Will Mets Challenge Marlins For Last Place?

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• doug December 17, 2012 at 11:02 am

  I say we throw everything we possibly have to get Stanton. I know that’s not what this posting is about, but Wheeler, d’Arnaud, Duda, Meijia, my mother in law, etc.whatever it takes.
  • juan December 17, 2012 at 3:09 pm

    d’Arnaud and Wheeler are now the new untouchables, but The Marlins could pick a very good four prospects in the farm for Stanton. Mets can also trade a couple of pitchers prospects to the Royals for Bubba Starling.
• taskmaster4450 December 17, 2012 at 11:03 am

  Not likely. The Marlins organization is a total mess; even worse than the Mets could ever dream. Of the remaining players who are worth much, they are extremely unhappy (i.e. Stanton). I dont expect everyone who Rubin listed to survive the winter (Nolasco). Plus they already were playing to empty seats with the team that they spent money on. Now, after “firesale 3″, the fans have had enough. Finally, as much as people do not like the Wilpons, Loria is totally despised.

  So no I dont expect the Marlins to do anything than wrap up the cellar in the NL east. The Mets are fairly low right now, but not that low.
• srt December 17, 2012 at 11:06 am

  Well, we’ve got to make up 20 games somewhere with Dickey leaving.
  Even so, I feel comfortable predicting the Marlins, as currently constructed, will have last place all sewed up in ’13.
• Metstheory22 December 17, 2012 at 11:06 am

  I don’t know if they will trade Stanton in the next few years but Mets should get their finances ready for when he becomes a free agent.
  • juan December 17, 2012 at 3:12 pm

    I think the Mets will have even betters prospect to trade by this time.
• Donal December 17, 2012 at 11:07 am

  Keep in mind, Dickey had pretty good run support and the defense didn’t commit too many errors. Even the bullpen held up pretty well relative to how the other starters’ leads faired when they left.

  This feels like last year when so many Real Baseball Men around here were declaring the 2012 Mets a 100 loss team and I pointed out just how awful a team has to be to get that low.

  We’ll have a decent pitching staff and at least 2 quality hitters. Lets calm down, people.
• Alex68 December 17, 2012 at 11:21 am

  Yes… It’d be a good battle for last place between them, but who cares right? We signed our golden boy to an extension, traded dickey for prospects so….. Yep, doesn’t matter..
• Joey D. December 17, 2012 at 11:22 am

  You know, it’s sad when one was really doesn’t care one way or the other anymore. I’m now more curious deciphering the pros and cons voiced here more than anything else.
• raysadecki December 17, 2012 at 11:23 am

  How do they make up the 20wins from Dickey?
  a) a full year from Harvey
  b) Wheeler – whenever he arrives
  c) better production from the 5th spot – young had 4 wins in 2012
  d) better bullpen – It was already the worst so there is noplace to go but up.
• DrDooby December 17, 2012 at 11:25 am

  The 2013 Mets should benefit from having Matt Harvey for a full season and in all likelihood a better bullpen (it can´t really be worse).
  Also, the outfield which produced a combined – 0.1 WAR in 2012 can´t really be worse either.
  So, had the Mets basically kept the status quo with Dickey, they´d realistically have been an 80-win team + / – 3 to 5 wins based on luck & injuries.
  Take away Dickey, i.e. a “5-win” pitcher and you basically see a drop back to the 75-win range with the current group of players and a realistic boost in performance thanks to the overall youth on the roster and thus likelihood to improve rather than regress collectively.

  Of course, that´s assuming the Mets still add some sort of RHH outfielder like Scott Hairston, a veteran reliever or two and maybe a Chris Young type SP to compete with Mejia for the 5th spot in the rotation.

  Of course, as a young team, the potential for a surprise breakout is higher than with a veteran team of more established performers.
  Say, Matt Harvey & Zach Wheeler combine for 45 well above average starts, Kirk Nieuwenhuis posts an .800 OPS over 550 PA as the fulltime CF and Ike Davis produces an .850 OPS over 600 PA and Travis D´Arnaud ends up getting 400 PA with a .750 OPS and solid defense – suddenly this is a .500 team as it is.

  If you compare the Marlins & Mets position for position right now, the Mets come out ahead rather clearly.
  Look at this in a different way:
  The Mets have lost Dickey & scrubs here & there that should be replacable.
  The Marlins have lost Reyes, Buehrle, Bonifacio, J.Johnson and Hanley Ramirez (2nd half of last season), plus a few scrubs here & there that should be replacable.
• Wallyboy December 17, 2012 at 11:28 am

  @ doug I have to say that I disagree with that strategy of trading so many of our prospects for stanton, the point of us rebuilding is not to deplete our farm system for one elite player. SA should use other valuable chips (Niese) to get our right handed power hitter (Trumbo) despite the Angels FO saying that they are not interested in trading him I think for Niese they have to at least think about it hard. Angels need pitching we need and outfielder and they have a surplus in that area at this time. Worst case scenerios if that doesn’t workout trade Niese for other top prospects acquiring pitching and outfielders, maybe Tampa will wanna trade with us for Myers and others.

  We need another lefty we should be trying to sign Liriano rotation depth and Hairston for a right a cheap right handed bat in the outfield.
  • DrDooby December 17, 2012 at 11:38 am

    Trading before any sort of major asset right now makes no sense.
    Get a core group of players you plan to build around first, then add the missing pieces once you know what they are.

    Again, a year from now, we should have a much better idea about future roles for Harvey, Wheeler, Mejia, Familia, D´Arnaud, Nieuwenhuis, Valdespin and even Ike Davis.
    The next step is to figure out what you need to take the group you view as “core pieces” to the next level.
• ray sadecki December 17, 2012 at 12:16 pm

  Dooby, Do you mean like adding Hernandez and Carter to the Mookie, Straw, Gooden and Darling mix? Oh, now I get it
• Hank December 17, 2012 at 1:31 pm

  As constructed, I think the Mets would challenge for last place, but eventually be able to come out the winner and end up in 4th place. The good news is that even though they hoard money that comes off the books, that is deferred, and that is freed up in trades…they do have money to spend and they will spend at least some of it. If they do that, 4th place is al ours baby.

  That said, it’s why they play the games. If the Orioles and Athletics could come out of nowhere to compete in their stacked divisions, why can’t we?? Ya gotta believe baby. It’s all we got…hope. Don’t lose that or the year(s) will only get longer and harder.
• Hitman December 17, 2012 at 1:36 pm

  Of course not. The Mets have already shown flashes of what could happen if the pen ever gels together. Meanwhile, the Marlins are in a much worse situation, especially after gutting almost everyone worth value. Stanton, their only beacon of hope, will be gone within the next year.
• Richard December 17, 2012 at 2:38 pm

  The Mets will not finish in 5th… That’s a terrible assumption,they’re not good,but they aren’t a complete mess either.
• DMets3 December 17, 2012 at 3:03 pm

  Its a good time to cut and run.