Five Steps to a Mets World Series
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by user DNL
46-34 is a pretty good first half. With, potentially, 47 wins at the mathematical half-way mark, a Mets team that managed to lose in horrific fashion for the first part of June is, nevertheless, on pace for 93 wins and a second-consecutive NL East pennant. The Shea boys likely playoff-bound.
Here are five things Mets fans need to do and hope for, as we strive for a World Series title.
#5: A Righty Bat for Left Field
The Mets offense right now is its Achilles' heal, which is shocking. Carlos Delgado is in a season-long slump, and it does not help that Moises Alou and, yes, Lastings Milledge are on the shelf. The good news is that one of them should come back soon, and that both should be back by October. Let's assume that they're both back by August 1.
I propose that Alou, Milledge, and Shawn Green enter into a three-way, two spot job share. Green is great against righty pitching -- .304/.356/.509 so far this year, in 161 AB -- but terrible versus lefties (.216/.284/.284 in 74 AB). Versus lefty starters, the outfield should be Alou, Carlos Beltran, and Milledge, left to right. Against righties, Alou and Milledge should basically job share. This will give Alou some time off, especially as Endy Chavez returns and takes an occasional spot-start. With Milledge also able to spell Beltran in center, there's no reason to think that he'll be short of at bats.
#4: Seventh Inning Help
Aaron Heilman is either hurt, mechanically screwed up, mentally screwed up, or a combination of the three. Pedro Feliciano has rightfully taken Heilman's place as the Mets' preferred 8th inning opinion. Joe Smith is effective against righties, and, don't look now, but Scott Schoeneweis is a decent LOOGY.
My idea: When Pedro returns, and assuming that the current rotation is intact and healthy (meaning "Jorge Sosa" and not "Mike Pelfrey"), move Heilman to the Aaron Sele mop-up role, and give Pedro the 7th inning. Yes, use Petey as a RP. As a friend of mine pointed out, Martinez is going to be lacking stamina upon his return. Also, if Heilman is effective in the mop-up role, he's effectively showing that he can start. And we can trade him in December.
#3: Relax
June sucked, at least until the last 10 days or so. I was solidly on the "Get Mark Buerhle!!!!" bandwagon, but really, that was silly. The Mets don't really need another starter, and what we do need -- a right-handed bat -- is the one thing we would have had to trade to get Buerhle. So, take a deep breath.
#2: A Bench That Can Hit
Julio Franco, I *heart* you. Have forever, because I drafted you to play second base for me on one of my first even fantasy baseball teams -- almost 20 years ago. So it pains me to say that you're stick-a-fork-in-it done. Unfortunately, between Franco and the fact that David Newhan and Ben Johnson stink, well, the bench needs help. Damion Easley and Ruben Gotay are good, but they play virtually the same position. Ramon Castro is fine, and won't really be playing during the post-season -- he's more insurance than anything else. Assuming the Mets carry Endy and Milledge with Easley, Gotay, and Castro, that leaves room for one more bat. Get one.
#1: Use the DL More Creatively
The Mets are winning in spite of, not because of, guys like Schoenweis and Delgado. We can afford to lose them for two to four weeks if a DL stint and a "rehab" week is going to make things better. This will also give Willie the excuse he needs to use the lineup more creatively, e.g. Shawn Green at 1B and random AAA-ers in the pen.
