Mets fans entered the 2015 season hoping this year would be 1984, the year the team went under .500 to 90 wins. At the very least we were hoping it would be 2005, the year we went from 20 games under .500 to four games above the break-even mark. But none of us considered the year in Mets history that this would resemble would be … 2009.
For those of you who weren’t around – or who have successfully blocked the year from your mind – 2009 was the year where everyone not named Daniel Murphy hit the disabled list. Everyone remembers the late-season collapses in 2007 and 2008. And they recall the injury wave of 2009. But what people forget is that the first five weeks of the season when everyone was healthy, the Mets were in first place.
From April 26 to May 10, Carlos Delgado had a .400/.486/.667 slash line over nine games, in which the Mets were 7-2. After games of May 10, the Mets had a 17-13 record and were in first place. But that was the last game in Delgado’s season and, as it turned out, his career. He was done in by an injured hip, which required surgery.
In addition to Delgado, the Mets also had these players on the DL that season: Beltran, Cora, Church, Maine, F. Martinez, R. Martinez, Niese, Nieve, Pagan, O. Perez, Putz, Redding, Reyes, J. Santana, Schneider, Sheffield, Wagner and Wright. It’s likely this list is not complete but even if it is – a listing doesn’t do it justice, as these were not your garden variety 15-day stints.
So far this season, the Mets have had Vic Black, Jerry Blevins, Buddy Carlyle, Travis d’Arnaud, Josh Edgin, Dillon Gee, Dilson Herrera, Jenrry Mejia, Rafael Montero, Bobby Parnell, Cesar Puello, David Wright and Zack Wheeler. Who would have thought the team would have 13 guys on the DL without Michael Cuddyer being one of them?
The 2009 Mets held their own for a little while, staying in first place as late as May 29, when they were 27-20. But from May 30 through the remainder of the season, the team put up a 43-72 mark. That team certainly had more star power than the 2015 version. But star power doesn’t do any good if it’s all sitting on the DL. And that team simply had no depth.
The majority of the injuries in 2015 have hit the bullpen, which has turned out to be a fortunate thing. Right now, Terry Collins may not have a ton of confidence in any reliever besides Jeurys Familia, but at least the hurlers who have replaced the injured have done well when given a chance. Contrast that with the hitters. Eric Campbell got first shot to replace Wright and put up a .643 OPS before being returned to the minors.
Herrera got the next shot and put up a .650 OPS before being injured. Kevin Plawecki has a .640 OPS – 252 points below what d’Arnaud posted before landing on the DL. Many people are bullish on Herrera and/or Plawecki but they haven’t exactly torn things up since getting a chance. And these were positions that the Mets had top prospects ready to step in. What happens if one of the outfielders requires a DL stay? That’s not something we really want to contemplate.
The Mets have a decent shot to match the 27-20 record of the 2009 squad after 47 games. But hopefully that’s the last time that any comparisons to that particular club is made. This year the 47-game mark happens on May 26 and everyone is optimistic that d’Arnuad and Wright can rejoin the club a few games after that point.
Right now we’ll root for the offense to give the pitchers a few runs to work with and that when d’Arnaud and Wright return that the lineup lengthens. Just as importantly, we’ll keep our fingers crossed that the outfielders can stay healthy. Because if one of them goes down, the big trade we’ll need to make won’t be for a shortstop.
Good piece. Yes, an injury to one of the outfielders would be concerning. I think they need to find a good bat as a fill-in. Of course, Sandy won’t do it.
BTW, Matt den Dekker is not getting it done down in AAA. No power at all, which was a fear I had with his newfangled swing. Less K’s, but no pop. It wasn’t too long ago when he was a Gold Glove CF guy who struck out way too much, but could also smack 12-15 HRs. Now he’s just lost. It’s too bad, but not surprising. I hope he finds his way, but I’m not betting on it. Better than Kirkkkkk? Can I choose A) Neither!
I’m actually starting to think that Ceciliani is the next-best in-house option. And yes, it hurts my fingers to type that.
As for MDD — he got off to a brutal start in Triple-A this year. But in his last 10 games he has 11 hits and 10 runs scored, so it’s not as bleak as the overall numbers make it out to be. We’ll see if he can keep up the current stretch but by no means has the last word been said on his career.
Assuming he continues at that pace for the rest of the year, he’ll finish with a ~670 OPS… in AAA…
At least he’s healthy and playing games…
With 126 runs scored.
Good for Steven Lerud
Afraid you only get a B+ for your trolling efforts here. Emmanuel Burriss drove him in just as many times as Lerud.
Off-Topic: I saw that TC said he believed Granderson would hit more HRs, but that Granderson was being pitched around. He complimented the player on not swinging out of the zone, chasing pitches, etc.
But that leads to the question: If you think he’d hit more HRs in a different spot, maybe he shouldn’t be leadoff?
Do we want the HRs or the BBs?
I’m asking.
I’m quite happy with the guy with an .891 OPS over his last 26 games and don’t want him to change anything. When he hit 43 HR in 2012, he only had an .811 OPS. It seems counter-productive to have him sell out for homers and drop 80 points of OPS.
If Lagares goes down then it should be Ceciliani. If Granderson or Cuddyer go down then Kirk/Mayberry will get the AB’s. Both players have good platoon splits and the added playing time may turn them around (or sink the Mets).
Entering the season, on paper, I thought Kirk and Mayberry were adequate reserves but so far they have been abysmal.
I think TC should be giving ” a little ” more time off to Cuddyer and his .664 OPS even if it means playing Mayberry with a lefty on the mound over Cuddyer.
Why Ceciliani? I don’t think he can hit at all.
His minor league stats are nothing spectacular. His best stretch came in 2010 at Brooklyn, fueled by a .430 BABIP. His other decent stop was a tiny 23 game sample size at St. Lucie, also supported by a .375 BABIP.
Juan Lagares hit .303/.347/.417 over 170 games at AA and is struggling to put up numbers at the MLB level.
Ceciliani at AA: .278/.326/.392 over 213 games.
Don’t let the Vegas-infused and high BABIP fool you, this kid aint worthy of being on a MLB roster.
I think the main difference between 2009 and now is the depth. Sure Herrera, Campbell and Plawecki haven’t been killing it, but they haven’t been the sole reason for the Mets offensive struggles. Look to Cuddyer and Lagares more for that.
Herrera and Plawecki simply haven’t played enough yet. They have 46 games total between them, and that includes 18 games of Dilson last year. They are still potential everyday players and possibly more. I don’t think 2015 is a repeat of 2009 just yet, and can only hope it won’t become that moving forward.
Newee and DD have a continued shot at some level of MLB career— LH bats with a little punch…able to Glove CF… they are prototype 5th OF’ers with upside—if the “contact switch” goes on.
Reminder at just how pruductive DelGado was… almost 1600 Ribs, and he never got the chance to milk a couple of years and pad his stats—- but I’m sure there is more than a little suspicion of what he did do.
Sigh… Tremendous hitter!!!
Loved Carlos. His Toronto years were stunning. When he went down, the entire club went down with him.
Kirk is 27, and has had plenty of (failed) chances to show he is a major league player. His appearance on our 25 man roster is a reminder that this organization has a severe lack of position player depth.
What the heck are you talking about?
He had an 828 OPS season last year and sports a career 677 OPS, both more than acceptable bench numbers.
Apologies, he is awesome. Another quality at bat tonight.
Mike, he’s only awesome in even-numbered years. On the whole, he “sports” a career .230 BA — if you like antiquated statistics. At a certain point, you have to earn the paycheck you’re receiving.
He hasn’t hit since they introduced “earnest curveballs” two weeks into Spring Training.
Maybe Kevin Long can fix him!
But Eraff is right; he’ll get more ML chances. Good glove, good pop, LH bat, decent speed. It sounds better than it actually is.
Like Tejada, this is a guy that Sandy inherited and has kept around for years despite, you know, everything. Our GM is slow to discard, even when he’s not looking at a winning hand. This season we are starting to see more action, and quicker reaction time, so there’s hope!
I don’t think this is Kirk’s last shot at MLB… LH CF’ers have a lot of opportunity… when/if he can pull it together.
Lagares is Athletically competitive and talented as a Hitter— but I’m not sure he’s moved the dial in his development and approach. 1000 or so ab’s and it all looks like it looks and that’s that. I’m not in camp that says you can live with him at 650 OPS.
I wish Kevin Long could help Newy figure it out. i’m rooting for him.
Kevin Long? Really? Is there someone still out there who buys the mystique of the miracle hitting coach — pockets full of Yankee hitting dust, blessed by Robinson Cano! — who will come fix everybody? There were dozens of articles saying so all Spring Training — some of them here, as I recall — and they were all complete and utter nonsense generated by the PR machine.
He’s going to teach everybody not to swing at bad pitches!
He’s a competent Major League hitting coach. That’s it.
As for this season, well, is he blameless? He sure gets all the praise if anything goes right. But I don’t see him tackling reporters for interviews lately. Mostly, he’s hiding.