Sure he hit 32 dingers for the year but 20 of them came in the second half of the year when the Mets were out of contention.

Will he be a star? Well, that’s the real question and 2013 could go either way for him.

We all know he struggled for the first half of the season but the .228 in September is a bit scary. 25 k’s in 79 at bats – that’s a hole in the lineup regardless on how many dingers he got for the month (6).

People ask where Daniel Murphy’s power is. No mention of the 40 doubles, 3 triples and a .291 ba. I would take his contact hitting over Davis and his 32 dingers, 141 K’s and .227 average any day.

What the Mets mostly need is
a) an outfield that improves on the combined (!) – 0.1 WAR it posted in 2012, i.e. goes from atrocious to mediocre
b) a bullpen that is average instead of below average
c) Ike Davis to play for a full season like he did since June ans
d) Matt Harvey making 30 starts at a level close to his 2012 performance

If that happens, the Mets are an 85-win team.
And it doesn’t take signing Bourn and Hamilton for the OF to achieve that.
Trading for Coco Crisp and signing maybe Cody Ross easily does the trick…

The Mets have a pretty decent list of starters on the mound, if they can shore up the bullpen and add a solid outfielder, we should be pleased.

In 1994, Kent’s second full year with the Mets, he opened the season with a hitting streak that got nationwide attention: .375, eight homers and 26 RBIs in the month of April. He was unstoppable, jolting every pitch that came his way. Kent hit .292 that season, clearly establishing himself as a front-line player. But he finished with just 14 homers and never quite recaptured the magic.

“I was ridin’ the fast train,” he recalled. “All of a sudden, the people in New York — especially the media — wanted to know everything about what I did. The ‘how’ and the ‘why.’ And that’s what knocked the train off its tracks. Because I started to think, well, how am I doing this? When you’re in a zone like that, you’re not supposed to think. You just ride it out.”
Kent’s exasperation with the media was the genesis of his now- dubious reputation. Keeping more to himself, he became known as an egocentric, aloof player. “It’s tough in New York,” he says. “When you’re down, not many people will back you up. When you’re on top, they call you Superman or hero. I experienced both of those levels, and in New York, there’s no in-between. You’re either the greatest or the worst.”

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/sports/jenkins/article/Giants-Jeff-Kent-Not-as-Advertised-3320689.php#ixzz2EQ92jWNb

If you are thinking in terms of a not obtaining a proven major league player in return for R.A., the word “should” shouldn’t be used to describe the player or players we would get in return. More appropriate would be saying “could” be an impact player or “could” be close.

Don’t forget, Mike Pelfrey “should” have been one of our top starters being he was a number nine draft pick and pitched great in the minors. Lastings Miledge “should” have been one of our outfielders being a number 12 draft pick with equally impressive minor league numbers.

Remember, six seasons ago the Yankees were already picking out a space for Joba Chamberlain’s plaque in Cooperstown based on just 24 innings of pitching (maybe it was the mosquitoes that messed him up).

I would also be more optimistic on potential talent if this front office didn’t use advanced stats and curves to judge a player. That was the mistake Bill James made with projecting Lastings would have a career in the majors – apparently he and his people were not aware of Lastings’ ego and immaturity.

Re-Sign the damn guy and the next time they come calling ask for even MORE than you asked for at the Meetings because they don’t have to worry about Qualifying offers or not getting Compensation and know the guy is theirs for the next two years after this one!

.260-.280 and 30+ HRs is more than enough.

Duda can’t possibly have a breakout year because I don’t see them using him as an everyday LFer unless they get a power RH bat to stick between him and Ike. Platoon City for him and he is not the kind of guy who does well without consistent playing time. And if he does have a breakout year the only result will be he gets traded for something, sure won’t be here for our next playoff appearance unless Davis fails miserably.

Niese I agree with he needs to have his breakout year or the story will be all about how we should have traded him when everyone was hot for him and willing to give us pieces we really could use.

Thole is Thole and so is just about anyone else they could get so no point in even talking about the Catcher position.

Murphy had a fine year and I don’t get where anyone thinks he was ever a power hitter.
The most he has ever hit was 12 and that was two knee operations ago!
When his legs finally strengthen he will get back the leg drive that got him all 12 HRs he had (he had 6 last year) and 65 RBI last year as opposed to the 63 he had when he had all that power everyone seems to think he had so it really doesn’t matter if he scores himself as much since others are getting paid to drive him in. Batting 2nd in the lineup isn’t going to help his power numbers.

Parnell had a breakout season for him last year….We just happen to harp on the two or three games where he gave up a run(s) that cost us a game and two of them were due to IF errors that extended an inning he should have been out of with a scoreless statline. If he takes the next step to become a good closer it sure would be another big step forward though. Saves us from having to extend Francisco next season.

Harvey doesn’t need to take a big step just be consistent at what we saw in his short time here.He is not ready to take a step forward what you worry about is a step backwards. The Experience even if he faces some adversity will pay dividends later on.

Even if all those guys have better years the problem will still exist we are a Power RH Hitter away from being a contending force.
Our Lineup is still too lefty hefty and Wright and Davis are not enough by themselves to keep the RS train rolling.

We will have the Pitching to win some games (provided Dickey remains a Met) but those days when the opposition lights them up (and those days will happen every year) you need the bats to be able to make those games winnable, and I just don;t see it happening with a lineup that so far looks virtually the same even with improvement with the players we have mentioned.
They need that Power RH bat!

In 2011 that was indeed happening – both the young players and the veterans were doing their share – then moves during the mid season (plus a rash of injuries) sealed our doom.

Last year we saw the team again make a run, however, unlike in 2011, it wasn’t so much a case of staying with the players we had as it was not getting them the help they so desperately needed (with injuries again sealing our doom).

Should the team stay relatively healthy, while I hope I am indeed proved wrong I do not think the Mets will start out strong, let alone retain it, due to the reasons that led to our downfall last season. I don’t doubt we can get the breakout performances from the core of players you mentioned but just like last season, this group of young players cannot do it all on their own, even with Santana, David and R.A. still on top of their game.

Sandy has created way too many holes with the moves he made in the bullpen, outfield, bench strength and speed at the top of the lineup.

Unfortunately, if you look back at the Mets’ record for the last 4 decades….IFs do not win you many games.