Are the Mets on track to duplicate the 2012 Rays pitching staff?

Looking at the players the Mets have, and the projection systems used to evaluate the team, has been interesting. Dan Szymborski’s projection system, ZiPS, has projected a meager 68-94 record for the 2013 Mets. However, other, more optimistic, projections systems, such as Nate Silver’s PECOTA, have projected the Mets to finish 80-82. It’s important to [...]

Mets Spring Training battles to note

Aimless in the Outfield: The Mets are going into Spring Training with a number of relative question marks in the outfield.  No… there will be no Michael Bourn nor will there be Jason Borrne or Ozzy Osbourne but there will be plenty of speculation, misdirection and if we’re lucky… Duda might bite the head off [...]

1986 Mets versus 2013 Mets: Bench

This is the second in a series of evaluations comparing the 1986 World Series Champions with the projected 2013 team. The first article dealt with the offensive contributions of the 1986 Mets starting eight position players. This article deals with the offensive contributions of the bench (or platoon players). In order to keep this from [...]

Mets hope healthy starters can aid questionable bullpen

After last year’s debacle, there’s a lot of concern about the 2013 bullpen. It seem like the Mets have signed 20 relievers with an NRI, hoping to get lucky with one or two of them. Since relievers are so volatile from year to year, this approach has at least as much chance of success as [...]

LaTroy Hawkins an NRI who may last the whole season

While examining the non-roster invites on the Mets’ official website you may notice there are quite a number of players who have a legitimate shot at making the club out of spring training. Veteran arms such as Scott Atchison and Aaron Laffey have MLB experience and could help in the team’s bullpen. Despite missing two [...]

Making sense of the Mets’ closer issues

It was revealed this week that incumbent Mets’ closer Frank Francisco has elbow inflammation and his availability for Opening Day is in doubt. Apparently, Francisco was not able to rehab properly after he had surgery this offseason to remove bone spurs in his elbow because of personal issues. “So, here we go again!”-says every Mets’ [...]

Best and worst Mets pitching performances by advanced stats

Some numbers roll off the tongue. Even though they may no longer be records, 714, 61, 511 and 56 all mean something specific to baseball fans. There’s an aura and mystique there unlike in any other sport. For the Mets, .340 is probably the number that stands out for me. I’m sure others will have [...]

Mets Miss Out On Michael Bourn: Is This A Good Thing?

The word came down last night: Michael Bourn – the last “real” outfielder on the free agent market – had signed a four-year, $48 million contract with the Cleveland Indians. The pact also included an easily-achievable incentive option for a fifth season, which could bring the total figure to $60 million. In other words, a [...]

How will Lucas Duda rebound from his wrist injury?

New York Mets outfielder Lucas Duda broke his right wrist moving furniture in November. He immediately had surgery and is expected to be good for the upcoming Spring Training weeks. Despite the circumstances, a wrist injury is commonplace in baseball. While Duda fully expects to be 100% and back to form in preparation for a [...]

Holy Cow!: The story of Travis d’Arnaud’s incredible path to Flushing

On June 5, 1987, General Manager Frank Cashen used the Mets’ 8th round pick, the 212th overall selection on Eastern Illinois University middle infielder Tim Bogar.  Little did Cashen know at the time, but he set into motion an extraordinary chain of events which is partially responsible for landing catcher of the future Travis d’Arnaud [...]

Mets should honor guys from the lost decade in their HOF

The Mets Hall of Fame is filled with Mets from the 1969, and 1986 era squads, and with John Franco’s induction this past year, they are getting around to the 2000 NL Champions. There is though, an era woefully unrepresented, and while the exploits of the era fall well beneath the dominance of the mid [...]