Reese Kaplan - First Week Impressions

Anyone would have signed up for a 4-2 start.  Let's take a look at the individual performances and what is evident after one week of the 2013 season in the books:

Ike Davis – his slow start from last year is looming in the back of everyone’s mind.  It’s doubly frustrating considering how good he was in the spring.  Back in his lost season of 2011 he got off to a fast start, so it’s possible, but he’s showing a disturbing trend.  Let’s hope he shakes off whatever is not right and becomes the player who closed out 2012.

Daniel Murphy – perhaps all that talk about his lack of power suddenly clicked in his head. After all, he did once lead this team in HRs (with a paltry 12).  Still, it’s good to see him out there, apparently healthy, and swinging with authority. 

Ruben Tejada – has he finally decided to add baserunning to his arsenal of offensive weapons?  While he may not have blazing speed, he’s quick and seems to have his usual good instincts on when to use his feet to his advantage.  Let’s hope his fielding snafus are just an anomaly since he’s shown to be a steady fielder every year in the past.

David Wright – Captain America is off to a nice start, though he’d better get used to a lot of bases on balls with the people behind him not producing as much as we would have liked.

John Buck – ride the hot hand as long as you can.  Whatever offense you get from him is the cherry on top.  He’s shown to be a good man for the pitching staff and a case could be made for keeping him around to mentor both the young pitchers and Travis d’Arnaud when the Mets magically decide he’s ready (once he’s no longer Super 2 eligible). 

Lucas Duda – still looking somewhat lost at the plate and in the field.  This year is the big guy’s last hurrah to show whether or not he’s for real.  He really should be playing 1B or DH, but those options are not available to the team, so LF is where they figure he’ll do the least harm.  He definitely has power.  What people want to see is more consistent contact.

Collin Cowgill – he sure wrests a lot of power from that little frame, doesn’t he?  Terry Collins made the right call giving him the CF position, but then doubled back a few games later having his bench players start in his place.  Somehow in between the shuffling Cowgill slugged two HRs (including a grand slam).  Let him play himself into or out of the position!

Marlon Byrd – the spring training magic has followed him north…let’s hope it’s natural and not from a syringe.  Still, you have to play him as long as he’s producing.

The Bench – on the whole they’ve performed well in spot starts and even a few times in late inning key at-bats. 

Jon Niese – looking good, no worries there.

Matt Harvey – let’s see him the second time around, but the first time he was making people say, “Zack who?”

Dillon Gee – he rebounded nicely after an awful spring.  It’s too bad the team couldn’t hit a lick for him.

Jeremy Hefner – he filled in admirably for Johan Santana but overexposure could prove his undoing as he doesn’t really have anything outstanding in his repertoire.

Aaron Laffey – 10 hits in less than 5 innings is pretty awful yet he emerged without a loss and having only given up 3 earned runs.  He’s a journeyman soft tossing lefty who’s primary attributes are that he’s healthy and previously played in the big leagues.  Yawn.  You’d think a team building for the future would audition someone who might actually be a part of it.  Still, the choices are mighty slim with Jenrry Mejia on the shelf, Collin McHugh having tanked in his big league audition last year, Zack Wheeler deemed unready to crack the big league roster (despite the Marlins starting a 20 year old yesterday or the Red Sox starting Jackie Bradley, Jr. on Opening Day), and none of the other AAA pitchers looking ready.  There were any number of fringe pitchers available via FA or trade such as Chris Young and Aaron Harang, yet the Mets felt Aaron Laffey would somehow put it together for the first time at age 28. 

The Bullpen – each year the team promises a revamped bullpen to address the woes from the previous season and each year it seems that they promptly fall flat on their faces.  Scott Rice has been good.  Bobby Parnell has been good.  Then there’s…ummm, uh…Buehler?  Buehler?

Terry Collins – he’s become the master of doubletalk, almost to a Stengelese level.  First he names a starting outfield, stating he’s uncomfortable with Jordany Valdespin playing CF.  Then in game three he sits Cowgill for, you guessed it, Valdespin.  JV gets two hits and promptly gets deposited back onto the bench for .067 hitting Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Mike Baxter.  Baxter gets rewarded with a second consecutive start to build on his one hit in his first start.  Nah, Valdespin is not in Collins’ doghouse…

On the whole, you can’t complain when you’ve taken the first two series, but you do have to temper your enthusiasm when you realize you beat up the NL’s equivalent of the Houston Astros.  The big boys will be coming to town soon enough – the Washington Nationals, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers.  It will be interesting to see if the “What outfield” and 3+ man pitching staff can do anything against the first division.