While talking Mets baseball over a couple of beers at the bar
this past weekend a friend said, “I really believe the Mets are going to the
Series this year.” I didn’t completely agree but I admired his enthusiasm,
after this weekend though, I’d say that possibility has taken a hit. Speaking
of hit, the Mets could’ve used one to drive in a run or two during back to back
whitewashings at Citi Field by Nat hurlers.
The team has now dropped three straight series, leading to a
3-7 slump, after jumping off to a 13-3 start. There’s nothing wrong with a
16-10 start and we all knew a correction was coming but you can’t let your
biggest division rival waltz in and continue its dominance in your home park. After a horrendous start Washington is just 4
games back and the surprising Braves just 3.5 off the pace. The good news is
that in this upcoming short week, after a quick 2 game set at Camden Yards vs
the O’s, the Mets travel to Philadelphia to take on one of the worst teams in baseball. No wins are guaranteed in MLB but if they don’t
sweep or take 2 of 3 at Citizens Bank Park something is seriously wrong and it
might be time to worry-a little bit.
After that they play 4 at Wrigley against the upstart
Cubs-one of the few NL teams with the bats to match Met arms. The Mets tour of
the Midwest continues after that with stops in Milwaukee and St. Louis. During the Cardinal series New York plays
game #40 of the 2015 season. A record of even just 22-18 at that point puts
them on pace for an 88 win season. The team should be able to win at least 6
out of their next 14 by beating up on the weak Phils and struggling Brewers. A.550
winning pct. at the quarter pole is respectable but should be the minimum of
where the Mets could be at the end of game 40.
The season is long and filled with unexpected surprises,
disappointments and of course, injuries. But if you break it down into 20 game
segments you can usually see a trend or pattern for a team developing. After 20
games New York was 15-5 but no team is going to win 75% of their games. In some
ways that unbelievable start created unrealistic expectations for a talented
but flawed team. It also gave that team a nice cushion to help them in a future
20 game cycle when they might only win 5 games. By following the Mets record
from game 20 to 40 to 60 and so on you can see how many games they’re on pace
to win. Even if they only win 27 games between now and the half way point of
the season they’d still be on pace for an 86 win season.
That means all they
have to do is go 27-28 between now and then. That’s just around .500 ball over
the next 55 games. It certainly seems easy enough and very doable but I would
bet getting those 27 wins will be more difficult and take longer than the 16
preceding ones. Still by just breaking even between now and the halfway mark
the Mets would only need to continue playing roughly .500 ball the rest of the
way after to get 86-87 wins and in all likelihood that would be enough to punch
their ticket into the postseason. If
they do a little better, say 29-26 between now and game 81 the Mets would be 45-36
and only have to play a little over .500 ball the rest of the way to win 90.
That’s how huge this year’s 13-3 start potentially could be for the 2015 Mets.
An advantage New York has over most other teams is that they
have the depth and talent to be buyers and sellers during trading season. With
Syndergaard and Matz waiting in the wings, Colon, Niese, and/or Gee could be
moved to a contender for prospects, a shortstop or a power bat. If Herrera
produces the Mets could include Daniel Murphy to sweeten any deadline deal.
Despite the disappointment of losing 3 of 4 to the Nats, the Mets are still
atop the NL East and are awaiting the return of the Captain and later d’Araund
to bolster the sagging line-up. The effectiveness of the starting 5 makes it
difficult for the Mets to go on extended losing streaks. The bullpen has looked
solid, and at times spectacular so far too. The latest ZIPS has their playoff
odds at only 44.6% but the return of the Wright and d’Araund as well as the two
stud pitchers waiting to bust lose down on the farm if a current starter breaks
down or gets traded put the Mets in an enviable position going forward.
8 comments:
Depending on who you choose to believe, the lineup and personnel decisions leave a lot to be desired during this tailspin.
First you have the merciful end of the Eric Campbell experiment. His second half last year indicated he was exposed and it took much less time this year to produce similar disappointing results.
The insertion of a .167 hitter to replace a slumping .240 hitter at SS makes little sense. Still, said .167 hitter has hit .220 over the past two seasons combined, so it probably behooves the team to give the .240 hitter some leeway of at least half a year before declaring Flores incapable of hitting major league pitching. If they do feel that way, then promote Reynolds and give him a chance but, like Campbell, we've seen quite enough of Tejada already.
You're getting virtually no production from your corner outfielders but when your bench includes another chronic underperformer whose presence here was based primarily upon his lack of minor options, that's to be expected. What's not expected is the lackluster performance thus far in limited duty by John Mayberry, Jr.
Losing your top RBI man in d'Arnaud hurt, but since it was a short term thing you have to wonder why they brought up a single hitter in Plawecki (burning an option) rather than a power hitter in Monell who could have allowed you to pick and choose when you had to endure Recker as one is a lefty and the other a righty.
So far the only batters who seem to be getting it done are Duda and Lagares.
Since you changed hitting coaches and have similar poor results, you have to wonder if there is a constant from year to year that is unable to motivate the players...
Do you think we can entice San Fran to move Crick for a nice package of Gee,Niese and Murphy?
Rene -
moving both Gee and Niese would expose your rotation. You would then have to call up BOTH Syndergaard and Matz and you have no one in the wings in case someone goes down with a future injury.
And why would the team need a AA pitcher for three major leaguers?
@Rene
While I think San Fran is certainly interested in Gee, Niese, and/or Murphy...I don't think the Mets would be interested in acquiring more minor league pitching.
The front office is very comfortable with the remaining arms they have past Matz and Syndergaard.
The San Francisco Giants themselves are starved for minor league hitting talent so the only potential fit for a trade between the Giants and the Mets is for a relief pitcher.
Murphy for Jeremy Affeldt, Javier Lopez, or Jean Machi, + an international signing bonus slot seems like a reasonable deal.
Chris -
I just don't think the Mets are deep enough in 'bat' talent to trade Murphy for a relief pitcher.
He seems to be coming out of his funk and there is a good chance that both Black and Parnell will be back in May.
Murphy would have to bring me a quality SS. Forget corner outfielders. Alderson is committed to Granderson and Cuddyer in 2015.
@Mack
I agree...although the call-up of Dilson Herrera makes me believe that they are getting ready to jettison Murphy out of Queens irregardless.
Herrera, like everyone else, should be given 90 days to adjust his game to the majors... HA! That's not going to happen.
Sadly, he has until Wright returns and not an hour more.
Murphy is highly exposed right now as an expensive poor fielder in a slump. I can't see the Giants or anyone else giving up a quality SS or corner outfielder under team control for him right now.
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