So this is what a whirlwind of activity at the Winter Meetings looks like. It’s been awhile. We’d forgotten what that was like. Sandy Alderson and crew headed to Orlando with a pocketful of dreams. They came back with Curtis Granderson – number 3 in your program, number 1 in your hearts! — officially in tow and Bartolo Colon filling out their starting rotation. It doesn’t appear that they’re done yet, either, seeing as trying to fit Ike Davis and Lucas Duda together at first base is untenable, at best. Oh, and there’s still a substantial hole at shortstop, unless you think Ruben Tejada is ultimately the answer. Your intrepid columnist will refrain from making the joke that if Tejada is the answer, we don’t understand the question.
Speaking of “too-easy” jokes, there won’t be any here about Colon being an innings-eater or if he enjoys salmon: there’s a whole conversational area about stones and glass houses. Red flags regarding the signing abound, of course: he’s over 40-years-old, he is a large man – to put it politely – and he is an admitted former PED user. The only response begins with the words “be that as it may.” Colon’s statistics over the past two seasons are too impressive to be ignored. His average WHIP (1.185) and his ERA+ (127) would make one drool if he were a trim 24-year-old: these stats are Matt Harvey-like. Add in the facts that he’s moving from the AL to the NL – a natural, traditional cause for an uptick for any pitcher – and into spacious Citi Field and the stars would seem to be aligned for a big year. He may even benefit from improved outfield defense, seeing the Mets will basically be playing three center fielders out there. Granderson is still a quality defender, Chris Young has a great reputation and Juan Lagares opened a lot of eyes with his leather work as a rookie last year. More importantly, Colon will provide a vital bridge to Harvey’s return in 2015. If history is any guide, Colon should replace Harvey’s lost innings for 2014 quite neatly. Then, if Harvey hits any kind of speed-bump in his return from Tommy John surgery in early 2015, Colon will be here to take up the slack again.
So now it remains to step back, catch our breath and digest what exactly has happened over the past week. The Mets started off needing an outfielder, a shortstop and a pitcher.
As of December 12, two-out-of-three ain’t bad.
Follow me on Twitter @CharlieHangley
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In keeping with the “too easy jokes” of the article, it was very apropos to choose a Meat Loaf song in reference to the Colon signing, “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad”. If they could have landed a SS it would have been “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”.
If Colon can come close to duplicating his 2013 season then he is a good replacement for Matt Harvey in 2014. Granderson is an upgrade over Marlon Byrd in the field but only slightly at the plate (a little more pop but more Ks also). The way I see it we are treading water so far. The next few moves are the “sink or swim” moves.