- The Rotation - Harvey, deGrom, Syndergaard and Matz have the potential to make up the best starting rotation in the majors this year. Colon will be the final pitcher in the rotation until...
- Zack Wheeler's Return - After missing all of last year in his recovery from Tommy John Surgery, Wheeler is expected to return to the Mets sometime in June. If the rest of the rotation stays healthy, the Mets would have a starting staff made up entirely of pitchers younger than 29 years of age.
- Dilson Herrera - With the acquisition of Neil Walker, the Mets essentially delayed Herrera's opportunity to serve as the team's starting second baseman. Expect him to return to the big league squad sooner rather than later, and if Neil Walker sustains any sort of injury, Dilson would be the first choice to take his place. Also, when Dilson gets called up, he will most likely start against left-handed pitchers, as Walker did not hit well against lefties last season.
- David Wright - Can David Wright bounce back from a poor 2014 and an injury-riddled 2015?
- Hansel Robles - This guy quietly had a solid rookie season last year and has the attitude and personality of someone who can be an effective late-inning reliever. Could Robles earn the role of setup man?
- Michael Conforto and Travis d'Arnaud - Both of these young players produced effectively on offense in 2015. A lot of the Mets offensive success rests on if they will take their production to the next level. Can they hit well enough to become All-Star Caliber players?
- Juan Lagares - After an exceedingly disappointing year in 2015, can Juan Lagares return to his 2013/2014 defensive form in center field? How extensive will his role be in the Mets outfield?
- More Playoff Baseball - There is a very good chance that the Mets will once again win the NL East in 2016. I am excited to watch the Mets compete in the playoffs again.
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Baseball is back!
The Mets play their first regular season game of 2016 tonight. They will be facing off against the Royals in Kansas City with Matt Harvey dealing for the Mets and Edinson Volquez for the Royals. I am extremely excited for the season. This is the first time since 2007 or 2008 that the Mets are the favorite to win the NL East, but one of the great things about baseball is that so much can happen over the course of 162 games and six months. The Mets could collapse and miss the playoffs; they could win the World Series; they could end up somewhere in between. Regardless of what happens, there are a number of things that excite me about the Mets in 2016, including:
Thursday, October 8, 2015
NLDS Preview - Mets vs. Dodgers
In this post, I will preview the pitching match-ups in the Mets National League Division Series versus the Dodgers. Starting pitching is definitely the greatest strength for both the Mets and the Dodgers. With the Mets placing 4th in the MLB in starting pitching ERA (3.43) and the Dodgers finishing 2nd (3.24), this aspect of the game will be the most important part of this NLDS. As you can see, both teams are very strong in this area, so this series could swing either way. In the end, the production of each teams' corresponding starters will decide who will move on to the NLCS.
In Los Angeles…
In Los Angeles…
Game 1
Probable Starters: Clayton Kershaw (LAD) vs. Jacob deGrom (NYM)
Kershaw's stats: 2.13 ERA; 33 GS; 232.2 IP; 301 K's; 0.88 WHIP
deGrom's stats: 2.54 ERA; 30 GS; 191.0 IP; 205 K's; 0.98 WHIP
Matchup Analysis
Clearly, the Dodgers have the edge in this matchup. Both pitchers have been top 5 NL starters this season, but Kershaw's statistics easily out-shine deGrom's in every area. Kershaw started 2 games against the Mets this season (1 home, 1 away), pitching 16 innings and only giving up 1 earned run, while deGrom only started one game against the Dodgers this season (at home), pitching 7.2 innings and giving up no runs. So, both pitchers have been successful this season while pitching against their opponent.
But, Kershaw's playoff career has been unsuccessful so far, especially considering that he's a 3-time Cy Young Award winner. He has started 8 games and pitched in 11 total with an ERA of 5.12. He's been known to choke in the postseason when the season is on the line. Since deGrom doesn't have any postseason experience, he obviously doesn't carry that notoriety with him. So, if Kershaw continues with his postseason failures the Mets should be able to take advantage.
Overall, the Dodgers are the favorites for Game 1, but expect a great pitching matchup as Kershaw tries to show that he can deal in the postseason and as deGrom makes his postseason debut following a stellar season on the mound.
Game 2
Probable Starters: Zack Greinke (LAD) vs. Noah Syndergaard (NYM)
Greinke's stats: 1.66 ERA; 32 GS; 222.2 IP; 200 K's; 0.84 WHIP
Syndergaard's stats: 3.24 ERA; 24 GS; 150.0 IP; 166 K's; 1.05 WHIP
Matchup Analysis
Once again, this is the Dodgers game to lose. Greinke led the Majors in ERA and is considered by many to be the frontrunner for this year's Cy Young Award. Syndergaard has had a very successful rookie campaign and should finish second or third in the Rookie of the Year voting. Still, he doesn't stack up to Greinke. But then again, in baseball, any team can beat any team at any time, so if Synder brings his A-game, this game could be tight.
One negative for Syndergaard is that he hasn't been particularly good during away games. He owns a 4.23 ERA on the road (as opposed to his 2.46 home ERA).
Judging by his 3.63 career postseason ERA, Greinke has had more postseason success than Kershaw has had, but still not the stellar numbers you would expect from a pitcher of his caliber. Like Kershaw he'll be trying to prove that he can perform in the postseason, while Syndergaard, like deGrom, makes his postseason debut (none of the Mets 4 postseason starters have ever pitched in the postseason).
Again, the Dodgers have the edge in the pitching matchup for Game 2, but then the series moves to New York.
To New York…
Game 3
Probable Starters: Matt Harvey (NYM) vs. Brett Anderson (LAD)
Harvey's stats: 2.71 ERA; 29 GS; 189.1 IP; 188 K's; 1.02 WHIP
Anderson's stats: 3.69 ERA; 31 GS; 180.1 IP; 116 K's; 1.33 WHIP
Matchup Analysis
This time, the matchup is not in the Dodgers' favor. Matt Harvey placed 8th in the majors in ERA with 2.71 while Anderson was good/decent with a 3.69 ERA.
In Harvey's 2 starts against the Dodgers this season he pitched to a 3.75 ERA (5 ER in 12 IP), while Anderson didn't even face the Mets. Take those stats as you may, but Harvey's somewhat decent outings against the Dodgers in no way overshadows the fact that Harvey is a better pitcher than Anderson.
Harvey has no postseason experience, while Anderson has only pitched in 2 postseason games in his career (with an admittedly good 1.42 ERA), so there is not many conclusions you can draw from that except that Anderson has been successful in the small amount of playoff playing time he has received.
To conclude Game 3, the Mets have the edge. Anderson is a solid player while Harvey is one of the most competitive players in the game.
Game 4 if necessary
Probable Starters: Steven Matz (NYM) vs. Alex Wood or Clayton Kershaw (LAD)
Matz's stats: 2.27 ERA; 6 GS; 35.2 IP; 34 K's; 1.23 WHIP
*Wood's stats: 3.84 ERA; 32 GS; 189.2 IP; 139 K's; 1.36 WHIP
*Those numbers are Wood's total stats this year. Wood was traded mid-season from the Braves to the Dodgers. His stats while on the Dodgers are as follows: 4.35 ERA; 12 GS; 70.1 IP; 49 K's; 1.27 WHIP
Matchup Analysis
First of all, this game could potentially not happen (if 1 team wins all of the first 3 games), and second of all, each team's probable starter is cloaked in mystery. Matz is currently recovering from a minor back injury. If he isn't ready to pitch by this time, then I assume Bartolo Colon would take his spot. For the Dodgers, it is unsure at this point whom they will choose to pitch: Wood or Kershaw. This choice depends on how Kershaw pitched in game 1 and how many games the Dodgers have won in the series and if they believe it's smart to let Kershaw start on short rest. If Wood does start, it'll be a matchup between two 24-year old lefties with one of the team's seasons on the line. Matz has almost no major league experience, while Wood has a decent amount, although Matz is considered the higher-ceiling pitcher (meaning he'll probably develop into a better starter).
In Matz's only appearance against the Dodgers this season, he pitched 6 shutout innings in LA. It was only his second big league start.
Wood was not so successful this season against the Mets. He started two games against them (1 home, 1 away). He pitched a total of 13 innings and allowed 7 earned runs (4.85 ERA). However, both of these starts came while he was a Brave and not a Dodger.
Matz, of course, has no postseason experience, while Wood has only pitched 3.1 innings in 2 appearances (without giving up a run) in the postseason.
There's no way to decide who has the edge here, since a few different scenarios could play out, but either way it should probably be a battle between two lefties. Even if Kershaw does start, his efficiency could be down, considering he would be operating on short rest. I think it's pretty likely that if the Mets are ahead in the series 2-1, Kershaw would start against Matz in order to save his team's season.
Game 5 if necessary
Probable Starters: Clayton Kershaw or Zack Greinke (LAD) vs. Jacob deGrom (NYM)
Matchup Analysis
If the series makes it this far, deGrom would almost definitely start this game. Greinke would start if Kershaw pitched the 4th game; if Kershaw hasn't started a second game by this time, then he would most likely start Game 5 and face off against deGrom. There's not really much more to discuss here since I've already talked about them above. If the series goes this far, this will be an incredibly intense game where two top MLB pitchers face off to send their respective team to the NLCS.
Conclusion
While the Dodgers had the better regular season record and may be a slightly stronger team going into the NLDS, this series is going to be tight. If the regular season was any indicator, we're going to witness some great pitching duels. It could very well go into a 5th game in LA in which playoff hopes are put into the hands of great starters.
The Mets could put themselves in a very good position if they just win one of the first two games in LA before heading to New York. If they are able to do that, the Mets would be in control of the series. With Harvey starting game 3 against Anderson and Matz starting game 4 against either Wood or an un-rested Kershaw, the Mets have a very good chance to win both games. So, if the Mets can just beat Kershaw or Greinke in LA, they will have the upper hand in the fight to get to the NLCS.
In this post, I was only taking into account the starting pitching match-ups, so there will obviously be other factors that will decide how the series plays out. That being said, with starting pitching being, in my opinion, the most important factor, if the Mets can produce very effectively in that department, an NLCS appearance should be in their future.
LGM
Matchup Analysis
Clearly, the Dodgers have the edge in this matchup. Both pitchers have been top 5 NL starters this season, but Kershaw's statistics easily out-shine deGrom's in every area. Kershaw started 2 games against the Mets this season (1 home, 1 away), pitching 16 innings and only giving up 1 earned run, while deGrom only started one game against the Dodgers this season (at home), pitching 7.2 innings and giving up no runs. So, both pitchers have been successful this season while pitching against their opponent.
But, Kershaw's playoff career has been unsuccessful so far, especially considering that he's a 3-time Cy Young Award winner. He has started 8 games and pitched in 11 total with an ERA of 5.12. He's been known to choke in the postseason when the season is on the line. Since deGrom doesn't have any postseason experience, he obviously doesn't carry that notoriety with him. So, if Kershaw continues with his postseason failures the Mets should be able to take advantage.
Overall, the Dodgers are the favorites for Game 1, but expect a great pitching matchup as Kershaw tries to show that he can deal in the postseason and as deGrom makes his postseason debut following a stellar season on the mound.
Game 2
Probable Starters: Zack Greinke (LAD) vs. Noah Syndergaard (NYM)
Greinke's stats: 1.66 ERA; 32 GS; 222.2 IP; 200 K's; 0.84 WHIP
Syndergaard's stats: 3.24 ERA; 24 GS; 150.0 IP; 166 K's; 1.05 WHIP
Matchup Analysis
Once again, this is the Dodgers game to lose. Greinke led the Majors in ERA and is considered by many to be the frontrunner for this year's Cy Young Award. Syndergaard has had a very successful rookie campaign and should finish second or third in the Rookie of the Year voting. Still, he doesn't stack up to Greinke. But then again, in baseball, any team can beat any team at any time, so if Synder brings his A-game, this game could be tight.
One negative for Syndergaard is that he hasn't been particularly good during away games. He owns a 4.23 ERA on the road (as opposed to his 2.46 home ERA).
Judging by his 3.63 career postseason ERA, Greinke has had more postseason success than Kershaw has had, but still not the stellar numbers you would expect from a pitcher of his caliber. Like Kershaw he'll be trying to prove that he can perform in the postseason, while Syndergaard, like deGrom, makes his postseason debut (none of the Mets 4 postseason starters have ever pitched in the postseason).
Again, the Dodgers have the edge in the pitching matchup for Game 2, but then the series moves to New York.
To New York…
Game 3
Probable Starters: Matt Harvey (NYM) vs. Brett Anderson (LAD)
Harvey's stats: 2.71 ERA; 29 GS; 189.1 IP; 188 K's; 1.02 WHIP
Anderson's stats: 3.69 ERA; 31 GS; 180.1 IP; 116 K's; 1.33 WHIP
Matchup Analysis
This time, the matchup is not in the Dodgers' favor. Matt Harvey placed 8th in the majors in ERA with 2.71 while Anderson was good/decent with a 3.69 ERA.
In Harvey's 2 starts against the Dodgers this season he pitched to a 3.75 ERA (5 ER in 12 IP), while Anderson didn't even face the Mets. Take those stats as you may, but Harvey's somewhat decent outings against the Dodgers in no way overshadows the fact that Harvey is a better pitcher than Anderson.
Harvey has no postseason experience, while Anderson has only pitched in 2 postseason games in his career (with an admittedly good 1.42 ERA), so there is not many conclusions you can draw from that except that Anderson has been successful in the small amount of playoff playing time he has received.
To conclude Game 3, the Mets have the edge. Anderson is a solid player while Harvey is one of the most competitive players in the game.
Game 4 if necessary
Probable Starters: Steven Matz (NYM) vs. Alex Wood or Clayton Kershaw (LAD)
Matz's stats: 2.27 ERA; 6 GS; 35.2 IP; 34 K's; 1.23 WHIP
*Wood's stats: 3.84 ERA; 32 GS; 189.2 IP; 139 K's; 1.36 WHIP
*Those numbers are Wood's total stats this year. Wood was traded mid-season from the Braves to the Dodgers. His stats while on the Dodgers are as follows: 4.35 ERA; 12 GS; 70.1 IP; 49 K's; 1.27 WHIP
Matchup Analysis
First of all, this game could potentially not happen (if 1 team wins all of the first 3 games), and second of all, each team's probable starter is cloaked in mystery. Matz is currently recovering from a minor back injury. If he isn't ready to pitch by this time, then I assume Bartolo Colon would take his spot. For the Dodgers, it is unsure at this point whom they will choose to pitch: Wood or Kershaw. This choice depends on how Kershaw pitched in game 1 and how many games the Dodgers have won in the series and if they believe it's smart to let Kershaw start on short rest. If Wood does start, it'll be a matchup between two 24-year old lefties with one of the team's seasons on the line. Matz has almost no major league experience, while Wood has a decent amount, although Matz is considered the higher-ceiling pitcher (meaning he'll probably develop into a better starter).
In Matz's only appearance against the Dodgers this season, he pitched 6 shutout innings in LA. It was only his second big league start.
Wood was not so successful this season against the Mets. He started two games against them (1 home, 1 away). He pitched a total of 13 innings and allowed 7 earned runs (4.85 ERA). However, both of these starts came while he was a Brave and not a Dodger.
Matz, of course, has no postseason experience, while Wood has only pitched 3.1 innings in 2 appearances (without giving up a run) in the postseason.
There's no way to decide who has the edge here, since a few different scenarios could play out, but either way it should probably be a battle between two lefties. Even if Kershaw does start, his efficiency could be down, considering he would be operating on short rest. I think it's pretty likely that if the Mets are ahead in the series 2-1, Kershaw would start against Matz in order to save his team's season.
Game 5 if necessary
Probable Starters: Clayton Kershaw or Zack Greinke (LAD) vs. Jacob deGrom (NYM)
Matchup Analysis
If the series makes it this far, deGrom would almost definitely start this game. Greinke would start if Kershaw pitched the 4th game; if Kershaw hasn't started a second game by this time, then he would most likely start Game 5 and face off against deGrom. There's not really much more to discuss here since I've already talked about them above. If the series goes this far, this will be an incredibly intense game where two top MLB pitchers face off to send their respective team to the NLCS.
Conclusion
While the Dodgers had the better regular season record and may be a slightly stronger team going into the NLDS, this series is going to be tight. If the regular season was any indicator, we're going to witness some great pitching duels. It could very well go into a 5th game in LA in which playoff hopes are put into the hands of great starters.
The Mets could put themselves in a very good position if they just win one of the first two games in LA before heading to New York. If they are able to do that, the Mets would be in control of the series. With Harvey starting game 3 against Anderson and Matz starting game 4 against either Wood or an un-rested Kershaw, the Mets have a very good chance to win both games. So, if the Mets can just beat Kershaw or Greinke in LA, they will have the upper hand in the fight to get to the NLCS.
In this post, I was only taking into account the starting pitching match-ups, so there will obviously be other factors that will decide how the series plays out. That being said, with starting pitching being, in my opinion, the most important factor, if the Mets can produce very effectively in that department, an NLCS appearance should be in their future.
LGM
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Yoenis Cespedes: A Future In New York?
On July 31st, right before this year's trade deadline, the New York Mets acquired Yoenis Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers for prospects Michael Fulmer and Luis Cessa. Although it's disappointing to lose a nice prospect such as Fulmer, the Cespedes trade has proven to be a great deal for the Mets as he has helped them immensely in the month of August and into September. But, the question Sandy Alderson should be asking himself right now is "Does Cespedes have a future with the New York Mets?".
Through September 14th, Cespedes has hit .309 with a .356 OBP, with a remarkable 17 Home Runs and 42 RBIs, leading the Mets to a 30-11 record and a 9.5 game lead in the East Division since his acquisition. As one of the truest 5-tool players in the majors, signing Yoenis long-term could be a great decision for the club. One problem with that would be that the Mets do not have a lot of money to go around, and since Cespedes will obviously require an expensive contract, would the Mets still have the money to extend Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom in the near future?
Harvey is eligible for free agency after the 2018 season with Jacob deGrom eligible the year after. As these two pitchers are the two cornerstones of the rotation, and perhaps the team as a whole, extending them before they reach free agency is a must. With the Mets current monetary situation, it may not be possible to have 4 extremely large contracts (David Wright) on the payroll at the same time. I think Harvey and deGrom are more important pieces to the club than Cespedes, and signing him now without thinking about the future might be foolish.
Also, we must consider the fact that we have many different options in the outfield. Michael Conforto is quickly proving himself to be an exciting new player with tons of potential. He has a very good chance of taking the starting LF spot for Opening Day 2016, and with Brandon Nimmo nearly ready to make his major league debut, that will be two young outfielders who are going to be fighting for outfield time.
We also have veterans Curtis Granderson and Michael Cuddyer on the roster for next season. This will be Cuddy's last season under contract for the Mets while Grandy has two more. Granderson pretty much has RF locked up for now (although he profiles much better as a LF) with Cuddy also needing playing time.
Then there's Juan Lagares. After two promising seasons to start his career, Juan has taken a big step back this season. Injuries have plagued him all season, most notably his elbow injury which originally started in September of 2014. If he can make a full recovery this off-season and get back to top form for 2016, then he should be able to regain his starting CF position.
So, with all these different options in the outfield, is it smart to extend Cespedes and keep him in the mix? While it would be nice to really give all our young players a shot, it is a extremely nice to have the powerful bat of Cespedes in the lineup; having him for an entire season could be what we need.
This upcoming off-season, Sandy needs to seriously consider all the consequences and benefits of re-signing Cespedes. If he's able to plan ahead and make sure there is room for our two star pitchers on the payroll, then a Cespedes extension might be the best move as it should ensure us as contenders for several years to come; however, he shouldn't just re-sign him in order to keep a power bat in the mix, as the loss of Harvey and/or deGrom would be much more damaging to the team (even if this loss is a few years away) than losing Cespedes. He also needs to consider if it's smart to keep Cespedes in the crowded outfield. A lot will happen between now and free agent season, but it will come quickly, and Sandy needs to be ready to make a tough decision regarding Yoenis Cespedes which could shape the organization's future for good or for bad.
Through September 14th, Cespedes has hit .309 with a .356 OBP, with a remarkable 17 Home Runs and 42 RBIs, leading the Mets to a 30-11 record and a 9.5 game lead in the East Division since his acquisition. As one of the truest 5-tool players in the majors, signing Yoenis long-term could be a great decision for the club. One problem with that would be that the Mets do not have a lot of money to go around, and since Cespedes will obviously require an expensive contract, would the Mets still have the money to extend Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom in the near future?
Harvey is eligible for free agency after the 2018 season with Jacob deGrom eligible the year after. As these two pitchers are the two cornerstones of the rotation, and perhaps the team as a whole, extending them before they reach free agency is a must. With the Mets current monetary situation, it may not be possible to have 4 extremely large contracts (David Wright) on the payroll at the same time. I think Harvey and deGrom are more important pieces to the club than Cespedes, and signing him now without thinking about the future might be foolish.
Also, we must consider the fact that we have many different options in the outfield. Michael Conforto is quickly proving himself to be an exciting new player with tons of potential. He has a very good chance of taking the starting LF spot for Opening Day 2016, and with Brandon Nimmo nearly ready to make his major league debut, that will be two young outfielders who are going to be fighting for outfield time.
We also have veterans Curtis Granderson and Michael Cuddyer on the roster for next season. This will be Cuddy's last season under contract for the Mets while Grandy has two more. Granderson pretty much has RF locked up for now (although he profiles much better as a LF) with Cuddy also needing playing time.
Then there's Juan Lagares. After two promising seasons to start his career, Juan has taken a big step back this season. Injuries have plagued him all season, most notably his elbow injury which originally started in September of 2014. If he can make a full recovery this off-season and get back to top form for 2016, then he should be able to regain his starting CF position.
So, with all these different options in the outfield, is it smart to extend Cespedes and keep him in the mix? While it would be nice to really give all our young players a shot, it is a extremely nice to have the powerful bat of Cespedes in the lineup; having him for an entire season could be what we need.
This upcoming off-season, Sandy needs to seriously consider all the consequences and benefits of re-signing Cespedes. If he's able to plan ahead and make sure there is room for our two star pitchers on the payroll, then a Cespedes extension might be the best move as it should ensure us as contenders for several years to come; however, he shouldn't just re-sign him in order to keep a power bat in the mix, as the loss of Harvey and/or deGrom would be much more damaging to the team (even if this loss is a few years away) than losing Cespedes. He also needs to consider if it's smart to keep Cespedes in the crowded outfield. A lot will happen between now and free agent season, but it will come quickly, and Sandy needs to be ready to make a tough decision regarding Yoenis Cespedes which could shape the organization's future for good or for bad.
Sunday, May 24, 2015
An Assessment of Injuries: Pitchers
Although the Mets started off the season terrifically with a 13-3 record, injuries have caught up to them. With an 11-17 record since that winning streak, the Mets desperately need some key players to return. In this post I will take a look at the Mets injury situation in the pitching department and go over which pitchers have been the biggest losses thus far.
Originally went on the Disabled List due to right should tendonitis, but his return was set back in mid/late April when he encountered problems with a herniated disk in his neck.
At this point no timetable has been set for his return, but he has made some significant progress. He threw a bullpen session on May 11th. Since then, he has pitched in 3 games during rehab assignments and pitched in an extended spring training game. A return around June 1st would not be out of the question.
His injury (as well as others) opened the door for Buddy Carlyle, Hansel Robles, Erik Goeddel and Sean Gilmartin.
The main problem has been the offense. The Mets so far have placed 26th in the majors in runs scored with only 161. If the Mets wish to compete for a playoff spot, their offense must improve. Two position player absences have hurt the most: the losses of Travis d'Arnaud and David Wright. The offense should improve greatly after they return. In my next post, I will examine the injuries to position players on the New York Mets.
LGM
Vic Black 15-day DL
Injury
Expected Return
Replacement
Team Impact
Vic Black's injury was a big loss for the Mets. Last year he was the best in the league at stranding inherited runners (25/26 stranded) while pitching to an ERA of 2.60 over 34.2 IP in 41 appearances. Although Erik Goeddel and Hansel Robles have been good in their short time in the majors, nobody has really stepped up to take Black's role and produce as he did in 2014. The bullpen, which has already been good, should receive a boost when Black returns.Josh Edgin 60-day DL
Injury
Stretched ligament and bony mass in left elbow. Underwent Tommy John Surgery on March 18th.Expected Return
With Tommy John Surgery, it's always a solid 12-month recovery, so don't expect Edgin to return until Opening Day 2016 at the earliest. He could return as late as May 2016 if there are any minor setbacks.Replacement
Jerry BlevinsTeam Impact
Jerry Blevins stepped right into the role and dominated. Up to April 19th he had pitched 5 scoreless innings over 7 appearances while not allowing any baserunners. Unfortunately, that leads us to Blevins's injury.Jerry Blevins 15-day DL
Injury
Broken Forearm (distal radius fracture of left arm)Expected Return
Blevins has worn a splint on his forearm since the injury and will wear it for a total of 6 weeks. The splint should come off around June 1st. He'll then probably need at least two weeks to rebuild arm strength. His return will come during the middle of June at the earliest.Replacement
Alex TorresTeam Impact
Alex Torres has picked up right where Blevins left off. Blevins was perfect until his injury, but Torres has pitched well. Although Torres has experienced bouts of wildness at times, his only major hiccup was an Ichiro Suzuki 3-run Home Run. While the injury to Jerry Blevins is obviously disappointing, Alex Torres has certainly numbed the blow.Bobby Parnell 15-day DL
Injury
Partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in right elbow. Underwent Tommy John Surgery in early April of 2014.Expected Return
After sitting out all of 2014, he was expected back by late April/early May of 2015, but was shut down on April 24th due to elbow soreness after pitching in some rehab games. He resumed his rehab assignment on May 11th when he pitched for the Class A Advanced St. Lucie Mets. It didn't go so well, as he gave up 3 earned runs in 1 inning of work. Since then, he has made two more rehab assignments and pitched in an extended spring training game, giving up runs in all of them. There is no specific timetable for his return, and with his velocity and control not back to where it should be, it still may be a little while before Bobby returns.Replacement
Jenrry Mejia (after brief stints from Jose Valverde and Kyle Farnsworth)Team Impact
The loss of Parnell was big for the Mets. He had pitched to sub-2.50 ERAs in both 2012 and 2013 (with 22 saves in '13), firmly establishing himself as a dependable Closer. Initially after his first and final 2014 appearance on Opening Day, Jose Valverde and Kyle Farnsworth stepped in to close at separate times. With that experiment a failure, the job was given to Jenrry Mejia, and he ran with it. As a reliever in 2014, Jenrry pitched to a 2.72 ERA with 28 saves in 31 opportunities and 60 K's in 56 appearances (56.1 IP). Jenrry never got his chance to continue as Closer in 2015, though.Jenrry Mejia Restricted
Injury/Suspension
He was placed on the disabled list with posterior inflammation in his right elbow, retroactive to April 5th. A few days later he was suspended 80 games after testing positive for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing drug.Expected Return
Theoretically, he could rejoin the Mets when his suspension is finished, but he would not be eligible to pitch in the postseason because of MLB's PED policy. Sandy Alderson said: "I hope our bullpen is pitching so well there is no spot for him." So, if the bullpen continues to look good, Mejia may not pitch again in the majors until 2016.Replacement
Jeurys FamiliaTeam Impact
Jeurys Familia has stepped right in and pitched very well. Saving 13/14 games while pitching to a 1.77 ERA in 21 appearances (20.1 IP). Jeurys has pitched much better as Closer than Jenrry ever did.Zack Wheeler 60-day DL
Injury
UCL Tear. Underwent Tommy John Surgery on March 25th.Expected Return
Exactly like Josh Edgin's timetable for return, don't expect Zack back on the 25-man roster until Opening Day 2016 at the earliest.Replacement
Dillon GeeTeam Impact
With the Mets extraordinarily deep starting pitching, the Wheeler injury is not as devastating as it may appear. Dillon Gee has stepped into the open slot and pitched well enough (3.86 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 30.1 IP, 5 GS), and with starting pitching prospects Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz on the horizon (and, of course, Rafael Montero), the Mets starting pitching might not be significantly affected by Wheeler's injury.Rafael Montero 15-day DL
Injury
Right rotator cuff inflammationExpected Return
At this point, there is no timetable for his return. Although the injury isn't supposed to be serious. On May 11th he was still feeling soreness in his right shoulder, and on May 24th it was reported that he has still not made any significant progress in his recovery. So, a return date is still unknown, and it is even possible that he will head back to AAA when his shoulder is healed.Replacement
Rafael was sent back down to AAA after his spot start, so there was no vacant spot to fill after his injury.
Team Impact
Rafael's injury has not seriously affected the Mets. After a brief stint as a reliever early in the year, he was sent down and then brought back up to spot start on April 28th. After the game he was placed on the DL. As a spot starter at this point, he has plenty of time to rest up until the Mets really need him later in the season.Dillon Gee 15-day DL
Injury
Mild groin strainExpected Return
Dillon pitched 4 innings (54 pitches) for the Class-A Advanced St. Lucie Mets on May 16th in a rehab start. He pitched again for the St. Lucie Mets on May 21st. He did well, with 6.1 IP, 3 hits allowed and 5 K's. He was at first expected to rejoin the Mets against the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 22nd-24th, but it has now been decided that he will make one more rehab start before rejoining the Mets. When Gee returns the Mets will temporarily operate with a 6-man rotation.Replacement
Noah SyndergaardTeam Impact
This injury opened up the door for one of the biggest prospects in the majors: Noah Syndergaard. After dominating the PCL to the tune of a 1.82 ERA in 29 2/3 IP over 5 starts with 34 K's and 8 BBs, Noah made his much-hyped debut on Tuesday, May 12th in Chicago facing the Cubs. He struggled at the end of his first start, in total pitching only 5.1 innings and giving up 3 ER, but bounced back nicely in his second start, with 6 IP and only 1 ER. In his third start he pitched decently over 6 innings, giving up 3 earned runs. Over his first 17.1 IP, Noah has struck out 16 batters. The loss of Gee hasn't been a big loss for the Mets, as Syndergaard has pitched well enough.Buddy Carlyle 15-day DL
Injury
Lower back injuryExpected Return
As of now, no timetable for his return.Replacement
Jack Leathersich was called up to fill the vacant bullpen spot.
Team Impact
Even though he recorded the save on Opening Day, Carylye is not an integral part of the Mets bullpen. The Mets won't suffer from his absence; there's a chance that there won't even be a spot open for him in the bullpen by the time he's ready to return.Conclusion
With the Mets depth of starting pitching, the injuries in that department have not been what has hurt the Mets the most. In fact, the Mets are 6th in the MLB with a 3.62 ERA for starting pitchers. The absence of relievers like Vic Black, Bobby Parnell and Jerry Blevins have been bigger losses, as those 3 pitchers would slot directly into the back of the bullpen to set up Familia. With a placement of 4th in the majors for bullpen ERA at 2.33, the bullpen is performing well.The main problem has been the offense. The Mets so far have placed 26th in the majors in runs scored with only 161. If the Mets wish to compete for a playoff spot, their offense must improve. Two position player absences have hurt the most: the losses of Travis d'Arnaud and David Wright. The offense should improve greatly after they return. In my next post, I will examine the injuries to position players on the New York Mets.
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