Reese Kaplan - Silver Linings in These Dark Clouds

Although there has been a downward trend in the results, there are some encouraging signs from some familiar and some unlikely places in the Mets organization:

Daniel Murphy

Always notoriously streaky, Murphy has been one of the few offensive highlights for the Mets this year.  He’s hitting over .300, stealing bases and playing a credible second base.  If the voting was held today, he’s the offensive player most deserving to represent the Mets in the All-Star Game.

Wilmer Flores

In his extremely limited playing time he has fielded his position cleanly and gotten hits in 2 of his 3 starts since his arrival this time.  More importantly, in last night’s game he delivered a 2-out RBI.  It’s that kind of production that this team lacks.  He may not be a long term answer but to everyone's relief we were able to see someone other than Ruben Tejada at shortstop.

Juan Centeño

While his reputation was that of a serious defensive whiz behind the plate, he’s had some growing pains, yet his bat is playing well.  He’s got the pop of a Ruben Tejada, but he makes contact and has delivered a very respectable average each of his past few seasons.  Thus far he’s doing so up here as well.

Curtis Granderson

At first we thought it was just the return to Yankee Stadium, but quietly he’s starting to show signs of life as a productive middle-of-the-order bat.  He’s still not producing at what was envisioned when they inked him for four years, but we’re seeing flashes that should give us optimism for the future.

Juan Lagares

He’s back up over .300 and playing his usual Gold Glove caliber defense.  In his surprisingly limited opportunities he’s showing that his offensive game is making him valuable for more than just his range and his arm. 

Dillon Gee

Before his lat injury felled him, he was showing that last season’s hot run was not just a flash-in-the-pan.  He picked right up where he’d left off, easily being the best pitcher on the Mets staff this year.  He’s sporting a 2.73 ERA and barely allowing 1 baserunner per inning pitched.

Jon Niese

The hard luck lefty has a losing record but an ERA even better than Gee’s at 2.54.  He’s not been quite as efficient at keeping people off base, but you can’t argue with the way he’s been pitching.

Daisuke Matsuzaka

We all know he isn’t an idea person to have in the pen, but he’s responded rather well save for 1 or 2 appearances.  Overall he’s sporting a very impressive 2.25 ERA in his new long-man role pitching in relief.

Carlos Torres

Last night’s game notwithstanding, he’s been one of the few steady and reliable arms Collins can choose from his ever-changing  bullpen. 

Jeurys Familia

The hard throwing big man seems like he’s turned something of a corner.  Control is always a concern, but his ERA is currently a very respectable 3.10.

Jenrry Mejia

By virtue of his short stints as a starter and the influx of talent knocking on the door from Las Vegas, Jenrry was dragged kicking and screaming to the bullpen where in just a few appearances it appears he may have supplanted the departed Kyle Farnsworth as the new closer. 

Wally Backman

Despite having lost 5-6 of his key personnel over the past couple of weeks, the Las Vegas 51s just keep rolling along with the best record in the PCL.  They’re doing it more with their bats than their arms lately, but it’s encouraging to see someone who is able to wrest good performances out of whomever is on his roster.  We can dream, can't we?