John Coppinger is the editor and pulisher of http://www.metstradamus. Well, I guess we could say he is Metstradamus. Coppinger
played Graxol Kelvyyn in Star Wars Episode
I: The Phantom Menace and Wookiee Senator Yarua in
the same movie… err… no, that’s a different John Coppinger. John's passion for
sports has led him to many strange places, including once riding in a town car
with Pat LaFontaine. A life-long Mets, Jets and Rangers fan, John
deveolped the alter-ego you know as "Metstradamus". But he soon found out that wearing a cape
around town wasn't the most effective way of getting his message across ... so
he started writing about the Mets on his blog which attracts family, friends,
fans, and world dignitaries (well, at least three out of the four).
Afternoon John. Thanks for joining the growing list of Mets
dignitaries for this latest series on MMs.
Here goes:
You like to stay on the lighter side
of reporting the Mets, but I know you’re dying for a playoff game just like the
rest of us. When do you see this team returning to them?
With Washington and Atlanta loading up for the
present and the future, there could be a ways to go yet. But with the expensive
contracts coming to an end, the Phillies getting old, and the Marlins being the
Marlins, the light is at the end of the tunnel. Realistically, 2015 would be my
best guess, after Harvey and Wheeler have a couple of seasons under their
belts, and the outfield will (hopefully) be rebuilt.
Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler,
Jon Niese, Noah Syndergaard and… who will be the 5th member of the 2015 Mets rotation?
Most likely somebody who isn't with the
organization at the present time. If the Mets are in a good place financially,
and if his arm holds up in said time, perhaps a guy like James Shields, who will be a free
agent. If not, well ... what's Jeff Suppan up to?
So far this off-season, Sandy Alderson has brought aboard a prospect catcher
under team control, a 5th starter, a backup quality catcher, a
projected 2015 SP3, a top Latin OF prospect, and three possible veteran members
of the pen. Regardless of the OF position, has Sandy done well?
Considering the limited resources he has to
work with, he's done as well as he could. He got maximum return on Dickey, and
Lyon/Atchison aren't half bad. Hawkins scares me, especially if he ever has to
close. He can be a good influence on younger pitchers ... I just hope that's
not his best trait. But whatever happens going forward, Sandy Alderson isn't to blame here.
The economy is recovering, the NYC
real estate market is booming, and there’s a new TV deal in place for 2014. In
your opinion, is it impossible for the Mets to deal up the “I’m broke” card
come this time next year?
Yes. That ship will sail next off-season.
Lastly (and thanks for joining us),
have Metstradamus tell us five things that are going to happen this season we
weren’t ready to read.
Off the top of my head: Ike Davis will be an All-Star, Lucas Duda will improve just
enough to not annoy the hell out of me, Jordany Valdespin's 15 minutes of fame will
be up, Travis d'Arnaud will start 2013 with the Mets (and Zack Wheeler will not), and just to
rub salt in everybody's wound, R.A. Dickey will start the All-Star game at Citi Field.
6 comments:
Lets say three years from now a 40 yr old RA Dickey comes off a 14 win 3.90 ERA season and completes his contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.
DO you take a shot at him and bring him back?
sure, but a one year contract
8 mill, one year..
Fortunately, when RA is done with that contract, the mets won't need him. They'll have the best staff in baseball.
Harvey, Wheeler, Niese, Syndergaard, and Montero
With Fulmer, Lara, Robles, and Mateo wondering how they'll ever crack the Queens rotation.
and when he retires I make him my pitching coach.
All this talk about Dickey 3 years from now assumes the Blue Jays don't pick up his $12 million option for 2016.
That 2016 Mets rotation should be something to behold. Charles, I think Logan Verrett may be in the thick of things, and Jon Niese may have trouble holding onto his spot.
Justin Verlander
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