We have a solid rotation.
*Maybe.
Santana was an ACE for the first 16 games before getting stepped on.
*After his no hitter, he wasn't the same pitcher he had been previously. In the space of two starts around June 1st, he threw alot more pitches than the Mets would've liked him to throw. When a pitcher has an injury to one part of his anatomy, it CAN lead to arm issues. His getting stepped on MAY have harmed his arm, and along with the long prior offseaon work, MAY have created more physical issues. We will have to see what we have with Santana this season. And we will have to see if he has physical ability to make it fairly well through a whole season. It would be a jump to say he'll still be our ace or even number two guy this season.
Neise was ACE like for a full season instead of just great the first half as in the two prior seasons
* Ace like? No. A good number three starter? Yes. I look for him to continue along on the very positive path he took last season. I'm a big Niese fan.
Harvey has shown what he can do.
*The next step for Harvey is to make adjustments to however the league's hitters adjust to him. Even Doc Gooden needed to adjust his pitching patterns after the league started laying off his high and hard fastball. All MLers need to make adjustments their sophomore year. Harvey showed alot of promise. I look forward to watching him pitch in 2013.
Gee well we all saw what he was and as a fourth starter that is very good.
*Gee also needs to prove he's healthy. I think he's a very good number FIVE starter. Number four is probably pushing it.
Number five will be someone like a pavano untill Wheeler is ready.
I hope it is NOT Pavano. I don't believe I'm typing this, but I'd prefer to see Chris Young return in that role. I'm very much looking forward to watching Wheeler after all the talk about him.
That is on paper very good and has the potential to be very very good.
*Well, paper is thin. And so is the margin for error. An injury to Santana, missteps by Niese or Harvey. And we're looking at a long season.
Pitching wins.
*Yes, it does. But unless it's ELITE like the kind of pitching the Braves got out of their staff in the second half (ERA of about 2.98), you need more offense than the Mets are sporting at the moment. And since the Mets pitching staff was ranked tenth (I believe it was tenth), we won't be watching an elite pitching staff this coming season, that's for certain.
Our pen was an issue last year but pens are hot and cold, Hopefully the young guys we have and the new guys we will bring in can give us a solid pen.
*Our pen was more than "an issue," it was among the worst in all of baseball. And thus far, precious little has done to improve it. With the glaring need for AN outfield still not moved on, the talk about the horrible bullpen has been quiet in comparison. But unless the bullpen kids step up (which could happen) and the remaining veterans turn it completely around, we're likely to see alot of games fall through the cracks, as they've done the past few seasons.
We are above average at 1B, 2b, SS, 3rd and should be at C, We are below average in the OF but hopefully that changes before the start of ST, If not we need Duda, Capt K and whoever else to be atleast average.
*I'm a big Ike Davis fan. As far as homers and RBIs was concerned, he had a surprisingly good total, considering his horrific first half. IF he can show consistency next season with less of a pentient for striking out, I think we can look at Ike as someone who'll be a Met for some time to come. I don't think we're above average at first base...yet.
Murphy is one of our main sources of offense. I still don't like his defense. When I combine his offense, his defense and his baseball acumen, I think calling him above average is pushing it.
Ruben Tejada has yet to prove he's an every day player. Until he does, I think it's premature to say we're above average at shortstop. I like his defense and offense. He surprised me last season, no doubt. But his durability question needs to be answered.
Nothing to say about Wright. We know what we have with him.
D'Arnaud will be a rookie this season. It's way premature to say we're above average there. We simply don't know.
The outfield is lousy right now. Duda's defense is sub par and his offense is questionable. He became lost at sea, was sent to the minors for a few weeks, didn't do well there, came back only because the Mets needed SOMEONE in the outfield. What's sad is, he may be the best of what's out there. Kirk N. strikes out way too much. He had a great start, but so have many other players, some of whom were out of baseball within a couple of years. He needs to adjust to what the league is throwing at him. He won't be as good as he was whe he first came up, but if he can be halfway between that and where he plummeted to, he'll be of some value to the Mets next year. But that still leaves A quality guy who would at least give SOME credence to the outfield (though the Mets need TWO such players out there). I don't expect the Mets to break the bank either prospectswise or moneywise trying to sign such a player, but the inaction this offseason has been VERY disappointing.
So there is no reason to say we can not contend.
*Yes, there are plenty of reasons we can not contend. The Nationals have improved. We weren't in the same county as them last season. The Phillies have improved. They ended up ahead of us after struggling mightily as their big guns were all on the DL. The Braves should be better. Their pitchers really stepped it up during the second half. The Reds should be just as good. The Dodgers may be a little better. The Brewers took off during the second half and almost made the postseason. The SF Giants are the World Champs for the second time in three years.
We just don't have the horses. I think it's too much to expect a team to contend which is filled with youngsters without a real track record, a few key rookies, 2/5 of a rotation which is returning from a season ending trip to the DL, other guys who's durability and ABILITY is questionable. The aggregate talent level is too small in comparison.