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From the Atlanta Braves’ Viewpoint: the Off-season in Review (Mets)

By Alan Carpenter

Oct 21, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Mets players celebrate on the field after defeating the Chicago Cubs in game four of the NLCS at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Mets players celebrate on the field after defeating the Chicago Cubs in game four of the NLCS at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 30, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli (29) congratulates second baseman Neil Walker (18) after Walker hit a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli (29) congratulates second baseman Neil Walker (18) after Walker hit a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

The Under-Whelming Off-Season

Mets’ fans had a right to be buoyant about their team coming into 2016:

  • All pitchers were healthy, save for Zach Wheeler, who will be back at some point in 2016
  • David Wright is better… so far
  • Granderson seemed to have found something
  • Michael Conforto replaces the retired Cuddyer in LF
  • Asdrubal Cabrera might be their next SS, putting Wilmer Flores into a utility role (though his 16 HR could be missed, so we’ll see how that goes)

So maybe if the Mets actually opened a wallet and re-upped Yoenis Cespedes, they’d be thinking World Series again in Queens?

No.  Not happening.

In fact, Cabrera and Walker pretty much the only new additions of significance.  Combine that with the loss of Murphy and now they have to just hope that everybody stays on the field to keep some offense going.  De Aza was certainly not the outfielder the Mets faithful were looking for.

It could still be enough, though:  New York still has Jake de Grom, Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz, and Colon as a formidable starting group.  Zack Wheeler‘s Tommy John surgery came at the end of March last year, so he might be available sometime in June or July.  Given their bullpen situation, that might be a real good place for Zack to get re-acclimated to pitching.  The pen is thin behind Jeurys Familia, but that’s probably okay, given the starting 5.

When you consider that we’re talking about a still-mediocre NL East that has both the Phillies and Braves undergoing rebuilds, the Mets can probably count on at least two dozen wins right there, plus another 10 from the Marlins.  They’ll put their rotation up against anything Washington can offer, so there’s perhaps 45 wins within their own division (last year they got 47 against just 29 defeats).

So look for them to ride their pitching horses to the All-Star break once again and then see what they need to fill again at that point.  The Mets probably can’t compete well against the NL Central’s best, and maybe not the NL West either, but until October, they won’t have to.  They only have to beat Washington… and they might be able to.

Around the Field:

More from Tomahawk Take

  • 1B – Lucas Duda.  Underrated, can’t hit a lot, can’t defend well, but has some big fly in him.
  • 2B – Walker.  Maybe – just maybe – the Mets did replace Murphy with another 2.5 WAR producer.  If so, that was a good trade for them.
  • SS – Flores or Cabrera.  4 years ago, Cabrera would have been an exciting pickup for the Mets.  Will he be the player he was in 2011-12 or the 2013-14 version?
  • 3B – David Wright… if he can stay on the field.  Even so, he was lousy in his last more-or-less full season (2014).  Only one season of 150+ games since 2010 ended.
  • LF – Michael Conforto looks really, really good.  9 HR in 1/3rd of a season, hitting .270.  If he keeps that up, look out.
  • CF – Juan Lagares should be better.  Will he be?
  • RF – Granderson needs another good year, but it’s anybody’s guess as to whether that will happen.
  • C – Travis d’Arnaud had a really good 2015 as well.  If he even just maintains 90% of that, the Mets will be all right with it.
  • Bench – Flores, Eric Campbell, and De Aza

On Pitching:

  • DeGrom, Syndergaard, and Harvey for anchors
  • Matz and Colon aren’t slouches either
  • Familia saved 43 games in 2015.  Sean Gilmartin (2.58) and Erik Goeddel (2.43) back him up.  That’s probably enough.
  • Bullpen had 4th fewest innings in baseball in 2015.

Next: Fred's Take on Who Gets the Hall Call

I do think the Mets are better than the Marlins.  I am uncertain whether they are better than the Nationals, as that club just has too much talent to be bad (mediocre? Maybe).  Just how far the Mets go in 2016 doesn’t so much depend on this off-season we’re wrapping up as it will the health and production of the offense.  With so many players having great 2015 campaigns, it’s hard to suggest that they repeat those efforts this year, but their pitching will keep them in an awful lot of games.

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