17
2012
What Still Needs Fixing, What Is The Biggest Surprise So Far?
An article by 
1. As you look at this team now, what still needs fixing?
The bench is weak. The team needs to continue stockpiling young talent but besides doing that they need to DEVELOP them as well. All the potential in the world means nothing if it isn’t developed well. Continue bringing in coaches at all levels with solid track records. – Joe S.
Batting Average w/RISP can always use some improvement. – Ben
The defense. Duda and Murph obviously have to play, and they will never be above avg. fielders but they have to execute the simple plays. – Will
The offense needs to step it up a little to take some pressure off our pitching staff, which already has to deal with a makeshift defense out there. – Satish
The bench i feel the team is very weak off the bench also continued improvement at 2B from Murphy. – Daniel
The starting pitching needs to rest the pen. The pen has pitched very well, but we saw on Sunday what can happen to a taxed bullpen. – XtreemIcon
Mike Pelfrey and Jason Bay both still need fixing. – Gregg H.
I think that Mike Pelfrey, and Jason Bay need fixing. Although I don’t think that might even be possible. Pelfrey needs to stop throwing everything to the middle of the plate, and Bay needs to be more patient at the plate. – Brandon
Daniel Murphy and Josh Thole’s defense. Keep them working on it and they will be better. It’s just an eye sore and a headache right now. Also, Ike’s slump. But it’s still early. – Dave
It’s not necessarily a fix, but the Mets aren’t stealing bases at all this year. The Mets don’t have as much speed as they used to, but a good running game paired with how the Mets work pitchers could take this offense to the next level. – Elliot
This team has no depth. Every injury leads to chickens running around without no heads. So far we’ve gotten lucky with Nieuwenhuis. Whew. – Joe D.
2. What has been the biggest surprise of the season so far?
Personally I’m suprised at Santana’s success so far. I honestly didn’t think he’d ever pitch with any success after the shoulder injury. I’ll happily eat my words. – Joe S.
Ruben Tejada. I expected him to do a good job replacing Jose Reyes. He has exceeded all my expectations thus far. Top 20 in MLB in OBP this season. – Ben
For me it’s Ruben Tejada. I truly thought he would start slow, and forget his plate discipline. He has looked great offensively and defensively. – Will
Ike Davis’ slow start and the fact that the Marlins franchise has not imploded and been banished to the moon yet. – Satish
Tejada and how nicely he has been out of the leadoff spot in replacing Reyes. – Daniel
Right now, Johan Santana. I think that’s a given. – XtreemIcon
The biggest surprise has to be how solid the bullpen has been. – Gregg H.
The bullpen. Complete 180 from last year. I could not trust the bullpen last year, but now I can still more comfortably now this year, knowing they can keep the lead. – Dave
Ruben Tejada has been amazing. He’s not a complete surprise as his OBP from 2011 projected that he would have a successful year at the plate, however his level of play has been so much better than expectations. – Elliot
For me it’s Ruben Tejada hands down. He’s doing everything that’s been asked of him and more. – Joe D.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 23 | 18 | .561 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 19 | .548 | 0.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 22 | .476 | 3.5 |
| Mets | 16 | 23 | .410 | 6.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 31 | .262 | 12.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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1. As you look at this team now, what still needs fixing?
Defense, with murphy in 2B, Duda in RF and thole behind the plate our defense is not our biggest strenght, plus the fact that whoeveer is in the bench do not know anything about defense, case was sunday when hairston did a circus in LF on a fly ball..
2. What has been the biggest surprise of the season so far?
THE WHOLE TEAM. i don’t think any of us could’ve predicted this team to be 7-3 to start the season.. we’ve taken 7 games out of 10 in the division, that’s where you start winning the games to help your case.. But individually i think santana has been a godsent for us, his presence alone took pressure off everyone else to slide back to be at their current spot in the rotation
Here’s the question, other than constant practice or replacements how do you “fix” the defense? As for Hairston, he is fine defensively. He is more than competent in all 3 OF positions, while that one was certainly not pretty I don’t think it was indicative of his OF ability.
you can tutor guys and give them extra practice, which should help, but you can only do so much to polish up limited skills.
so the only other option is to replace the player. And that is easier said than done, especially if you want to keep some semblence of offense!
I’d like to see Sandy at least make some minor moves as the season progresses to improve the Mets weak bench. One move I believe is to simply keep Kirk up with the Mets when Torres returns. I think Kirk adds more to the Mets than Mike Baxter. I also think that TC can figure out how to use Kirk a decent amount part time- spot Bay some starts in LF vs. RHSP and spot Torres some starts in CF to try to keep him healthier and fresh. Kirk can also serve as a late inning defensive replacement for the shaky Duda in RF. Hopefully. Beato gets healthy and gives the Mets another arm in the bullpen instead of old man Batista. I’m also hoping that Torres can stay healthy and give the Mets offense some SB element atop the Mets order. I like Tejada but would like him even more if he had some sort of speed,SB element to his game and he should. Ruben is fairly athletic and quick and did swipe 19 bags in 22 tries when he played for the B-Mets in 2009. I’m also hoping that TC keeps Ruben atop the oreder when Torres returns and drops everybody else 1 spot- Torres, Tejada, Murph,David, Ike, Bay, Duda, Thole. I’d like to see some sort of small ball game atop the order instead of the Mets offense relying so much on the HR ball.
Actually I would not mind Torres becoming the 4th OF when he returns and go with Kirk remaining in the lineup. For now leave Tejada in the top spot and if anything move Kirk/Torres to the 2 spot.
I expect Kirk to stay and Torres to become the 4th OF. Baxter will be lopped off the roster. I also believe this was the plan all along
But, with torres not being FT, and Tejada looking fine leading off, I am not messing with that. Torres can hit 8th when he comes back, given his status as the weakest hitter in the lineup! Or maybe 7th in front of Thole.
But no way am I giving Wright fewer ABs in order to give Torres more.
Hitting Kirk/Torres in the 2 hole? That might make sense, depending on how much they are K’ing. Murphy then would drop down to an RBI spot? 7th?
This team is very lefty heavy.
I’d move Torres directly to the bench when he returns, but when he does play, I’d leave Ruben leadoff, but wouldn’t drop the rest of lineup. I’d move Torres to eighth. I don’t like the idea of Thole clogging up the basepaths when the pitcher would be called on to bunt more often than not directly after him and, even if the sacrifice is successful, might not be able to score only on a single, and Tejada following the pitcher isn’t exactly moving the outfielders back.
I agree with you, Stick and TRS on Torres to the bench, and when that happens, I’ll feel a little better about our bench and outfield depth.
The biggest surprised? That’s got to be the winning. If you look at all the individual performances, some have started hot, while others started slow, but everyone is playing within reasonable expectations. Sure Wright and Tejada will come down, Duda, Ike and Bay(hopefully) will go up.
The Rotation and Pen will have a hiccup or two, but it’s not like they are pitching way above their level. But I’d take our *healthy* rotation in a five game series (where every pitcher has one turn) over most teams (excluding: Philly, San Fran and Anaheim. I’m on the fence with Miami).1-5, we have guys who can go out and give great performances and each guy has shown the ability to win 15 games. Now I’m not sure if the rotation has the ability to win in the playoffs, but it’s good enough to help us get there.
The surprise is that they are putting enough good performances and hot steaks to put up wins during the toughest part of the schedule despite some of the slow starts and questionable D.
What still needs fixing?
The Defense is still weak. It’s already cost two winnable games this year and came close last night. I think the SNY booth is on to something when Gary pointed out the possibility that catching RAD is screwing with Thole behind the plate. Obviously Murph and Duda need mucho seasoning. Tejada has shown his youth also…not to mention, outside of Cedeno, the bench defense is severely lacking.
well, KB pitchers in the past have had personal catchers. If that is an issue, just Let Nickeas catch Dickey, unless he is really terrible at it. He is already pretty much useless, so no need about ruining him!
Once Torres comes back and if Kirk N. stays, Torres and Hairston backing up outfield makes bench better. Thole defense is going to be affected by catching Dickey. Duda and Murphy might have to come out for defense late in games or we can ride out their growing pains in hopes they get better.
Torres cannot hit. Neither can Hairston really. Hairston provides adequate fielding, an extremely weak arm, and occasional power. but he is a dumb hitter with a lot of holes. I would like a better righty off the bench. We do not know if Kirk can hit yet. I am willing to wait and see.
1. Mets are too LH and have no option other than Hairston on bench, you need some RH bats on bench plus a bit more running would be nice, Jose wasn’t the only one who stole bases last year.
2. Biggest surprise has been Gee pitching, Santana performing the way an ace does and Pelfrey who along with his last start seems to be getting the right idea on pitching, pitch counts, selection and not imploding 5th like he usually does.
Bay doesn’t need to be more patient at the plate. He needs to be more aggressive. He takes way too many hittable pitches early in the count, just for the sake of working the count. That causes him to get behind in the count way too often, and then he is forced to chase garbage.
Next time you see an AB where Bay has two strikes, review the AB and I bet you somewhere in there he took a pitch right down the d*ck.
He’s putting himself in positions to constantly have to hit defensively.