BIggest Offseason Acquisition: Shaun Marcum
Potential Fatal Flaw: Being the Mets
Ceiling: 4th place in the NL East
Floor: Second worst team in baseball
Overall: If you came here looking for an in-depth preview of the New York Mets, I apologize. Truthfully, as I’ve gone through this random selection of teams, I’ve put off writing the Mets preview because it didn’t seem like a fun exercise.
I personally want the Mets to be good. Some of my favorite baseball memories are driving to Queens from Massachusetts to see the Mets at Shea Stadium. I loved the mid-2000 Mets. They had my favorite player, Carlos Beltran, my favorite pitcher, Pedro Martinez, and a group of players I really enjoyed watching (Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes, David Wright). I loved how awful Shea Stadium was. I loved the red apple in the magician’s hat. I loved the enthusiasm. I loved Mr. Met. I loved Cow Bell Man.
All of that waned in 2006 when Carlos Beltran stood at home plate in Game 7 against the Cardinals and watched Adam Wainwright’s curveball as it crossed perfectly across home plate. I went back to Shea only once after that. Once in a while, when I need a royal blue undershirt, I’ll put on my Jose Reyes jersey-t. But that’s the only way you’d ever know that there was a 3 year period in my life where I rooted for the New York Mets. Well, that and the framed panoramic photo of Shea Stadium I have.
In 2008, I moved to Washington, DC and, soon after, started rooting for the Nationals. I think of the Mets as an ex-girlfriend now. She wasn’t right for me. I was young. She had peaked and was about to get involved with some shady characters. But we parted amicably and I really want her to be happy, even though I know I’m better off with my current wife. And so it bothers me a little bit to have to write about how bad the Mets are. Because they’re very bad.
David Wright signed a long-term extension this offseason for some reason. He’ll likely be a Met for his entire career. A free agent Wright could have gone basically anywhere, but he only wanted to be in Queens. That’s admirable. It’s probably not smart though.
New York has done very little to build around Wright during this period of futility. There’s likely 2013 #5 starter Matt Harvey, who should be a long-term top-of-the-rotation fixture. And there’s top prospect Zack Wheeler, who should be in the Opening Day rotation next year. And the Mets did acquire oft-injured catcher Travis d’Arnaud in the R.A. Dickey trade. Past that, there’s no one in the system who could make a big impact until 2015 at the earliest.
So David Wright will go to battle with Colin Cowgill, Lucas Duda, Marlon Byrd, Ike Davis, Ruben Tejada, Daniel Murphy, and John Buck this year.
In the rotation, there’s really nothing to hang your hat on. Johan Santana is so done that the Mets would be better off bringing El Duque back. Jon Niese would be a solid number 4 on most teams. Instead, he’ll take the ball on Opening Day this year. Shaun Marcum is a decent pickup, only because he’s an upgrade over Jeremy Hefner.
I won’t continue to kick the Mets when they’re down. And I won’t jump on the bandwagon when they’re good again, whenever that is. I just want the Mets and their new partner to be happy together. 2013 just won’t be their year.
Predicted Finish: 60-102
Mid-Atlantic Bias 