Many people around the Mets believe that they are at least in contention for a spot in the playoffs this year. They need a few players to prove that they are capable of playing to the level that gets the Mets to the playoffs this season. Last year was not a great year for the Mets, but it definitely was a step in the right direction. The biggest thing out of last year was Lucas Duda mashing thirty home runs to a tune of .830 OPS. Aside from him there were not that many players who had a great year. Juan Lagares and Travis d’Arnaud showed they have the potential, but have not harnessed it yet. d’Arnaud especially needs to prove himself with Kevin Plawecki waiting in the wings in Triple-A just waiting for a roster spot to open up for him. Right now the Mets have almost all the pieces they need and if those pieces are all working as a cohesive unit then this team could be very dangerous.
David Wright, the Captain, played through a minor injury for part of last season and performed average, but down for him. He missed a few games in the middle of the season and then ended up on the disabled list near the end of the season. In 2013, he only played in 112 games, but was still an all star. Wright needs to show people that the Mets did not make a mistake in signing him to a long term extension through 2020. He says that his shoulder is back to one hundred percent and does not bother him anymore. He needs to rebound this year back to normal David Wright and continue to be a leader on this team.
Matt Harvey, the big name Mets fans are excited to see take the mound again at Citi Field. After going down with a partial UCL tear in his throwing arm and some slightly controversial happenings while he was away, he is finally ready to play again. Harvey has been the hot button topic as the Mets have not made any moves in a while and people are excited for his return. His fastball is where it was when he hit the disabled list and he started through his off-speed pitches on Sunday. There is no question that no one wants him on the field more than Matt Harvey does. He has that bulldog mentality and is itching to throw in game. He needs 2015 to prove that he is still the pitcher he was in 2013 without trying to be the pitcher he was and overthrowing because he finally got back.
Curtis Granderson was the Mets big name move after 2013 to improve the lineup and it did a little bit, but not as much as the Mets hoped for. After an injury riddled 2013, he was hoping for a rebound in 2014 with a new team. His average is the lowest it has been over a single season ever, but he still did manage a lot of walks (seventh in the National League) and hit twenty home runs. Hopefully with the Mets bringing in his forming hitting coach, Kevin Long, and moving in the right-center field wall will improve his average and his power display. If Granderson can return to his 2011-2012 or anywhere close to that, then he would be a great lefty power bat in the Mets lineups besides Duda.
Out of the speculated Mets roster, the only player who has the least to prove to the Mets might be Daniel Murphy. Murphy is not going to go out there every at-bat and swing for the fences, except Wrigley Field. Murphy goes up there and swings the bat getting 166, 188, and 172 in the past three seasons. He sets the table well for the heart of the order. He has improved greatly defensively at second base compared to where he was a few years ago. Murphy may be the player who has to prove the most overall though because of Dilson Herrera. Unless a blockbuster trade occurs where both Herrera and Wilmer Flores are traded, then more than likely Murphy will not be back in 2016 for the Mets. He is entering his age 30 seasons, and probably wants a three to four year deal around $12 million a year. To get that he needs to be at the top of his game and may finish the season with the Mets and hit free agency that way or be traded away at the deadline to a team who needs to fill a spot at second or third base.
No matter which player you look at they have something to prove. Whether it be Wright, Harvey, and Bobby Parnell coming back from injury. Or Granderson coming back from a down year. Lagares and d’Arnaud establishing themselves as core players. Also, Jacob deGrom and Zack Wheeler both showing that they can at least repeat what they did last year and even improve upon what they did. The Mets are not short on pitchers right now with at least eight players who have the ability to be in the rotation on Opening Day and they need to show they belong. The Mets might not be in the playoffs this year, but they need to show they are capable of being that team next year and the next few years.
The problem with saying “not many players had a big year last year”. And then mentioning guys like Flores, Hererra, Plaw, TDA, deGrom, Mejia, Familia, Black, Edgin so on and so forth is that how can you actually determine what is a good and bad year for players with little to no major league track record? They could all just as easily have played their best baseball they ever will as they could have played their worst. Nobody knows, if not we should just hand the Cubs the next 10 chips since they have 4 of the top 19 prospects in baseball currently including #’s 1 and 3 and the top rated farm plus money to spare.
I completely agree with you in saying they could have played their best or their worst last year. Looking back at 2014, who were the players that you would go, damn they had a really good year? deGrom, who came out of nowhere should have been mentioned in that talk, but aside from him it was Duda. The guys in the bullpen did pitch well too, but deGrom won Rookie of the Year and Duda snagged an MVP vote. Everyone else performed good, just not at that level that looking back you think damn they played really well. You can do the same thing about Lagares’ defense and him winning the gold glove.
The other guys I would not say had a breakout year. Look at the Indians’ Michael Brantley. Pretty much an average player before last year. Then 2014 comes around and he hits .327 with an OPS at .890 and only got beat out y Mike Trout and Victor Martinez. Flores and d’Arnaud have not had that year yet. It is possible that they never will, but they have the potential, maybe not to shoot up to top three MVP candidates, but definitely better than they are now.
I agree we have a ton of potential but you know the old saying “potential is another way of saying you haven’t done it yet”. Believe me I love watching the minors as much as I do the ML team, let’s face it when you have been a Met fan for over 50 years many, many years it is the best part of the season day dreaming about what might be in the future.
I have been around long enough to know that “if” you get 1 out of 2 prospects to perform as you would like you are doing great. And that there will be a bunch of teases along the way that fool you into thinking they are for real only to let you down in the end. I hope this isn’t the case this time.
I remember in the early 80’s watching Dykstra, Backman, Doc, Straw, Mitchell, Darling, Orosco, McDowell and some others come up through the farm and it seemed all came through to form a chip winning team. Unfortunately that rarely happens and I had a much higher degree of confidence in Cashen than I do Alderson. The other part of the equation is Cashen had money to supplement these youngsters with proven winners and future HOF players. This time we have no money and instead of Hernandez, Carter and Ojeda we get Granderson, Cuddyer and Gilmartin.
I will leave it at that I am getting depressed just thinking about it!
lol
Tyler, Im gonna say Lagares harnessed his talent. I think it is clear that he is going to be a defense first center fielder. His glove is so serious, its basically an offensive weapon. I know it seems that a player is measured almost solely on offensive production, particularly on a team where offense is average and often poorly timed (like not bringing in that runner from second with no outs). But in Lagares’ case it is essential that he maintains the ridiculous prowess he has with the leather. I’d say he has harnessed that unqualified. Furthermore, he could easily have won the GG in 2013 as well. He has established himself as a premium defender in a position where elite-level defense is highly desirable.
Looking forward to seeing a full season of productivity from Travis d’Arnaud. His strides in the second half were impressive, and should create a deeper lineup.
Also, as you stated, I’m looking forward for Harvey’s return. I’m not too sure we should place such high expectations on him for this season. I’ll be more than happy if he makes close to 30 starts and keeps us in ball games. Coming off an injury is not an easy thing to do, especially Tommy John. Hopefully he sets the tone for the younger guys as well, and helps the whole staff compete. Should be an exciting year for our rotation.
To term the 2014 season as a “step in the right direction” is incorrect. The Mets “got back to where they were in the standings in 2010” is a more accurate statement.
They also need to make the playoffs in 2015 in order to validate that the last four years were worth the suffering. If they fall short this year and proceed to fall short every year going forward then all Sandy and the Wilpon’s did was put a carrot on a stick for the fans to chase. In June 2012 the Mets were in first place but finances couldn’t support building off that base. Now the Mets supposedly have a more solid foundation and should succeed but it is all “potential” so this group needs to prove themselves. It is time for this franchise to deliver for their fanbase.