Many “baseball experts” do not have the Mets contending for a playoff spot in 2011 and I think they are on track on their prediction. The Mets are full of uncertainties with respect to health and age. For example, during the game against the Braves yesterday afternoon, Mets second baseman Luis Castillo was not able to beat out a double play ball despite the fact that Braves shortstop Diory Hernandez bobbled the ball at the beginning of the play. As far as health is concerned, Mets ace Johan Santana will not be available to pitch until late June or early July due to a shoulder surgery he had in September. In addition to Santana, outfielder Carlos Beltran is also questionable going into this season with knee issues.
Mets fans are better off looking forward to the future.
Names like Fernando Martinez, Lucas Duda, and Jordany Valdespin will soon become household names in Queens.
Fernando Martinez, once a high rated prospect for the Mets, spent parts of two seasons with the Mets. Despite his career numbers in the major leagues, Martinez has proven to be productive in the minor leagues. Martinez could make a strong case to break camp with the big club this spring but it would seem unlikely for the young outfielder to win a starting spot in the Mets’ outfield barring any injuries. Martinez certainly helped his case against the Braves yesterday. He went 1 for 2 with a strikeout and a two-run shot off of Braves’ projected closer Craig Kimbrel.
Another up and coming name in the Mets farm system is outfielder Lucas Duda. Duda, a seventh-round draft pick in 2007, has been productive in the minor leagues. Last season between AA and AAA, Duda hit .304, 23 homeruns, and 87 runs batted in. In his small cup of coffee with the Mets last season, Duda did not fair as well hitting .202, 4 homeruns, and 13 runs batted in. In yesterday’s game against the Braves, Duda was not able to drive in any runs, going 0 for 3 and leaving five runners on base as a result. Like Martinez, Duda will probably not get a spot on the 25-man roster because there is no room for him. Aside from that, it would be best for the Mets to have Duda start in the minor leagues rather than having him sit on the bench with the big club.
In yesterday’s game against the Braves, Luis Castillo was substituted for Jordany Valdespin. Valdespin showed flashes of a Robinson Cano type of second baseman. This 2007 draft pick of the Mets has shown a combination of speed and defense. Moreover, I believe his power will improve as his career progresses. During yesterday’s game, Valdespin made two outstanding plays in the whole, one of which was of the diving variety. In addition to his stellar defense, Valdespin hit a rocket to the right field wall for an RBI double to tie the game in the ninth inning. Granted, one game is a very small sample size, but from what I saw yesterday, I expected very big things from the young second baseman.
During spring training, management takes a look at both young talent and veteran players who could help the team during the season. For the Mets, a veteran, non-roster invitee and another veteran outfielder stood out for me. They were Willie Harris and Scott Hairston. Harris has played in the National League East for the last four seasons between the Braves and the Nationals. Harris serves as a late-inning defensive replacement as well as a late-inning pinch runner. In yesterday’s game, Harris entered the game as a pinch runner and eventually scored. In the tenth inning, Harris came up with a clutch two-run homerun in the tenth inning. The other player, Hairston, would also serve as a right-handed bat off the bench who will get an occasional start throughout the season. Hairston went 1 for 2 with a leadoff double in the fifth inning, and scored on the Martinez two-run homer.
I was not particularly impressed with the pitching from either side yesterday. Jenrry Mejia got the start and pitched two innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit, one walk, and three strikeouts. Mejia, who figures to get a shot at the rotation this season, topped his fastball at 94 mph in yesterday’s game. Mejia spent most of last season in the Mets’ bullpen. Mejia finished with an earned run average of 3.25 in 30 games out of the bullpen. In his three starts however, Mejia finished with an earned run average of 7.94.
The Mets’ bullpen started off just fine allowing just one run in their first five innings. Those pitchers included Pedro Beato, Taylor Buccholz, and John Lujan. During that last three innings of the game however, the wheels came off of the bullpen. Veteran Manny Acosta allowed a run on three hits, and walked three in two innings. Armando Rodriguez allowed two runs on four hits and struck out two in the tenth inning.
The Mets have a lot of young talent that we may or may not see depending on whether the Mets’ starting position players can stay healthy. If the Mets are not contending by late July or early August, I believe they should start bringing up these young players to showcase their talents at the big league level. With the exception of David Wright, Ike Davis, Angel Pagan, and maybe Jose Reyes, this organization is in need of a “changing of the guard” as soon as possible. The Mets have not and will not be able to compete with the roster they have in place now.
Next stops: Monday, February 28th – Ft. Myers, home of the Twins
Tuesday, March 1st – Ft. Myers, home of the Red Sox
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