I’m not bailing on the Mets nor giving up on the Season.  With 6 games off the schedule it is way to early to fire a manager or make any player moves. It just seems that I see something and I want to know if you, our readers, see the same thing.
The Mets are not a bad team I just think they have too many “projects” going on at once. When I mean projects I mean players either developing or waiting.
Let me explain.
This weekend we saw the return of Jose Reyes. Everyone talked about how he was going to infuse the team with his smile and energy. This lasted about 27 seconds in my opinion. Yea, Reyes came back but on Saturday he looked nervous, jumpy and unsure. He missed a line drive and didn’t steal second in the 9th because he was not ready. All right, so he needs some time, time to get back-even though he is a professional, let’s remember, he hasn’t played a game in 11 months!  This is fine, at least he’s healthy and ready to compete and produce….but he is a project. I’m quite sure, in time,  he will return to form( and watching every game I’m also sure we will see glimpses of his progress)
Let’s go across the diamond to First Base. Another ongoing Project that I think won’t end until the All-Star Break. Right now it’s Jacobs and Tatis. Jacobs has had his issues at the plate. He’s striking out. popping up and besides the Home run on Saturday, has been an almost automatic out. Tatis platoons and does a better job but regardless, First Base is a project because according to the Mets- Murphy is running in a straight line. We’re waiting for Murphy, which in my opinion is another project. Once he returns, he goes on the clock because Ike Davis is waiting in AAA. I’ll  predict Davis will be up by the July.
Center field, our last official project. I know that Manuel plays the hot hand but lets face it, it’s pure guess work. Matthews is a nice player, so is Pagan but neither one of them is Beltran. Who, when he returns, will be another project because he too will need time acclimate himself to major league pitching.Â
As a side note: After seeing the Mets go through the rotation once, it is also obvious that Maine or Perez will be a potential Project…especially Perez who has, in my opinion, solidified his spot as a bona fide number 5 starter.
I’m not going to throw out stats because for 6 games, you really can’t determine what kind of year a player will have. I’m just pointing out the ongoing issues I see the Mets dealing with. Do other teams deal with their own on going projects, yes. It is part of baseball like injuries; however, were rooting for the Mets here and let’s worry about our own team.
Is there hope? Of course there is.   I believe that as these Projects work themselves out, the team will solidify and begin to work and win.  However, the big question is will the problems resolve themselves before the other teams run away.
That’s the million dollar question.
6 comments
udontmesswthejohan
4/12/2010-9:52am at 9:52 am (UTC -4)
“The Mets are not a bad team I just think they have too many “projects†going on at once. When I mean projects I mean players either developing or waiting.”
You are right, after 6 games, no one should be bailing on the season. That said, I keep hearing a lot of people saying that we are a “good team on paper” with a lot of “talent”. To this, I would say two things: 1. Having a good team on paper aint worth the paper its written on, and 2. We as fans, may need to come to grips with the fact that some of the talent we are counting on, is mediocore at best, or non-existent at worst.
I speak specifically about Maine and Perez. Forget what they have done int he past, it may be time to consider the fact that these guys just are not good major league pitchers. I know that is painfull to consider since we have seen them perform int he past, but it wouldn’t be the first time a couple of guys had some success int he big leagues to never taste that same success again.
stickguy
4/12/2010-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
well, the key line in your whole post is that other teams have projects too. All of them, even the good ones.
So, I don’t mind the ones that are top talents getting back into the flow. So reyes and Beltran (when back) are to me “good” projects.
1B will be the interesting one, to see how that plays out, but IMO the current project is looking like a failure.
the SP you mentioned is certainly a concern. But, those are guys we are going to be seeing as long as they are healthy enough to pitch (barring a really unexpected move) for quite a while.
metsfan4decades
4/12/2010-10:32am at 10:32 am (UTC -4)
‘That’s the million dollar question’.
Jeeze, if a million dollars will solve this, just throw it out there. They can afford it.
LOL.
ceetar
4/12/2010-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
No one’s running away with the division. (Unless you mean the Mets running away in the opposite direction, which I don’t see happening either.)
This is why you limit the projects. Pagan is above project status. He’s played very well for the Mets. just play him. Reyes is not a project. He didn’t steal in the 9th because Manuel’s an idiot. He’s started to return to form, has a walk and an extra base hit. He’s just about there. Making good contact, which means he’s at least seeing the ball.
We’ll see how the pitching goes, but taht’s the big project, mainly Niese and Pelfrey, if you grant Maine and Perez the injury excuse, which you probably should. I have a lot of confidence in Pelf this year, and Niese looks like he’ll be competitive.
stickguy
4/12/2010-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
well, so far, the phillies are certainly looking to give it a shot.
but I got no problem with the WC!
GravediggerHebner
4/12/2010-11:35am at 11:35 am (UTC -4)
Completely agreed that the team has too many projects, but it’s largely a deliberate tactic they chose to take (no rotation addition, no proven 1B, largely unproven bullpen), so the fact that they have too many projects is mostly on Omar for setting up the roster choices that way, then exacerbated by Manuel’s inability to make the right choices within an already faulty framework.