If you listen to Mets’ hierarchy – by whom I mean GM Sandy Alderson, his lieutenants, Paul DePodesta and J.P. Ricciardi as well as Manager Terry Collins: Fred and Jeff Wilpon have been silent so far this winter, and wisely so — the year has finally arrived. Since 2010, we fans have been subject to payroll shredding, farm-system building, clubhouse cleansing, ticket pandering and penny pinching. Let’s face it: the Wilpons squeeze a nickel until Jefferson screams. 2015 is supposed to represent the end of all that. A fairly strong finish in 2014, linked with returning wounded, coupled with ballpark modifications, chained to rejuvenations by veterans, twinned to a plethora of young starting pitching will conspire to propel the Mets deep into October. This is what we’re told. This has been the mantra since the end of September.
One could forgive a Met fan if he or she doesn’t quite see it. The upgrades to the roster – specifically to the offense – we were promised at season’s end have boiled down to Michael Cuddyer and John Mayberry, Jr. If we’re being generous, we can characterize the changes as “less than thrilling.” To be fair, Cuddyer is a great fit for the Mets, if a bit overpaid and Mayberry always struck terror into the heart of your intrepid columnist every time he stepped to the plate as a member of the Phillies. But to quote Wheezer from The Little Rascals, “’Taint enough.” Cuddyer is injury prone and on the wrong side of 30 and Mayberry could never establish himself as anything more than a solid bench player. There was no upgrade made at shortstop, even though we were assured it was a priority. There was no new left-handed reliever brought in, even though it was obvious that Josh Edgin needed help, given Collins’ tendencies to wear out his lefties. So Scott Rice has been brought back on a minor league deal. Whoopee.
As the winter wears on, it seems more and more like Alderson, some members of the MSM and more than a few fans are whistling in the dark. Now, don’t get me wrong: you’re reading a guy who’s already plunked down a decent chunk of change for tickets this season, with an eye toward using those seats in October. But right now, barring a big trade or signing between now and April, this looks suspiciously like the same squad that failed to crack the 80-win mark for the sixth consecutive year. Yes, the big boosts are supposed to come from the returns of Matt Harvey and Bobby Parnell, from the reclamations of David Wright and Curtis Granderson, from the professionalism of Cuddyer, from the influx of young arms and the jettisoning of old ones.
That seems like a lot of “ifs” from over here. I hope I’m wrong.
Saturday, January 10 is the second annual Queens Baseball Convention, “QBC” for short. I’ll be back with a full report and recap next Tuesday.
Follow me on Twitter @CharlieHangley.
Great post, best thing I have read on any blog this winter.
Lets hold on till the all-star game to see if we are a “better” team then last year ?
Agreed Charlie.
Cuddyer and Flores give us great reason to be optimistic. Both guys can hit and are huge upgrades over last year. The lineup might be strong from top to bottom and the pitching looks like it might be ready to take a big step forward. 85-88 wins is a definite possibility. And that means they’re contenders.
Scott, I think your description of the lineup as “strong” may be a bit optimistic at this point. I think “better” measures out better because going into this year we have less unknowns, but not alot less. Assuming health for our beloved third baseman, will Grandy and Cuddy just be what their averages are? If the answer is yes, then strong is more in play.
This is the most hopeful ive been in a long long while. But this is the mets we’re talking about so im trying to control myself.
And “if” everyone can project to their yearly averages we as fans can hope for meaningful games in September (doubt it). If not Collins is gone and Alderson will promise us that in 2016 this team will win 90 games (and not make the playoffs) with a new manager that will finish what Terry Collins started (gag-gag)
What if the Mets do somehow make it to meaningful September games, or even (gasp) a Wildcard round? What will happen to Terry Collins then?
Agreed Charlie, tain’t enuff.
They are an improved team and should be more competitive.
Real playoff team, no. Possible playoff team, maybe if all breaks well.
Contender for the division, too large a talent gap.
You give credit where credit is due. Will Collins be responsible for this team getting a wild card? Is Collins going to allow the kids to play this season? He doesn’t have an Abreu to fall back on. And if the Mets make it to the playoffs because the kids exceeded expectations that would mean that Collins put his job on the line because he believed in these kids and their potential. Something he will never do of his own accord.
One factor here: The Mets added two new everyday players, and both are significantly below-average defenders.
It’s the thought process I don’t trust.
And again, MetsSense called it: possible playoff team, but I’m not seeing it as likely. If you are a middle of the pack team nowadays, then you are a possible playoff team. The 10th best team in the NL is a possible playoff team.
83-87 wins, as-is. They’re on the edge now. The movement is really sluggish. No matter the reason, will or finance, I don’t see the ability to “strike” with a decisive/timely personnel move.
Did you all notice this:
http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/01/another-positive-mri-for-texas-rangers-infielder-jurickson-profar.html/
I’m getting excited…
They want to start him in the minors? Too full at MLB? Awwwwww……
Let’s see: Gee, Plawecki, Montero/Colon, throw in a minor leaguer?
Gus, that article is exactly why it’s hard for me to pass judgment on this roster yet. The one thing we’ve seen with Alderson is that he’s patient, sometimes too much so, in terms of waiting to get what he wants in a trade. He’s been pretty open that he anticipates trading a starting pitcher and the Mariners and Rangers, both with extra middle infielders who are at least superior defensively over Flores. I could see the Mets getting Profar, Sardinas, Taylor or Miller in a deal involving Gee and other players.
Right now I believe this team is slightly better and could be significantly better if three things happen:
1. They get better defensively on the middle infield
2. They get Parnell and Harvey back at something close to their 2013 forms
3. They get solid production out of the veterans on the roster in Wright, Granderson and Cuddyer.
I’m not including Colon and Murphy because they will be traded during the season, especially if Syndergaard and Herrera are still Mets when spring training ends, which it looks like will happen.
If those three things happen, this is a contending team, but we’re still a long way from opening day and a lot could happen or not happen, in that time frame.
Gus I had to Google teres muscle. How does one tear a teres muscle? He’s played shortstop throughout his career and yet he gets this type of injury? I never heard of this type of injury before. Sorry but I feel the same way about trading for him as you do about Tulo. What happens when he makes an awkward throw off balance? Complete tear? Bye-bye for 2 years?
I understand. But, he won’t cost as much as Tulo, and he hasn’t built up the history of always getting hurt. Hopefully, he won’t. Otherwise, we have to wait for him to get back, but he will still only be 24. Besides, if he is brittle, take out Plawecki and put in Flores, who can take over for Beltre next year and give them Xorge Castillo. Either way, you save Thor and get a good player. Doesn’t sound like this is a common injury. This from March 23, 2014 in the Dallas News:
“The Rangers believe Profar injured the shoulder Saturday while trying to make a throw from second to complete a double play. The throw was awkward and late. He came back on Sunday and complained of more soreness after the club’s workout. The Rangers sent him for an MRI, which revealed the tear.
Profar has a tear of the Teres Major muscle in his right shoulder, an MRI exam revealed. It does not require a surgical fix, but requires significant rest. Assistant general manager Thad Levine estimated that Profar will have very limited activity involving the shoulder for the next 4-6 weeks before potentially taking the next step. Levine, after consulting with team physician Dr. Keith Meister, estimated that Profar will be out 10-12 weeks.”
Gus like you said this does not sound like a common injury. That’s what has me concerned. I would wait a year to be sure that he doesn’t completely tear his teres muscle and lose him for another year. At which point your stuck with him.
See folks, Daniels is under pressure to win now and needs multiple starting pitchers. He has Beltre in his last year, Kinsler, Andrus, Fielder, that’s a heck of an expensive infield. He may want MDD for his outfield as well and the Mets have alot is spare parts. But, what he doesn’t have is wiggle room financially. So, trading for Gee and Colon/Montero helps him. Now, add in pieces to finish it off and it’s a win-win.
Seems like ever since they pushed Ryan out the door things haven’t exactly gone as planned in Arlington.
Gus I just looked up the Rangers payroll before arbitration and they’re already at 113 million dollars. I don’t think Colon is an incentive for them at any price.
We pay some of it. They prefer a youngster, but have a real need for pitching leadership. Daniels has real heat on him and he needs a lot of pitching. He has some money, as $113 is not that much; they aren’t the Mets and their Kleenex stories.
Choo, Fielder, Andrus, Kinsler, Beltre… You don’t think this guy is feeling the heat?
I’m not worried about Profar re-tearing the muscle. Once they let it heal, they have the guru in Florida to work with him.
Kinsler is on the Tigers. I’m not aware if the Rangers are still paying any part of his salary, if that’s what you meant. Honestly, I think it’s a little nutty to be gung-ho about a guy who missed a complete year, and now has a funky injury that will likely delay the beginning of this year. Unless we get him for scraps, no thanks on my end.
You’re right Patrick, I need to wake up, it’s Odor. But, still he is under pressure to win now.
See my trade offer below to Pete:
Black, Gee, Colon/Montero, MDD, and Yona or a minor league arm. We can spare that, no?
Maybe take out Black, but Profar is a talent and we have to give them something.
That’s just for 12 players. Add 4 arb players at 10 million (MLBTraderumors.com) and 9 league minimum and you’re close to 130 million which is about where the team was in 2014. So we’ll see.
I thought the guru in Florida went to jail Gus?
LOL, the workout guru. See, they need alot of cheap pitching. And, we might get him for a package of say MDD, Gee, Colon/Montero, Black, and a minor league arm like Yona.
What did we really lose that that we needed, Montero?
I still think that’s too much Gus. Switch Mejia for Montero. And you may have to eat 3 million from Colon as well.
Ah! Okay sorry Gus. It’s just that so many latino ball players coming down with these freak muscular injuries it makes you wonder. I can’t remember when I was growing up watching players who tear their triceps and teres major muscle. I wonder when this cloud of suspicion will dissipate? Just for the record I’m Puerto Rican and I do know for a fact that drugs which require a presciprition in the U.S. are commonly sold over the counter without a prescriprion in Latin countries like Dominican Republic
Great point Charlie. Not too sure if the Mets will be in the Wild Card race considering other teams upgraded as well. I think we may see a trade before the offseason ends. Hopefully it’ll push the Mets over the top and help compete with the Nationals.
I think we finished 17 games back of the Nationals. Im not sure what you mean when you say things like “compete with the Nationals”. They are a team so far better than the Mets there is zero per cent possibility of competing with them for the NL East. It would be a miracle if we won 6 games against them head to head.
Chris I agree. If the Mets want to play meaningful games in September they need to do two things. Win half of their games with the Nationals and second play better than .500 ball at home. I would send Harvey against the Nat’s the first time they meet. Knowing Harvey and his mentality i would love to see for him to send a message with a high and tight fastball to the first batter he faces. Tells opposing teams that this team is not afraid and will stand up to the Nat’s.