It’s hard not to  be positive about a team that’s won eight of their last nine.  They just swept the Orioles on the road, and are on their way to Cleveland where they face another bad team in the Indians.  Reyes is hitting, Bay broke out of his slump, Wright blasted two home runs.  The pitching has continued to be good, Beltran is healing, the Mets have a good farm system and could even trade for a starting pitcher should that be the route Omar looks to go.  The Phillies are struggling and the Mets are only 1.5 games behind the division leading Braves.  In an interesting twist, the Mets trailed the Braves by a game on this date 10 years ago.  It was a season the Braves would end up winning the division, but the Mets would take the Wild Card and make it all the way to the World Series to play the Yankees.  This train of thought is something that’s come up again recently, especially with the interleague matchup happening this coming weekend, but it’s just a wee bit premature right now.  For one, I think the Mets will persevere and win the division and I don’t think the Yankees will make the World Series.
Obviously the Mets won’t continue at the winning rate they currently are on. Â Obviously I hope it continues through the Yankees series and they can come home conquering heroes to the park they play so well at and really start making some real strides in the division race. Â It’ll be interesting to see how the Mets respond to the next losing streak, how bad they let it get, and how quickly they can shake it off. Â Last time they lost they sunk all the way back below .500 from first place, but this time they’re further up. Â The Mets have the depth and talent to shake off a losing streak. Â They can win in many ways so that if they’re not quite hitting the long ball, they can still steal bases and scratch out runs. Â If their starters aren’t going deep into games, the bullpen is capable of stepping up and keeping the game within reach. Â If one player is struggling, the others are more than likely to get on a hot streak and be able to carry the slumping teammate.
There is still a lot of baseball to  be played, but the Mets are in a good position right now.  They’re in striking distance of the playoffs and also are starting to learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of the team.  Omar will be able to assess what bullpen parts need an upgrade, and how big a starting pitcher they need.  With Pelfrey emerging as a legitimate top of the rotation starter to compliment Santana, the Mets aren’t as desperate for a marquee Cliff Lee type starter, and can afford to not overpay in prospects and contracts for a pitcher.  They’ve  got flexibility with Dickey and Takahashi and the possibility of Maine and Perez both coming back and contributing.  Niese has looked like a real pitcher, especially lately.  So while the Mets still have problems, they don’t necessarily have any more problems than anyone else.  The team is, and will remain, a contender for the post season and will continue to make 2010 an exciting year.
34 comments
stickguy
6/15/2010-10:15am at 10:15 am (UTC -4)
good piece. ANd I know it flies in the face of most Met fans but you are correct. They don’t have more problems than most other teams!
But, I do think they will stay just about on the same pace. Not the 120 win pace of the last 20 games, but the 90 win pace they are on for the year.
Know what a 90 win pace is? Go 5-4 over every 9 game stretch (or about 3 series).
When you put it that way, is it really a stretch to think the Mets can maintain the pace the rest of the way?
ceetar
6/15/2010-10:37am at 10:37 am (UTC -4)
It’s a stretch to think they can’t maintain that stretch. And I think it’s a stretch to think anyone in the division wins much more than 90 games.
Mr North Jersey
6/15/2010-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
It’s a stretch to make a stretch about a stretch so how about giving the stretch a break.
njstuckintx
6/15/2010-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
Cue the Richard Simmons Flexibility Tapes!
ceetar
6/15/2010-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
if A-Rod doesn’t stretch, his hip just may explode.
njstuckintx
6/15/2010-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
The next 3 series after the Indians are make or break time. Even rolling through that at .500 would be a victory in my mind. Obviously hope for more, but I’d take it.
stickguy
6/15/2010-10:58am at 10:58 am (UTC -4)
they do face soem good teams. so 5-4 would be fantastic. Even 4-5 is not horrible, as long as they continue to feast on the bottom feeders.
but, you never know what will happen. Many, many people (including I believe the illustrious Ceetar) felt that the late May stretch of phils-yanks would be the Mets Waterloo, but that ended up going just fine!
Yanks certainly tough at home, but the Mets always seem to play well against them. ANd I don’t think the Tigers or Twins are really better than the Mets are, so those should be tight, competitive series.
PLus, they are in citifield, so they lose their DH.
ceetar
6/15/2010-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
nah, I thought the Mets cuold hang with the Phils and Yanks
stickguy
6/15/2010-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
maybe it was wanny then. Someone had that circled as the point of no return, after which jerry was gone.
oleosmirf
6/15/2010-11:05am at 11:05 am (UTC -4)
well as long as the Mets pitching is this good, the winning will continue
oleosmirf
6/15/2010-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
the Mets are now 6-1 since Ollie has been put on DL and are 34-18 in games where he has not made an appearance.
The Mets are 15-6 since Maine has been on the DL and are 31-23 in games where he has not made an appearance.
The Mets are a whopping 30-13 in games where Maine or Ollie have not played…
ceetar
6/15/2010-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)
you can make numbers say anything. Mets have a very poor record since Manuel took over.
njstuckintx
6/15/2010-10:59am at 10:59 am (UTC -4)
The Mets are 2-0 when Carter jacks 3 run bombs!
oleosmirf
6/15/2010-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
the Mets are 1-10 when Ollie pitches!!!
stickguy
6/15/2010-11:01am at 11:01 am (UTC -4)
But aren’t they playing about .800 ball with you in attendance?
This is like saying teams in the NFL that win run the ball 30 times. So if you want to win, just run the ball 30 times!
ceetar
6/15/2010-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
7-1 with me in attendance.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/15/2010-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
where do we transfer money? do you take paypal?
ceetar
6/15/2010-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
Also, at Citi Field the Mets have not allowed a run when I sit on the field level/Metro Box section. Two complete game shut outs. So get me the good seats.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/15/2010-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
Need to consult my wife about that…
oleosmirf
6/15/2010-11:01am at 11:01 am (UTC -4)
ill just let them speak for themselves
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/15/2010-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
Since Jeff’s visit in ATL, the Mets are 17-8. Coincidence? Perhaps…
metsfan4decades
6/15/2010-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
Agree with this analysis.
I always thought the Mets had the pieces to compete this year. Said all along it was going to come down to SP.
Right now all 5 are basically getting the job done but we’ve got little depth. I just can’t count Maine and Perez as depth. I meant depth that will actually give you outings that put them in a position to win. I’d like to see a SP via a trade. If that then leaves us with an over abundance of SP, the more the better. The injury plagued 2009 season is not a distant enough memory….
oleosmirf
6/15/2010-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
the problem is Maine and Ollie have to comeback and you cant put both in the bullpen b/c Ollie has is too erratic to be trusted in a big spot and Maine has always complained when in a relief role so unless they stay on DL or are no longer on the team, a return to the rotation for 1 of the 2 is imminent…
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/15/2010-11:18am at 11:18 am (UTC -4)
Agreed. And I bet you that the Mets will give them at least 2-3 chances before looking for other SPs in the trade market. But I believe that is being reactive.
oleosmirf
6/15/2010-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
even so you cant trade for a SP and keep 7 SP on the team…you cant have 2 of Dickey, Ollie and Maine in the pen and 1 in the rotation.
Obviously cutting Ollie would help the team the most but that wont happen until all other options have been tried, if at all.
if they refuse to get rid of Ollie then moving Maine needs to happen next…im sure we could move him for a middle reliever…
metsfan4decades
6/15/2010-11:39am at 11:39 am (UTC -4)
I know….
Maine has stated just recently he’d take a spot in the BP, if it will help the team. So at least that shouldn’t be a problem.
Bottom line is though, if Ollie and Maine can’t get the job done, we’ve got to do something b/c the race in this division is just going to be too tight to be waiting for them to ‘find it’ on the mound….
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/15/2010-11:43am at 11:43 am (UTC -4)
Agreed. The sooner you get more stable SP help, more chance the Mets have in firming up their position at the top.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/15/2010-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
Should’ve bet a lot of money on over on number of Mets wins.
ceetar
6/15/2010-11:11am at 11:11 am (UTC -4)
i only bet $5.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/15/2010-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
What do you think about Farnsworth? Looks like he’s been pitching well for the Royals. His contract is $4.5M this season with $5.5M in 2011 club option with $500k buyout. He’s not a sure thing in the BP, but might not be a bad idea.
ceetar
6/15/2010-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
this is amusing (from the guy that played the Fanatic until 1993:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703389004575304961535825960.html?mod=wsj_share_twitter):
“I remember what it was like in the upper deck in Philadelphia, and that’s why I never went up there,” said Mr. Raymond, who now owns his own mascot company. “When you go up into the upper deck, they want to see if you can fly.”
Also talks about the Yankees mascot.
GravediggerHebner
6/15/2010-12:34pm at 12:34 pm (UTC -4)
I agree completely with one of your summary points: the Mets do have problems, but not any more than any other team. So far they have responded well when confronted with these problems, better than many of their NL competitors. It will be interesting so see how they and their fellow NL teams respond to problems as the season continues to unfold.
CaseStreet
6/15/2010-1:04pm at 1:04 pm (UTC -4)
As much as I’d like to see Lee Haren Oswalt, I could see Omar signing Maya instead. Won’t cost prospects and won’t be as expensive as Lee Haren or Oswalt.
CaseStreet
6/15/2010-1:17pm at 1:17 pm (UTC -4)
According to Dave Cameron at fangraphs.com, “If you’re a GM shopping for Cliff Lee this summer, that looks to be the price – $15 to $20 million worth of value, which translates into one high quality prospect and a few fillers.”
So, basically it’d take one of Mejia, Davis or F-Mart, plus a “filler”.
I don’t think Omar would trade any of these guys, even for Lee. Gotta figure Haren will cost at least two of the guys. That leaves Oswalt, but I don’t see the Wilpons wanting to take on his contract.
So, that leaves guys like Millwood and Westbrook. Hopefully, though, the Mets sign Maya who could possibly help out this season.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/cliff-lees-trade-value/