The New York Mets have played their way out of contention. This isn’t news. The only things that we, as fans, have to hold onto are the memories of great moments this season and personal accolades that players have left to strive to obtain.
Four examples of these are Jacob deGrom, Juan Lagares, Daniel Murphy and Bartolo Colon. DeGrom is still a viable option for Rookie of the Year. He has 101 strikeouts in 17 starts with a 3.13 ERA overall. His first start back from the DL last week was a disaster in L.A. (five runs in six innings pitched). If he can rebound back to the form that helped him explode onto the New York stage, he may pitch his way back into that conversation again.
If Juan Lagares doesn’t win a Gold Glove this season, there should be an open protest in the MLB New York offices. There have been few players with as many highlight reel catches this season as Lagares, let alone outfielders. He began the season in a ridiculous platoon of rotating outfielders and earned his way into the everyday lineup with his glove. His bat is beginning to catch up as well (.282 AVG). With two home runs and seven hits in his last 14 at bats, he’s either getting comfortable for a long-term stay or he’s hitting a hot streak. Either option is refreshing news to a fizzling Mets offense.
Daniel Murphy has catapulted his way into national recognition and, unfortunately, most likely a larger payday elsewhere at some point real soon. He worked hard to learn the second base position (for better or for worse) and earned his first, and the Mets only, All Star nod this season. What’s more impressive, is that he has quietly hit his way to the NL leader board (.301 AVG with 159 hits). As long as his calf injury doesn’t linger, the final month could see him making a push for NL hits leader.
Bartolo Colon has been having a bittersweet season. With a 12-10 record and 130 strikeouts in 25 starts, he has put his name at the top of many teams’ lists for veteran pitchers available via trades. He reached a milestone of 200 career wins earlier this month. Also this month, his mother lost her battle to cancer. He returned to the mound and pitched with a heavy heart against L.A. He still has the funeral to attend next week. Amid trade rumors all season and family tragedies, he has still been a model of consistency in the Mets rotation.
These four examples are all wonderful to read about, relive and look forward to watching in the remaining month, but is this what fans have to look forward to for the next several years; small moral victories? A few years ago, it was R.A. Dickey‘s strive for the Cy Young Award and Jose Reyes hitting his way to a batting title.
While it’s wonderful to see these personal achievements pan out on the field with Mets logos attached to them, it still leaves the fanbase hungry for more success, long-term success. With the youth of the organization standing at the crossroads of still “up and coming” and “thrown into the fire”, it’s an important time for the franchise. The future is at a fragile stage.
They obviously haven’t found an answer at the MLB level to their short stop woes or their outfield power outage but they are on the cusp of something great if they take the right steps this offseason. They need to add another veteran in the lineup (preferably at the SS position), lock in Daniel Murphy to an extended contract, get their key players healthy, get value in the market for Colon and get another voice in the locker room.
The main question is whether or not to trade a Noah Syndergaard or another young fireball pitcher to the Cubs for a young infielder with equal upside. This may be a mistake if they do. There are other ways to fix what ails them.
There are not many big names available in free agency for the Mets’ needs. As ESPN NY points out, a J.J. Hardy or Jed Lowrie could be a short-term answer at SS while the team waits for a Dilson Herrera to develop. While Nelson Cruz or Alex Rios are viable options for that under-performing LF spot.
With the struggles of David Wright becoming more and more evident, Murphy becomes more of a key player. It would be wiser to sign and keep him where he has grown comfortable than to try Wilmer Flores or another unproven youngster at multiple infield positions.
There is a familiarity for him with the team that needs to be considered. He would have high trade value this offseason, but if they are unable to trade him, he might not respond too well on the field to the perception of the organization not wanting him there or he goes somewhere else and excels while any potential replacement flutters in the spotlight and the Mets are kicking themselves this time next year.
The team needs to figure out how healthy Matt Harvey and Bobby Parnell are in the winter and plan ahead by setting their rotation and bullpen accordingly. If they are healthy, there is no need for a Dice-K to return or a veteran reliever to be acquired in the free agency market.
They must be sure that their starting rotation is completely healthy before trading Colon. If they are and he goes, the team has to get quality for him. That would consist of a few minor leaguers or at the very least one MLB ready player that can make the roster at some point in the 2015 season. Anything else would be a waste of resources.
Finally, it is evident that the team manager has lost his voice in the locker room and respect with the fans. The players might love Terry Collins, but it’s time to shake the clubhouse up. The young players need a new voice to grow with and the veterans need a new manager if for nothing else but to motivate them by showing them their job could be next on the chopping block.
Small steps and personal goals achieved are wonderful as icing on the cake, but they should not and can not be the cake. The final reward. They have been for this team for far too long. That mentality has to change if the organization is to stride their way into making big steps.
So Murphy is going to tank it and not play hard for the Mets next season if he feels no love ($) from the Mets? Frank. Where to begin with that comment. Didn’t the Mets try to move DM this off season? Why on Earth would Murphy in his walk year not try to put up better numbers? Would it not be in his best interest to do so? Would he not be in line for a bigger paycheck if he continues to produce at the level he is capable of? If I’m DM why would I throw away millions of dollars just to get back at the Mets and sulk at the piss poor attitude of the frugal owners? Who cares? Personal achievements are nice but if the team doesn’t make the playoffs they provide little incentive for the next season Harvey if he’s 100% during spring training will have his innings capped so the Mets are going to need at least 6 starters no matter what the outcome of Harvey’s health issues are. i don’t expect to see Colon next year wearing a Met uniform. So let’s continue with the youth movement and look forward to 2016 when the Mets might win 90 games assuming TC’s contract is not renewed.
Pete, no where did I say Murphy would tank it and not play hard. I said “he might not respond too well on the field”. The difference being intent. He wouldn’t intentionally mess up as you’re suggesting. I believe it could mess with his concentration though and maybe not produce his very best.
Alex Rios is another version of Chris Young please stay far away . Been there done that. i am not answering the poster i am putting a general comment here so please forgive me
Stop the dream at changing managers, I want to get off. The entire universe knew Collins was a disgrace to managing in 2012. I will spare you the list of reasons why. But, two years later he is still here, as are all the other culprits.
Didn’t get a confirmation so I will just add that so long as the Wilpons remain owners of the Mets this team is destined for an award in futility. Oh and Frank it’s more like the Mets misplayed their way out of the playoffs.
Dilson Herrera is not a shortstop and he doesn’t project to be one because of his arm. He plays second base. JJ Hardy would be ideal, with Matt Reynolds deserving a long look this September.
The Mets should hold onto their pitching at all costs. Good pitching beats good hitting and you can never have enough good pitching. The reason for these time-honored cliches is that they are proved to be true every year.
We need look no further than injuries to Harvey, Niese, Gee, Dice-K, Parnell, Hefner, Montero and Mejia to understand the practical wisdom of holding onto your quality arms.
Or must I resurrect the shock and awe from the fall-out of trading Nolan Ryan and Scott Kazmir?
I am quite comfortable with a rotation of Harvey, Wheeler, Niese, deGrom & Gee to start the season, presuming Colon – who is great – gets traded to free up Mr. Green lol. Syndergaard will be joining the rotation in late June. Let that be the immediate future for our pitching staff.
Thanks for weighing in. If Murphy is signed long term, Herrera would have to play elsewhere. I understand the projection, but one would hope the team wouldn’t try Murphy in the outfield in that scenario. I completely agree about the pitching. That’s why they can’t trade Syndergaard.
If Herrera is the real thing, I would guess that Murphy will be moved in either 2015 or 2016. The caveat in that is David Wright. If his decline continues one wonders if the Mets would do the unthinkable and move Murphy to…………nah, won’t happen.
On the other hand, the Mets did let Tom Seaver go….twice!
Another point to consider is that with Santana and Bay money coming off the books and added revenue coming in from MLB’s TV package the Wilpons still
cut payroll in 2014. Why should we expect anything better for ’15 or ’16?
As much as I like Murph, he simply does not bring enough to the table to justify a long-term big money commitment. For a pitching-centric team in a big park, I want genuine defensive talent up the spine. Right now, the only contributor is Lagares. Neither middle infielder is capable, and Murph’s defense is a disaster with a big negative DRS value. d’Arnaud is far from a whiz behind the dish. Murph was an All Star, but only because every team must have one. The Dilson continues to get rave reviews game after game. He is rapidly working through the system. I cant help but wonder if that is our better bet at 2B, esp if trading Murph can bring back talent in positions we dont have depth at.
[…] – hey, a guy can hope, can’t he? – the situation is crying out for a shift. The status quo is no longer good enough. We keep being told to hold out hope for the future, but when that future will arrive […]
Frank didn’t word get out that the Mets were listening this past off season to trade offers for Murphy? Didn’t affect him this year and if he is a professional MLB player the only thing that will affect his paycheck is his performance.and health.
This Mets franchise is stuck in fear-mode. They are afraid to lose, rather than pushing their way into wins. Risk is involved. Trading Murphy and Colon could bring in vital pieces for next year. Then you play Herrera at 2b and let him develop. Flores has done absolutely nothing to earn a job here, so play Reynolds at SS next season and use any saved money or prospects to get a decent LF. What’s the worst that happens from that experiment, we suck for another year? Or come up with another plan, but stop doing the same crap over and over again expecting different results!