Let 2014 Begin – By Mack Ade

You might remember a series of posts I put up beginning last year. They simply were called ‘2014’ and they predicted where this team was going, and who would be there, in 2014.

They also called for the Mets to win the World Series that year. I believe that will still happen.

2014 begins on Thursday.

For today, we’re going to break out ten (10) members of those future champions. Ten great players that will give you some comfort as to what direct this team is going.

Let’s begin.

2014 25-man:

1.     SP2 – RHP – Matt Harvey

Harvey will pitch his first major league game and I want to make sure you are ready for this. Don’t get too excited if he goes lights out, and especially don’t go all doom and gloom if he gives up four runs in six innings. This is the first of many times Mr. Harvey is going to throw in a New York Mets uniform and he’s going to be pitching game two in that World Series I mentioned above.

Here’s a taste:  6-4… fastball hits 98… ground ball thrower… four-seam, two-seam, 83-85 slider, curve, and change-up…

2.     SP1 – RHP – Zack Wheeler

Wheeler will most likely be promoted to Buffalo after one more quality start in Binghamton.  He’ll pitch most of 2013 for whatever team the Mets affiliate with in AAA next season (where he will continue to work on command and BB issues), and I’m sure the latest you will see him in Queens is September 2013.

Wheeler is prime cut. Also 6-4… 93-97 fastball with considerable movement… also throws a slider/cutter, a power curve, and a changeup…

3.     SP3 – RHP – RA Dickey

Yeah, the old man will be back. It’s going to cost the Mets but it will be worth every penny. Can you imagine a three game series with this team and, after two days of super heat, here comes the knuckler.

4.     SP4 – LHP – Jon Niese

I’n not sure if Niese will earn this spot or he’s just the best left-handed starter in the system. He’s also the only one ready at this level. I expect Jon’s game to improve each year he moves down the rotation, eventually to the SP5 spot when Michael Fulmer and Domingo Tapia join this rotation in 2015.

5.     RHCL – Jenrry Mejia

We will probably see Jenrry, latest, this September, but once RA Dickey trhough relief, all bets are off day-to-day around here. Mejia will move into the closer role in 2013 and try to hold on to it in 2015 when Marcos Camerena knocks on his door.

6.     RHRP – Jeurys Familia

Familia remains your wild card here. The Mets have just about given up on trying to get him to develop a third pitch, which is fine. Jeurys has two ++ pitches right now that could make him a successful reliever for one-third of the major league teams right now.

7.     SS – Ruben Tejada

We don’t have to worry about shortstop. He’s right there, right now, and do you notice how few times anyone ever mentions Jose What’s-His-Name?

8.     1B – Ike Davis

We’re going to come back to Ike in the second installment of this series. There’s more than an outside chance that Wilmer Flores could, and should, wind up here, if the Mets don’t choose to use him to go get themselves a real outfielder. Like I said, we’ll revisit this.

9.     3B – David Wright

Like Ike, we’ll come back to David in the next installment. There’s no double that Wright will be a Met in 2013. Then again, what better time to trade him for three great players than once you work out a renew-sign-and-trade deal under the table. This also could be the future home for Flores. We’ll come back to this.

10.                        LHRP – Josh Edgin

No, this is not bandwagon jumping. I have been pimping this kid since early on in Savannah. Edgin has everything you want from a LOOGY and, by 2014, he should really be an expert at his trade.

To be continued…