It’s almost here, thank the Baseball Gods Spring Training has arrived. It’s one thing to have a bad season, but the Mets have managed to have to actually tortured me during the off-season. For that I must congratulate them.
Now I just want to see some harmless, good old American baseball.
For the most part, the Mets have been written off by pretty much everyone not to be any type of contenders this season. I’m OK with that knowing what’s been going on but it still doesn’t mean I want the Mets to succeed.
Let’s get down to business, here are some things I would like to see from the Mets that would make me feel just a bit optimistic about 2011. Special note here, I’m not going to discuss invites from the Mets minors. Although I would like them to succeed, I think we should really focus on our main position players. I also understand that these players are looking to get in shape and not worry about stats or wins but still, there are things I think we all need to see.
1. I would like to see David Wright in nice shape showing he can move around third and sling it to first, a little power at the plate this time of year is not expected, but I would like to see a taste of it. It would be nice to see him be more of a leader in and out of the dugout.
2. I like Ike Davis and I want to see his spray the ball all over the field. I would like to see him pick it at first and show a little speed on the bags. He has that Sophomore curse to worry about so I hope that even if he has trouble at the plate, he can still field.
3. Luis Castillo should be in camp and given a fair shot but if he’s really behind, I would like to see him cut.(This also goes for my favorite Minaya pick-up, Oliver Perez) This move(s) should be done not only out of disappointment but also proving to the players that Alderson is a man of his word. I think this would mean a lot to the team.
4. I want to see Reyes healthy, running and hitting. It’s been such a long time since I have seen him do all three.
5. Josh Thole has a lot to prove behind the plate if he wants to be an everyday backstop. I really would like to see him throw a couple of guys out and do some hitting.
6. I want to see a thin Carlos Beltran. If he’s a little thick around the waist, he’s slow. I also really want to see him run down a fly at full speed. Hitting would be nice to see too. I would also like to see him play everyday without any loss of speed or strength. What would really impress me would be to see him out of center a game or two, just to give Pagan a chance and see what Beltran can do in Right Field.
7. Jason Bay needs to show me everything. I really think he’s ready to show us too. I would like to see him play every game. (even though that won’t happen because it’s Spring Training)
8. I want to see Pagan be Pagan. It would be nice to see him start off the way he finished last year. I would also like to see him handle Center with Beltran next to him.
9. As for the pitching staff, I looking for all of them to be healthy, especially Big Pelf, Niese and Dickey. I think K-Rod needs to be thin and in shape It would be nice to see both Capuano and Young make the team. There is a huge upside to these pitchers and the Mets can really benefit from their contributions-if any. I love Parnell, I really want to see him pitch and find a role. Hey, a small Johan Santana bullpen session wouldn’t be bad to see too.
Dan Murphy may be a hard worker but unless he can hit off the bench, he should be put in the minors again. I’m sorry, I know he’s a fan favorite but can you see him playing second?
Finally I would like to see Terry Collins completely in charge. I don’t care about the workouts he’s running but I would like to see him put his stamp on this team-whatever it is.
What would you like to see?
8 comments
njstuckintx
2/12/2011-9:40am at 9:40 am (UTC -4)
I’d like to see ‘Go Big Murph” (patent pending) grab 2B by the short ones and make it his.
I definitely want to see what Beltran has in the tank. He’s one of the many fulcrum points for the season. I would argue probably the biggest.
PS. why stop at #9 when you had 2 more points to make?
metsfan4decades
2/12/2011-10:32am at 10:32 am (UTC -4)
I’ll be happy if the only thing we’re discussing in ST is who plays second, who the starting 5 will be, who the BP arms will be. In other words, all show up healthy, all remain healthy and there’s no mention of MRIs, additional blood tests, etc.
I also hope we’re not still discussing daily Perez and Castillo right up to opening day.
oleosmirf
2/12/2011-10:46am at 10:46 am (UTC -4)
Capuano and Young are both 100% making the team (unless they are hurt). That’s really not something that’s debatable
stickguy
2/12/2011-11:56am at 11:56 am (UTC -4)
I want to see the sun. And the snow piles at every corner gone. that would be nice.
oh wait, you meant for the team. Will have to get back to you on that…
stickguy
2/12/2011-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
a good list. And except for the murphy debate, I don’t think you asked for anything unreasonable, out of the ordinary, or not likely to happen.
I also think that this team is very much a playoff contender. They are certainly as good as teams like the dodgers, rockies, padres, braves, cards, cubs, reds, etc. IOW, the rest of the teams that have a number of talented players, but also some holes, weaknesses and question mark areas.
I can see people not thinking they can win 90-92 games, without a lot of luck. But a lot of folks don’t think they will even win as many games as last year. I call BS.
the only loss is Johan (until if/when he comes back). But offsetting this is (as of now) a healthy reyes and beltran to start the season. No Maine of Ollie in the rotation. Ike at 1B. Hopefully a bay that remembers how to hit. NO JERRY!
Hell, last year, even with little from Bay, they were still right in the hunt 1/2 way through the year, until the collapsed under the weight of Beltran having ST on the job, reyes playing with a muscle pull, and Bay going out entirely (with substandard fill ins and Jerry mismanaging the roster on a daily basis). And Santana and K Rod were gone the last month already.
and this year, no Castillo gumming up the bench or Ollie (and mejia) wasting roster spots in the pen.
Of course no one knows what will happen (injuries or unexpected performance levels) any given year. But right now, heading into ST, the overall potential 25 man to me looks significantly better than what it was most of last season. And I think Collins over Jerry is worth a couple wins right there.
this team should be scoring a lot more runs if most guys can simply stay on the field and have close to normal years. And given how many (30?) 1 run losses they had, hard to imagine not winning some more of them.
given all that, and how big of a train wreck in some areas it took to stumble in with 79 wins, I just don’t see how, with normal predictions, this is not at least a mid-upper 80s win team (on paper, as is everything now). And every year, some team in that boat has a special year and pops 90.
if nothing else, 2011 squad matches up well to the 2007-2008 teams, both favored for a playoff spot and ended up with upper 80s wins. That is where I put this team, assuming a relatively normal year (and yes, I know that might be a major leap of faith when talking about the mets!)
Mr North Jersey
2/12/2011-1:49pm at 1:49 pm (UTC -4)
Good list there Gonzo.
Mr North Jersey
2/12/2011-4:50pm at 4:50 pm (UTC -4)
Congrats to Gonzo on the MetsBlog Bump.
Prismo
2/12/2011-4:54pm at 4:54 pm (UTC -4)
Except Baron uses “TRDB” – “The Real Dirty Blog”?
This isn’t kosher!