I along with almost every other blogger, columnist and prognosticator have been rather underwhelmed with the current state of the Mets. Payroll has been trimmed from 140 million dollars to the current 90 odd million dollars.
Fans are disillusioned with an ownership group that appears to place their own survival in front of fielding a winning team ( once again I stress that I don’t blame Sandy Alderson), and they are bracing themselves for another sub .500 finish.
So here is a list scenarios that could play out during the season. At the end of the 2012 season I will revisit this list to see if any of these scenarios have come to fruition.
Would it surprise you if David Wright is gone by the trade deadline – plummeting the Mets payroll closer to the 75 million dollar range ?
Would it surprise you if Ike Davis matured into the 40 homer 120 R.B.I guy we hope he becomes ?
Would it surprise you if Mike Pelfrey wins close to 17 wins ? On the other hand would you be surprised if he lost 17 ?
Would you be surprised if Lucas Duda could hit home runs like Dave Kingman – but fielded like him also ?
Would it surprise you if Johan Santana lasted the entire season without injury ?
Would it surprise you to see either Mets prospects Jenrry Mejia or Matt Harvey in the Mets rotation by seasons end ?
Would it surprise you if Jose Reyes re-injures his hamstrings – forcing him to sit out huge chunks of the Marlins season – or would it surprise you if he became the National League M.V.P ?
Would it surprise you if the Wilpon’s were forced to sell the team by mid-season?
Would it surprise you if the Mets won 81 games or better ?
On the other hand would it surprise you if the Mets won closer to 75 games and Citi Field had once again become Grants tomb ?
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!!
The New York Mets traded pitcher, Tim Leary to the Kansas City Royals for Frank Wills on January 18, 1985. Leary was one projected to be the ace of the Mets pitching staff, but he injured his arm in his major league debut which required surgery.Even though he ended up having a long career, he never did live up to the tag of “pitching phenom”.
The New York Mets traded utility infielder, Aaron Ledesma to the California Angels for minor league outfielder, Kevin Flora on January 18, 1996.
-The New York Mets signed free agent middle reliever, Roberto Hernandez on January 18, 2005. He spent 1- 1/2 seasons with the Mets – finishing with a combined record of 8-6 with a E.R.A of 2.79.
The Toronto Blue Jays signed reserve outfielder, Jeremy Reed of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 18, 2010. In his lone season with the Mets, Reed battled .242 with 9 RBIs.
Mo Vaughn plans on attending visiting Port St Lucie for Spring Training. Watch out there are rumblings that he plans on signing up for a few wet t-shirt contests while he is down there !!!
16 comments
darknova306
1/18/2012-7:14am at 7:14 am (UTC -4)
Responding to each question in order:
-Wright getting traded by the deadline most likely means he’s rebounded and increased his trade value, which I don’t personally see happening, and the Mets being out of contention by July, which I DO see happening. So, it wouldn’t surprise me either way.
-I expect Ike to become a 40HR guy at some point, barring injury, but not this year. With so much time spent recovering from that injury, he’s bound to need time to readjust. And being so young and new to the big leagues, he’ll have enough ups and downs this year to not live up to those super high expectations. I’ll be surprised if he hits 40HR.
-Mike Pelfrey winning 17 games… hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!! Oh, you’re serious… let me laugh harder HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I wouldn’t be surprised if he LOST 17 games, as my opinion of him is almost down to Ollie and Francoeur levels (my hate runs deep).
-I’m too young to remember Kingman, but I would be surprised if Duda hits Kingman’s career average of 37 HRs per 162 games. I like Duda, but 35-40 HRs is a tall order in the big leagues.
-If Santana lasts the whole season healthy and pitching on the big league squad, I’ll buy you several rounds of frosty beverages at your favorite bar after the season’s over, Rusty. It ain’t happening.
-Mejia making the big league rotation this year would surprise me, given the injury he had and the development he still needs on his most of his pitches. I actually wouldn’t be surprised to see Harvey as a late season call-up, depending on how he’s looking when rosters expand and how poor attendance is at Citi Field.
-I’ll be shocked if Reyes doesn’t re-injure his hammy, which means I’ll be shocked if he’s able to make an MVP run.
-I don’t know enough about the inner workings of the Wilpon empire to know whether to expect them to sell or not. I WILL be surprised if this issue goes away anytime soon, though. Gonna be a circus all year, folks.
-The Mets winning 81 games with the roster they have and in the division they’re in… yeah, if that happens I’ll bring you a couple of cases, Rusty.
- Less than 75 wins, Grant’s tomb, sounds about right. That won’t surprise me at all.
Answering all these questions has just made my expectations for this season even dimmer. Ugh. Such a bad team, such a good division. At least baseball is still awesome, regardless of how bad your team sucks. Also, beer. Lots of beer.
Stickguy
1/18/2012-7:41am at 7:41 am (UTC -4)
Answered below. But this team, right now? not much would surprise me.
also, I did not consider the payroll to be 140 last year. More like 120, with only 100 or so actually playing (since Castillo and Ollie were ledger entries only, and Santana did not exist).
………………………………………………………
Would it surprise you if David Wright is gone by the trade deadline – plummeting the Mets payroll closer to the 75 million dollar range ? – NO
Would it surprise you if Ike Davis matured into the 40 homer 120 R.B.I guy we hope he becomes ? – NO
Would it surprise you if Mike Pelfrey wins close to 17 wins ? On the other hand would you be surprised if he lost 17 ? Actually, no to both.
Would you be surprised if Lucas Duda could hit home runs like Dave Kingman – but fielded like him also ?- HELL NO!
Would it surprise you if Johan Santana lasted the entire season without injury ? -HELL YES
Would it surprise you to see either Mets prospects Jenrry Mejia or Matt Harvey in the Mets rotation by seasons end ? – Yes to Mejia, not to Harvey
Would it surprise you if Jose Reyes re-injures his hamstrings – forcing him to sit out huge chunks of the Marlins season – or would it surprise you if he became the National League M.V.P ? – NO to hammy, YES to MVP
Would it surprise you if the Wilpon’s were forced to sell the team by mid-season? -YES
Would it surprise you if the Mets won 81 games or better ? – NO
On the other hand would it surprise you if the Mets won closer to 75 games and Citi Field had once again become Grants tomb ? – NO
TRS86
1/18/2012-8:53am at 8:53 am (UTC -4)
As a Mets fan, expect the unexpected….
Would it surprise you if David Wright is gone by the trade deadline – plummeting the Mets payroll closer to the 75 million dollar range ? Surprise ? NO. I still think unless he really rebounds they are better off waiting until early 2013.
Would it surprise you if Ike Davis matured into the 40 homer 120 R.B.I guy we hope he becomes ? Yes, 40 HR is a lot of HR and is a bit unrealistic. Lets get him to the 25-30 range first.
Would it surprise you if Mike Pelfrey wins close to 17 wins ? On the other hand would you be surprised if he lost 17 ? Neither are likely. I could see a 15 win season or a 12 loss season.
Would you be surprised if Lucas Duda could hit home runs like Dave Kingman – but fielded like him also ? I think again 25-30 is a lofty goal.
Would it surprise you if Johan Santana lasted the entire season without injury ? I think that if he is able to pitch out of ST there is a chance he could stay healthy.
Would it surprise you to see either Mets prospects Jenrry Mejia or Matt Harvey in the Mets rotation by seasons end ? Mejia? Not sure he will even be back this year. Harvey I could see a September call up.
Would it surprise you if Jose Reyes re-injures his hamstrings – forcing him to sit out huge chunks of the Marlins season – or would it surprise you if he became the National League M.V.P ? Reyes is not winning an MVP. To be a Non-HR hitter and win the MVP you have to be Ty Cobb level. As for injuries, it is his history.
Would it surprise you if the Wilpon’s were forced to sell the team by mid-season? Forced to sell? Not anytime soon. Decide to sell maybe.
Would it surprise you if the Mets won 81 games or better ? I guess so
On the other hand would it surprise you if the Mets won closer to 75 games and Citi Field had once again become Grants tomb ? Eh, there will still be people going to the games. Obviously it will be less. 75 wins sounds about right.
srt
1/18/2012-9:04am at 9:04 am (UTC -4)
Here’s mine:
– David Wright is as good as gone. Just a question of when.
- Ike Davis and 40 HRs? Honestly, I’ll be surprised if even a few major leaguers reach 40 HRs anymore. I can see him getting to 35 but not sure it will be this year.
- Pelfrey and 17 wins? Let me repeat what some of my fellow Met fans have already said – hahahahaha. I think we’ll be lucky if he wins 13.
- Duda? I predict he won’t hit as many HRs as Davis this year and I’m a little concerned about his defense out there in RF. But I’ll keep an open mind….
- Johan lasting the entire season? Yes, only b/c I don’t expect to see him until after the ASB, which if we’re lucky and he doesn’t hit the DL after that means we only see him for half the season.
- If healthy, I can see Mejia up in Sep. Not sure about Harvey. Have to wait until we here how his 2012 season is going up to that point.
- Jose? Damn, I already miss him……I don’t expect him to be league MVP but I don’t expect him to lose huge chunks of time to the DL either. I can see a 15 DL stint though. Maybe 2 – just like last year. I think those hamstrings are going to plague him the rest of his career.
- I’d be surprised if the Wilpon’s declare they’re selling by mid season. Wouldn’t surprise me though to hear that sometime next year.
- Mets win 81 games or better? Yeah, it would surprise me. Not out of the realm but I’m thinking more like last year’s total. All depends on the SP.
- Closer to 75 games sounds about right. Again, it’s all going to come down to the SP. And right now, it looks not too good. There’s no depth, we’ve only got 5 established guys with one likely to start the season on the DL. Honestly, I can’t believe SA will go into the starting season with this rotation. I really expect to see at least one SP pickup or trade sometime during ST.
Ceetar
1/18/2012-9:07am at 9:07 am (UTC -4)
Here’s some more things that shouldn’t surprise you if they happen.
Ryan Howard doesn’t return until late in the season, and never really gets his bat really going.
Chase Utley misses 40+ games.
Josh Johnson has shoulder surgery early in the year.
Reyes and Hanley are both awesome, and the Marlins still finish under .500.
Workload catches up with Roy Halladay, who fades down the stretch.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis joins the Mets by memorial day, making Torres a roving 4th outfielder/Duda defensive replacement and the Mets offense is top in the league.
The Mets are above .500 on July 1st.
TRS86
1/18/2012-9:19am at 9:19 am (UTC -4)
Not sure why we care about most of those things on the list.
srt
1/18/2012-9:25am at 9:25 am (UTC -4)
I’m sure Stick appreciates some of this list, same as me – as we can’t stand Philly.
Howard was in a decline before he went down that last game.
Utley also on the decline – between that hip and that knee he’ll never be the same.
Halladay? I’ll believe a decline when I see it. Same thing for Mo. I’ll bet Rivera has another stellar season and hangs up the cleats at the end of 2012. First time HOF for sure.
TRS86
1/18/2012-9:28am at 9:28 am (UTC -4)
Just seems like an odd place to be talking about other teams issues.
As for the Phillies I hope they all decline right into the cesspool that is Philly itself.
srt
1/18/2012-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
hahaha – and I’m sure you’re hoping the Nats are right behind them….
I’m thinking maybe Ceetar is speculating that the more problems the rest of the NL east teams have, the more chance we’ll have of winning some games against them….
TRS86
1/18/2012-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
Would take a lot more than that to change the fate though.
Ceetar
1/18/2012-2:45pm at 2:45 pm (UTC -4)
spoiler: the 2012 season will not be subject to the fates. It will be determined on the field on a day to day basis.
gategem
1/18/2012-12:48pm at 12:48 pm (UTC -4)
“I once spent a year in Philadelphia, I think it was on a Sunday.”
W. C. Fields
NJstuckinTX
1/18/2012-9:42am at 9:42 am (UTC -4)
What I would be most surprised by:
Pelfrey winning 17
Santana not succuuming to injury
Wilpon having to sell mid-season
Pleasantly surprised on winning 81
gategem
1/18/2012-1:24pm at 1:24 pm (UTC -4)
Would it surprise you if David Wright is gone by the trade deadline – plummeting the Mets payroll closer to the 75 million dollar range ?—I wouldn’t be surprised but I believe Wright will stay with the team until the off-season unless Sandy is blown away by a trade proposal. The one thing Fred and Ethel and Sandy will try to avoid is making Wilpon’s Mets irrelevant. Considering the success of the Yankees, the football Giants, the hockey Rangers and the potential and rabid fan base of the other New York and New Jersey teams the Mets could very well become irrelevant.
Would it surprise you if Ike Davis matured into the 40 homer 120 R.B.I guy we hope he becomes ?—He may have the potential to achieve those lofty goals but I don’t believe it will be this year.
Would it surprise you if Mike Pelfrey wins close to 17 wins ? On the other hand would you be surprised if he lost 17 ?—I would be surprised by either scenario.
Would you be surprised if Lucas Duda could hit home runs like Dave Kingman – but fielded like him also ?- Actually I wouldn’t compare Duda to Kingman. I recall reading that when Kingman was attending the University of Southern California, coach Rod Dedeaux called Kingman the best athlete he ever coached.
Would it surprise you if Johan Santana lasted the entire season without injury ?—I expect him to have some setbacks this year but I wouldn’t even hazard a guess as to the severity of these setbacks.
Would it surprise you to see either Mets prospects Jenrry Mejia or Matt Harvey in the Mets rotation by seasons end ?No. As much as I believe Sandy will resist making these moves they may be necessary to keep the more passionate fans interest in Wilpon’s Mets.
Would it surprise you if Jose Reyes re-injures his hamstrings – forcing him to sit out huge chunks of the Marlins season – or would it surprise you if he became the National League M.V.P ?—Either scenario would surprise me. I believe Jose will have a fine season for the Marlins but he will have some minor injury problems.
Would it surprise you if the Wilpon’s were forced to sell the team by mid-season?—Yes! I think, based upon what I’ve read, that the Wilpons are in it for the long haul regardless of the on field state of the ball-club.
Would it surprise you if the Mets won 81 games or better ?—I think I have a better chance of winning the Publisher’s Clearing House sweepstakes than the Mets winning 81 games or better ( I haven’t entered that sweepstakes).
On the other hand would it surprise you if the Mets won closer to 75 games and Citi Field had once again become Grants tomb ?—No. This appears to be the most likely scenario.
gategem
1/18/2012-1:31pm at 1:31 pm (UTC -4)
I would love to see these questions posed at MMO and would most certainly enjoy the ensuing debate. I would also love to see Ceetar enter those debates. It would make for interesting reading.
Ceetar
1/18/2012-2:46pm at 2:46 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve been trying to cut back and arguing with those that are immutable to the facts.