New York Mets 2013 Most Obscure Player Is...

2013 was not a banner year for the Mets. It was a bad year, full of bad players playing bad games on their way to a bad record in a bad division. So, deciding that a team of this caliber should not deserve an MVP, we have elected to hand out some alternative hardware for the end of the season. This year, we have taken a vote on the Mets Most Obscure Player.

The main criteria is that this person be the guy whose name you will hear in two years and say, "...who?" (Think Chin-lung Hu from 2011. 20 glorious at bats.) Now, on a good team, this award is cut and dried, and there is one player who got brought up to fill in an injury hole or right out of spring training who was quickly discarded. On the Mets, there were multiple candidates.

This is either Collin McHugh or a
Little Leaguer wearing his uniform.
Photo by Michael Baron

Collin McHugh was my personal recommendation. With one start and only seven innings pitched all year for the squad, he fits the criteria nicely. He left in a trade for Eric Young, Jr., and continued his season in Colorado, where he posted a 9.95 ERA, down slightly from his 10.29 in Queens.

Photo from Getty Images. God, look at that tan. Beautiful.

Rick Ankiel garnered a couple of votes. There is no reason to go too far into his back story, we all know it pretty well. He was a pitcher, went haywire, played outfield for the Cardinals, his production fell off, he was a free agent, we signed him, he sucked, and don't forget his awesome tan. However, I objected because you will NEVER, EVER forget that Ankiel played here. At least I won't.

No other known photos exist of Lutz
Photo by Michael Baron

Timothy O'Brien suggested Zach Lutz, a terrific candidate. Called up when Duda hit the DL, he did bat .300 in is time with the big league club. However, Lutz will not win the award. Tim was outvoted, and with Lutz still in the Mets system, there is the possibility that he does something of impact in the future. This damages his candidacy, leaving him a close runner up to...

The Mets, eventually, needed less Cowgill.
Photo by Michael Baron

Collin Cowgill, who will be taking home the award. This is most impressive because he was our Opening Day centerfielder and lead-off man! He hit a grand slam the first day of the season. And then that was it. He played some awful baseball after that, and was optioned to Las Vegas in the beginning of May. He was eventually traded to the Angels for some other crappy Minor League outfielder. But here he is, your inaugural Mets MOP!

If you feel we overlooked a player from this year (and the fact that we did would make them a terrific candidate), let us know.




The entire Effing Mets crew is on Twitter, by the way. Myself, @kmflemming. Rob Patterson can be found @RobPatterson83, but he's unbearable. Tim is @joshuetree, Jason is @jwil25, Craig is @petrags99, and Bryan's is @bdamis.

Seth's Twitter handle is extremely enthusiastic/cumbersome: @Lets_Go_Mets_17. We only get 140 characters Seth, cut some dead weight.

Should He Stay Or Should He Go: Eric Young Jr.

Photo Courtesy Of @Lets86It

Eric Young Jr. was a man searching for an opportunity.  Never a regular fixture in the Colorado Rockies outfield, Young became expendable.  When the Mets finally demoted Ike Davis, sliding Lucas Duda over the first base, the team was in need of an everyday left fielder.  Sandy Alderson immediately sent AAA pitcher, Collin McHugh, to Colorado in exchange for Young's services.  Upon his arrival, Young received the opportunity he had been waiting for.

Whether or not Young seized his opportunity probably depends on what you expected from him.  If you were looking for a power hitting outfielder, aka the pipe dream the Mets had for Duda, well than Young was not your man.  If you were looking for a speedster capable of hitting leadoff, a role the Mets were lacking, and a significant defensive upgrade from the aforementioned Duda, well than maybe Young was your guy.

Young would go on to bat .251 for the Mets in route to stealing 46 bases on the season, good for second in all of baseball behind only Jacoby Ellsbury.  He also played top ten defense amongst his peers in left field.  Not an all-star by any means, but certainly a respectable showing given the circumstances.

The question now becomes whether or not he has earned the opportunity to be a member of the 2014 New York Mets outfield.  As per MLB Trade Rumors, the arbitration eligible Young is predicted to earn $1.9 million in 2014.  That's a raise of $1.5 million over his 2013 salary, one which I feel is both warranted and appropriate for a player of his caliber.  That said, while I think the Mets should do what they can to make sure Young remains on the roster next year, I don't think he should be the starting left fielder of the future.

There are better options available to patrol left field next season, but that doesn't mean Eric Young Jr. shouldn't be kept in the fold.  There hasn't been a Mets player since Jose Reyes who has caused the type of havoc Young managed on the base paths in 2013.  His speed is a game changer and although Young proved this season he is capable to playing a significant role when necessary, his skill set is better suited to see him as a fourth outfielder, a defensive replacement, and a late game pinch hit/pinch run option.  Basically, Young would be an excellent addition to the Mets' bench in 2014 and its for that reason he should stay.

Like what you've read?  You can follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83.