I know that 2013 hasn’t even started and this maybe way ahead of schedule, but it is something that needs to said.

The thought coming into this year is that the Mets will use this season to play out the final year of large contracts, develop young prospects, and prime the team for playoff contention in 2014. Depressing doesn’t begin to describe how that feels, knowing that this is basically a lost season before it even begins.

For me the questions that arise from this are simple: Who exactly is there to add as a free agent and how will this team compete in 2014.

Let’s start with the free agents and which ones fit into the teams needs. Right now, the most glaring need is in the outfield where a right-handed power bat is needed and a legit center fielder who can preferably bat leadoff. This is of course assuming that Lucas Duda plays to this high standard that Terry Collins believes he can achieve, otherwise it’s safe to assume that all three spots will need to be addressed.

One option most fans will like currently pays just under ten miles away. Curtis Granderson can play center field, but is a lefty who strikes out more than I care for. Plus, his numbers at Yankee Stadium have drastically enhanced his abilities as a power hitter. Safe to say that if Bourne wast a legit option this season, the Grandy man won’t be next season. Jacoby Ellsbury? I have always liked him but he will be in his thirties, is way too injury prone, and is a Boras client meaning he will want unrealistic money/years that Alderson will not go to. Shin-Soo Choo? Again, liked but doesn’t exactly put the Mets in prime position for the playoffs. To me the only option is Hunter Pence, but the Giants will be hard pressed to keep him and his age next season will, like Ellsbury, probably prevent the front office from going over a four year deal.

Lets face it, the Mets can be put in quite a pickle next year in their search for outfield help. There is no young stud outfielder that Sandy Alderson will want to lock up long term, just good options that improve the team, but not on the level that we have been led to believe.

In the infield, Robinson Cano would make an incredible amount of sense but lets face it, the Yankees will give him whatever he wants, and if they do not, the Dodgers will be happy to shell out an eight year worth $200 million. I put a one percent chance that Cano ends up in Queens, and that might be too generous. The Mets seem content to let Murphy hold down second base until Wilmer Flores is ready, which could be soon.

On the mound, the Mets are in good shape, but should explore bringing in a pitcher like Matt Garza, or dare I say Roy Halladay, (which is not going to happen) simply to take the pressure off Harvey and Wheeler. Imagine if the “hope” for the future cracked under the New York lights and needed another year to get ready, which you can’t put passed the Mets luck. Plus odds are Johan Santana will not be brought back, (if he isn’t traded, which is the right move) so his spot needs to be replaced.

The willingness to spend and bring in free agent talent next season doesn’t ensure the Mets being competitive. My pessimism lies in the fact that if everything broke right and d’Arnaud is a stud, as well as Wheeler, the Mets are still  not close to the Nationals, or even Atlanta. The Nationals are better in every aspect and aren’t going away anytime soon, seeing as everyone of their players is young or entering the prime of their careers. How about Atlanta? Atlanta is filled with young major league talent and have more ready to come, and are basically able to counter every prospect the Mets have. It is safe to say, the battle for the NL east will be between the Braves and Nationals over the next 4-5 years, with the loser getting a WC spot and the Mets battling Philly for third

But Mike, there is the second wild card spot!!! Oh yes I didn’t forget. Neither did the Dodgers, Giants, Cardinals, and Reds. All teams with ready to win talent on the roster now, and (with the exception of the Dodgers) more ready to come in the minors. Just two teams that have won World Series in the past three seasons and another who is loaded from top to bottom in Cincinnati  Can you honestly say that the Mets are ready to contend with that?

I guess you can say having a chance for the Wild Card is “contending”, but is that really worth what we have been spoon fed since Alderson got here. Maybe make the playoffs and see what happens? Win a round if things break right? Good enough to sell tickets, but not to win a pennant or a World Series?

It is tough being pessimistic about this team. I have longed to be feel like I did in 2006 about the Mets. But to say that the Mets will contend in 2014 and beyond based on the hope of young prospects and “payroll flexibility” leaves me with a feeling as empty as Citi Field has been in October. To me, the Mets front office is selling the fans a dream, one that to me can only come true of the cities of Washington, Atlanta, St. Louis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Cincinnati happen to fall into a three-year long slumber.

Yesterday, a trio of famous knuckleballers made their way to MLB’s FanCave to promote the movie “Knuckleball!” directed by Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg.

Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, former Red Sox Tim Wakefield, and the Mets’ R.A. Dickey all fielded questions about the movie as well as being a knuckleball pitcher in the major leagues.

Metsmerized Online was invited to the event for a special roundtable discussion and I was also able to get a a few minutes with R.A. to talk a little Mets baseball.

MMO: What do you think is harder when it comes to the knuckleball, throwing it or having to be the guy on the other end catching it?

Tim Wakefield: Catching, I hate when guys throw me knuckleballs. I’ll throw it to you but don’t throw it to me.

Phil Niekro: All I know is I got paid to throw it, and they got paid to catch it.

R.A. Dickey:I actually reached out to Doug Mirabelli (Wakefield’s catcher in Boston) to see if he could give Josh Thole some insight. It was really helpful because the first four balls I ever threw to Josh went off his body, it missed his mitt completely. After that we hooked him up with Doug and he was a lot better.

MMO: You guys are all unique pitchers, throwing the same pitch but all having a different way of doing it. Can you tell us what makes you all different?

Dickey: I think its just a product of embracing who you are with it. When I first became a knuckleballer, I wanted to become Tim since he was the picture I had. He was still playing and I just saturated myself with video of him pitching and mechanically, try to be him. It worked off and on but something was missing. I met with Phil and he got me a little more athletic with my body and I realized that I had something that was unique for me and thats when my career took off.

Niekro: Your really got to be yourself, you can’t be someone else. We would like to be someone else but we can’t when it comes to the pitch. We hold the ball a little differently or throw it a little harder or have a different arm release. I threw it as hard as Dickey but it would’t make it to the plate. All the knuckleballers are a little different but we are the same inside. This is the pitch, this will get me there and keep me there. I am a knuckleballer.

MMO: Do you think your success in Boston (Wakefield) and New York (Dickey) combined with this movie will inspire younger ball players to become a knuckleball pitcher.

Dickey: That’s what we hope. I think Tim and I don’t want the pitch to go extinct nor do I think it will. I have a few good years left in me and there some guys coming up that are going to break in. Hopefully there will be a movement and you will see it com back like it was early on. I remember a White Sox staff where four out of four pitchers were knuckleball starters. I don’t know if you will ever see that because today everything is so geared towards strength and velocity and power pitching, you would have to see a real shift but I think its coming.

After the roundtable discussion Dickey was able to answer a few quick one-on-one questions pertaining to the Mets and his personal life.

MMO: What do you think your future is with the New York Mets?

Dickey: I would love to be back. I mean there is a part of me that believes that it is the right thing to do to stay loyal to the team that gave you your shot. At the same time, at the age that I am, I want to win. I don’t know how much longer I will be playing, hopefully that could be for five or six more years as a knuckleballer but you never know. I would like to know that the team is going in the right direction and I think we have some pieces that are really good so hopefully we will be able to work something out in the offseason, but I love New York and the fans and have had a great time being a Met.

MMO: What is your best/most memorable moment from this season?

Dickey: I would say being in that streak of scoreless innings, it seemed like I had such a good feel for it at that time and I knew I couldn’t sustain it but at the same time week after week. I surprised myself which is hard to do at this point. Also the back-to-back one hitters, when I missed a no-hitter in Tampa by an infield single, that was a pretty fun game during that stretch.

MMO: You mentioned some of the pieces going forward for the Mets. One of those pieces is Matt Harvey. Even though there is a different pitching style, is there any way you mentor or advise him, being the ace and veteran in the rotation?

Dickey: Harvey is really mature for his age and his time on the big leagues. He has really shown me a lot as a professional. I am available for whoever wants to talk and I always look for those guys who ask questions because those are usually the guys that want to learn and he does that. There is a lot I think can lend from the mental aspect having been through a lot, simply not because I am good but because I have experience and you always turn to those people who have walked a mile in your shoes.

MMO: Your walk up music is the Game of Thrones theme, any particular reason why?

Dickey: I don’t know I am just moved by it. I fall in love with pieces of music that move you in some way. I like the medieval feeling it has and it makes it seem like “OK, here I come.”

MMO: You climbed Mount Kilimanjaro last year, plus the excitement from everything during the season, any big plans for this years off season?

Dickey: I think I just want to be a father and husband for an offseason. I really miss my children and my wife and to able to do that and engage them is important to me. Maybe a trip to India to follow up on the outreach that I supported when I climbed Kilimanjaro in January would be on the docket though.

MMO: Lastly, a New York Times Best seller, a Cy Young award, or a national title for Tennessee college football, which one would it be?

Dickey: Oh my, I guess I would have to say the middle one. Definitely the Cy Young.

The movie “KnuckleBall!” is playing in select theaters and is also available in Video On Demand. More information bout the movie can be found here: http://www.knuckleballmovie.com.

Message from Joe D.

I want to thank Michael for an outstanding job covering his first major event for us since joining our team at Metsmerized. Of course I also want to thank the producers and directors of Knuckleball! and the agents and our reps, Matt and Russ, for working with us and making us feel like VIPs right from the very start. And finally a big thank you to Phil Niekro, Tim Wakefield and R.A. Dickey who were gracious to us back at the screening, again on Wednesday night at Citi Field, and then again on Thursday at the MLB Fan Cave in NYC.  Knuckleballers are very special pitchers who are part of a very tiny and exclusive fraternity. This movie is their story and their incredible journey. Go out and see Knuckleball! the movie, or order it on your cable or satellite provider’s Movies on Demand… You’ll love it!

With the season entering its last few weeks, there are few things left for Mets fans to be excited about. Of course there are exceptions such as Dickey’s run at the Cy Young award and getting to see some of the younger players, such as Jeurys Familia and Matt Harvey. The focus, for the most part, has now turned to the offseason and what Sandy Alderson plans on doing to improve a ball club that needs help in more than a few areas. Signing a big time free agent seems to be out of the question so, as Sandy stated a few weeks back, trades may be the most logical way to improve this ball club until it is ready (or able) to spend money.

That being said, the question now turns to what players would the Mets be interested in trading for and what would they be willing to give up. Here a few names that I think could be moved this winter and should draw the attention of Sandy and his brain trust.

Elvis Andrus: Andrus could be an interesting name this winter. For one, he is one of the better young players in the league who plays a solid shortstop and has a live bat with great speed. By all rights, Texas has no business trading him. However, the Rangers possess the top position prospect in baseball, Jurickson Profar. Profar is a shortstop by trade and with the Rangers entrenched with solid players at almost every position, could look to move Andrus and go with the 19 years old. I know most will think it would be unwise for the Mets to add a shortstop when a viable option in Ruben Tejada is already on the team, but Andrus is worth exploring. Plus Tejada could always move to second base, where he has played in the past if the Mets could move Murphy for the next player on my list….

Luke Gregerson: Before the deadline, the Padres supposedly offered Gregerson to the Mets straight up for Murphy. I believed the Mets should have pulled the trigger on that deal then, and should revisit the idea this winter. Even if my dream scenario I mentioned above didn’t happen, the Mets could replace Murphy at second with in house options like Jordany Valdespin, Justin Turner, or even Reese Havens (if he could ever become what we all hope). It would be sad to see him go since I have always liked Murphy and his bat, but adding a reliable arm like Gregerson, who has been one of the better eighth inning pitchers in baseball, is to good to pass up.

Justin Upton: This is a name brought up time and time again in Mets trade circles. And it is easy to see why. The Mets are desperate for outfield help and the Diamondbacks seem willing to move Upton for the right price. Could the Mets pull it off? It may be tough, but could be done. The D’Backs would almost certainly ask for Harvey, Wheeler, or Niese in the deal which would prompt a resounding no from Alderson and company. Yet players like the aforementioned Jeurys Familia, Jenrry Mejia, Wilmer Flores, and Cesar Puello could be names that interest Arizona. Upton would immediately revamp the Mets lineup and outfield, excite the fan base, and would also add a little motivation for David Wright to stay, given the chance to play with a childhood friend.

Honorable Mentions: Josh Willingham, Jeff Niemann, Matt Garza, Brandon League, and Huston Street.

The list will undoubtedly grow and it will take parting with some very valued players to acquire. However with the Mets “limited” by their finances, trades for major league ready talent could cost these pieces. The Mets front office will have their work cut out for them but thats why Alderson was brought here. So, do you agree with this list? Who else would you want the Mets to explore a trade for? Who would you be willing to give up?

It is almost a sin to think about David Wright not playing for the New York Mets, in fact it pains me to write about it. He is without question the face of the team and it’s best player. Yet as we draw closer and closer to the offseason, where Sandy has promised that he would work out an extension for the All-Star third baseman, the what-ifs begin to come up. If they can’t come to a deal, will the Mets pick up Wrights option and go through 2013 with his free agency hanging over the team ala Jose Reyes in 2011?

Or will something that many think is unthinkable happen? Will the Mets deal Wright during the winter? I am inclined to think no seeing as Citi Field is already a ghost town and that may be the final nail in the coffin, but if it were to happen, where would he end up? There aren’t many teams in the league that couldn’t use a player of Wright’s caliber, but here a few that top the list.

San Francisco Giants: If Wright goes on the block, the Giants would certainly be calling. Yes, the have Pablo Sandoval but with his ability to move to first and Brandon Belt to play the outfield, Wright could be the perfect fit for San Fran. Combined with Buster Posey, the Giants would have a middle of the order that could go toe-to-toe with the now loaded Dodgers and the pitching to be one of the best teams in baseball. They also have the prospects and the afore mentioned pitching depth to out together an impressive package that could entice Alderson. Plus the fact that the teams have done business frequently in Alderson’s tenure is always a plus.

Cincinnati Reds: A team with a stellar bullpen, good starting pitching, and a fantastic offense may not have the need for Wright, but I wouldn’t count them out. Scott Rolen’s time is running out as a full time major league third baseman and while Todd Frazier has tremendous power and can play third base, is still a rookie. The possibility of adding Wright to a team with Joey Votto, Bradon Phillips, and Jay Bruce would be a nightmare for the rest of the league. Cincinnati has the prospects to move and could view Wright as the final piece to a World Series. If the Reds offered a package for Wright that includes, say baseballs fastest man Billy Hamilton and other blue-chip prospects, could Alderson say no?

Pittsburgh Pirates: The feel good story in baseball, the Pirates are a team with young talent and a superstar in Andrew McCutchen. They currently have Pedro Alvarez at third base, who has great power but is wildly inconsistent. David Wright would make this team legitimate, and could be the piece that pushes Pittsburgh past the Reds. A team that has a loaded farm system with both pitching and position talent, could put together a great package of prospects, if the Mets were willing to listen.

New York Yankees: Would there be a bigger nightmare for Met fans then to see David Wright playing in the Bronx? Alex Rodriguez is moving towards becoming a full-time DH and signing Wright to any deal is no problem for the Yankees. The question would be, what can the Yankees offer the Mets to make this trade. It would need to be a kings ransom of can’t miss prospects for Alderson to make this highly unlikely trade happen. Yet when it comes to the leagues superstars, it is hard to ever count the Bombers out of the running.

Oakland Athletics: My biggest wild-card team out there due to its GM Billy Beane. Beane could bring Wright in for the beginning of the season to form a great middle of the order with Josh Reddick and Yoenis Cespedes, and come July easily move Wright for even better prospects that he gave up in the deal to acquire him. Option two for Beane would be keep Wright and gather compensation picks, which he also loves to do, when Wright signs somewhere else. Wright would bring a great veteran presence to a young, talented team and could help Beane finally win the last game of the season. Oakland’s deep farm system means they could trade some of it’s young major league level pitching for Wright and then easily replace them from within. Plus, there is the whole Moneyball relationship between Beane and Sandy. Something to keep an open mind about…

Again this is all speculation. I deep down do not think Wright leaves Queens and becomes the first Mets superstar to be drafted a Met and stay a Met. That being said, do you agree with this list? Who else belongs on it? Perhaps Baltimore, who can sell David on coming close to home? Atlanta? They need someone to replace Chipper. Maybe even St. Louis, where David could be reunited with Carlos Beltran. Let the speculation begin.

That man, is Giancarlo Stanton.

On Wednesday night, the Mets (as they have, since he came into the league) were demolished by the Marlins right fielder. He hit two home runs, one of which that got out before Chris Young could even turn around to look at it. He undoubtedly has the most power of any man in baseball, has a howitzer of an arm, and can run very well for a man his size. He, like the aforementioned outfielders, should only get better as he ages which is terrible news for Met fans as that will likely mean he will also continue to destroy New York whenever he plays them. Yes, he has played on the major league level longer than both Harper and Trout combined, but at 22 he is one of the most dominant power bats in the game at an age when most of us were just graduating college.

So this leads me to the heart of the matter. If you were a GM and had the choice to build around one of these men, who would you choose? The five tool Trout, the teenage Harper, or the tank with legs Stanton?

My vote goes to Stanton. He has strength that no ball park can contain and can anchor the middle of a lineup for the next decade easy. I envision him as a 45 plus home run guy, driving in 100 plus runs every year, and I definitely think I am being conservative with those numbers. I doubt you could go wrong with any of these players, and hopefully as Met fans, we could one day have a position player that rivals the talent of these men.

Terry Collins told reporters after the game yesterday, that Jason Bay is now a platoon player in the outfield. His playing time will be dependent on who is on the mound.

“We’re going to make some, certainly depending on who is on the mound, some adjustments out there,” Collins said.

“We’ve got to get our left-handed bats in the lineup. Those guys have given us some good opportunities to win some games and they’re having some pretty good years. I want to make sure they get out there. It will depend on matchups who we want in left field.”

When asked to comment, Bay told reporters, “I’m trying to be a realist with all that’s happened. I’m not always the best option.”

“This didn’t blindside me. I’ve had some time to digest this,” he added. “I don’t want to be a distraction. If I had a leg to stand on it would different, he said. “I can’t say anything.”

All this came after Sandy Alderson confirmed that the Mets would not eat Bay’s contract and he will not be cut or released.

“Certainly, there are times when it is appropriate to eat a contract. There are other times when it is not. Jason Bay is not going anywhere, nor is his contract.”

Original Post 8/7

In what was an exciting day for the Mets as they unveiled their logo for next seasons All-Star Game, Met fans got what they should now be used to by now. Good news in one hand and bad news in the other. The bad news pertains to, as it lately always does, Jason Bay.

Mets GM Sandy Alderson stated that the Mets would not be eating Jason Bay’s current contract with the team in order to release him. Alderson also went on to state that this was the teams position at this time and could be changed, which most Met fans know will not happen. With the uncertainty/mystery surrounding the Mets financial state, there is now way the Mets can afford to pay Bay’s salary with him playing somewhere else. So get used to seeing number 44 patrol right field of Citi Field for the remainder of that four year, 66 million dollar contract. Well, at least to some degree.

Perhaps the only saving grace with Bay came from Terry Collins. Collins stated that for the remainder of the season, Bay will be playing based on match-ups. So, going forward Bay will essentially be a platoon player, logically splitting time with Mike Baxter and Jordany Valdespin.

Upon hearing this news, I have to say that my reaction was mixed. On one hand, I have always felt bad and pulled for Jason Bay. It is hard to see a guy that was on the top of his game just fall so far from grace, so fast. This is one of the few cases I can recall where a player just lost “it”, with it being everything that made him a ballplayer. On the other hand, I want the Mets to win and when Bay is in the lineup, it seems those chances just disappear. Plus, I would like to see what Baxter and Valdespin can really bring to this team going forward, and if they are viable options for next season, when likely every outfield position will be up for grabs.

What angers me the most out of all of this, is the fact that this team is so stricken financially that it cannot release a player that has no business being on this team. What exactly is the plan financially? Can this team pay David Wright or bring any free agents in if it can’t afford to bounce its biggest black hole on the roster? That is another topic for another time, but at least we know now that when that time comes, Jason Bay will still be apart of this team.

I have some tough decisions to make.

This weekend was nothing short of a disaster for Met fans. The curse of Turner Field that has seemed to haunt the Mets for over a decade reared its ugly head again as the Braves swept New York in what could bode to be crippling fashion. To make matters worse for those with fantasy ties to the Mets, several key performers over the past few weeks such as David Wright, R.A. Dickey, and David Wright did not live up to their normal standards. Now the Mets will travel back up north to visit the first place Washington Nationals, in which could be the most important series of the season.

Here is who I think will have a big series for the Mets against the Nationals, who you should sit for this series, and which Washington player matches up well against New York.

Start ‘Em

Ruben Tejada: Tejada continues to impress in all aspects of his game. He made several “Rey Ordonez” type plays on the defensive side of the ball against the Braves, but it was with his bat that he made some noise (at least in the fantasy world). Tejada is batting .329 this year, driving the ball with authority, and his on base percentage is near the top of the league for all shortstops. Yet still, Tejada is owned in few leagues. Pick him up and start with confidence, seeing as Tejada is one of the few Mets I expect to stay hot against a exceptional Nationals pitching staff.

Sit ‘Em

Any Met outfielder: With Lucas Duda battling a hamstring problem, the value of a Mets outfielder not named Scott Hairston goes out the window. Andres Torres played well this weekend but is wildly inconsistent in the fantasy world. Kirk Nieuwenhuis still can’t hit lefties and I feel he could be the odd man out if/when Jason Bay is activated this series. Oh and if you believe that when Bay does get activated he is a viable option for your lineup, well then you may need a trip to the DL as well. Your only hope, and its a rather small one, is Hairston as he will get a minimum two starts this series with two lefties on the mound for Washington. If you have him, he could be a solid starter in a pinch., especially if your a team lacking in the power department.

Nationals Fantasy Outlook

Gio Gonzalez: As if you needed to be told, those of you who have Gio should start without hesitation. The Mets have trouble against lefties and it could be said that Gonzalez has been the best south paw in baseball this year. Barring a mistake made against say David Wright or Hairston, Gonzalez (unfortunately for Met fans) should cruise in his start on Thursday.

MLB Fantasy Notes

With the dog days of baseball upon us and trading deadline fast approaching, there are several trades that could be made from some teams that are out of it, clearing the way for some younger prospects to make their debut. One of these prospects could be Wil Myers for the Royals. If you haven’t heard the name, you soon will. If I wasn’t for two young players by the names of Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, it could be said the Myers would be the most impressive outfield prospect in baseball, with a stat line of 28 homers and a .330 average in the minors this season. If you are in a keeper league and have the room for him, adding Myers would be a wise investment as he could contribute this season and for sure next year.

Liriano has never quite lived up to the expectations that the league and Twins set for him when he broke out in 2006 with a 12-3 record and 144 strikeouts. Injuries have been to blame for that but he has shown flashes of brilliance including a no-hitter last season and a 15 strikeout game last night. Liriano currently sports a 3-8 record for a terrible Minnesota Twins team, and a change of scenery could do well for the man.

For what it’s worth, Liriano has killed lefties this year, keeping them well below the Mendoza line in that category. That could be particularly helpful with Philadelphia’s left handed bats finally healthy, as well as the power bats for the Braves landing in the left handed batters box as well. Also, Liriano thrived in Minnesota when he pitched with Johan Santana. It is easy to imagine that Johan could impose even more knowledge on the 28 year old if they were to be reunited. Perhaps the most intriguing part of Liriano is the fact he can become a free agent after this season, so if he were to come to the Mets and fail, he could be rid of after this season.

The question is, what would the Twins want for him? It is obvious that the Mets would not part with any of their top prospects for Liriano, but perhaps it wouldn’t take something of that magnitude. The frugal Twins would probably be glad to be rid of Liriano’s 5 million plus salary and not have to go through arbitration with him after this season, so a few mid-level prospects could get the job done or a least get the trade talks going.

If it can be done, I am all for it. I have always liked him and though he is high risk, he could ultimately pay off two fold if he at least stabilizes the back of the rotation, and keeps the Mets from making the mistake of calling up Matt Harvey to soon. So if that means parting with a AA prospect or two, I am on board.

The first half of the 2012 season is over and much to the pleasure of fans everywhere, the Mets are six games above .500 and surpassing most of the expectations set for them this season. However, it’s not just in the standings that the Mets are making headlines, but in fantasy leagues across the world wide web. Here are the top performers thus far, fantasy wise, as well as predictions for the second half and who you may want to look at from the Mets to help your team (or in some cases get off your team).

First Half Fantasy Studs:

David Wright: After 2011, Wright’s fantasy value dropped so much so that he went from being a typical second round draft pick to being around in the 5^th or 6^th. This year Wright has completely returned to fantasy prominence, considered by many to be the best fantasy players at his position. In fact, ESPN has him ranked as the best fantasy 3B in the game. If you have have him, thank your lucky stars as his value will only get higher if Ike Davis stays hot or if the Mets can add another bat to the lineup. Expect the same numbers as the first half, with maybe a small drop in average but a little bit more from the power and run producing side.

R.A. Dickey: Dickey has been a reliable fantasy pitcher the past few seasons since he began his time with the Mets. but this season, he has vaulted himself into the upper echelons of fantasy starters. He is near the tops in all categories, including wins, ERA, and strikeouts and those lines should get better as the summer goes on. However, be wary of Dickey around September due to the fact that the changing weather could turn his un-hittable knuckler into batting practice lobs, as we saw in Atlanta a few months ago.

Time to Lose ‘Em:

Kirk Nieuwenhuis: A little over a month ago, Captain Kirk as he is known by some looked to be a viable fantasy option going forward. My how the times of changed, as Kirk has recently looked every bit like a rookie that he is. He can barely hit lefties (and barely is being generous) and his playing time will continue to suffer until he proves he can get back to what he was. Do not be surprised if a demotion is looming, especially the way Matt Den Dekker is playing in Buffalo. If you have him, best to drop him and move on.

Second Half Options:

Daniel Murphy: After one of the worst, and perhaps only, slump of his career, Murph has rebounded nicely and regained his hitting prowess. His ability to be plugged into several postions makes him a perfect compliment on a team where you could use a ton of hits, high average, and even the occasional stolen base. As of now, Murphy is owned in a shade over 94% of ESPN leagues, but consider that it was only in the 60% range a mere two weeks ago. If you can, grab him as I expect him to continue to perform at the level he is at now.

Jenrry Mejia: It should be relatively soon that Mejia rejoins the Mets from Buffalo. If he does and you are in a league that has depth and rewards you for holds, Mejia might be a good option. Mejia’s electric stuff means plenty of strikeouts and he could even provide some length in close games, maybe even giving owners the occasional win here or there. He is owned by virtually no one, so stash him if you can or at least keep an eye on him after he is called up.

Ruben Tejada: Right now Tejada is batting .325 and has shown a discipline at the plate that few imagined he would have at this point. While he won’t give you much in the power department, he has shown some extra base pop and should score a bunch of runs batting in front of Wright and Davis. He is owned in only 15% of leagues, so Tejada could be a pleasant surprise for those owners who play in NL only leagues or those who have been hit by injuries to starters like Dee Gordon or Troy Tulowitzki.