Baseball is back! Let’s fucking go baby! Anyone who says they don’t like baseball quite frankly sucks and is impatient. It’s Americas past time and with such copious amounts of young stars, the game is as good as ever. New York baseball is also as the kids say lit. Both the Mets and the Yankees should be competing for the playoffs. We’re gonna take a look at the New York Mets in this since I have been a die-heart Met fan since diapers and I’ve been through a lot damn it. We’ll break the team down as such; Outfield, Infield, Starting Pitchers, and Relief Pitchers.
Outfield
The Met’s have an interesting outfield, to say the least. You have vibrant stars ranging from Yoenis Cespedes to humility in a declining one in Curtis Granderson. We do know for sure that Cespedes will be playing left field, and obviously, his bat is tremendous and he is the cream of the crop offensively. Defensively he is very good, however, he often has hamstring injuries which limit his range out there. I can confidently say he has the best arm in the game no question.
Centerfield will be a platoon of Curtis Granderson and Juan Lagares. Lagares is a Gold Glove winner from 2014 and could have even more if he was an everyday player, however, he struggles offensively. Poorly disciplined at the plate he has trouble laying off pitches out of the zone but can hit fastballs. Well, who can’t at this level. Granderson is on the decline sadly at 35, he’s no spring chicken. Batting just .237 he can still get on base at .335 OBP and still plenty of pop with 30 homers. Granderson is 13th all time for outfielders with a .9934 fielding percentage and was even in the top three last year. Curtis is a class act and a professional, love Curtis.
Right field we have Jay Bruce sprinkled in with some Michael Conforto. Bruce struggled for the Mets in his short time but got hot at the end and still hit 33 dingers for the year. Defensively he’s better than he’s given credit although his rage is somewhat compromised with his size. Conforto is an enigma going into this season, he started off so well and then before you know it, he’s in the minors like that. Conforto has a high ceiling but if he doesn’t learn how to hit a curve he won’t make it in the majors, defensively he is decent. Conforto has been red hot in spring training but he was last year, so don’t put too much stock into it for now. There are some great power bats and some good fielders and arms, missing guys hitting for average but solid depth. Grade: B +
Infielders
The Mets are solid at a few positions and have a big weakness at others. At third base, the Mets have the energizer bunny himself Jose Reyes, although not what he once was Reyes is still fast and brings the Mets much needed speed and spark. He’s just great to have in the clubhouse and still has one of the best arms in the game. David Wright can also play third but don’t count on it with his back.
At shortstop they have Asdrubal Cabrera coming off a career year with 23 homers and batting .280. He also plays a masterful short and makes almost all the plays. At second the underrated Neil Walker with very similar numbers 23 bombs and .282. However, in just 113 games, over course of 162 game season, that’s 33 homers and at second. He is a solid second baseman with average range.
The mercurial Lucas Duda plays first for the amazin’s who is so frustrating as a fan. He has some moments of greatness and times where he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. He’s also always injured, okay defensively, I consider the position a weakness for the Mets between the holes he has in his swings verse lefties and his lack of health. He’s only played over 136 games in one of his six years as a starter.
Then versatile youngsters Ty Kelly (2B, 3B, LF) and TJ Rivera (1B, 2B) can really hit and give them some much-needed youth. Kelly sported a .353 OBP and Rivera .333 in 33 games after bing called up. Rivera can just really swing the bat and will continue, maybe not at that clip, but it just seems like he always has multi-hit games.
Then we go to catcher and it’s a serious problem the combination of Travis D’Arnaud and Rene Rivera isn’t scaring anyone. D’Arnaud had 15 RBI’s in 75 games, just unfathomable almost. Playing 2/3 of the games of an average starting catcher and not even getting twenty rib eye steaks. He also has a weak arm, however, he calls a good game. Rivera has some pop, a stronger arm and is a solid backup, nothing more. Perhaps the biggest weakness on the roster. Then versatile youngsters Ty Kelly (2B, 3B, LF) and TJ Rivera (1B, 2B) can really hit and give them some much-needed youth. Kelly sported a .353 OBP and Rivera .333 in 33 games after bing called up. Rivera can just really swing the bat and will continue, maybe not at that clip, but it just seems like he always has multi-hit games. Let’s not forget hometown product
Let’s not forget hometown product Wilmer Flores who can play first, second, and third, man do we love Flores. Flores will forever be in Met fans heart after that emotional display last year. He had the BEST slugging percentage against lefties in the majors at .710! If the Mets verse a lefty bet your ass he’ll be in the heart of that lineup, he’s limited defensively not covering much ground. Overall the infield is solid, a lot of pop, solid defensively, but lacking speed and a catcher big time. Catcher and first are question marks but the rest of the guys can hit and field at a respectable level. Versatility, being able to play almost every position is a huge asset for them especially with the struggles health wise. Grade: B-
Starting Pitchers
The Mets on paper once again have one of the best starting pitching groups, on paper that is. They will sport a rotation led by Noah Syndergaard, Jacob Degrom, Matt Harvey, Stephen Matz (10 Day DL) and Robert Gsellman. Wheeler will replace Matz for the time being and then go to the pen. To be honest, I see the Mets going to a 6 man rotation to limit innings with this injury prone group. Thor is a top 3 pitcher in the national league and it doesn’t get much better than DeGrom as the #2. Harvey struggled mightily last year but I’ll give him a pass that he was injured for most of the year. I expect a big rebound year from Harvey and all three guys to get 15 wins or more if they stay healthy.
Stephen Matz is a long island kid and another fan favorite. I love Matz he takes things to heart and is emotional, can sometimes beat himself up too much which I can relate to. He has a career 3.16 record and is just 25, but this is his third stint on the DL in his short career. Gsellman was brilliant last year only just 23, he has a nasty curve and went 4-2 with a 2.42 ERA in 7 starts. Zach Wheeler, I wouldn’t put too much stock in, nor am I very high on. He’s been good when out there
Gsellman was brilliant last year only just 23, he has a nasty curve and went 4-2 with a 2.42 ERA in 7 starts. Zach Wheeler, I wouldn’t put too much stock in, nor am I very high on. He’s been good when out there with a career 3.50 era but I don’t know if he can stay on the field. The talent is more than there for the Mets, this rotation could be legendary. The ceiling is the roof for them. On paper, I would give them an A but they struggle to stay healthy. Grade: A-
Relief Pitchers
The pen is very good, I like it, essentially returning the same pen from last year. Last year they were sixth in baseball with a 3.53 ERA and well above the National League Average of 4.02. Familia will serve a 30 game substance for his domestic abuse, shake my fucking head. That pisses me off. When he’s out there he’s great, unless it’s the playoffs. Last year he set a Mets record and national league leading 51 saves. Addison Reed is another stud coming off a career year with a 1.97 ERA and a WHIP of 0.94. Not only does he not give up runs but he doesn’t let people get on.
We also have ex-closer Greg Salas who is a solid veteran and ex-closer. Hansel Robles is so frustrating hot or cold but he isn’t bad at all and went 6-4 from the pen. I don’t trust him though. Jerry Blevins is our lefty and guy we send out there verse lefties and is solid. Edgin, Smoker and Montero are all not really proven and inconsistent. But if we’re being honest who has a great back end of their bullpen? Exactly basically no one. Lugo will be back also to help aid it once he’s off the DL and Wheeler is supposed to go back as well, so this back end and depth should improve substantially. The Mets have arguably the best 8/9 in the National League and have some proven guys. If they can stay healthy they can be top 5ish again. Grade: B +
Overall Prediction
The Mets can win this division, believe me. If we stay healthy there is no doubt we can be a top 5 team and top 2/3 in the national league. That’s a huge question mark, though, I don’t know why we get hurt so much. But I’m gunna fucking blame the trainers and strength guys on that one, figure it the fuck out. My prediction is that we’ll contend for the division towards the end and finish a close second in the NL East. I give the Mets 92 wins and one of the two Wild-Card spots.
If we can score enough runs with and stay out of the ER the future is real bright. They scored the fifth least runs at just 4.12 last year. If they can get that up to even just 4.3-4 range their pitching can do the rest. The Mets are slow and stole the third least bags in the majors last year with just 45 and don’t really use hit and run. Terry is conservative and isn’t anything special. Sometimes I think he’s too hard on the guys. However the Mets were second in the NL in homers with 221, so we will be okay.Guys like Rivera, Kelly, Lugo and Gsellman got some vital experience last year which will pay huge dividends. Looking forward to a hungry Mets team after losing that heartbreaking Wild Card game last year to the Giants.
