Reese Kaplan -- Bringing Fresh Blood Onto the Citifield Diamond

One of the things that always revives a team's fans is above average performance from a newcomer to the team.  Now getting a good year out of someone who joined the club via trade or free agency is one level of appreciation (though mostly the Mets fans have forgotten what that feels like).  No, instead the topic today concerns rookie players who came up through the farm system.  They make both the front office and development folks look like winners for having made the selection and nurturing the talent.   

Truth be told, there's a great affinity many fans have for Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Seth Lugo and others.  Sometimes this fan fervor is well founded, but other times it's irrational based upon loyalty when the wick has burned out on that particular candle.  Today is not the time to think about people whose better days are behind them and they're not worth the money they'd command on the open market.  It's about how it feels when you see one of these people who worked his way up through the system and gave the club some stellar years at very low cost.

Thinking back through the Mets history, remember what it was like to have someone like John Milner come up through the minor league system and provide the team with a surprising amount of power during an era when scoring runs was even more challenging that it was this past year.

Wally Backman and Edgardo Alfonzo are second basemen who made fans realize that it was indeed possible to grow and support talent that had its heartbeat in the Mets organization.

While traditionally shortstops like Bud Harrelson were once what the position demanded -- a strong glove and fast feet -- the role has evolved into one with more offensive capability.  Look no further than the recent acquisitions of players like Asdrubal Cabrera and then Francisco Lindor.  

For third base the position has indeed been a black hole for the team until David Wright made his way up from Virginia to establish himself as a borderline Hall of Famer before health issues curtailed his career.  Do you remember what it felt like each time he made a play or swung the bat or stole a base?

Behind the dish, like shortstop, it was once a role primarily concerned with defensive capability and health.  Then when you saw offensive weapons evolve at catcher like Gary Carter and Mike Piazza people no longer were happy with the Charlie O'Brien types.  Although there were questions about how he developed his power, Todd Hundley was a home grown catcher who people yearned to watch.  

In the outfield, usually it is the offensive capability that reinforces what fans adore about a player.  The earliest left fielder who generated this kind of fan appeal was Cleon Jones who in 1969 hit .340.  He spent 12 years with the Mets and aside from his Spring Training incident, it was mostly an unscathed career during which he finished at .281 for the New Yorkers.

For center field there were a number of young players but none seemed to resonate with the hardcore fans than Lee Mazzilli.  During his aggregate of a decade for the Mets he was beloved for his ability to play credible defense, steal bases with aplomb and get robbed of the All Star Game MVP award in his sole appearance as an NL representative.

Now as much as Michael Conforto was appreciated by the Mets fans, he paled in comparison to Darryl Strawberry who could hit for power, steal bases and play an awesome right field.  Obviously his personal indulgences and violent tendencies derailed him from reaching Cooperstown, but for once the fans were proud to see someone in a Mets uniform who was as good as any other right fielder in the game.  

For starting pitchers, the list of rookies who became part of Mets lore is a long one, starting with Hall of Famer, Tom Seaver, then Jerry Koosman, Gary Gentry, Doc Gooden, Jon Matlack, Noah Syndergaard and others. (I include Thor since he arrived to the Mets organization while still in the lower minors).

In the bullpen you had Tug McGraw, Jeff Innis, the first rendition of Jeurys Familia, Neil Allen and others.  Seeing them preserve the lead and mow down batters with their game ending pitching arsenal made fans feel happy.  

What is interesting to me is that the Mets farm system has seemingly fallen apart lately.  Yes, they have traded away a large number of prospects in the attempt to get more veteran players to help them win, but even folks who put on a streak of a hot month or two like Tylor Megill did earlier this season often succumb to the realities of facing the best of the best in the batter's box.  It's been a long time since the Mets had a potential All Star come up through their ranks and it should be one of the core components of any plan to restructure the team for the future.