Matt Gad - Why It Isn't Stupid To Think We'll Be Good This Year

     
In 2014, it isn't crazy to think we won't be with the same results of the last five grueling seasons. Well, we can't say for sure, but 2014 should be different. The Mets haven't won more than 73 games in back-to-back seasons, however, they finally spent some money this year. Bringing the hope to the outfield, the Mets signed Chris Young and ex-Yankee Curtis Granderson to the fold. Young inked a simple 1 year, 7.25 million dollar deal, and Granderson was the spark to the off-season, inking all of four years and 60 million. Yeah, the Mets will, in all likelihood, start out on opening day (March 31) with Juan Lagares in center field, although it may not last long if his bat continues to struggle. So it seems as if the corners will go to  Young and Granderson in some capacity. It seems as Chris may be in right field, and that Granderson could man left, but it could also go vice-verca. Spring Training will figure out those exact alignments.

      Along with all of this, the Mets still hold onto last year's left fielder Eric Young Jr, a speed demon, who can also play some second base, and it is hard to say how much playing time he will receive with the new arrivals to Citi Field for this spring and summer. Sandy Alderson said "he will get at-bats" though, so again, spring training may be the judge. Despite injuries and other unlikely scenarios, we should not count on the Young that wears No. 22 to be a major part of the 2014 edition as a regular position player. It is still to be seen if he will explore a platoon-type role, a utility stud, or whatever. We can't forget that other outfielders off the bench that are likely to be in New York to start off the year will include Andrew Brown and possibly Matt den Dekker. Den Dekker is still developing his bat, but he's shown shades of power, and so has Brown. The man who saved Johan Santana's no-hitter, which is actually over three years old now, incredibly, Mike Baxter, went off waivers to the L.A. Dodgers early in the off-season. The guy everyone loved, Justin Turner, also had a surprising departure, and he left with Omar Quintanilla  (which wasn't much of a shocker at all), and Jeremy Hefner. But then, Hefner actually was re-signed about a week or two later, and he will only be owed a low salary next season as he is still recovering and rehabbing from TJS he had towards the latter half of last season.

    In the pitching department, the Mets signed 40-year-old all-star Bartolo Colon for two years and 20 million. Of course, the huge setback of Matt Harvey missing all of 2014 will be a huge bust in the potential wins column, but our rotation may still be one of quality anyway. Niese should start at the No. 1 "ace" spot, and could be the opening day starter if all goes well, followed by Zack Wheeler, who is entering his first full major league season and could be capped at an innings limit sometime in September (similar to Harvey two years ago). Continuing the pitching rotation, Colon could be third (but he could also be second or fourth) but I think third makes the most sense. His age is a factor, but the bright side is he is a former all-star multiple times, including in last year's campaign for the A's. The other guys are Dillon Gee, and the fifth starter is completely under question, and will be another result of spring training development. Jenrry Mejia could hold it down for a bit, but he may not be ready for a full year right now; however, he could very well go halfway before Noah Syndergaard makes a mid-season debut, much like Harvey and Wheeler have done in previous years of course. Looking down the Vegas roster, Jacob deGrom and Rafael Montero are also strong candidates to be up soon, but it seems like that could be in 2015. Catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud will get a major opportunity next year, and he's been said that he can hit, but it wasn't shown last year.

        Wheeler is very confident he can get it going in 2014, telling Kevin Burkhardt on a previous "Mets Hot Stove" this month that "he's terrific". That seems cliche, but actually, he said pretty much that. They worked a lot down in the minors together, and also a little bit last year, and of course will be working a lot together going forward. Harvey has had some chemistry with him before too, but obviously that should escalate in 2015, and hopefully beyond for both bright stars. And we'll see what happens in the bullpen with Bobby Parnell coming back, and the future of guys like Vic Black, Jeurys Familia, Gonzalez Germen, and others down the list.  Other bench players like Josh Satin, Zach Lutz, and company should be starting off in Vegas, and be up-and-down throughout the year, before stays in September again, much like last season. And we can't forget about Wilmer Flores and Lucas Duda. Flores could be on the bench as Daniel Murphy is all but staying put, and if Ike Davis is traded, as that continues to be the main focus this winter, the Mets have been very vocal that the future first base job would go to Duda.