Mets Granderson, Wheeler Help Get the Mets Another Win

The Mets got another win today with some help from one of their big off season acquisitions at the plate and on the mound from one of their promising young pitchers. They beat the Houston Astros by a final score of 6-2

Curtis Granderson, who crossed town this winter on a 4 year deal hit a two run line drive shot in the first inning to get things going. In the second inning he hit a solo blast. Both homers were way deep to right field.

On the mound, Zack Wheeler got his first start of the season and through three innings struck out three, walked none, and kept the Astros off the board. He needed only 40 pitches to get through his day of work. His fastball was in the mid 90's and judging from the replay his curve ball had its bite.

Travis d'Arnaud collected a pair of hits while Chris Young doubled, scored, and gunned down Cesar Izturis who was trying to leg out a double. Brandon Nimmo added insurance in the 8th with a frozen rope to right field to score Daniel Muno.

Kyle Farnsworth, Vic Black, Jeff Walters, and Scott Rice all held the Astros to no runs. Houston's only scoring was that of a two run homer in the 5th by Jonathan Villar off Erik Goeddel.

The Mets have split squad games tomorrow against the Nationals and Marlins.

Photo Courtesy: ajgmets.net

Follow me: @jwil25

Mets Don't Have What The Diamondbacks Want

Seattle's Nick Franklin isn't the only shortstop who could find his way onto the trade market before Opening Day, the Arizona Diamondbacks also have a pair of young shortstops, Chris Owings and Didi Gregorius.  Before the seasons starts, its likely that one of them will find their way to Triple-A.  The other option, which Arizona General Manager Kevin Towers didn't complete dismiss, is that one will be traded.

Towers told Nick Piecoro of AZCentral that a trade is a possibility, but "it would have to be the right deal."  Towers went on to outline that Arizona's biggest need in its minor league system is catching.  As a result, a "top-notch catching prospect" would be their ideal take in any trade for either Owings or Gregorius.  That's a problem for the Mets, as they won't be trading Travis d'Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki is yet to reach even Double-A.  This could leave the Mets on the outside looking in, if another team were to come calling that has the goods.

Towers also went onto say that a front-end starter, who could slot into their rotation at either Double-A or Triple-A could be an option.  So too could be an outfield prospect, although that is less likely.  These are the areas where the Mets might be able to make a run, as the system is deep with starting pitching.  However, with Noah Syndergaard understandably untouchable, the Mets aren't inclined to trade Rafael Montero.  That to may limit their possibilities with Arizona.

Its also worth noting that the Mets and Diamondback did talk during the Winter Meetings, but were unable to gain any traction in trade talks.  This is just another situation worth monitoring as Spring Training moves along.  My guess is Nick Franklin is more likely, but things have a way of changing in baseball.

Las Vegas Has The Mets At 73.5 Wins

This week, the Las Vegas Hilton Superbook put out their predictions for the upcoming 2014 MLB season.  It's probably to no one's surprise that they have the Mets coming in with a total of 73.5 wins.  They are also 25-1 odds of being the NL East champions this season, which to me really doesn't seem that high considering the negativity surrounding this team.  I'll give my take on the Mets in a moment, but onto to the rest of the NL East.

The Hilton has the NL East as follows:

Wins
Atlanta - 87.5
Washington - 87.5
Philly - 76
METS - 73.5
Miami - 69.5

Division Odds
Atlanta - even money
Washington - even money
Philly - 12-1
METS - 25-1
Miami - 30-1

I think for the most part, there are no shocking totals here.  The division could and probably should come down to Atlanta and Washington.  This is pretty much on line with how the season finished last season.  All of the teams, including the two at the top, have some question marks, but I think this is fair.

The Mets finished with 74 wins last year, which means Vegas is essentially saying that they haven't improved or gotten worse.  I'm going to pick the over.  I don't care if I get ridiculed for it, I don't think it's a bad bet.  I also don't think its a sure thing.  But I expect this team to be better for a few reasons.

First off, I really don't think that the play from our first basemen and short stop can get any worse than it did last year.  Last year was probably rock bottom for both Ike and Duda, as well as Tejada.  In the past, these guys have all shown they can handle big league pitching, and for whatever excuse they each had, they were all just awful in 2013.  Tejada and Duda both went to the performance camp this winter, and I expect that gains were made from it.  So it's not unreasonable to see improvements from the two black holes we had last season.

Secondly, I expect Travis d'Arnaud to be better in 2014.  He did not impress in his call up last season.  Let's not forget though, prior to his promotion, he played only 99 baseball games in 23 months since the end of the 2012 minor league season.  I'm not making excuses for him, but I consider last year a wash. He was working his way back into shape and had all sorts of pressure on him. This year he comes back to camp, hopefully in shape and healthy.  He has shown he can hit in his minor league career.  Although I am not expecting him to be Mike Piazza, I think he still can be one of the better catchers in the game  After April last year, we got zero production from behind the plate.  Black hole number three should be filled.

My next point is that I think the addition of Curtis Granderson will help David Wright more than people think.  Even thought he has his faults, Granderson is a bona fide power hitter and a good clubhouse presence.  I think having him in the line-up will take a lot of pressure off Wright.  I know people are saying that Granderson only replaces Marlon Byrd, but let's look at it from start to finish.  Byrd wasn't even playing every day in April and May.  And in those months, he was hitting .240 with 6 home runs.  He didn't get hot until June.  So at the beginning of the season, what did Marlon Byrd do for David Wright?  Not much of anything.  Having a guy like Granderson in the line-up on opening day is good for every one's psyche, especially Wright's.

Moving on, even without Harvey, the Mets still have solid pitching.  The rotation is deeper this year.  Harvey is being replaced by another all-star pitcher.  Ok, am I really comparing Colon to Harvey?  No.  But as long as he is healthy, how much worse is Colon going to be, in a pitchers park against the NL? He is going to be fine.  I'd like to think Wheeler will improve, although I'm not expecting a Harvey like rise to stardom in year two.  Either way, the guy can chuck it.  Dillon Gee really took a big leap last year.  And don't forget, he started off terribly in 2013.  But he was coming off the surgery to remove the blood clot from his pitching arm.  When he finally got his arm strength back, he was as reliable as anyone in the rotation. Although I am not expecting him to match his Post May-2013, I think he will be steady and give the team a chance. Niese is Niese. You know what you're getting. As for the fifth spot, I'm really hoping Mejia gets it.  If he does, then I think top to bottom the Mets rotation is as deep and competitive as almost any team in the National League.  This rotation is much improved over last years opening day rotation of Neise, Harvey, Marcum, Gee and Hefner.

The X-factor for this team is going to be Chris Young.  I'm not expecting much.  However I hold on to hope that the former all-star spent this offseason trying to rediscover himself in search of a multiyear deal after 2014.  You've seen it before.  Guys all of a sudden turn on a light when it's time to get paid.  I'm not banking on it, but it'll be big for this team if he somehow can have a Byrd like resurgance.

A lot of what I just said was obviously just assumption.  Like I've said in the past, I'm not an expert, and I won't pretend to be.  The oddsmakers in Vegas are very good at what they do, and I'm sure they have their legitimate reasons why they think the Mets are a 73-74 win team. For the hell of it though, I'm going to give my over/under. As the roster stands right now, my over under is 78.5 wins. If they wind up signing Drew, I'll make that 81.5. I'm obviously banking on a lot of things to go right for this team.  But I expect players who spent their offseason trying hard to become better ball players to actually be better ball players. I don't think that's all that crazy a notion. And if they are better ball players, then they're a better baseball team. I'll also could just be unusually optimistic this morning.  Who knows?  If I wrote this exactly when I woke up today, I might have been singing a different tune. Either way, call me a homer or a shill or whatever you want.  I don't think What I wrote is all that outlandish.

I know most will disagree with me.  Give me the business on Twitter @GetsThruBuckner.

Three Mets Prospects Land In MLB.com's Top 100

Another day and another prospect list!  This time is Major League Baseball's Jonathan Mayo ranked the top 100 prospects in major league baseball.  Three Mets made the cut and none are names that should catch you by surprise.

The highest name on the list should come as a surprise to no one.  Noah Syndergaard came in at number eleven on the list.  Anyone who's been paying any attention knows that Syndergaard is poised to be the next major prospect to make his debut.  He figures to challenge Matt Harvey for the role of ace on the staff.  If and when that time comes, it will be a good problem to have for the Mets.

Next up was Travis d'Arnaud, who managed the twenty-second spot.  Despite making an underwhelming debut last season, d'Arnaud will enter 2014 as a "rookie".  He'll assume the role as starting catcher out of spring training and will be off to the races.  Multiple outlets have pegged him as the best catching prospect in baseball, this list was no exception.

Finally was Rafael Montero, who fell all the way to eighty-fifth.  Lets not get crazy.  Montero is a strong prospect and figures to make his debut in 2014 as well.  Although his ceiling isn't as high as Noah Syndergaard, he projects as high as a number three in the rotation.  If he sticks, he could be right in the middle of what figures to be one of the best young rotations in baseball.

Despite just three prospects making the list, that still represented the eighth best total in all of Major League Baseball.  The front office has worked to renovate the farm system in recent years.  Syndergaard and d'Arnaud are part of the renovation.  These three players represent the best the young players the organization has to offer.  Beyond them is a bit of a drop off, but its important that the system is now regularly graduating talent to the major league level.  Young, premiere, afforable talent will be a benchmark of the New York Mets for years go come.  This list indicates that they remain on track to make that vision a reality.

Why the Mets SHOULD Rely on the 2015 Free Agent Shortstop Class

I like to fancy myself someone who could be a Major League Baseball general manager. I have business experience. I have many years of baseball experience. I also have delusions of grandeur. This all adds up to me sitting on the couch planning how I would run a profession baseball franchise.

I would be the picture of patience. I would shy away from free agents almost entirely in order to build an extraordinary stable of big, strong, talented starting pitchers who were cheap and under control. In the field, I would attempt to develop as best I could, with the aim being towards creating a nice set of cost effective role players and bottom of the line-up guys. When I see my window open, let's say...a 2-3 year window where my pitching stars have all aligned, I'd go out and spend. I nab two big bats with power. I nab a speed guy in the infield. I nab a big lefty SP. I take a chance on a couple of bullpen guys, though I do not spend a lot because bullpen guys are fickle.  I hope this not only blows my window wide open, but extends it another year or two. Then at the end, when the window closes, I rid myself of the baggage as best I can in hopes of starting over again. This is how I feel a team without Yankee/Dodger/Sawx money should work.

Accordingly - I disagree with my esteemed colleague, Rob Patterson, who contends the Mets should not rely on the 2015 Free Agent Shortstop class to fill their current and future short stop needs. Let's face it - the Mets are not winning the World Series in 2014. Harvey...out. Wheeler...young. Syndergaard...nothing but a twinkle as of yet. d'Arnaud...who knows. Our window is still being set up. It has yet to open. That means there is no rush. 

Mr. Patterson points out that next year's free agent class will include names at short such as Hanley Ramirez, J.J. Hardy, Asdrubal Cabrera, Jed Lowrie and Yunel Escobar. You can add veterans Nick Punto and Mike Aviles to that list. That is an awfully deep market. While, as Mr. Patterson notes, the competition for Ramirez will be fierce and I would be betting my farm on the Yankees (especially if they get under $189M this year), the competition at the middle tier should not be as such. This off season included two big(ish) names...Stephen Drew and Johnny Peralta. Peralta signed early as he was the "big name". No other shortstop has signed for any significant money as of yet and pitchers and catchers report in a matter of weeks. Next year will be even deeper. I don't envision the competition for the Lowrie's, Cabrera's and Hardy's of the world being that difficult, particularly with a decent set of lower tier players beneath them - much like this year.

In addition to the deep market at shortstop in the 2015 free agent class, there are potential deep markets at first base, second base, and right field. I would be willing to put Nick Punto at short-stop if it meant I could take a run at Billy Butler at first. I would take Mike Aviles at short, if I also had Colby Rasmus in left and Norichika Aoki in right. The decision to get a shortstop now versus relying on a potential 2015 class does not solely rely on the short stop class. You have to factor in what else you can do. Right now, there isn't much else the Mets can do. Next year, that will not be the case.

My point is the Mets do not need a shortstop right now. Stephen Drew is a good player, but he does not a championship team make. The Mets would be better off being patient, sticking to their guns with Drew for a short cheap deal, and if he decided to go elsewhere, we have 7 short-stops and a wide array of other options next year to choose from. This at a time when Harvey will come back, Wheeler will be primed, Syndergaard will have some experience, and we will know what we have in d'Arnaud. The window opens in 2015, let's try not to jump out of it until then.

Cyber Monday Mets Eagerly Await Non-Tender Deadline

As the holiday season ramps up, we check in with Sandy Alderson who I believe has been camped out at the edge of what can only be described as baseball hell since the beginning of the offseason.  What for you ask?  Well at midnight tonight, teams will have to have decided whether or not to have tendered contracts their arbitration eligible players. If teams choose not to, those players will be come free agents.

Alderson will undoubtedly want to be first in line when the market becomes flush with a plethora of cheap baseball players whom other teams couldn't be bothered to pay.  Yes Mets fans, be prepared for a brand new round of bottom feeding...

We've already heard some rumors, to include Chicago White Sox catcher, Tyler Flowers.  Flowers, who couldn't manage a .200 batting average in 84 games last season is the obvious choice to backup prospect sensation, Travis d'Arnaud, because the Mets can't be bothered to spend money on an actual backup catcher.  Should d'Arnaud fall victim to another injury, fans will be excited to see Flowers as an everyday calamity behind home plate.

As the offseason rolls on, so too does the litany of excuses and explanations as to why the market is overvalued.  As a result, expect the Mets to be heavily involved in bringing even more castoffs to Citi Field to round out their roster.

How Would You Rank The Mets Free Agency Needs?

A few days ago, Jason Lempert, of Bleacher Report took the time to rank what he thought were the Mets most pressing needs via free agency.  He ranked them as follows:

1) Starting Pitching
2) Catching
3) Shortstop
4) Outfielder
5) Relief Pitcher

Umm..alright, I suppose these would be the five areas that the Mets need to address this winter, but that isn't even remotely close to how I would rank them.  Here is what I'm thinking:

1) Outfielder
2) Starting Pitcher
3) Shortstop
4) Relief Pitcher
5) Catcher

Even with the injury to Matt Harvey, the Mets still have a plethora of young starting pitchers.  Does that mean that the likes of Jenrry Mejia, Jacob deGrom and Rafael Montero should be depended upon next year? No.  But the Mets most pressing need with unquestionably offense.

Its for that reason that I would select outfield as the first area that needs to be addressed.  If you looking for a guy who is good for a 25HR/100RBI season, certainly there are more to be had in the corners of the outfield.  Whether or not the Mets decide to spend what it takes to bring one of those guys in is another story, but the fastest way to add pop to the line up is going to be via an outfielder.

Second, I would agree that starting pitching is a definite area of concern.  The Mets and their young pitchers would greatly benefit from the acquisition of a veteran teaching type.  Lempert brings up Bronson Arroyo, whose name has come up frequently so far this winter.  I'm not 100% sure Arroyo is the best answer, but I think he's the right type of player.

Third is a supposed replacement for Ruben Tejada and/or Omar Quintanilla.  I think this spot needs to be addressed, but more so because there are going to be legitimate upgrades available.  Ruben Tejada at his best (which may already be behind him) doesn't provide the lineup presence someone like Jhonny Peralta does.  This is an area the Mets should definitely look into if they have the funds after addressing the first two areas.

Fourth is the bullpen.  I think this lands an nearly every team's list this winter.  Bullpens are always a crap shoot for lack of a better term.  The Mets' pen ended the year on a pretty good note.  Lempert suggests that Parnell's questionable health is the reason for his high ranking, but I anticipate the Mets have other in house options that can temporarily fill this roll, just as LaTroy Hawkins did in 2013.

Finally, a veteran catcher.  I think this a fair assessment.  The Mets don't need Travis d'Arnaud as their lone major league caliber backstop, nor can they count on his health.  The reason I don't stress this area is that I think backup catchers are almost a dime a dozen (sounds crazy to say that having endured years of Josh Thole).  The Mets will find someone, whether it be Henry Blanco or the recently traded John Buck to fill this role.

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So that's what I think... And more importantly why I think it.  How would you rank them?  Do you agree with Lempert's assessment of things or am I more in line?  Maybe you fall somewhere in the middle.  Either way, let us know in the comments section below!

Jose Bautista On The Mets..Yes, Please!

Ben Nicholson-Smith of SportsNet Canada reported yesterday that the Toronto Blue Jays could be open to trading any one of a number of players on their current major league roster, to include right-fielder Jose Bautista.  Guess who's in the market for a right-fielder?  You guessed it, the New York Mets.

Bautista is an interesting offseason option for the Mets' front office.  He remains under contract for the next three seasons, set to make $14 million in both 2014 and 2015, and finally has a team option for the same in 2016.  The front office would probably say that's a lot of money to allocate to an outfielder who will be thirty-three when he arrives for spring training next year.  To be honest they may be right, but having the option to make only a two year commitment should things go south, should be appealing to Alderson and Co.

If a trade were to go down, Bautista would instantly become the team's best offensive outfielder and arguably the best bat on the roster.  That said, he does have injury concerns, having played only 118 games last season and just 92 the year before that.  If he did make it through a full season, he would threaten to hit forty home runs and drive in well over one hundred runs.  The Mets haven't seen that type of production from an outfielder since Carlos Beltran's 2006 campaign.

The other perk to Bautista over some other potential outfield trade options (think CarGo or Stanton) is the Mets would have to part with much less to get him.  The two teams also have a history together (RA Dickey/Travis d'Arnaud).  Plus, JP Riccardi has worked within the Blue Jays system.

So sure, Baustista represents a considerable risk for the Mets.  He may come in and struggle to stay on the field just like the aforementioned Beltran did, but he would be a short term risk.  If things go well, the Mets could pick up the option year on his contract.  If they don't, the Mets can walk away or look to trade a power hitting outfielder in the last year of the deal (Alderson is good at this).

On the surface I like the idea.  I think its a good fit for the Mets provided they don't have to give up too too much in the trade.  I think he allows the team to make a quality addition who will help the team now, but also won't tie up payroll very long.  I think that would be ideal, but its still early and other options could come available as the winter moves on.

That's my two cents.  What do you think?  Is Bautista a viable option for the Mets or would you prefer they look elsewhere?

Side Note:  Bautista follows me on Twitter (no clue why), you should too at @RobPatterson83.

Effing Round Table: What Is The Mets Most Pressing Offseason Need?

With the offseason upon us, it remains clear that the New York Mets have plenty of needs to address this winter.  Outfield, Shortstop, First Base, Pitching... Which is most important..and why?

Tim O'Brien:
The Mets most pressing offseason need is to not do anything stupid.  The Wilpon's have a history of caving to public pressure and the fans are certainly laying it on thick to make a big signing this offseason.  I say stay the course, don't overpay, let the kids develop one more year...then try to strike while the iron is hot (we aren't winning the World Series in 2014).  Unless of course you can get Stanton.

Craig Petraglia:
The Mets have a lot of holes to fill heading into the 2014 season but Sandy Alderson and the front office have a lot of money coming off the books that they can spend on free agents.  The most pressing need for the Mets to fulfill heading into 2014 Opening Day is protection behind David Wright in the lineup.  With the Captain hitting third, if Sandy can bring in a dangerous hitter, no matter the position, whether that be an outfielder or first basemen, Wright will see better pitches to hit and can be even more of an asset offensively.  it will be interesting to see how Sandy spends his money, as the Mets need an upgrade at the shortstop position, the corner outfield, as well as first base, but Mets fans are getting restless and it's time this front office spends money and rolls the dice in order to make a pennant run in the upcoming season.

Rob Patterson:
The Mets have a lot of problems, but none more pressing than the team's outfield.  The departure of Marlon Byrd left an unexpected hole that must be filled..especially if there is an intention to see Juan Lagares as the everyday center fielder.  The Mets need bats..power bats.  Bats that can round out the middle of the lineup and make up for the light hitting players like Lagares, Murphy and d'Arnaud.  Those players are available, via both free agency and trade, and the team's front office needs to find a way to make it happen!

Jason Wilson:
Corner outfielder who can bring the wood to the yard. Why? Because they need it and the run production was noticeable when Marlon Byrd left.

Kieran Flemming:
The Mets' most pressing offseason issue is adding a bat or two that can hit for power. I know how much the organization values on base percentage, but the lineup desperately needs more pop. Be it at first or in the outfield, that is where the team needs the most help.

Bryan Damis:
We are beating a dead horse here but the Mets need power. Plain and simple. David Wright has power to the deepest part of the park and that's not going to work. With such a poor home record comparably to a respectable road record, the Mets need a power hitter who can pull the ball to the shorter parts of the park.

Seth Shapiro:

Power.  Power.  Power.  Particularly a left handed power bat to hit either in front of or behind David Wright.  The two names that come to mind are either Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies or Jose Abreu, the free agent slugging first baseman from Cuba.  While I prefer Gonzalez because he is the proven commodity, the thought of acquiring power in Abreu without giving up any prospects or players from the major league club is quite enticing.

Wow! That was pretty much unanimous... Do you agree? Is acquiring a power bat the order of the day, or do the Mets have other areas to address first? Let us know in the comment section.

d'Arnaud To Miss Time For Shoulder

Photo by Michael Baron

Travis d'Arnaud left last night's game after taking a Hunter Pence foul ball off of his right shoulder. Terry Collins expects him to miss at least a few games, apparently disregarding my father's universal injury advice of, "Don't rub it," and, "Walk it off."

Obviously, this is bad news for a player who began the year on the DL with a broken bone in his foot. Additionally, d'Arnaud missed the end of last season with a torn PCL in his knee he suffered sliding into second base.

A couple of thoughts on the topic. First, d'Arnaud is really annoying to type. Lowercase letter, apostrophe, then an uppercase letter. Get a real name man, for crying out loud. I have to remember to just Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V his name next time, this is absurd.

Second, I guess we have no choice but to hope that this guy's injury problems are closer to the multiple isolated incident type, and not the recurring nicked up player type. He has made a habit of spending periods laid up; I understand it is, to some extent, unavoidable with catchers, but a fragile player can be tough to tie your franchise to. d'Arnaud, despite his struggles at the plate so far, seems to be universally recognized in baseball as a talented and promising young player, but that only matters if he can stay on the field.

Stiff Shoulder For d'Arnaud

Rookie catcher Travis d'Arnaud, who had some durability concerns before ever reaching the major league level, was removed from last night's game after being struck in the shoulder with a foul ball.

d'Arnaud was struck by a ball off the bat of Giant's outfielder, Hunter Pence, in the second inning last night.  Despite staying in the game, Travis' shoulder would tighten up to the point of impacting his throws to second.  As a result he was removed from the game.

Both he and Terry Collins did not appear overly alarmed after the game and it appears he will only miss a few games going forward.  Such bumps and bruises go with the territory of being a major league backstop, however I am slightly interested to see how much time he misses after a prolonged rehab this summer from a broken foot.

d'Arnaud's Walks Off A Somewhat Depressing Win

Photo Courtesy of @Lets86It

If you were one of the 25,165 who were unfortunate enough to have paid for a ticket to today's Mets/Marlins game we feel sorry for you.  If you were one of the.. maybe half of that actually in attendance than you deserve a strong adult beverage.

First things first, the Mets and Marlins have played a twenty-three extra frames this season.  That's more than two and a half games worth of extra baseball, mostly due in part to each teams inability to push runs across the plate.  Secondly, if you were in attendance you sat at Citi Field for a full three hours and thirty five minutes before a single run was scored.  Lucky for you, that run ended the game.

I suppose the only caveat is that if you were in attendance you did have the opportunity to witness Travis d'Arnaud's first walk-off hit.  Bear in mind, it was his first run batted (and 10th hit) in since August 27th so lets not celebrate too much.  The team's "catcher of the future" has batted a mere .169 since being promoted.  He has not had an extra-base hit in the month of September.

To many depressing details to overshadow an otherwise successful day..I suppose