4
2013
What Are The Mets’ Biggest Questions Heading Into 2013 Season?
An article by 72MetsFan
Since Sandy Alderson took over as general manager after the 2010 season, the Mets have attempted to compete in the short-term while always keeping an eye on 2013 and beyond. That future is now upon them, but questions still remain — particularly these 10, which should form the outline of another intriguing season according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
Among his ten questions, I found these to be the most compelling:
How will the starting rotation fare without Dickey?
One of the top rotations in the game absorbed a significant blow in December, when the Mets traded away the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner in a seven-player deal. Though the deal stocked the organization with talent for the future, it left the Mets without an obvious ace.
The hope is that Matt Harvey, who thrived down the stretch last season, continues developing into a top-of-the-rotation arm. But as good as Harvey was in 2012, even he is sure to absorb a few growing pains during his first full season in the big leagues. Jon Niese is an established innings-eater coming off his best year as a professional, and the rotation’s only sure thing. Behind him are two question marks in Johan Santana and Dillon Gee, both of whom dealt with health issues in 2012. Further down the depth chart is top prospect Zack Wheeler, who will almost certainly start the season in Triple-A.
Will the Mets really start adding payroll?
Alderson said in November that the team plans to have more financial wiggle room in years past, though he clarified a month later that they might not use all of it — at least not right away. That David Wright and Jason Bay both agreed to defer guaranteed money can only help the Mets, who have shown a reluctance to delve into the free agent market in recent years. But until the Mets start spending, fans will remain skeptical.
The assumption is that when Santana and his sizable contract come off the books after this season, the Mets will finally begin spending. But Alderson also said last summer that the Mets were looking to add payroll prior to the non-tender Trade Deadline, before their rapid fall from contention changed plans. It will be interesting to see where they go from here — not only this winter but also at the deadline. Claiming financial flexibility is one thing. Exercising it is quite another.
Will David Wright’s play justify his new contract?
Alderson is the first to admit that in general, long-term contracts for players in their primes tend to be bad deals. But Wright presented a unique situation, negotiating his eight-year, $138-million pact as the face of the franchise. He wanted to be a Met for life, and the Mets wanted to make him one.
It’s a warm, fuzzy story, which hides the fact that the Mets desperately need Wright to produce on the field. He may never hit 30 home runs again, now that he has reached his 30th birthday and settled in as more of a mid-20s homer threat. But Wright displayed markedly improved defense last season and was no slouch with the bat. The real question will come later, when he reaches the latter years of his contract and his production begins to slow.
“What outfield?”
Alderson posed this tongue-in-cheek question himself back in November, wondering who might populate his outfield come spring. Despite moving in the fences at Citi Field, the Mets received virtually no thump from their outfielders in 2012, and will continue to struggle on offense without significant improvement in that area.
Even with new pawns in place, this figures to be a problem area for the Mets, who are relatively strong in their rotation and infield. Without rapid improvement in right, center and left, it will be difficult for the Mets to reach their goals in 2013.
We also have questions about the bullpen, which Ike Davis will show up to start the 2013 season, or which Johan Santana for that matter? Can Zack Wheeler be the ace everyone is expecting him to be and when does he join the rotation? What about Lucas Duda and Kirk Nieuwenhuis? Are they everyday players?
The questions are many and probably more of them now than we had in the first two years under Sandy. The answers will start trickling through beginning in April.
About the Author: Drew Staley
On June 1, 2012 Johan Santana officially became my favorite current Met! I'm a Queens native who grew up in the shadows of Big Shea. I was a huge Ron Darling, Dave Magadan and John Olerud fan. Honored to be a part of such a great site for Mets fans. Ya Gotta Believe!
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 24 | 18 | .571 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 20 | .535 | 1.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 23 | .465 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 16 | 24 | .400 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 32 | .256 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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I agree that the rotation & Infield are strong. We still need a OF player with pop. Also maybe a fifth starter until Wheeler is ready.The pen could work with the present staff, Hefner the long man,Edgin, Carson,Frankie,Parnell, McHugh & one other from the list.,
I don’t really think the rotation is all that strong.
Our best pitcher is Neise (who I really like) has only pitched one complete season and has yet to reach 200 innings.
Santana is probably our #2, but can he improve on the strong start from last year or is the lack of velocity and command going to hurt him? and I don’t see him topping 200inning.
Hervey is promising, but he’s young and gonna get his lumps as he grows
I like Gee too, but to me he’s a Rick Reed type and another guy who we can’t rely on for 200 innings
and our 5th starter still an unknown but 200 innings there would be a stretch.
Now you can kinda see where I’m going with this rotation…I don’t think hitting 200 innings is the “end all”, because 200 innings don’t mean much if they aren’t quality innings (Pelfrey) and it’s as important to finish innings and not leave the pen with huge messes to constantly clean up…but the numbers show that the more innings the rotation can put down, the better they are…(or maybe maybe it works the other way around)
the fact is, when when you have so many question marks in a weak pen, 800 innings from the rotation isn’t going to cut it.
Sign Hairston and put him in leftfield
Good questions Drew but I think you forgot to add the link to the other questions.
Yes he certainly did forget. It took me 15 minutes on Mets.com to find it too. For a moment I thought maybe he dreamed it all up.
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121218&content_id=40721696&vkey=news_nym&c_id=nym
LoL, Thanks Joe D.
The biggest question to me is what exactly type of player do the Mets have in Ike Davis? He could be a franchise changer. If he moves his game to the next level, i.e. 35-40 HRs and a .250-.260 average, then the Mets have a stud at cleanup for the next half decade. Sadly, I dont think the Mets know exactly what he is at this moment. If he puts it all together, he can be a perennial all star.
The biggest question for me is when should I start having hope for even playing .500 ball?? 2016??
Mets history seems to suggest that they have some of the most surprising runs when we least expect them so if you really don’t expect them to be .500 anytime soon they may then just actually surprise you with the contrary.
I believe in miracles, really I do. But we need 3 miracles named Hurricane destroy Nationals, Braves, and Phillies just to have a chance. And that’s not even the miracle we need to actually be competitive in the coming years.
The biggest question is going to start in the outfield for us in April let alone who can play the whole year. Are we going to have a regular player at any of the outfield positions or are we going to see a rotation of players out there?
I don’t see what the big deal is. Come game time, this team is going to slaughter anyone that stands in there way. Cowgill, Brown, Tejada, Valdespine!!!! That’s a modern day murderer’s row.
Why don’t they sign Delmon Young? Has tremendous upside & should be cheap do to off field behavior. They could also sign Lindstrom to help out at the back end of the pen. They wont spend a lot of money or block ne one. This could keep things interesting.
Any one we have to give up draft picks for are out, I guess.
The biggest question mark to me spans a couple areas, but it is “will the kids be able to make the leap?”. Can Harvey continue, can Kirk produce, when Da’Catcher and Wheels of Death gets here, will they struggle or not, will we strike gold with Edgin? Will Mejia/Familia flame out or just blow away batters? This whole team is youth focused at this point, so will the kids be alright or is it a teenage/20-something wasteland?
Good question and the Mets fortunes look to be tied to these questions proving to be positive than negative. The Mets trading of Dickey was a big gamble that they feel will prove positive but still a gamble nonetheless. If it turns out that most of the names you reference prove to be nothing more than a teenage/20-something wasteland to use your word then odds are that by this time next year the talk from the media will be who will replace the Mets GM and when.
Priorities:
1. 10-12 game winner for starting rotation – to hedge against Santana/Gee injury returns, Wheeler development timetable
2. CF/leadoff hitter – Tejada not a leadoff hitter, need strong D in CF with weak D in LF and RF
3. Backend bullpen arm – needed for depth, FF insurance
4. RH OF power bat – Ike needs some protection, especially vs. lefties, Buck not enough, D’Arnaud may not be ready to bat 5
Cost: $22 mil
Jeff W – please approve.
To me the biggest question is not about 2013 which I see as a third straight throwaway and another transitional year. The only question I want to know is what was this plan that convinced Wright to re-sign and what exactly happens in 2014? Does Sandy suddenly wave his wand and then poof… The Mets are suddenly better than the Nationals, Braves and Phillies? Plus the more he keeps saying he has more resources to spend, the less he spends.
Oh and don’t forget about the Marlins. We can make fun of them all we want, but they have just as many top talents in their system as we do, if not…even more. And this is before they eventually trade Stanton for 3-5 of another team’s top prospects. I’m not justifying anything Loria has done or probably will ever do. But as awful as the Marlins are…they could be better than us in 2014.
Hi Joe,
I don’t know if it was any plan but more David’s desire to stay as a Met. When one is comfortable and happy in his environment, why give it up?
That and never under-estimate the power of $138MM.
http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2012/08/david_wright_says_winning_will.html
Wright approved the plan that gave him 138million bucks. There was nothing else discussed. How could he turn it down. But why did they give it him?
We’re never going to know what long term plan the FO laid out for Wright before he signed.
Whatever it was, that coupled with the 138 MIL and his desire to stay a Met was enough for him to sign.
SRT, to me it was more about ego than anything else, he was gonna be the highest paid met of all time, a chance to break a couple more records and be consider the best met of all time even though he may not get a chance to win sh**. All ego driven imho.
The way these contracts are being given out in the game these days, Wright having the highest Met contract ever will only be for so long.
Hi srt,
I think Wright’s record setting contract will remain as such longer than Ed Kranepool’s did for most career hits.
That is, of course, counting for inflation over the years.
Joe,
The answer is that 2013 is not a throw away season. Alderson has some $20 mil to spend, holes to fill, players available to fill these holes, and several weeks to do so judiciuosly. It is essential that 2013 is a season of progress, both in wins and in player development for the “core” players. There is no magic wand for 2014, and the freed-up Santana money will not move them from 4th to 1st if they are a 68 win 4th place team. This is why, despite the current negativity in the blogosphere and well-earned doubt of management’s statements, I think Alderson knows he must strengthen this roster for 2013, change the vibe, and restore respectability A 4th straight losing season will not accomplish that.
LOL
and what has Alderson done to improve the 2013 MLB Met roster?
trade RA Dickey?
not sign outfielders?
keep the same pen?
keep the same staff?
Fellow Met fan JDD,
I understand the skepticism and doubt, but there is a long way to go before the first pitch of 2013. I will wait to pass judgment until the final score. This game is only in the 6th inning, and yes, they are losing 5-0. But, there are still plenty of players avsilable via FA or trade that can fill the holes and allow them to field an improved team with a puncher’s chance, all without jeopardizing the future. If they fail to do this, with their new re-financing, I will be among the first to blast the ownwersip and this GM’s regime. I just say to give this offseason the full 9 innings, that’s all.
Right field is the most pressing issue regarding the 2013 team. There are a number of players to choose from for the 5 slot in the rotation. There are many options still left for the bullpen plus the Mets gave some internal candidates I like. So right handed power in right field is the biggest issue in my view, although I’d still like to see a Dariel Alvarez signing and see what he can do over Hairston.
Again, another season of “IF’S”, what is this like 4 seasons in a row now? If Santana & Gee are healthy. If Harvey takes the next step. If Wheeler can leap to the show. If the Mets bullpen comes together. If the Mets get a right handed hitting outfielder with pop. These are just some of the few ifs that need to go right to just contend and play above .500. I see another competitive first half and a post all star break fade because again, the F.O. won’t bring in any help and they will spin that same crap again!
Texas Rangers are looking for a 1B/DH. Send Duda to Texas, Texas sends Craig Gentry to the Diamondbacks & the DB send Kubel to the Mets.
Better do it fast before Texas gets Berkman.
Or send Ike and Mejia to Texas for Profur and another legit arm…
Profur slides over to SS, Tejada slides over to 2B, Murphy slides over to 1B…until he is arb eligible for his 3rd year, is traded…then a 23 year old Wilmer Flores takes over
What Are The Mets’ Biggest Questions Heading Into 2013 Season?”
How many games we’re gonna lose, 90? 95?100? to me, that’s the biggest question..
I don´t really care about the 2013 W-L record but how the Mets setup for 2014 and beyond.
Structurally & going forward the main questions are:
# 1 Can either Matt Harvey and / or Zach Wheeler become a legitimate front of the rotation SP ? If yes, that goes a long way towards contender status. If both of them do, the Mets have the makings of a longterm winner.
# 2 Is Ike Davis a legit middle of the order hitter who can be penciled in for 35+ HR , 100 RBI and an .850+ OPS annually (better vs. RHP) or is he merely a fringe average 1bman ?
# 3 Can Travis D´Arnaud emerge as an average to above average young C in time and thus give the lineup another legit RHH bat ?
# 4 Is Kirk Nieuwenhuis a useful starting outfielder ? He doesn´t need to become an impact player – but a solid .775 OPS type OF with solid defense would be a lot better than the crap the Mets have been running out there recently.
# 5 Can Jeurys Familia (or Jenry Mejia), plus other candidates such as Josh Edgin, Greg Burke, or eventually Darin Gorski or Cory Mazzoni finally end the Mets bullpen follies ? Except for Bobby Parnell – who is what he is – the Mets could sure use an inexpensive high-end reliever or three going forward…
# 6 Will the farm system continue to make strides, especially as the wave of promising young talent at the Short Season ball and A-ball level reaches the upper levels by the end of the 2013 season ? This will be important both in terms of having trade bait and potential further additions to the roster to avoid the depth issues of the previous Mets contender…
If the answers to these 6 questions are mostly positive, then the Mets stand to have a very good chance at building a contender for 2014 and beyond. If not, then the process figures to get delayed into 2015 or even beyond.
LOL
“I don´t really care about the 2013 W-L record”
the bar of low expectations…
Damaja, this guy is making a fool of himself.. Now he doesn’t care about W-L records because he knows the mets the way they’re constructed will suck BAD! so instead of admitting how his pathetic lord sandy is ruining the mets he’s willing to conceive this year and call it a wash because it’s all set up for the 2014 campaign, SMFH
Sandy followers = The Firm
Sandy can now afford to hire a few more family members !
From the Book of Matthew …aka the wilpon mouthpiece:
If you’re a Mets fan who thinks someone other than the Wilpons must own this team before it can win again, if you think on-field success is a direct result of the name on the door, you probably feel these two reports are bad news. However, if you’re like me, and you don’t think it matters who is physically signing the checks so long as the GM has the necessary tools and resources to field a winning team, this is probably good news. Because, these reports suggest more resources could become available, and that’s been the real issue these last few years: resources.
It’s fairly obvious that ownership’s off-field legal issues; the team’s poor performance and declining revenue; and collective debts; all collided to choke resources and essentially punch the on-field team in the face.
If the Mets had the ability to double payroll these last few years, they might have hired an aggressive, spend-happy GM, who could have cut all his dead weight, eaten contracts, and re-signed new players to slot in and maybe produce better results than we’ve seen. However, there is no guarantee that approach would work. Or, maybe it could have worked for a year, entertained us and raised our hopes, but imploded. And it’s possible it could have never worked and dug a deeper hole than doing nothing at all. Instead, it looks like Mets ownership hired a thrifty, unwavering GM in Sandy Alderson (with a track record of bargain hunting) who could navigate the organization through a cash crunch, while simultaneously restructuring and restocking the farm system… all of which he’s done.
In the last three years, Sandy Alderson has put the Mets organization in a position to essentially start new in 2014, at which point they’ll have just two long-term contracts on the books and a crop of young talent ready to roll in the farm system. I think when he talks about 2014, he’s not necessarily talking about contending, so much as he’s talking about finally starting from zero, with a somewhat clean slate and a lot of options.
Frankly, this is probably what ownership should have done 10 years ago, which is to basically do a reset on the organization. Yes, I’m tired of seeing this team lose more games each of the last three years. But, I was growing equally tired of the Boom and Bust cycles of the last 25 years, none of which produced a ring, and none of which produced a consistent stretch of success. Sure, the Mets made the playoffs here and there, but then it would all come crashing down a year or two later, after which they’d rebuild, take flight and then quickly crash again… over and over again.
Is this current reset occurring because ownership wised up? It is happening because someone finally realized the old way wasn’t working? Or, is it occurring because they had no choice? Because it was forced on them, because it had to happen with all the off-field, financial issues? I don’t know, and I don’t really care, because it needed to happen either way. This organization has long been in need of this type of cleansing. I’m glad it’s happening, for whatever reason it’s happening, because I’m tired of always rooting for miracles only to have my hopes dashed every September. It just sucks it has to be happening now and not 10 years ago.
Yes, these last few years have been brutal and boring. Now, though, if (because of the above reports) more resources become available – at the same time only two guaranteed contracts are on the books and the farm system is in better shape – meaning Alderson can start building us a sound, sustainable, professional, winning franchise to watch – I’ll be OK and feel these last few years were worth it. Why or how we get there will not matter to me. However, if this is all just an excuse to get one family’s financial house in order, if nothing changes on field and ‘the goal posts get moved again,’ I fear there could be A LOT of Mets fans who give up and don’t come back…
Please sign Hairston!!