Nothing puts a bounce in your steps quite like an 8-2 stretch before the All-Star break, especially when things looked bleak immediately before that. Much like Charlie Brown when he goes to kick the football, my optimistic side can’t help but to come out in times like this, when everything seems possible. Here’s hoping that we don’t have an opening to the second half like we did in 2012.
With that thought in mind, here is a positive line about each player on the roster, plus a guy soon to be activated from the DL.
Bobby Abreu – Has an .861 OPS in 24 games as a starter
Vic Black – Has a 9.28 K/9
Eric Campbell – Has a .435 OBP when leading off an inning
Buddy Carlyle – This is his first time in the majors in three years
Bartolo Colon – Has a 2.81 ERA and a 1.006 WHIP in Citi Field
Travis d’Arnaud – Has an .863 OPS in 65 PA since his recall
Jacob deGrom – Among the 65 pitchers to throw at least 70 IP, JDG ranks 16 in FIP with a 3.25 mark.
Lucas Duda – Is tied for 12th in OPS+ among NL players with a 136 mark.
Josh Edgin – RHB have an OPS 167 points lower against him than LHB.
Dana Eveland – Has a 0.951 WHIP.
Jeurys Familia – Came into the year with a 7.0 BB/9 but has a 3.6 mark this year.
Curtis Granderson – Has an .876 OPS in 19 games as a leadoff hitter.
Dillon Gee – Has delivered 7 QS in 9 Games.
Juan Lagares – Despite the missed time, he’s second in the NL among OFers with an 11.1 UZR.
Daisuke Matsuzaka – Has allowed just 3 HR in 71 IP.
Jenrry Mejia – His OPS against is 100 points lower as a RP than as a SP this year.
Daniel Murphy – That’s All-Star Daniel Murphy, thank you.
Jon Niese – Seems ready to lead a player revolt against the manager
Kirk Nieuwenhuis – Of his 14 hits, 10 have gone for extra-bases.
Anthony Recker – Opponents have a .653 OPS when Recker’s behind the plate.
Ruben Tejada – His OBP is 29 points higher than Derek Jeter’s.
Carlos Torres – His right arm is still attached.
Zack Wheeler – Has a 3.06 BB/9 over his last 11 games
David Wright – Since being activated from the DL, he’s fanned just three times in 38 PA.
Chris Young – Ended the first half with back-to-back 2-RBI games.
Eric Young – Has a higher success rate on SB this year (89%) than a season ago (81%).
I was hoping to see “not on the team” after Chris Young’s name.
Brian,
Nice, but Gee should go before Granderson.
Everybody’s a critic…..
I’d offer a second, one-word entry for d’Arnaud: Unlinkable.
A very positive way to start the “second half”. Let’s hope that the Mets have turned the corner and have a winning record by season’s end.
I’d like to add to Lagares. Has nearly the same WAR (3.0) as last year (3.5) in less than half the games. In other words, he’s legit.
A closer inspection may not reveal the same conclusion. His defense is legit. However, his increased offense so far seems to be fueled by luck (BABIP up from 310 to 372) as his BB%, K%, ISO, HR/FB, and his batting profile all are similar to last year, while his 2 areas of increase so far are Line Drive %(up 33%) and bunt hits (up 25%).
Wow, struggled with a good thing to write about Buddy Carlyle.
Well, he does have all of 6 IP with the Mets….
I have a good feeling about Mejia in the 2nd half, I think he’s gonna get cushy in his closer role.
As for Torres, I could see his arm falling off sometime mid-September
I actually laughed out loud with the Carlos Torres comment. Very well-constructed list.
Nice article Brian! I still think Wheeler can lower his BB/9. That is going to be his achilles’ heel going forward. I think he can be just as good as Matt Harvey was last year, but still got to lower his walks and go longer in games. If he does that, this rotation has an impressive 1-2 punch.
the comment regarding Torres might soon apply to both Mejia and Familia.
Collins, the arsonist. Loves to burn out arms.