The July 2012 promotion of the Mets’ second best pitching prospect was met with much fan fair.  Harvey promptly rose to the occasion in the eleven strike out win that was his debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks.  For an encore, he went on to post an ERA well under three in ten starts comprised of almost sixty innings pitched.  For certain it looked as though the Mets had another quality starter on their hands, but no one could have anticipated what Matt Harvey had in store for the Mets and their fans in 2013.

Entering last night, Harvey’s 2013 campaign featured a 4-0 start which saw him yield more than one earned run on only one occasion over six starts, in route to the National League Pitcher of the Month award for the month of April.  Coming off a full seven day’s rest, Harvey spent Monday night victimizing the White Sox lineup in route to nine scoreless innings of one hit ball with twelve strike outs and exactly zero walks.  This saw Matt drop his ERA to an impressively low 1.27 while assuming the league lead in strike outs with 58.

The stats are impressive enough, but they are easily trumped by the undeniable presence that Harvey brings with him to the bump every night.  Each start celebrated as “Happy Harvey Day” on various social media forums, the fans have fully accepted Matt as the absolute ace of this staff, no questions asked.

Harvey’s rise to what will soon be, if it isn’t already, super-stardom, will make it that much harder for those that come behind him, namely Wheeler.  Having been billed as possessing the best repertoire in the system, its hard to believe that Wheeler can match the ridiculous change-up and slicing slider that Harvey has used to carved through opponents thus far this season.  While the Mets will need Wheeler to be a productive member of the rotation in short order if they hope to stay in the hunt this summer, Matt Harvey has made most, if not all fans forget that someone other than he may be the savoir for the Mets pitching woes.

Recent history has seen pitchers as unproven as Mike Pelfrey toe the rubber as the team’s ace.  Those days, at least for the time being seem to be behind us.  Having been drafted by Omar Minaya in 2010, Harvey will be ineligible for free agency until the 2019 season at the earliest and now represents the youth movement envisioned by Mets general manager, Sandy Alderson.  The franchise will need others to rise through the ranks in order to realize Alderson’s vision, but regardless of whether those who will soon follow his path are able to do their part, Matt Harvey is here and the Mets have their ace.

Follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83.

First and foremost, how do you define a superstar?  For the purposes of this post, I’m going to say that a superstar has to have been in the league long enough to be compensated like one.  This will provide a “track record” that we can use to see where Wright lies amongst his peers.  Does this leave out the Mike Trouts and Bryce Harpers of the world?  Yes, but its important to consider money because it is always an important dynamic in this argument.

With that said, if there is anything both Wright’s supports and his critics can agree on, its that Wright’s new contract compensates him like a superstar.  Despite making only $11 million dollars this season, he will average $17.5 million over the length of the deal.  So for the purposes of comparison, I will use this $17.5 million dollar figure so Wright goes up against players considered to be the best in the league.  IF Wright were to make $17.5 million dollars this season, he would find himself to be the twenty-third highest paid player in Major League Baseball.   As it turns out, there are eleven higher paid position players in the game under this scenario.  Therefore, for the purposes of this comparison, I will use those eleven players and the first eleven that fall below him.  Each of these players have been productive enough on a consistent basis to be amongst the highest paid position players in the league.  Does Wright belong in this group?

This is how they match up over the course of their careers in the major statistical categories:

Click to enlarge. All statistics obtained from www.baseball-reference.com. All statistics are averages over every 162 games played.

I chose these statistics because they are the most commonly known offensive categories for the average/traditional baseball fan.  I included batting average with runners in scoring position as a way to measure “clutchness”, which always seems to come up when discussing Wright.  So what have we learned…

Wright is actually above average when it comes to runs, hits, runs batted in, stolen bases, batting average, OPS, and finally, “clutchness”.  Consequently, he is slightly below average when it comes to power numbers and also averages a few additional strikeouts than his peers, neither of which should come as a surprise to anyone who watches Wright on a daily basis.  Which of these statistics you value most will go a long way in making your determination of whether or not Wright is in fact, a superstar.

I’ll allow you to make that determination for yourself.  What I do take away from all of this is that David Wright has earned his place amongst the highest paid players in the league.  He may never hit the epic home runs that some on this list do.  That alone may be enough for some of you to never deem Wright a superstar, and that’s okay.  However, there are other aspects of his game that help to fill his power void, which may lead others to the exact opposite conclusion.  What do you think?  How does he match up?  Is David Wright a superstar?

Follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83.

Disclaimer: I did not include defensive statistics in this comparison because each of these players play different positions, with several serving as a DH who don’t play defense at all.  Salaries were obtained from www.baseballplayersalaries.com/salaries.

The world awakens this morning seeking to right itself after a pair of explosions rocked Boston yesterday afternoon.  Lost are three souls, with no fewer than another one hundred and thirty-two injured.  Also lost in the day’s events, a nation’s sense of security when it comes to sporting events.

Long thought to be a potential target, major sporting events are often subjected to increased security measures.  To date, the United States had been successful (or lucky depending upon your point of view) to avoid such disasters, however April 15, 2013 will live on in infamy as the day the sports world was no longer immune to a direct attack.

The aftereffects of yesterday’s events remain to be seen, but as families, the city of Boston and the nation as a whole mourn this loss, its fair to assume that our shattered sense of security will send ripples through the sports world.  Decreased attendance can only be countered by increased protection in an effort to reassure fans that they’re safe.  At what point will your trip to the stadium resemble a tour through your local prison system?  At what point are fans treated like inmates? More importantly, at what point is such treatment necessary?

Long gone is the innocence of physically attending a game, ruined by the majority of fans who feel the price of admission grants them the freedom to drink like a fish and curse like a sailor without repercussion.  That arrogance, until yesterday thought by most to be the worst you could encounter during a trip to the ballpark, is now miniscule by comparison to the violence seen in the past twenty-four hours.  So what now?

Ultimately, too much energy is lost debating the successes and more frequently, the failures of our favorite sports franchises.  That faux pas takes place on a daily basis throughout social media and on sites just like this one.  I’m just as guilty as many of your reading this.  We’re debating a game..something that shouldn’t be life or death.  Its unfortunate that it takes such tragedy for things to fall in line once again, but it has become apparent that this is the world we live in now.  So remember, the next time your headed out to Citi Field, be cognizant of those around you, because not everyone is on the same team.

Follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83.

How could you not take notice?

The game featured more than adequate starting pitching, solid relief work, clutch hitting and even a grand slam.  The Mets’ already ostracized outfield corps went a combined 4-for-12, with three walks, six runs batted in, and the aforementioned grand slam. As a matter of fact, with the exception of the four strikeout performance by Ike Davis, there really wasn’t much negativity to be taken away from the first game of the season.

However, please heed this warning.  It was only the first game of the season.  Met fans, every single one of us. are searching for something.  Whether it’s just a reason to head out to Citi Field, or to turn on the television and watch, or even a reason to simply stick around at this point.. each and every one of us is trying to find that one reason to believe.  For some, yesterday’s game was just that.  It was great.  Great enough that as Colin Cowgill crossed the plate after his seventh inning grand slam my wife stared at me as I muttered over and over again, “I will not buy in..I will not buy in..I will not buy in.”

You see as much as I want to believe, I’ve spent the last two months convincing myself that the reason to watch this season was the maturation of young players like Matt Harvey and Ruben Tejada, along with the eventual promotion of Zack Wheeler and Travis d’Arnaud.  I entered last season under a similar guise, but crumbled quickly under a 4-0 start that saw me quickly invested once again for the long haul.  Of course that eventually led to the annual mid-summer heartbreak that we’re all so accustomed to at this point.

So while I, like many of you I’m sure, fight the urge to once again dive head first into the shallow end of what has all the makings of a fatally flawed 2013 New York Mets season, lets all remember that our team boasts a roster of unproven players searching to find their own way.  Is it possible they shock the world as the Oakland Athletics did last summer?  Sure..but its far more likely that we’ll soon be wallowing in the puddle of self pity we frequent each season.  Only time will tell.  If you chose to take the plunge early, don’t say you haven’t been warned!

Follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83.

“There two things upon which a manager is evaluated. One is wins and losses, and the other is the improvements of the players on the team. Regardless whether it’s a veteran-dominated team or a younger team, players have to improve, More importantly, they have to be motivated, and that’s partly where the manager comes in. I think Terry will be evaluated on both of those basis, with the understanding that wins and losses are not an absolute. To some extent, they are relevant to the talent we have.”

Now I’m not necessarily here to argue whether or not Terry Collins does or doesn’t deserve a contract extension.  While I think he has done an admirable job with the players he’s been given, I would agree that there is no rush to extend a manager who has been unable to avoid a major second half swoon in each of his seasons in New York.  My question in this instance is given these parameters, how exactly does Collins stand even the slightest chance in earning the contract extension his covets?

The first factor Alderson mentions is wins and losses.  Collins first two seasons in Queens yielded 77 and 74 wins respectively.  In that time, the Mets have jettisoned an all-star batting champion and a Cy Young award winner.  In addition to those losses, Alderson has outfitted the 2013 Mets with nothing that resembles a Major League caliber outfield.  Those facts don’t come together to form a recipe for success.  In fact, its reasonable to think that Collins’ goal this summer should be as much to limit the damage as it is to win more games than in seasons past.

From there we’re forced to discuss individual player development.  This too is difficult for me to wrap my head around.  From a long-term approach, there are no more than three or four position players who have a real future with the Mets.  I anticipate that player development would have to apply to players like Ruben Tejada, Daniel Murphy and to a lesser extent Ike Davis, than to more established players like David Wright.  Outside of the infield, there isn’t much development to be had.  Outfield turnover is in the cards heading into next winter and other positions will be occupied by players making the Major League debut later this summer.  This leaves precious few players who hold Collins’ fate in their hands.

If the Mets somehow rip off a .500 season or better this year, it would be tough to argue that Collins hasn’t earned his money.  However, if they don’t as most of us expect, I don’t see many ways in which Collins’ tenure can be extended based upon Sandy Alderson’s answer to Silva’s very legitimate question.  Only so much can be said for effort over results, and its the results that Collins has lacked to date.  Has Collins plight become a lost cause, or does he have it in him to win the confidence of the Mets’ brass?  Regardless of what players head north in a few weeks’ time, the deck is stacked against the Mets’ skipper.  The writing is already on the wall and it appears, at least from where I’m sitting, that this will be Collins final season with the New York Mets.

If you like what you read, follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83.

“Manager Terry Collins has done an admirable job trying to put lipstick on a pig with his job fate hanging the balance, but there are alarming early signs this is going to be an abysmal year for the Mets…”

Rubin goes on to criticize many aspects of this season’s roster, to include the outfield, the bullpen, the bench and to a lesser extent even the team’s starting rotation.  Ultimately, however, it is this declaration that did him no favors in the eyes of those who are upset about the piece:

“I have yet to find a scout who will declare the Mets appreciably better than the Marlins, who underwent their latest fire sale.”

You can call Adam Rubin many things (and most people do), but you can’t call him a homer.  Having worked the Mets beat for the past decade he has covered all the highs and lows of both the Omar Minaya and Sandy Alderson era.  Such experience should leave him well-qualified to give his opinion on the matter.  However his best quality, which, in my opinion, is his availability to the fans as not only the most widely known beat writer, but also one of the most accessible on Twitter, also leaves him square in the bulls-eye of a fanbase scorn.

Rubin’s article claims that Mets “need to look in the mirror,” with regards to how they’ve handle injuries in recent years.  I would contest that many Mets fans need to do the same.  The contents of this very blunt interpretation of the upcoming season doesn’t differ much from the majority of blog posts and tweets that have filled social media over the offseason.  The fact of the matter is that there is a lot of truth in Rubin’s determination that this season’s outfield may be laughable, he is accurate in stating that the rotation could quickly become a concern if Johan Santana and/or Shaun Marcum aren’t ready, and he is dead to rights correct that the Mets will once again field a team with little to no depth at many positions.

As the phrase goes, if you’re a real Mets fan,”Ya Gotta Believe.”  That should be no different this season.  But let’s not completely ignore the facts, especially for the sole reason that those facts are coming from the source you love to hate.

The Mets have issues. You know it. I know it. And you best believe the guy who has been covering the team for the past decade from the locker room knows it.

Rubin, just like his employer at ESPN, often deserves his criticism, but this time isn’t one of them.  The Mets aren’t poised to contend.  Don’t reject that notion just because someone from the inside, who you happen to dislike, sees the same things most of you have been complaining about all winter.

Follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83.  If your daring enough, you can also follow Adam at AdamRubinESPN.

Finances and injuries aside, the biggest in-season problem that has crippled the Mets over the past five years has been the inevitable second have swoon.  You can almost set your clocks to the post all-star break slide that sees the team lose its last grasp of postseason aspiration each summer.  This season’s group has the opportunity to avoid the same fate, and here’s how that happens…

First and foremost, I don’t think this season’s outfield is all that bad, at least compared to last season’s outfield, from an offensive standpoint.  Your asking a group that will likely include Lucas Duda, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Collin Cowgill, Mike Baxter and probably Marlon Byrd to collectively give you a season that eclipses the .238 BA, .309 OBP, 55 HR, 206 RBI, and .696 OPS that last year’s crop of outfielders posted.  Those numbers are not unobtainable, even for the group in camp this spring and better yet.. I’m only asking them to do it for half the season.  The pursuit of legitimate outfielder was an utter failure this winter and remains the organization’s biggest issue going forward.  However, if the aforementioned comically bad outfield can hold it together long enough, reinforcements could be on the way when the trade deadline looms this summer.  The team’s undeniable need for at least two quality outfielders, it’s sizable crop of young minor league arms and any lingering hope for a playoff run could be enough to see Sandy Alderson pull the trigger on another blockbuster mid-season trade.  However instead of bolstering the team’s farm system, this move shores up the Major League outfield and ideally fills one of those positions for seasons to come.

Such an addition, albeit theoretical, only adds to the renovation the twenty-five man roster is likely to experience this summer.  Acquired as part of the trade that sent R.A. Dickey to Toronto, Travis d’Arnaud figures to arrive in Queens by mid-June.  His arrival not only provides a quality backstop for the team’s biggest weapon, the starting rotation, it also figures to make a decided lefty dominated lineup, more formidable.  Does he immediately blossom into the weapon the Mets envision for the next ten years?  Probably not, but that doesn’t mean he won’t provide quality at bats and an added level of power this lineup so desperately needs.

Your final, and in all likelihood most anticipated arrival this summer, will be that of Zack Wheeler.  Boasting a pitch selection that many deem good enough to see him quickly evolve into the team’s ace, he will cause headaches for opponents who will be seeing him for the first time late in the season.  Its also important to recognize that his impending arrival leaves the Mets with an excess of major league caliber starting pitching that is always coveted at the trade deadline.  That could mean the mid-summer trade of former ace and no-hitter hero, Johan Santana, who will exit Queens with the Mets paying the large majority of his salary to ensure a good return, provided he can remain healthy, further aiding the team elsewhere as the summer presses on.

You see, unlike most teams who enter the year with a roster primed for playoff glory, the Mets hopes lie in the effectiveness of players who aren’t even hear yet.  When they arrive, they’ll join a roster full of other young players who, save David Wright, don’t realize they’re not good enough.  With any luck it will be that naivety and maybe even some stubbornness that sees the Mets remain in the thick of things long enough for their difference makers to arrive.  Unlikely?  Yes.  Impossible?  Of course not.  However, if they do experience such success, the added excitement of having things come together at just the right time could give the Mets the added momentum necessary to push through a division of much more established teams.

The Mets are not by any stretch of the imagination poised to be a contender this summer, but that should stop fans from enjoying the ride.  Enjoy the knowledge that the team’s brightest young stars are on their way and poised to contribute later this year.  Know that if their predecessors can stay the course long enough, the likes of Travis d’Arnaud, Zack Wheeler and maybe even a few players to be named later will be playing for a lot more than reps before this season is said and done.

Follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83

The Mets, a team in transition, are just about set from top to bottom, short of a spot on the bench and maybe another spot in the bullpen.  Being set for this season doesn’t necessarily mean set for the future, though. In fact, although this spring won’t, the upcoming season will answer a variety of questions about the path the organization will take next season and beyond.

Will the Mets need to acquire two outfielders or three?  Is the right side of the infield set for years to come?  How about the back end of the rotation?  These are all questions that need to be answered.  As a result, each of these players finds himself on the block this year…

Lucas Duda

A natural first baseman who is blocked at the position by Ike Davis, the Mets still hope to find a position Duda can play efficiently enough to justify keeping his bat in the lineup.  That bat however, also needs to improve this upcoming season if Lucas intends to keep himself in the fold beyond the 2013 season.  2012 saw his power numbers increase, but at the expense of his strikeout count, which averaged one per game.  The hope is that Duda can hit .260+ while realizing his 25-30 home run potential, but if he can’t find that happy medium, his struggles in the outfield will ultimately usher him out of the Mets’ plans.

Daniel Murphy

The twenty-seven year old Murphy has absolutely clawed his way to a starting spot in Queens.  His reward comes in the form of a significant raise he received just two weeks ago and the knowledge he’ll have to continue to claw if he hopes to maintain his spot.  In 2013, the Mets will not only ask Murphy to continue his progression at second base, they’ll ask him to better his power numbers that have only featured six home runs each of the past two years.  A fair request for a career contact hitter with gap power?  Probably not…but to date nothing has come easy for Murphy, so why should things start now?

Ike Davis

I know what your thinking…There is no way the Mets could possibly jettison their twenty-five year old power-hitting first baseman who remains under team control through the 2016 season.  However, allow me to remind you that the only thing that salvaged Davis’ 2012 campaign was his 32  home runs, which partially overshadowed his embarrassing first half which ultimately resulted to only a .227 batting average.  If nothing else, Davis represents a ton of potential.  That’s a commodity which may be valuable to a slue of other teams, should the Mets’ front office decide a trade is in order.  With Lucas Duda and possibly even Reese Havens as other long term options at first, Davis will still need to prove his value moving forward.  While the much more likely scenario sees Davis signed to a long term, team friendly, contract at some point this season, Ike’s future remains far from certain.

Dillon Gee

The 2013 season will bring with it the eventual arrival of Zack Wheeler, who will join the previously established Matt Harvey as the pitching saviors who the Mets’ front office hope can secure the rotation for many years to come.  While they may secure the front end of the rotation, the back end remains left to Dillon Gee, who seeks to return from season ending surgery as the result of a vascular ailment late last year.  Prior to falling victim to a blood clot, Gee’s 6-7 record was a poor representation of his performance which included 8.0 K/9IP and the lowest ERA of his short career.  With a plethora of young pitchers many have described as virtual clones of Dillon at the Triple-A level, Gee will have to stay on his game should he want to maintain his spot on what may be one of the strongest young rotations in baseball in short order.

Every season has the potential to shed light on the future.  The 2013 season will be no different for the New York Mets.  In a perfect world, each of these guys earn their way onto the 2014 roster, thus allowing Sandy Alderson and the rest of the Mets’ front office to apply their considerable assets elsewhere.  However if they can’t, the Mets may find themselves with more holes than they can possible fill next winter, resulting in an even longer delay in the organization’s revitalization.

Follow me on twitter at @RobPatterson83

Since taking the helm on October 29, 2010, Sandy Alderson has deconstructed the roster,  diminished its major league talent, worked to develop the farm system and effectively divided the fan base.  With that being said, if we’re playing by similar rules, only now can we begin to evaluate his handiwork.

When the Mets reconvene next week, the roster will sport the new, younger and most importantly cheaper nucleus Alderson hopes can lead the franchise for the foreseeable future.  Jonathon Niese, Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler lead a plethora of impressive young arms that stretch deep into the team’s farm system.  Travis d’Arnaud joins David Wright and to a lesser extent Ike Davis as the cornerstones of the team’s lineup.  Simply put, Alderson chose to jettison three of the team’s best players, whether by trade or via free agency.  Now he hopes his young additions, both of which probably won’t break camp with the team, are the glue that brings this thing together.

If the Mets are to evolve into a perennial playoff contender, this is the season the shift should occur.  While that may not immediately translate to more wins this season, the writing should be on the wall come summer’s end.  If things work out, the team will find itself searching for the final big piece(s) next winter when Alderson has legitimate financial resources to make it happen.  If that’s the case, he will have indeed delivered on his promise to put a playoff contender on the field for the 2014 season.

Sandy has made his moves, some of which have been impressive. When he told the press yesterday that “we are not that far away”, I’m inclined to agree with him.  This is the route he has chosen.  Will it be the path that takes the Mets to the promised land?  The upcoming season won’t answer that question, but for the first time since his arrival the Mets have a direction and its one which should represent progress in the coming months.  These will be the seasons that write Sandy Alderson’s legacy in Queens.  Did he get it right?  We’ll know sooner than you think.

Follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83

From a pure statistical standpoint, Bourn and Reyes aren’t so different.  If you want to discuss their best quality, speed, Bourn has averaged 51 stolen bases and 8 triples per 162 games played whereas Reyes has averaged 55 and 15 respectfully.  When it comes to their prowess at the plate, each have a career on-base percentage within points of .340, but on all other fronts Reyes has been a bit better.  Reyes boasts an career batting average twenty points higher than Bourn and a slugging percentage that dwarfs the free agent centerfielder.  Reyes also doesn’t share Bourn’s propensity for strikeouts.  So again I ask, why would the Mets sign Michael Bourn if there weren’t willing to resign Jose Reyes?

As much as most Reyes advocates won’t want to hear it, health is a factor in this comparison.  While Bourn may only average six more games per season since becoming a full-time player, the last five seasons have seen him average 150 games per season compared to Reyes’ average of only 123.  Such a health concern, or lack there off in Bourn’s case provides one reason why the Mets may be considering him when they balked on Reyes.  Another reason, which shouldn’t come a a surprise to most, is that the four year, roughly $50 million dollar contract the Mets are theoretically set to offer Bourn is no where near the six year, $106 million dollar contract Reyes commanded on the open market last winter.

Michael Bourn may not be the flashy, exciting player the Mets once had in Reyes, he may not be as good as Reyes in general (although WAR states otherwise if you’re into that kind of thing) but he certainly appears to be less of a risk.  Therein lies the reason Bourn appeals to Sandy Alderson so much. Not only does Bourn immediately fill the teams’ need at leadoff, he also bolsters a weak outfielding core on the cheap, so to speak.  That should make him an ideal fit in Sandy’s system.

Finally, its important to reaffirm that the Mets wouldn’t be signing Michael Bourn to replace Jose Reyes.  That task was unfairly dealt out to Ruben Tejada last spring, and while he can’t be expected to fill Reyes’ shoes, it was the presence of a sound shortstop who the Mets feel can hit for average that made a much more expensive Reyes expendable.  There is no such player when it comes to the Mets’ outfield.  Michael Bourn is not Jose Reyes, and likely never will be.  However, under these circumstances and at the price being discussed, he will be a Met if Sandy Alderson has his way.

Follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83

With less than thirty days before pitchers and catchers report to Port St. Lucie for Spring Training there is little excitement for the upcoming season.  Bad baseball may be better than no baseball, but 2013 appears to be another year of tempered expectations for most Mets fans.  As a result, ticket sales and television ratings will likely take yet another hit, but should they?  I’m not about to tell you how to spend your hard earned money, but I am here to tell you that there are plenty of reasons to watch the 2013 New York Mets.

The Kids

The departure of RA Dickey undoubtedly deals a blow to the starting rotation for this upcoming season, but the youth movement will be in full effect this summer.  The first youngster found his way to the show last fall, when Matt Harvey posted a 3-5 record in ten starts.  However, his record is a poor representation of the 2.73 ERA and 10-plus strike outs per nine innings he posted over that time.  Simply put, Harvey’s performance on the field was only bested by his character off of it.  No one will demand more of the 23 year old than he will of himself, but at first glance, it looks as if he’ll have the talent to back it up.

Next up on the premiere pitching path will be top prospect, Zack Wheeler.  With only 33 innings pitched at the Triple-A level, Wheeler will almost certainly spend the first portion of the season in the minors.  However, when he debuts he will bring with him a sizzling fastball and an impressive array of secondary pitches that give him ace caliber potential.  He will be without question the most anticipated arrival of 2013 as fans hope to see if Sandy Alderson’s first major trade yields immediate dividends.

Last, but certainly not least will be newly acquired catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud.  Considered by many to be the best catching prospect in baseball, he was the premiere piece in the trade that sent RA Dickey to Toronto and for that reason alone, his contribution will be monitored by the masses.  The ability to hit for both average and power, combined with above average defense behind the dish, d’Arnaud has the potential to sure up the catching position for a long time to come, making his late April call up much anticipated.  The Mets will hope that his prowess behind the plate will solidify what was one of the organization’s biggest weaknesses headed into the offseason and his bat will provide a much needed boost to the line up.

The Captain

Call it what you will, but David Wright’s new eight year, $139 million contract will paint a bullseye on his back this season and beyond.  Having not reached the post season since 2006, Wright now finds himself the sole remaining “superstar” from that now distant memory.  Coming off of an all-star season that saw the Mets’ third baseman return to form for much of the year, Wright will need to strike early and often if he’s to convince much of the fan base of his worth.  For the time being, he finds himself to be the solitary cornerstone of what figures to be a multi-year rebuild.  Can the pieces be filled in around him while he’s still the productive member of the team the Mets are paying for?  The race is one and the clock is officially ticking…

 The Farewell Tour

When he signed his six year, $137.5 million contract before the 2008 season, Johan Santana was supposed to be the one who got the Mets over the proverbial hump.  Instead, Santana’s tenure has evolved into a little more than a financial burden. With the obvious exception of his June 2012 no-hitter Santana has found few highlights in Flushing.  Barring a set of unforeseen circumstances, this season will be Santana’s last in Queens.  When he departs, the Mets will enjoy a level of financial freedom not seen since his arrival.  Should he excel early on this season, expect his swan song to end with a July trade that will see the Mets pay the large majority of his remaining salary.  There is no way around it, if you want to say your goodbyes I’d thoroughly recommend you find your way to Citi Field this spring, because one way or another, Santana’s time is limited.

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As will be the case for many teams throughout Major League Baseball, the 2013 Mets will experience a variety of beginnings..and ends this year.  If you’ve waded through the collapses, the scandal and the underperformance, then you owe it to yourself to watch your team evolve this summer.  The Mets may not find themselves in the playoff race, but they should finally answer several question that have been hanging in the balance for some time now.  Will the youth movement provide the foundation for a playoff caliber team in the not so distant future?  Can David Wright solidify himself as the premiere talent he’s being paid to be?  Will this be the season the franchise finally moves forward?  Only time can tell, but will you be there to see it?

Follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83

Sandy’s man, as I’m sure you’ve heard is Travis d’Arnaud, who is widely considered the best catching prospect in all of baseball.  Despite a season ending knee injury, it wouldn’t be surprising to see d’Arnaud break camp with the Mets come April, instantly bolstering the team’s roster at catcher.  Hitting for both power and average, while at the same time being considered above average defensively, d’Arnaud has the potential to solidify the Mets backstop needs for the foreseeable future.  If you ask most MLB General Managers, Travis d’Arnaud may have been too much to offer all by himself, but Sandy Alderson wasn’t done.

As a result, the Blue Jays’ number one pitching prospect, Noah Snydergaard, will also head south of the border and join the strong crop of young, hard throwing pitchers the Mets already have at the Single A level.  Although he may not find his way to the majors until sometime during the 2015 season, Snydergaard’s inclusion in this deal is the perfect example of Sandy Alderson maximizing what he has to work with.  For the second time in two years, Alderson pulled off a trade that no one thought was possible by waiting until what seems like the last possible minute to get things done.

Throw-ins on the deal also include backup catcher, John Buck, who will serve as a place holder for d’Arnaud if he isn’t ready for the start of the season, and eighteen year old Wuilma Buerra, who will look to come back from a broken jaw as a result of being struck in the face by a rogue pitch.  Neither play a major factor in the balance of this deal, but they do represent just how much value Alderson was able to squeeze of our Dickey’s Cy Young season.

Like him or not, these types of deals are the reason Sandy Alderson was brought to Queens, and will be the reason he remains in Queens if he so sees fit.  Hamstrung by a reduced cashflow, only now, entering his third season as team General Manager can the hints of the master play start to take shape.  With two months remaining before Spring Training, his work certainly isn’t done if he hopes to field a semi-competitive team in 2013.   However, regardless of how this upcoming season plays out, Sandy Alderson has put several more pieces in play for what could be a promising young team in 2014 and beyond.

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I’m sure you’ll also remember that on October 4th, 2012, shortly after the close of the 2012 season, Sandy appeared on WFAN with Mike Francesa to say the following in regards to the team in general, more specifically to the positions of outfield and cather:

“There will be more substantial changes, than subtle changes.”

Call it naivety if your must, but for some reason I took Alderson at his word that the Mets would finally begin to move forward.  As recently as last week, I wrote that the winter meetings would be the beginning of the turnaround.  Well the winter meetings have come and gone without a single move.  In the process, the Mets have managed to insult the reigning National League Cy Young into publicly criticizing the team he has vowed his loyalties to.  All this makes me ask, what exactly is the end game here?

Certainly that end game isn’t to put forth a better product?  To date the Mets have only retained All-Star third baseman, David Wright.  Speaking of Wright, who negotiated his deal to free up an additional $8 million dollars of payroll for the team in 2013..what must he be thinking?  Having been sold on the organization’s path going forward, it now appears as if Sandy Alderson won’t even reinvest the money Wright will go without this year, nevermind elevate the payroll in general.  If I feel swindled, I’d have to imagine Wright is having trouble sleeping right now.

Alderson has done a lot of things since arriving.  First and foremost, he has deconstructed what were once the New York Mets.  Dropping a payroll that was once in excess of $140 million dollars to what stands to be less than $90 million this season, the Mets seem as far away from contending as they have in recent memory.  So what Alderson traded an injury ridden Carlos Beltran for stud prospect, Zach Wheeler.  So what he’s resigned the face of the franchise.  So what he’s shielded ownership from further scrutiny.  At some point he’ll be forced to answer for his lies too.

You see Alderson has sold a bill of goods to the Mets fan base.  The 2014 season was to be the year of the revival, but there is no plan in place to date that can see that plan to fruition.  Instead the Mets appear set to bring in bottom of the barrel free agents to once again bandage a flawed roster.  Once again, Alderson will stand in front of the microphone at Spring Training and preach about the clarity of the market and the possibility of contention should everything fall into the place.  However, for the first time, I won’t be buying what the con man is selling!

Sandy Alderson may have been brought here to see the Wilpon’s through the most difficult years of their ownership.  In fact, he may be doing just that.  But don’t lie to me.  Don’t lie to the legions of fans who expect a quality product, who expect the Mets to function like a big market franchise and those who expected a man of his word.  David Wright was quoted on WFAN yesterday as saying he didn’t remain in Queens to finish in fourth place.  Welp, I wonder how he feels about last place, because that precisely the type of team Alderson is in the process of piecing together.

Three years after his arrival, the Mets remain a mess..and worse yet there is no end in sight.  Sandy Alderson is not the answer and he’s certainly not “the adult in the room”.  Save the schtick going forward Sandy, because we’re not buying it anymore.

Follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83

Entering the Winter Meetings, which start this morning in Nashville, the Mets will have a variety of routes at their disposal to secure the players they need.  Having already settled the eight year contract extension of David Wright, worth just shy of $140 million, Sandy Alderson not only secured the team’s best player for the foreseeable future, he has also indicated that the Mets are on the verge of operating like the big market ballclub they are. Also working in the Mets’ favor is their excess of starting pitching.  Whether it ends up being the reigning Cy Young winner, RA Dickey, or youngster Jon Niese, who is signed to a very team-friendly contract, someone probably won’t call Queens home by week’s end.

Whether you think trading away a solid starting pitcher is a good idea or not, the Mets are preparing to move forward.  With as many as seven suitors for RA Dickey and in all likelihood just as many for Niese, the Mets may find themselves the beneficiary of a bidding war of sorts.  With teams on that list like the Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays, who both possess some of the most sought after prospects in all of baseball, the Mets have to feel good about their chances this week.

Sandy Alderson and the Mets have trod water long enough.  With the 2014 season pegged as the team’s return to legitimacy, the 2012 Winter Meetings seem an apropos time for things to take shape.  That may mean the addition of a catcher, an outfielder or possibly both, but the time has arrived for the front office to start piecing things together. Trading away a key component such as Dickey or Niese won’t be enough.  Other lesser known quantities, such as Jenrry Mejia, may also find themselves on the trading block this week.  The Mets may dive into the free agent market to get what they need.  The options seem endless, but for the first time in a along time, the Mets should be building towards the future, instead of doing their best to ease the pain of the past.

If things go as planned this week, all the waiting, the cost cutting and maybe even all the losses will begin paying dividends.  Yes, the 2012 Winter Meetings are the place where this team can take the next step.  The deconstruction of the team we once knew is complete.  Let the rebuild officially begin.  Make the moves necessary to begin down that path, and fans will find their way back to the ballpark this summer.  The time has come.  That time is now.

Follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83

The specifics of the deal remain to be seen, but Wright will average $17.4 million over the length of the extension, a raise of only $1.4 million over his salary this year.  This ends a wild four days that saw the Mets offer and then increase their offer, only to see Wrights camp deny the accuracy of the reported negotiations. The Mets can now turn they sights to the contract negotiation and/or trade of Cy Young winner, RA Dickey, along with improving the team via whatever means necessary at next week’s winter meetings.

Reaction: I think this was the right move, personally. Wright is the lone remaining figure worthy of building a team around, the face of the franchise, and the best third baseman in the National League. This deal is pricey, but not so much so that it would prohibit the Mets from other acquisitions later. Particularly with nearly $50 million in payroll set to come off the books following the 2013 season.

Speaking as someone who was content with the idea that it took more than a season to screw this franchise up and that it will take more than a season to fix the mistakes of those that came before him, I tolerated the notion that 2014 might be the year the Mets find themselves back on the map.  So, I waited.  Waited for what, I’m not exactly sure, but I’m pretty sure I expected the framework for such a rebuild in place a mere season away from the self-imposed rebuilding deadline.  For sure, the team would need at least a season to mesh, right?  And still, I wait.

I think I’ve gotten to the point that I’m actually bored with what going on here.  Quite frankly, I don’t care what the team’s financial situation.  Furthermore, the methodical approach of Sandy Alderson seems to do nothing but make the agony of knowing there is little immediate hope on the horizon even worse.  You see there is nothing wrong with signing low risk, high reward players like Tim Byrdak to minor league contracts.  In fact, its good baseball sense.  However, these are not the signings necessary to put the chips in place for a rebuild.

To be perfectly honest, resigning David Wright and RA Dickey only maintains the organization’s current position of limbo.  These are the players that the front office should build around, but even their future is in doubt.  If we’re lucky enough to ink them to long-term deals, I fear that the players filled in around them will simply maintain the status quo.  Two months ago it was unfathomable that fifth outfielder, Andres Torres, might occupy a roster spot next season.  Now it appears borderline likely.  Simply put, scratching the bottom of the bargain bin has become tiresome.

As another spring training draws near, the blueprint for success is no clearer today than it was two years ago.  Addition by subtraction has replaced the big market mindset brought to you by Omar Minaya and Bernie Madoff.  Whether you blame poor investing, poor free agent signings, or even poor player development, the Mets schtick just seems stale at this point.  Resigning Wright and Dickey may pacify some fans, but it will be the players brought in around them that will inspire the imaginations of the masses.  They don’t have to be nine-figure players, but the Ronnie Cedenos of the world just aren’t going to get it done.

I’m bored Sandy Alderson.  Give me a reason to get excited, a reason to look forward to the future, hell.. give me a reason to come to the ballpark.  Show fans that this organization is still interested in winning.  Enough with the stopgaps.  Lets build something worth the our time..and our money.

Follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83

“…if there is no hope with Dickey returning, the Mets might choose to trade him (and keep Niese) for prospects to help down the road… plus they’d add back Dickey’s $5 million in to the available budget. I think it’s one or the other, though, not both.”

I realize that with the possible exception of David Wright, Jon Niese and RA Dickey are probably the team’s most marketable players, but at what point did it become one or the other?  Furthermore, it frightens me that the Mets could opt to trade a twenty-six year old leftie, whose shown progress on an annual basis, is coming off of the best season of his career and is currently signed to an amazingly team friendly contract, instead of trading what will amount to be a more expensive, nearly forty year old knuckleball pitcher with no history of success.  If it has to be one or the other, certainly the Mets have to keep Niese, right?

Bear in mind I’m not saying that Matt is incorrect.  As someone who has much more access than myself, I’m inclined to give his insight the benefit of the doubt.  I just don’t see how there can be much debate.  To be perfectly honest, I realize that one of them has to go if the Mets are going to add a quality outfielder with a power bat.  I’ll even go as far as admitting that Niese’s youth, when combined with the aforementioned team friendly contract may make him more valuable on the trade market than Dickey, but as he prepares to enter his fourth full season, Niese has the potential to anchor one of the youngest (and most exciting) rotations in baseball with the eventual departure of Johan Santana.

With a contract in place that would keep Jon Niese in Queens through the 2018 season at no more than $11M annually, how on earth could the Mets consider trading him away.  Niese may never have a twenty win season, he may never win the Cy Young and he may never be an “ace”, but for a front office that has stressed value contracts, this has to be a no brainer.  I’m sorry..I love RA Dickey and all the unique things he brings to the table, but if it can’t be both, it has to be Niese.

Follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83

Like many of you have felt, its been disappointing to learn that Sandy Alderson once again finds himself with no more than $10 million (at absolute max) dollars to work with.  Having gotten used to rosters of big ticket free agents and payrolls that reached for the stars, this new frugal route still sits sour with most fans.  Nonetheless, this is the path the Wilpons have chosen and we’re unfortunately along for the ride.  That said, the team is still in position to work towards its ultimate goal of 2014 success.

Having endured more experiments than I care to count since Sandy Alderson took the helm, the Mets still appear set to return Lucas Duda to the outfield next spring.  The swing to left field, widely believe to be the easier of the corner outfield spots, provides him the opportunity improve his defense while keeping his bat in the Mets powerless lineup.  Centerfield also appears to have been assigned to the strike out happy Kirk Nieuwenhuis already.  His inclusion in the 2013 roster provides the Mets with a semi-legit centerfield/lead off option, or at least the best we can hope for on such a restricted budget.  Are these early designations the best we could have hoped for?  No…but if I had to chose two experiments for the Mets to forge ahead with, this would probably be the two I’d pick.

So that leaves catcher and right field… Luckily for Mets fans, or I suppose unluckily depending on your mindset, the Mets have more assets than the $10 million dollars mentioned above.  While the team can almost certainly fit a tenured catching upgrade into that budget, a power hitting right fielder often comes at a premium.  Enter thirty-seven year old Cy Young hopeful, RA Dickey, who increasingly looks destined for the trade market this winter.  A twenty game winner with no sure future, Dickey may be just enough to fetch the type of outfielder the Mets covet to slot into right field next season.

Is it a sure plan?  Certainly not.  However, it bridges the gap to next off-season when the team will find itself with more than $40 million dollars in loose change to work with due to the expiration of the Bay and Santana contracts.  At that point, the team could find itself to be a major player in the free agent market if the time to abandon the Lucas Duda and/or Kirk Nieuwenhuis experiments has finally arrive.  Furthermore, the Mets will have learned more about the likes of Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler and much much more.  Therefore, should a starting pitcher also become a requirement headed into 2014, the team will have the flexibility to make that move.

So while I’m sure none of this excites you for the 2013 season, we can only hope that the team makes the moves necessary to continue a path towards contention.  Making at least half the major changes needed to do so is certainly within the realm of possibility this winter.  Doing so may not fill the seats at Citi Field next spring, but it will, at least in my opinion, yield the team’s first successful offseason since Sandy Alderson arrived.  Whether that’s his fault or not is another debate for another time, and although the losses have certainly added up in recent years, the New York Mets are not so far off track that this thing can’t be saved.  Two years ago the front office laid out a plan and with the right moves this winter, they can still make 2014 the year they find themselves back on the map.

Follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83

If the Mets are going to resolidify their place as a legitimate contender in the NL East and beyond, there has to be spending.  Although there is plenty of merit in Sandy Alderson’s “build through the farm system” mentality, at some point people need to get paid.  Rather than waiting for things to fall into place, fans want to see the team’s front office push the issue. And so, we wait…

The question I ask is, how long do we wait?  I realize there is a portion of the fanbase that will never give up on the blue and orange.  Unfortunately there is a larger portion, “casual fans” we’ll call them, who will eventually turn their sights elsewhere.  While your probably muttering to yourself “they’re not real fans”, the fact remains that those casual fans are even more important to the overall well being of the franchise, than the die hard faction you probably call yourself a part of.

You see it was the casual fan that was missing in September when the Mets were playing in front of crowds struggling to reach 15,000 in actual attendance.  It’s one thing for those fans to lose interest as a lost season plugs along, it will be another thing entirely should they check out before things get under way if the Mets return a team with little hype and an even slimmer chance of competing yet again.

While you and I may be able to get ourselves wrapped up in the development of young players and the execution of the long term plan for another 162 games in 2013, it’s a fair assumption that the average fan won’t.  The average fan is only interested in wins that allow them to show their tempered fandom with pride, brag to their buddies and have a reason to spend their hard earned dollar.  Another season of sub .500 baseball won’t give them that…and for the a seventh year in a row there may be little to brag about.

The actions, and equally as much, the inactions, of the Mets in recent years has driven a wedge between the franchise and it’s fans.  Everyone wants to root for a winner, but for a large portion of the fanbase the normal feelings of hope and promise have been replaced with apathy and indifference.  It’s easy to say we don’t need fans like that, but the fact is the team does, and if we’d like to see winning baseball return to Queens sooner than later, we need them too.  However, in what’s shaping up as a winter that will produce little reason to get excited for 2013, how much longer can the average fan hang on?

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With the news that the Mets and Dickey appear to be some distance apart on both years and dollars, something will have to give for this to work itself out before spring training.  That ‘something’ will likely have to be the Mets’ front office if Dickey is to continue hurling his knuckleball in Queens past the 2013 season. In reality, as long as he doesn’t experience a significant fall from grace, Dickey is almost assured to receive a deal of three years or more from another team come this time next year.  So how should the Mets proceed?

Whether or not RA has earned a three year extension in excess of $30 million dollars can be debated, but that’s not my point.  The Cy Young hopeful is the definition of why teams take flyers on journeyman pitchers each year.  On the off chance that a player can finally piece it together, an organization can find itself with a diamond in the rough, as the Mets do with Dickey right now.

Entering the final year of his current contract, the Mets have only three possible avenues from here.  Stroke the eclectic knuckler the extension he so desires, trade him away at the height of his value or bring him back for the final year of his career and hope he eases his stance on mid-season negotiations.  Only the latter of the three would be a loss for the Mets.

You see if the team signs Dickey to another extension, they retain not only a Cy Young Award caliber pitcher, but also a personality that transcends the game.  That personality, as much as his talent drives fans into the ballpark and provides the organization with a unique opportunity on a roster devoid of most other star power.  If the team were to trade RA, they’d be doing so at the perfect moment.  Coming off the best season of his now storied career, the Mets could likely demand, and receive, a king’s ransom that would go a long way in repairing the rest of the roster next season and beyond.

Yes, the only way the Mets lose here is if there is no finality to Dickey’s situation when the team reassembles in Port St. Lucie in five months time.  As they should have learned with Jose Reyes’ departure, the uncertainty of what lies ahead can snowball out of control, grip the fan base, and drive yet another rift between the team and its fans.  Move forward, with or without Dickey, but do so with conviction.  Either lock up the front of your rotation for a few more years, or bring in the talent to make the “team” better by trade and use the $10 million plus elsewhere.  Either way, do it now, and avoid the proverbial no win situation the team seems to always worm it’s way into.

Follow me on twitter at @RobPatterson83.