The confetti has gone limp & damp. What was once an exuberant symbol of all-night revelry is now simply so much more Times Square litter. As we rouse ourselves and shake whatever cobwebs exist between our respective ears, we realize it’s a day for fresh starts, clean slates, new beginnings. It’s almost like Opening Day in our beloved sport: everyone’s 0-0. It’s New Year’s Day, and those new beginnings are waiting to be writ, those clean slates look to be filled. It’s not the day for expectation, as much as the day for possibilities, for dreams and wishes.
Given the history of the team we follow, we Met fans are better at wishing than most. We are the dreamers, the fantasists, the hopers and believers. We don’t have to be pragmatists like denizens of the team across town, where the currency is hard fact, wins and losses and 27 titles. The less-than-perfect nature of “our” ballclub allows for a certain flexibility and freedom from the yoke of expectation: we know the team isn’t going to win very much, so we can allow ourselves to indulge in a best-case scenario, today, especially.
So my overarching wish for New York Mets baseball, 2013 edition, is a season full of best-case. Specifically, as follows:
For David Wright: the ability to shrug off his new-found wealth and a season of simply playing ball. Many players who sign a big contract struggle in trying to live up to it. May David keep his head about him.
For Ike Davis: the return of his attention to defense as well as a full season the looks like the second half of 2012 offensively. Barring anything unforeseen acquisition-wise between now and spring training, Ike will be Wright’s main protection in this frail lineup.
For Daniel Murphy: another 40-double season — with some homers added in this time — and a year when his defense won’t have to be put under the microscope.
For Lucas Duda: consistency at the plate and any defense at all.
For Ruben Tejada: continued development and a bit more power.
For Johan Santana: 32 starts and a bushel of strikeouts
For Matt Harvey: 17+ wins and a WHIP under 1.2
For Zack Wheeler: a Seaver-esque first season and some Rookie of the Year hardware at the end of it.
For Travis d’Arnaud: handles – handling the pitching staff, handling a first taste of the bigs, handling New York. And a runner-up to Wheeler as ROY.
For Jonathon Niese: a fine season of low walks, low hits and high strikeouts, as well as a speculation-free offseason.
For Kirk Nieuwenhuis: proof that you are a major league centerfielder along with doubles sprayed all over the spacious Citi outfield.
For Mike Baxter: a healthy season and a better-than-capable platoon partner.
For Frank Francisco: a team willing to take you on once Bobby Parnell establishes himself as the Queens closer.
For R.A. Dickey: 20 more wins with the Blue Jays, including 6 wins against the Yankees.
For Terry Collins: a relatively low-stress final season in blue & orange. I suspect there will be a different man in the dugout come 2014.
For Sandy Alderson: for all your moves to work.
For Fred & Jeff Wilpon: for you guys to assure your buddy Bud Selig that Mark Cuban is a real standup guy – a mensch, if you will – and the perfect next owner of the Mets. Hey, if we’re wishing, let’s wish big, right?
And finally, for the team as a whole: crisp play, tight defense, timely hitting and stout pitching. Do all that and the wins will take care of themselves.
Finally, let me take this opportunity to wish you – all Mets360’s constant readers and talented writers – and your respective families and friends a healthy, happy and prosperous 2013.
LET’S GO METS!
Follow me on Twitter @CharlieHangley
What a fun article to read! I love it!
A few thoughts…
I think Ike Davis gets to play without the lingering fatigue issues that accompanied his first half last year. What he experienced was fatigue, low level, but chronic, that lasted for months.
Murph: 40 doubles and continued defensive improvement.
The most touching?
Seaveresque ROY for us…that is just fun to read.
It will be an exciting year. Imagine this:
Readers here debating, in mid June, who is more Seaver-like, Matt Harvey or Zack Wheeler!!
THIS would be a blast!
Thanks for a great article.
off topic:
anyone know a trusted source for a Tom Seaver autographed baseball? I don’t know much about sports memorabilia and wouldn’t want to get taken. advice appreciated! thanks, Peter
Your wishes may one day come true but there are a few things I would like to mention. Bobby Parnell reminds me too much of Kyle Farnswoth. Tremendous fastball but very hittable. Hopefully he can one day learn to handle the closer role. As for a new owner there are so many choices to pick from here in New York City. I love Mark Cuban as an owner but how about our own mayor. He has the credentials and the money to match our friends in the Bronx. Let’s wish for the Mets to sign Scott Hairston and put in the 5 hole to protect Ike’s bat all season. You never know about injuries so the Mets really do have a chance at a wild card if the baseball gods so choose it. Like you said, I wish…
I think Parnell took a big step forward last year. His walks were way down and his BABIP was a normal .302 compared to his previous low of .327 – I’m glad they didn’t trade him.
Parnell’s stats pass most traditional test, but he certainly doesn’t pass the “eye test” in my opinion.
Regarding speculation about new ownership (we can only hope):
From listening to and reading his writings, my take on Mark Cuban is that while he is a great fan he is a shrewd business man first. Thus, a Cuban-owned team would not resemble as free-spending a team as today’s Dodgers or yesterday’s George Steinbrenner-Yankees. He would probably spend money more freely/judiciously than the Wilpons, but in a very measured way.
As for Mayor Mike, it would be hard to predict what style of owner he would be. Probably similar to Cuban, but more restrained as a fan.
Either would be a great improvement over the inept (I won’t go as far as corrupt—but their Madoff infatuation doesn’t pass the smell test) Wilpons.
Sometimes we look to hard trying to find the answers to our problems elsewhere and not give a chance for players to succeed. IF Parnell blossoms into our closer then we will be taking a major step towards improving our bullpen. If not then we may need to look at maybe a Chris Perez? type closer for now.
First of all, thanks for the work you folks do. Now living in Indiana, you are my continued connection to the Mets
Any merit to this suggested trade . . . would appreciate your thoughts . . .
Given this last year and how things have been developing, I wanted to get your thoughts on this . . .
Timing seems good . . .
Arizona signing Cody Ross . . . seems they may be looking for a reason to deal Upton . . . it seems they still haven’t satisfied their need for major league, high ceiling shortstop,
Red Sox deal with Napoli seems to have hit the wall, still not signed and Red Sox now looking at Adam LaRoche
Mets rebuilding, appears to be stacking talent for 2014 . . .
Red Sox give . . . Xander Bogaerts SS, #1 prospect, Jackie Bradley, OF, #2 Prospect, Brock Holt, 2B just acquired in Hanrahan deal,
Diamondbacks give . . . Justin Upton, OF, Adam Eaton, OF
Mets give . . . Ike Davis, Wilmer Flores, Jordany Valdespin and either Dillon Gee or two from this list (Fulmer, Mejia, Familia, or you may have better higher ceiling options not named Harvey, Wheeler or Syndegaard),
Red Sox get . . . Ike Davis, Jordany Valdespin (much lower cost than Napoli or LaRoche),
Mets get . . . . Justin Upton, Adam Eaton, Jackie Bradley, Brock Holt
Diamondbacks get . . . Xander Bogaerts, Wilmer Flores, and either Dillon Gee or two from the list mentioned earlier (Fulmer, etc)
While it appears the Diamondbacks end up a little short, Red Sox are getting a proven run producer and solve first base for many years so they may need to kick in an additional arm or two. Also may be okay since Diamondbacks end up with some salary relief and young controllable players in return.
Here are the benefits to the Mets . . .
Justin Upton (obvious), Adam Eaton (high on base, speed) for center, Brock Holt (high on base for 2B), allows us to put Duda at natural position and use Murphy as super utility (may need to be starter until Duda heals up). Two of three outfield positions are filled and we have Jackie Bradley as possible addition for 2014. I also think reuniting Upton with David Wright lights a little fire under Upton and we would see a serious rebound in his performance.
Your thoughts on this ? Reasonable or a pipe dream ?
That would be a blockbuster trade for sure. I think that the Mets are getting way too much in this deal and the Red Sox and D-backs are both not getting enough, so i don’t see this happening.
For the Sox, you’re basically asking them to give up their top 2 prospects for Ike Davis? Davis is cheap, but he does have his issues and i doubt he’s worth that much. I couldn’t see the Red Sox pulling the trigger on this deal. Ellsbury is a FA after this year, and they need someone to replace him.
Like you said, the Dbacks would also be on the short end of the stick. Not to mention the fact that they already gave up Bauer for Gregorious, i think they would give him a try first.
In the end, i think the Mets are getting way too much. You’re asking for other team’s top prospects, and you’re only willing to give up Davis and some complementary players.
Pipe dream. The Mets aren’t even giving up the single piece any team would want from pitching perspective – Jonathan Niese. Meanwhile you have BOTH the Sox and the D-Backs giving up players their GMs are known to guard like Fort Knox in Bogaerts and Eaton respectively.
Nice pipe dream, but you gotta open your eyes soon. And if the Mets trade away a young pitcher or two, and then take on all the Upton salary (which, by the way, is more than they have been rumored to be willing to spend) … how will they find the money in free agency to replace a Niese or even Gee?
Pipe dream
What would you add to make it work ?
Mets send Ike Davis to Boston,
Mets send Jonathan Niese, Wilmer Flores to DBacks.
DBacks send Juston Upton to the Mets.
DBacks send Gerardo Parra to the Mets.
Boston sends Jackie Bradley to the DBacks.
Boston sends Brock Holt to the DBacks.
DBacks give up two OF, get back a starting pitcher, three solid prospects in Flores, Holt and Bradley. Eaton and Pollock move into position with Cody Ross, and they are backed up by Bradley (if you prefer, substitute Bogearts).
Sox give up two prospects and get possibly 40 HR from Ike Davis.
Mets give up a #2 pitcher, and a young controlled 1B to complete their OF. Still not sure how they replace both Niese and Dickey’s innings in one off season, but at least this is more evenly shared in the hurt.
You would have to add Zach Wheeler instead of Dillon Gee(which the Mets would never do). Ike Davis is not a good fit for Boston as Mike Napoli would be their primary first baseman. You put too much value on Duda. He is yet to show that he will hit consistently in the big leagues. It’s so hard to find corner position players who not only have the ability but the capability to play in New York. So we’re set on first and third base. You take away from one position to plug a hole in a different position. It just becomes a vicious cycle. When Duda strikes out 200+ times in a season and mishandles first base you’ll yearn for the good ole Ike days. I’m not criticizing Duda. It’s not his fault. Met management is looking for creative ways to strengthen their offense at the expense of defense. Doesn’t work in the long run. You did notice that Ike was able to produce almost 100 RBI’S without a legitimate bat behind him. Imagine Scott Hairston playing regularly and batting 5th to protect Ike. Sounds more feasible.