure morale is the word, so much as attitude is. (Semantics, yes). That's one of the reasons I believe Orlando Hudson would be a significant acquisition for the Mets. Manager Jerry Manuel has spoken of the need to adopt more of an all-for-one, one-for-all approach. I sense Hudson is a disciple of that.

That sort of approach -- intensity, professionalism or however it is identified -- has to catch on. Someone has to light that fire, and a few victories have to happen at the more opportune times for the fire to spread to all quarters of the clubhouse. The someone usually is a veteran playing regularly. (See Willie Stargell, 1979 Pirates; Keith Hernandez, '83-88 Mets; Kirk Gibson, '88 Dodgers; Darren Daulton, '97 Marlins; and, to a lesser degree perhaps, Kevin Millar, '04 Red Sox).

Jose Valentin was invaluable to the '06 Mets in that way. And even if Paul Lo Duca irritated some of his colleagues, he brought some intensity to the field. Valentin's injuries and Lo Duca's shortfall in performance were primary factors in the Mets' undoing in '07. Damion Easley might have had an effect comparable to Valentin. But he played too infrequently. Not until Carlos Delgado found motivation and his timing in June did the '08 Mets seem to find some fuel -- though not enough.

The source of the fuel this year remains an unknown at this point. The roster may include too many players who first must answer questions about themselves -- Luis Castillo, Ryan Church, Daniel Murphy, Mike Pelfrey and John Maine -- to have the team concept take hold at the outset. It's not selfishness, it's human nature. Players are reticent to beat their chests in the clubhouse until they are confident in their own performance and their place in the team's pecking order.

A sense exists that David Wright's positive influence can't have full impact as long as Wright believes he should defer to the more veteran Delgado. Wright certainly can't be blamed for his sense of what is proper. Manuel has said he wants more leadership from Jose Reyes. But can Reyes provide more so long as the more veteran players -- Delgado and Carlos Beltran, neither a dynamic personality -- are in the mix?

Starting pitchers rarely have that desired impact -- Tom Seaver and Bob Gibson being conspicuous exceptions. Pedro Martinez had it to some degree in 2005 and early in '06. Now the selflessness and resolve of Johan Santana and his efforts to draw out Oliver Perez have earned him status in the clubhouse that transcends his pitching. That desired feeling can begin with the games he starts and then spread.

And don't be surprised if Alex Cora becomes a positive influence in the clubhouse in much the same way Valentin did. He has stripes and a proven resume in that area.

Do you really prefer Freddy Garcia or Tim Redding over Pedro Martinez? I really think Martinez will rebound and he would be an upgrade on the field and in the clubhouse. What do you think?
-- Eduardo L., Santa Cruz, Bolivia

I don't believe I've written that or even thought about Garcia or Redding in terms of Martinez. I was a tad surprised when the club pursued Garcia. I figured that, beginning late in the 2006 season with Martinez and Orlando Hernandez, the Mets had endured enough of injured veteran starting pitchers. I never expected them to bring back Martinez.

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Injured starters drag down their teams, like injured quarterbacks, forcing the teams to rely on lesser pitchers and to have their bullpens work too often and too much. An old baseball idiom is that it's better to trade (or release) a player one year too early than one year too late. Guaranteed multiyear contracts -- Martinez's was for four years -- sometimes prevent general managers from following that sage advice. But it holds true.

Signing Garcia represents a pretty sound risk-reward equation to me; Redding, too. Not so with Pedro.

What do you mean if the 2009 rotation reaches the level of the rotations 36 and 40 years ago, Castillo's hitting won't be an issue? You can't be serious. For the Mets to contend, he must hit, because he sure isn't going to field. And if he doesn't field, don't you think that will have a devastating effect on our pitching? Castillo's got his money, thanks to Omar Minaya. Imagine signing a 36-year old, out-of-shape player to an obscene four-year contract.

When I first heard the Mets were interested in Castillo, I cheered. I didn't realize how old he was; I didn't realize they would give him a four-year contract and didn't realize he had put on so much weight and had no range. When I first saw him in a Mets uniform, I was shocked. I remembered what he looked like when he was with the Marlins. Further shock was in store for me when I saw him hit and field. They should sign Orlando Hudson! They've blown a lot of money; they have a huge payroll. Let them admit Minaya's error, sign Hudson and win!
-- John C., Pembroke Pines, Fla.

I'm not saying the four-year contract wasn't a mistake. Regardless of the millions involved, it wasn't sound to me because the Mets already were aware of Hudson's desire to play for them. But the bell has been rung, and the Mets have chosen not to rectify the situation now that Hudson is available and Castillo is owed a fortune. They're trying to make the best of a bad and expensive situation.

But all I said is that if the current rotation performs as Seaver, Jerry Koosman and Jon Matlack did or as Seaver, Koosman, Gary Gentry and Nolan Ryan did, Castillo's hitting won't be an issue.

I expect Castillo's defense to be conspicuously improved. And even last season when his overall performance was quite lacking, he turned the double play well. The Mets executives who visited the Dominican Republic last week were encouraged to see Castillo's slimmed-down body and that his movement was consistent with the mostly positive reports they had received.

There's is no guaranteeing he will hit or play adequate defense, but I suspect his defense will be at least adequate.

If a player doesn't play in a season due to injury, why is the club still obligated to pay him? (See Martinez and Billy Wagner). Is there not a clause in contracts based on behavior that can be used to prevent behavior such as Manny Ramirez's? If so, could the Mets not use it if they obtain him?
-- Lenny M., Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

Martinez was paid in full in 2006 and '07, as Wagner will be this year, because guaranteed contracts guarantee salary. Behavioral clauses prevent nothing. Their intent is to discourage players from risking the contract. If a player is contractually prohibited from skiing and it is proven that he has skied, the contract can be voided. But the contract itself can't keep him off the slopes.

As far as on-field performance, determining a player has laid down on his team is a quite subjective exercise and wouldn't be easily proven in the inevitable grievance that would follow a club's voiding the contract.