2
2013
Outfield And Bullpen Are Major Headaches As Mets Prepare For 2013
An article by 
Looking back on the year just gone, fans of the New York Mets will view 2012 with disappointment. Yet again, for the sixth straight season, they missed out on post-season baseball. There is certainly plenty of work to do at Citi Field ahead of the start of the 2013 season in April. However, even the most optimistic Mets fans would have to think twice before betting on success this coming season, even if it means taking advantage of a William Hill bonus on the site’s outstanding baseball odds.
There appear to be two major obstacles standing in the way of the Mets. They will most certainly need to make changes to a disastrous outfield, but with budgets low, the options appear limited. Lucas Duda went into last season off the back of a great end to 2011. However, he failed to convert such momentum into results in 2012. Meanwhile, Kirk Nieuwenhuis had his moments last season, but has hardly done enough to snap up a starting slot. Mike Baxter looks like a great fourth outfielder, but once again he has not shown the quality needed to be a regular. In short, the outfield line-up is anyone’s guess. Wear breathable baseball gloves when playing baseball for a comfortable game.
And then there is the Mets’ bullpen. This is the area of the roster that can make or break a season and like the outfield, it is far from clear who will start in April. Frank Francisco is likely to rotate with Bobby Parnell, but hopes of finding a true top-class pitcher may rest on one of the Mets’ younger prospects such as Jeurys Familia to step up to the plate. Betting on football or baseball is never straightforward, but it appears a bet on Mets success in 2013 is a real long shot.
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Plain and simple the mets suck. thank you sandy alderson for building such an enjoyable team for us to be proud of. SMH.
Also, who is Karl Nieuwenhuis???
Kirl was spell-checked to Karl instead of Kirk. Modern marvels.
I am actually not that concerned about the pen. I expect a few lessers to be signed before ST but really I think full seasons out of guys like Edgin and then most likely some of the kids being throw in to the pen gives me hope that instead of trying to buy a pen which ultimately has failed the Mets for decades they may try to actually build a pen.
OF on the other hand is a very pressing concern and at this point looks like a bunch of platoons is their only hope.
The bullpen shouldn´t be a longterm problem.
Because the biggest side effect of so much pitching currently in the system is the likelihood of developing a strong & powerful homegrown bullpen going forward.
As of today for the 2013 season , only Francisco – Parnell – Edgin seem like locks for the opening day bullpen if healthy.
Barring further free agent signings, two more righthanded setup relievers should emerge from the group of
Jeurys Familia (or Jenry Mejia instead, whoever the Mets is a more likely reliever longterm – I´d clearly prefer Familia here and believe he´s best off as a fulltime reliever while Mejia should keep starting in 2013 at AAA or in the majors)
Greg Burke (very intriguing recently turned sidearmer with a strong 2012 season in upper minors)
Elvin Ramirez (looked shaky in MLB debut but strong at AAA)
Colin McHugh (if there´s no space for him in the rotation, his nice curveball and a few more ticks of fastball velocity could work well out of the pen)
and a 2nd lefty from either
Robert Carson (nice stuff but doesn´t miss enough bats)
Darin Gorski (better off as a SP at AAA for now)
Aaron Laffey (doesn´t have pronounced splits and could also be the long reliever)
with Jeremy Hefner serving as the long reliever / spot starter.
I still expect the Mets to sign a veteran reliever or two between now and mid February.
Going forward, promising young pitchers such as Cory Mazzoni, Jacob DeGrom, Eric Goeddel, Jack Leathersich, Adam Kolarek or Jason Fraser could emerge as bullpen options by the end of the 2013 season.
Now, the outfield picture looks a lot less inspiring going forward.
Duda´s value is at an all time low. The first half of 2013 probably is his final chance to show he can hit enough to off-set his poor defense. For that to happen, he´ll have to post an
OPS of at least .825+ overall.
Nieuwenhuis should get 500+ AB to find out whether he´s part of the solution or merely a placeholder. His 2012 season was quite similar to Ike Davis´ rookie season in 2010 – just without the nice late season bounceback with any chances being killed by the injury.
Collin Cowgill should spell both Nieuwenhuis and Duda frequently vs. LHP and as a defensive replacement for Duda later in games.
Finally, the RF situation remains very much in flux. Mike Baxter is a nice 5th OF / PH – but should not start for a major league team. Jordany Valdespin should get more reps at 2b in AAA for the time being or in the AAA OF if that´s his ultimate position.
So, basically, I expect the Mets to add some sort of stopgap RF between now & opening day. Whether it´s Scott Hairston, Austin Kearns or somebody else.
Longterm, finding three solid OF remains the biggest task ahead for the front office over the next 14 to 26 months…
I think the BP might be fine. We’ve certainly got enough candidates to fill that out.
That OF though….right now might qualify as the worst in the league, especially the defense.
Heck, I don’t even know who is playing RF at the moment. Baxter?
Baxter and Cowbell right now I think with a little bit of Jamie Hoffman thrown in for your pleasure.
Oh boy….
Oh Cowgirl!
It would be a major issue if the thought they were going to compete this season, which people obviously still believe. Keep drinking that no punting kool aid the Wilpons have Sandy selling but it’s going to taste bitter.
Well of course the overall goal isn’t to go all in for 2013. No one in their right mind would think otherwise. Listening to any GM is pointless.
2013 is a full-fledged rebuilding season.
So much became clear by the RA Dickey trade which makes a ton of sense longterm but certainly sabotages the 2013 chances.
So, while you don´t give up before the games have been played and look at Oakland or Baltimore of 2012 and hope for a miracle season, maybe pushed by strong young pitching, in all likelihood the 2013 Mets won´t contend.
So, whatever happens in 2013 should happen with an eye towards any impact it has on 2014 and beyond when the Mets hope to contend again.
While Duda in LF and Nieuwenhuis in CF may not be the longterm solution, it makes sense finding out about the longterm role & usefulness of these two for good in 2013. RF remains a “black hole”. Mike Baxter & Collin Cowgill may be scrappy & solid backup outfielders. Starters they certainly shouldn´t be. There´s no major league ready in-house solution in the farm system either for 2013, so someone will have to be brought in – unless Jordany Valdespin has made huge strides in Winter Ball and the organization has given up on him as a 2bman longterm. In that case, he may be worth trying out for good there in case there´s lightning in a wild bottle to catch with him. Otherwise, look for a stopgap.
I hope they view that investing in Alvarez to play the OF would be worth it, not only as an upgrade for this year, but for years to come. That would be the best course of action at this point, in my mind anyway. He’s only going to cost some money, probably less than what Cespedes signed for, and is only 24. Even if he doesn’t pan out to be great, I wouldn’t mind slightly above average to average at this point.
Agreed, IMO the Mets got burned by not investing in Chapman or Cespedes (of course using the illogical assumption that either wanted to come to the Mets to start with). They should not get burned here. They already spent record amounts on slot bonuses and IFA to me this is the next step.
There is also a SS, I believe, that becomes a FA in January some time. I would like them to go after him as well.
Actually I am OK with them skipping that one. Considering the last couple of drafts and the IFA that we broke our own record to sign, they should be set there.
I’m on board with Alvarez as well.
He’s ‘auditioning’ for scouts/teams this Saturday – but don’t know where. The Mets should be kicking the tires on that.
Well of course the overall goal isn’t to go all in for 2013. No one in their right mind would think otherwise. Listening to any GM is pointless”
SO……. Are we punting 2013? Is it acceptable to just have yet another losing season under this FO? Are we guarantee to be contenders in 2014? How do we know that the guy who clearly doesn’t like to spend money on FA will spend in 2014? The love for SA has a lot people being delusional. It’s getting sad quite frankly;First it was 2 offseasons and then they’ll judge him, now, after 2 mediocre draft years, 3 horrendous offseasons, we are willing to still give this guy and his gooners more time… SMH
Hello Alex, my new years resolution is to not get into any more pointless debates with you.
So I will say what I did from the day Omar was fired. I will wait and pass judgement following the 2013 off-season.
Have a Happy New Year Alex!
Same to you….
I think Kirk N is well worth taking another look at, and think some are prematurely writing him off. Sure he K’d an awful lot, but his D is pretty good, and I think his bat will come around.
Two major concerns, One of which has been a concern for three offseasons already and one created by the dismantling of a team in those three years….
No steps forward one TWO (Maybe three) steps back….(as we need two OFers to complete it minimum.)
Is this PROGRESS or CONGRESS….
CON being the opposite of PRO…