New york mets

Ace in the Hole

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Not the Ace the Mets expected, but the one they need

Not the Ace the Mets expected, but the one they need

When the grass was first cut and the infield groomed at Citi Field for the opening of the 2014 season, many die-hard Mets fans expected the orange and blue to have an ace. One problem, their ace Matt Harvey wouldn’t be toeing the rubber for the 2014 season. Who would be the Mets number one pitcher? Most people felt it would be Bartolo Colon, one of the two biggest prizes of the offseason. Others felt that Zach Wheeler would follow in the path of Harvey’s sophomore campaign and rise to the occasion. While those pitchers may not look like aces here in April, there is one who has, and noone saw him coming.

After winning the fifth starter role out of camp, it looked like Jenrry Mejia was just added to the roster to keep a spot in the rotation warm for Noah Syndergaard or Rafael Montero. Through four starts this year Mejia is a perfect 3-0 with a 1.99 ERA and 25 strikeouts. While it remains to be seen if he can get through an entire season without an injury, if he continues to stay healthy the Mets may have another future ace in their rotation. At the age of 24, Mejia has already shown he can be a starter in the majors posting a 2.30 ERA in 2013. However, he has never completed a full season and needs to find a way to stay on the field. If he can pitch an entire year, the Mets may have another great front line starter to pair with Matt Harvey in 2015.

Watching Mejia early in this season it is clear that he has made some great adjustments that have been crucial to his success. Mejia has focused more on location then trying to overpower hitters with his fastball. His fastball still remains in the low to mid 90s, but he has better command and gets great late life on the pitch. When he first came up, Mejia tried to overthrow this pitch and get it into the upper 90s. With an ability to now throw his breaking pitches consistently for strikes, Mejia has been very effective at keeping batters off balance and guessing what pitch is coming next. Now with better control of his fastball and vast improvement of his breaking pitches, it is clear that not only does Mejia have control on the mound this season but something even better, confidence.

Seeing Mejia steadily improving start after start has to give Mets’ fans hope that this team will be in serious contention in 2015. If Mejia can continue to develop, the Mets arm race for power arms just could give them one of if not the best young rotation in the game of baseball.

Call to Arms! Why Rafael Montero should be Mets fifth starter

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Montero should be in the Mets rotation

Montero should be in the Mets rotation

The New York Mets already have their fifth starter, an his name is not Noah Syndergaard. As much as my fellow Mets fans would like to see Syndergaard at Citi Field in April, he will not be there until at least june. It will be the same song and dance that Harvey and Wheeler went through where the Mets will have him pitch in the minors, get ready, and ultimately come up by midseason. However, the Mets do have a young arm that is ready to make an impact in the rotation by April, Rafael Montero.

Enough with the competition! If Daisuke Matsuzaka or John Lannan are the fifth starter by opening day the Mets are making a huge mistake. They are both done. Instead, the Metropolitans should develop one of their top prospects who has been great this spring. While some may argue the Jenrry Mejia is a better option, and while I really like Mejia, he is coming off a major injury last year and its better if the Mets just take it slow. Mejia needs to build up his arm again and making a few Triple A starts to regain his confidence and stamina would be ideal before heading north with the big club.

As for Montero, he is ready. While he may not have the top of the line stuff compared to Syndergaard, Montero has the potential to be a great middle of the rotation starter. While his fastball sits in the low 90s, it has very good life and he locates it very well. His off speed arsenal is above average and he can mix and locate all of his pitches extremely well. However, the reason I really love Montero as a player is that he just has a good feel for pitching.

He may not be an ace, but Montero reminds me of Pedro Martinez

He may not be an ace, but Montero reminds me of Pedro Martinez

Watching Montero in the Futures game at Citi Field game last year, he reminded me of another pitcher the Mets once had, Pedro Martinez. When he was a Met, Martinez did not have the overpowering fastball he once did, but was effective because of location and mixing his pitching well. With his small frame and ability to mix, Montero reminds me of Pedro Martinez later in his career. He might not blow it by hitters, but he can fool batters by keeping them off-balance by mixing his pitches in all counts.

With his impressive spring so far, the Mets should look at Montero’s 2013 campaign and realize he is ready for the majors. In 2013 between Double A and Triple A Montero had a 12-7 record, 1.10 WHIP, 2.78 ERA, and 150 strikeouts in 27 games. He might not be the top of rotation prospect the Mets have grown accustomed to in the past three seasons, but Montero is a work horse that would solidify the back end of the rotation. If he continues to pitch well in Port St. Lucie, there is no reason why Rafael Montero shouldn’t be in Queens coming opening day.

Who do you think should be the Mets fifth starter? Take our poll 

O My! Johan Santana Signs One Year Deal with Orioles

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Can Santana make the Orioles roster?

Can Santana make the Orioles roster?

Weeks after a workout that seemed to derail his attempt at a comeback, Johan Santana is back on a major league team. ESPN has reported that if Santana makes the 40 man roster he would get a 3 million dollar deal with upwards of 2.1 million dollars in bonuses. The 34-year-old was released by the Mets earlier this offseason after Santana after he missed the 2013 season with his second shoulder surgery. Through 12 seasons Santana has posted a 139-78 record with a 3.20 era. Despite his dominant run from 2004-2010, The last few years for Santana have been filled with injury issues that have cost him more than two full seasons. The main question is will he be able to pitch again? Earlier this spring he could barely crack 80 miles per hour in a workout. While some guys can get away with fading velocity, Santana’s whole game is based on mixing speeds. With the lack of velocity and mounting injuries, it is hard to imagine the 34-year-old Santana making the Orioles, let alone returning to his previous form. Only time will tell if the Orioles have made a good investment in the former Cy Young Award winner.

Ike and Strike: Davis’ struggles continue

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From future corner piece to centerpiece of frustration

From future corner piece to centerpiece of frustration

It’s been a season of futility in Flushing. So its only fitting to have a poster boy for this terrible Mets season, which is Ike Davis. While Ike has been infamous for his slow starts, I’ve seen glaciers that have faster and hotter starts than Davis, this year is his worst. 0-30 with runners in scoring position and a batting average lower than a cheeseburger on the McDonald’s value menu, its time for the Mets to send him to Las Vegas.  Davis has been painful swinging the bat this season. Seriously watching him swing the back gives me stomach and has become an automatic out every time he steps to the plate. The slump is now manifesting itself in his defense as Davis has committed two terrible fielding errors in this past series with the Reds. I don’t understand why the Mets just don’t send him down? Look, Ike Davis is still a young player with a high ceiling for potential. The Mets need to be thinking about the long-term future of Davis, rather then short term success of the club. Look, in 2013 the club isn’t going anywhere, so whats the real harm in sending him down? In some ways this would be helping the club since Davis has been a burden that has weighed on this team for weeks. If anything sending him down could save Davis’ career. There he can work on his swing without the constant New York media bombarding him with the “why aren’t you hitting” questions. He obviously cannot do it at the major league level right now and needs to figure out what adjustments he needs to make. It’s crucial for the Mets to fix Ike Davis because he is one of the Mets building blocks for the future. Right now Davis is questioning everything about his game and is over thinking everything. He needs to get back to basics and play in an environment with less pressure. Ike needs to go to Triple A if the Mets want to save one of their future stars. Hopefully the Mets can get Davis’ career off life support and have him smacking home runs out of Citi Field once again

Meet the Mess!!

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It's getting to the point that you can't pay Met fans to see this team

It’s getting to the point that you can’t pay Met fans to see this team

Ever since 2006, when Carlos Beltran stood frozen in the box after committing the final out in the National League Championship series, the New York Mets franchise has endured its darkest era. Back to back collapses in 2007 and 2008 followed by irrelevance since 2009, Mets fans have been constantly told just wait till next year. Here’s the thing were not little kids, we’ve waited for progress and instead have seen recession. Now its 2013, and the wait continues. Mets fans have endured financial scandals, terrible free agent signings, home-grown talent leaving Flushing, and most importantly, terrible baseball on the field. This team has gotten to the point where they’re so bad they can’t even be stomached. Other than David Wright and Matt Harvey, this ball club is an absolute joke. While many Mets fans will blame the Wilpons, and

Mr. Wright is one of the few things that have gone right for the 2013 Mets

Mr. Wright is one of the few things that have gone right for the 2013 Mets

rightfully so, I believe that Sandy Alderson must be held accountable. While many experts will defend Alderson and his “rebuilding plan”,  its been three years. Sure, he’s brought in Zach Wheeler and Travis D’Arnaud, but they haven’t even stepped foot on the Citi Field Diamond. In the same breath, he’s failed to re-sign Jose Reyes or trade him for top prospects, and is responsible for constructing the worst outfield in majors. Outside of Wright, you’d be more lily to find Waldo then a worthy major leaguer. The same goes for the rotation, that outside of Matt Harvey, has been absolutely atrocious. The All Star Game is a clever ploy by the front office in an attempt distract the irate fan base from the woeful performance on the diamond. If this mess on the field isn’t addressed, Alderson may want to start looking for another job. He hasn’t improved this team in three years, and while the future rotation does look promising, the rest of the franchise is barren with both a lack of major league and prospect talent. As a Mets fan, I can’t even watch this team anymore. They can’t hit, pitch, and they make some of the dumbest mistakes that I’ve ever seen on a diamond, and it’s only May! Wow, Seth Mcfarlane summed it up perfectly in this Family Guy clip here. Listen, moving forward I think the Mets can build around Wright, Wheeler, Harvey, and D’arnaud. However, I do not believe the Mets can look at Tejada, Davis, and Duda as being cornerstone pieces moving forward. We’ve seen enough of their struggles to know they probably aren’t everyday players. Hopefully, the Mets will have money to spend this next offseason and finally

Unless some major changes are made, Mets fans will continue to be tormented

Unless some major changes are made, Mets fans will continue to be tormented

be able to go out and get the missing pieces. For instance, the  entire outfield, that this team needs to climb out of the cellar. Mets fans can do their part. Don’t go to the games or support this team! When people stop showing up, that will force the front office to make some moves. Trust me, if fans stop paying for season tickets and the ballpark is empty the Wilpons will be forced to act. They keep wondering what will bring fans back? It’s simple, Win! If this team can compete late into the season and actually create some hope, then the fans will come. But until then Mets fans will stay far away from the mess in Flushing. What grade would you give Sandy Alderson’s performance as GM? What do you think about the Mets? Comment below.  

Ace of Flushing: Mets have found their next star

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Harvey could be the first of the new generation K

Harvey could be the first of the new generation K

Despite their past decade of futility good times could be ahead for the Metropolitans. Every World Series in club history had a flame throwing ace on the staff. In 69 it was Seaver, in 86 it was Doc, but in the present it is Matt Harvey. Harvey burst onto the scene last season, but their were still questions to whether he was one of the best young guns in the game. Considered that question emphatically answered. This season Harvey is 4 and 0 in his first five starts with a terrific 1.54 ERA. In thirty-five innings of work the 24-year-old has struck out an impressive 39 batters. What makes him so good? A confidence and composure well beyond his years and an astounding repertoire with a fastball in the high nineties, a knee buckling high eighties slider, and both an above average curveball and change-up. While many Met fans still believe that Zach Wheeler will be the next ace in flushing, that ace might already be here. While I still think Wheeler will be astounding when he eventually reaches the show, it will be hard to have the success that Harvey has already achieved. In fact in might be an act to tough to follow and if Wheeler should stumble that could raise the question why can’t you be more like Harvey? Despite trading their ace and CY Young Award winner R.A. Dickey this offseason, Harvey could be a 20 game winner this season and possible bring back to back CY Youngs to the big apple. Being a Met fan there hasn’t been too much to cheer for this past decade. While it was hard to lose both Dickey and Santana this offseason the possibility of a Harvey Wheeler one two punch at the top of the rotation could put the Mets in contention much sooner than the flushing faithful think. One thing is for certain this Generation K the Mets are developing could bring the glory and respect back to an organization that has gone through the ringer. I know one thing, I’m counting the days until Harvey takes the mound again.