The Mets are currently 20-17 tied for 3rd with the Marlins and 3 games back of the division leading Nationals with the Braves in between. They are tied in the race for the 2nd Wild Card. They are actually 2nd in R/G in the NL East and last in R/A in the NL East. Their strength of schedule ranks them at an even 0.0 the only team that isn’t negative in the East. They are 14-7 vs the NL East playing by far the most in division games of anyone in the division. In fact the only other team with a winning record in the division is the Nats at 6-2. They are 11-8 at home, 2nd in the division and .500 on the road. 14-8 vs RHP pitchers and 6-9 vs LHP. 14-8 vs teams that are over .500 and 6-9 vs teams under .500. They are .500 in their last 10 games and .500 in their last 20 games.
So I said all of this to get to my actual question. Is this a team that is just playing over their heads and will come back down to Earth so just enjoy the ride. Or is this a team that is a few moves away from being an actual playoff contender this year? How long do we wait to make moves that actually make the team significantly better or do we stick to our guns saying this was a transitional year anyway so consider yourself lucky you are still in the race in May?
Would this team be better with a guy like Lannan in the #5 spot? Would that be enough? Should you pony up the prospects and trade for Garza? Would that be foolish considering the long-term cost? The team is being destroyed by LH pitching, is a Jason Bay return enough to cure the ills or can the team handle having so many LH players that struggle against LH? Should they trade for a RH bat? The bullpen is among the worst in the league. Do they go out and acquire pieces for the pen or stand pat and hope that some of the guys coming in make a difference? Added into this equation is that by the AS Break you could see Chris Young, Pedro Beato and Jenrry Mejia on the staff. Offensively anyone that is close is here but we are missing Tejada and Thole who were off to great starts and you do have the aforementioned Bay.
So it appears the quandary the Mets are in is that they are doing something not many of us expected. Competing. And now with the new fangled extra Wild Card team not only could they and a host of others be in it but they could also be one of the few teams willing to sell if Sandy so chooses. What say you Mets fans? Wait and see while wasting valuable time, stick to your guns, go all in or slide right in the middle of this circle of Mets life and try to do it all.
9 comments
Stickguy
5/17/2012-3:15pm at 3:15 pm (UTC -4)
They are a few moves away.
more to follow~
Mr North Jersey
5/17/2012-3:18pm at 3:18 pm (UTC -4)
Who could of predicted Santana to play as well as he has? The Mets are a team that had a lot of question marks that needed answers so because of that no one really knew what to expect.
Are they playing above their heads is a matter of opinion. If you ask Ceetar he will prob say no. If you ask Kingman he will prob say yes.
I can’t say either yet with them not even being a 3rd of the way thru the season. I do know that I didn’t expect Duda and Davis to play as poorly as they have but I also didn’t expect what we have gotten from Santana or even Tejada.
The strategy if I had to guess is to continue as is until a time where this team more clearly defines itself as being a serious contender this season and react accordingly. But I am not a GM so take it for what it’s worth.
Meanwhile I am a fan so I will just continue to enjoy the season.
Prismo
5/17/2012-3:22pm at 3:22 pm (UTC -4)
They should stick to the plan, but with more caution.
To be more specific – the plan was to develop young players, and trade away the performing veteran players at some point this season for younger talent.
Developing young players should continue to be the priority, but given their being in the “race” I think the Mets should hold off from trading away any older talent (aka Torres, Frank Frank should he improve, etc).
I do not believe this is the year to trade any prospects for short-term solutions. If the Mets win it should be due to the development of its young players, and guys who are already on the roster.
If by the trade deadline the Mets are below .500, then it’s time to consider trading away older talent for younger talent. Otherwise, keep things as is, and hope for the best.
Stickguy
5/17/2012-4:04pm at 4:04 pm (UTC -4)
they do need a few things. Obviously another SP to step up. And some pen help. though they could both end up coming internally.
but beyond that, they really need Tejada and Thole back to help the lineup, and for Ike to get fixed (with Ike being the big monkey in the tree).
so in my mind, that and where they are so far (and how they got here) I still consider them a team that can hang in there to compete, without having to get major miracles (or dramatic moves) to do it.
that answer your question?
srt
5/17/2012-5:30pm at 5:30 pm (UTC -4)
So many questions…..
I’m not sure the team is playing over their head. Maybe a little but in a game like today, you see how many are contributing to these wins on different days.
Sure, you’ve got your constants like Wright and Murph in the lineup – and thank the baseball gods b/c outside of those 2, no one else has been constant. (Not including what Tejada and Thole were doing before they hit the DL.)
Duda is picking it up. Baxter is doing all he can.
Turner occasionally gets a big hit or walk. Light hitting guys like Nickeas, Johnson and Cedeno contributing on some of these wins.
If I had to answer right now, I’m leaning towards:
‘…we stick to our guns saying this was a transitional year anyway so consider yourself lucky you are still in the race in May?’
If we’re still in it come July, maybe we see what’s out there to add some pieces that can keep us in it – without mortgaging the farm.
Stickguy
5/17/2012-7:08pm at 7:08 pm (UTC -4)
something else to keep in mind. Most of the NL really kinda sucks (or at least the teams have some significant issues). So not like the Mets are chasing half a dozen power house teams.
so, why not us?!
FP Mets
5/22/2012-2:47pm at 2:47 pm (UTC -4)
Oswalt?
TRS86
5/22/2012-3:04pm at 3:04 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, certainly wordy.
I think if Oswalt WOULD come here they would be foolish not to bring him in. He could build value here and then be traded at the deadline if the Mets are out of it. I just don’ t see him being interested.
By the way, Welcome.
FP Mets
5/22/2012-3:10pm at 3:10 pm (UTC -4)
Maybe I want Oswalt for the wrong reasons. I’m not even thinking of his career body of work and past successes, his potential to help the team this season either through his on the field work or through trade return. There is a part of me that feels if the Mets were to go out and get him it would be symbolic of money no longer being an issue.