2014 has been a disappointment. For roughly the past two years, 2014 was the year many fans thought would be the one that turned things around. We had prospects coming up, and money coming off the books. It was the perfect recipe. Then Matt Harvey got hurt, the wallet didn’t open up as much as some thought it would, and what money we did spend didn’t seem to be well spent, in hind-sight. Thus, we are stuck looking another year forward this September.
But last night helped remind Mets fans that 2014 was good for other reasons besides wins. Jacob deGrom, the rightful National League Rookie of the Year, took his game to another level on Monday by striking out his first 8 batters, matching the Major League high. He then went on to record 12 strikeouts in just 5 innings, matching a modern day record. He had 13 strikeouts for the night, and only walked one. A fine day, but it did unravel a bit for him. He let up a few too many bloops and bouncers in the top of the seventh, and his 28-inning consecutive scoreless streak was unfortunately broken by none other than Jordany Valdespin. If we never hear that name again, it will be too soon.
In attendance, watching deGrom’s turbulent night were Sterling Award winners Steven Matz, Brandon Nimmo, Matt Reynolds and Kevin Plawecki. Another Sterling Award winner, Dilson Herrera was manning second base for the big club. Sure, one could be cynical that these trophies lose meaning as they are franchise honors, not league awards. But you are still looking at the best players your organization has to offer, and cynic or no, it’s an impressive group.
Everyone has now heard about Herrera’s meteoric ride up from A-ball, and his good and bad times in the majors. Nimmo, who from July 13th (his first three-hit game in Double-A, and thus when he started to catch fire) posted a .272/.352/.415 line, with 18 extra-base hits in just 195 ABs. He is looking more and more like the guy who’s going to be taking over one of the Mets’ corner outfielder spots sooner rather than later. Matz, who is finally healthy and showing a tremendous amount of promise, is becoming one of the top prospects in the Mets franchise. The lefty recently took a no-hitter into the eighth inning in the clinching game of the Eastern League Championship for the Binghamton Mets, in case you missed it. Plawecki finished his 2014 campaign in Las Vegas with a solid line and proved to many that he can be a legitimate contender for starting catcher come March. Meanwhile, Reynolds, the guy nearly nobody knew before this year, could be the Mets starting shortstop come next year if he outshines Wilmer Flores next spring.
So yes, 2014 is technically a bust year. However, seeing what deGrom was able to accomplish, hearing earlier that day that Matt Harvey reached 95 mph during a simulated game, and seeing the future in the stands, it was a good day, despite the whole heartbreaking loss thing. The rally in the bottom of the seventh was encouraging to see. The bullpen’s eighth was not. It was just another game displaying what has been a tough year on top of several tough years in a row. But things are finally starting to look up. A win for deGrom would have all but solidified that ROY award. But alas, it didn’t. The Mets have learned this year to pick themselves up from demoralizing defeats, and Monday is just another example of that lesson. Here’s hoping we don’t need too many more.
I am not disappointed in the 2014 season since I only expected 75 wins and there is a possibility the Mets will exceed that amount.
I am very pleased with the four rookies, deGrom, d’Arnaud, Familia and Black. Second year players Lagares and Wheeler improved. Older “younger” players Duda, Murphy, Mejia,Torres and Edgin, Niese annd Gee also had solid years. I think these players are good enough to compete for a playoff spot in 2015.
I am disappointed in Wright’s season and hope it was due to injury and not loss of skills. Granderson was another disappointment as he did not meet minimum expectations. Sandy has to be concerned that $36M of his 2015 budget is already spent on two players that are underachieving.
Sandy was my biggest disappointment because he has failed to make solid evaluations when signing free agents and trading major league players for major league players (but he is great at trading major league players for prospects and building a solid farm system). This is the next step in the evolution of the team, trading for major league players and signing free agents. There are still two too many holes in the offense and since Wright and Granderson are going nowhere, then he needs to shore up those two holes with better than average players (like the players I mentioned above) if he seriously wants to compete for a playoff spot in 2015.
Well put! Here’s hoping the Wilponzis allow Alderson to sign Yasmani Tomas to give us a slugger in the OF. I don’t know if I can take another season of the Mets’ low-scoring offense!
I found this gem, quoted from Newsday:
Matz won’t care who’s in the seats, however, if he gets the call to the majors at some point next season, which Alderson said is a possibility. For everyone, 2014 can’t be over quickly enough. The Mets already are turning the page.
“I don’t think the last 12 games have a lot to do with evaluating with Terry,” Alderson said. “I think we’ve played well enough to this point.”
(Sorry Brian)
http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/david-lennon/2015-is-going-to-be-a-make-or-break-season-for-matt-harvey-terry-collins-and-sandy-alderson-1.9321660
Next year will be a repeat of this year because nothing is changing except the Mets will be without Daniel Murphy and Wally Backman, who will be moving on to greener ballfields!
People won’t get to know Reynolds either if you click on his named and you get linked to the Matt Reynolds who pitches for the D’Backs, as above.
This has been fixed.