Mets Still Have Questions, But Flores's Storybook Night Provides Hope

When I last wrote about the Mets – during the All-Star break – I cautioned fans and the like to be patient with them. I felt they were primed to stay in the National League East race, that their offense couldn't possibly perform worse than it had in the first half of the season and their pitching would keep them in most games.

Lastly, and toughest to sell, I predicted that General Manager Sandy Alderson would pull the trigger in free agency and add a piece or two to help the team’s dilapidated offense.

Alderson didn't make it look pretty.

But, despite a blood thirsty New York media frenzy that essentially dared Alderson not to make a move and a severely botched non-trade that caused the young Wilmer Flores to shed tears on the infield, the Mets reached yesterday's trade deadline having added four new pieces for the stretch run.

New York strengthened their bench, bullpen and acquired that much needed power bat by adding Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson from Atlanta, Tyler Clippard from Oakland and Yoenis Cespedes from Detroit.

Alderson was able to pull it all off without giving up any of their star pitchers, including the rehabbing Zack Wheeler, who was reported to be part of the failed Gomez deal. They also held on to Flores, who has shown promise this year.

The Mets were able to use talent from their suddenly stacked minor league system to complete these much needed deals.

So here we are.

The Mets seem more than equipped to make a realistic run at the solid but unspectacular Nationals, who arrived at Citi Field Friday with a 3-game division lead.

New York now has a deep roster with players who can play multiple positions, some better than others.

Now that the pressure is briefly off Alderson, the likely next person in the line of fire is Manager Terry Collins.

He will have to perform better at his own job if the Mets are going to be true players come September. 

Collins has made curious decisions a habit, whether it be pulling starters too early, leaving them on the mound too long, or lineup decisions. With the added depth and talent on the roster comes more chances for Collins to press the wrong buttons (I won't even mention his proclivity for odd press conference behavior).

He will now have to juggle time between Johnson, Flores and Murphy at second base, Murphy, Uribe and maybe even David Wright at third, and the outfield is suddenly a logjam with Cespedes, Granderson, Conforto, Lagares, Nieuwenhuis, Cuddyer, and even Eric Campbell.

 I dare say, I don’t have the utmost confidence in Collins’s ability to make it all work.

Lets hope I'm wrong. Depth problems are usually described as good problems.

We shall see.

The post trade deadline could not have started more positively Friday.

Though Cespedes could not join his new team in time for yesterday's series opener versus the Nationals, the Mets were set up well for the series with their top three young guns on the mound, Harvey followed by Jacob deGrom, then Noah Syndergaard.

Harvey did his part.

He started the game with five and a third innings of perfect work before giving up a single to Jose Lobaton.

But, the night belonged to, guess who? Flores.

Remember, it was Flores who was put through the wringer two nights ago.

Word spread quickly via Twitter that the Mets and the Brewers had agreed to terms on a trade that would send Carlos Gomez to the Mets for Zack Wheeler and Wilmer Flores.

The only problem was Flores was currently playing shortstop at Citi Field for the Mets versus the Padres. The deal was confirmed by various media outlets and being talked about on the live game broadcast, but Flores remained in the game, cameras focusing in on his every emotion.

When he stepped to the plate, astonishingly still in the game in the late innings, he received a farewell standing ovation from the New York crowd who seemingly knew more than he did. When he ran out to his shortstop position (still in the game) for the next half inning, cameras again zeroed in on the 23-year-old. He was seen wiping tears away from his face with his fielding arm.

Wilmer Flores was emotional Wednesday night.

 

You could tell early that yesterday would be a better day for Flores.

In the first inning, he robbed Yunel Escobar of a hit with a diving stop and accurate throw to first  base. The crowd rewarded Flores with a prolonged standing ovation; part appreciation for the play, part appreciation for his refreshing show of emotion two nights earlier, and part apology for jumping the gun.

In the fourth inning, Flores drove in the game’s first run with a single to left. Another standing ovation ensued. That run was enough to keep the Mets ahead until the Nationals finally broke through against Harvey and tied the game in the eight inning.

Flores stepped to the plate again in the bottom of the twelfth with the game tied at 1. This time he lined a shot over the left centerfield fence. He raced around the bases into the mob of teammates waiting at home plate.

One last standing ovation.

What a difference two days make.

If that's not a good sign for the Mets’ stretch run I don't know what is.

But, then again, it's the Mets. So, we shall see.

Mets Midseason Report - Where do they go from here?

Ah, the Mets.

Let me start by admitting I’m a life long Mets fan, so my feelings vis-a-vis the Amazins are usually either hopelessly optimistic or depressingly pessimistic. Sometimes both at the same damn time.

Cautious optimism is winning out today.

As poorly as the Mets’ offense has looked over the past three months, they have managed to keep their heads above water. There is no reason to think they won’t be able to do so the remainder of the season, whether or not changes are made to the roster.

The Mets finished the first half of the season five games over .500 at 47-42, 2 games behind the Nationals in the NL East.

Not too bad and maybe acceptable had you asked Mets fans prior to the season.

However, remember the Mets started the season 13-3, so that means since April 24^th they have been a less than average (5 games under .500) baseball team. That’s three months of inconsistent to bad baseball.

Yes, injuries have hurt the team.

David Wright has been absent since the beginning of the season and his return is still greatly in question.

Travis d’Arnaud has been their best offensive player when healthy. Unfortunately, he has very rarely been healthy and starts the second half of the season on the DL.

Daniel Murphy, though one of the worst fielders I may have ever witnessed on an everyday basis, is a solid bat in any lineup. But again, Murphy has had a couple stints on the DL already this season and has been unable to get into any kind of offensive rhythm.

The rest of the offense has just been bad, without the benefit of health excuses.

After a promising start to the season, Lucas Duda had a putrid month of June, hitting just one homerun. Michael Cuddyer, GM Sandy Alderson’s prized free agent bat during the offseason, has convinced me that there may be a Mets free agent curse, particularly in left field. Cuddyer has resembled Jason Bay, as his confidence is shot and he has become close to an automatic out with or without runners in scoring position, but especially when runners are on.

So, why the cautious optimism, you ask?

The pitching, of course.

The Mets currently have two #1 pitchers, Jacob deGrom and Matt Harvey, in their rotation and two other guys who have #1 potential, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz, though Matz is currently on the DL.

The other two pitchers in the rotation aren’t too shabby either. Jonathon Niese and fan favorite Bartolo Colon have more than held their own on the mound.

The pitching has absolutely carried the Mets, to the point where if the offense could just muster three runs a game for the remainder of the season, you’d feel pretty confident that the Mets could make the postseason.

That brings us to the big question. What can Alderson do to bolster the offense so that all of this dominant pitching is not wasted?

Every fan and New York media member has taken their turn bashing Alderson for failing to make a successful move in the offseason or a move at all so far this season.

“Do something!” has been the cry.

But, when you ask about specifics it’s crickets.

I’m a believer that “something” must be done, whether it’s obtaining a big bat or little bat, but not at the expense of any of the young pitchers. Now, if a team is offering up a young stud, a la Trout, Harper, Pederson, Goldschmidt (of course they are not), then now you’re talking, but anything else, no thank you. So, in other words, the Mets’ young stud pitchers should be untouchable, including Zack Wheeler, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Thus, it is hard to argue with Alderson’s inaction at this point. People keep predicting the demise of the Mets this season, but somehow the team has found a way to stay within reach of the division leading Nationals.

There have been reports of the Mets having interest in little pieces like Oakland’s Ben Zobrist or Milwaukee’s Aramis Ramirez, either of which could help.

More recently, however, Jon Heyman reported that the Mets are showing interest in another Brewer, Carlos Gomez, and the Padres’ Justin Upton. Those are two potentially bigger bats that could give the Mets the boost they need to become a true threat in the National League. As long as the core five pitchers are not touched, I’m all for that type of move, one year rental or not.

Regardless, I predict that the Mets will be a playoff contender late into the summer. The pitching will keep them in it and even without a major move (though, I think one is coming) the offense cannot perform any worse than it already has. It is only up from here.

Though you cannot count on Wright’s return, it is possible, as he recently was cleared to resume baseball activities. d’Arnaud should also be back in a few weeks and if he can somehow avoid another injury, he will be a huge offensive addition.

The Nationals are formidable, but they haven’t shown the ability to run and hide.

Expect the Mets starting pitching to stay dominant, the relief pitching to improve with the return of Jenrry Mejia, and for Alderson to make a move that gives the offense that much needed boost.

For the first time in a long time, expect meaningful baseball games in August and September in Queens.