Mets Midseason Report Card
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by user Thefeed
The first half has been a fun one at Shea Stadium. The best record in the National League, an array of All-Star performers and a 12-game lead mean the Mets get a big fat A on their first-half report card. What about the individual players?
Carlos Delgado, 1B
Delgado’s been just what the Mets hoped for when they got him in the Marlin salary dump – a power-hitting first baseman whose professional approach strengthens the clubhouse. It would have been better if they had been able to sign him straightaway as a free agent before 2005 but only because Mike Jacobs might have landed them the back-end starter that would put them over the top in the National League. Delgado’s average is sagging, but he still walks enough and flashes that power to make that decline minimal. B+
Jose Valentin, 2B
Valentin was a supersub when the season began but given a chance because of Kaz Matsui’s injury, Jose pulled off a full-time job and helped force Matsui out of Flushing. For that alone, most Met fans would give him an A+ but Valentin’s thrown in decent pop while playing a new position at a high level. A veteran player, Valentin should be able to keep on plugging through the second half. A-
Jose Reyes, SS
Tis a shame that the lacerated finger will keep him from making his All-Star debut because Reyes has blossomed into everything the Mets said he would become this season. He’s used his speed to the tune of 39 steals and 12 triples, is tied with Edgar Renteria among NL shortstops in Runs Created and is a favorite of mine for his Diamondvision Spanish lessons at each Met game. A highlight reel season figures to pick up once his pinky heals. A
David Wright, 3B
A record producer saw a young guitarist play at a club in 1975 and proclaimed, “I have seen rock and roll future and it’s name is Bruce Springsteen.” Fast forward 30 years to Wright’s amazing catch last season and perhaps someone, somewhere said the same thing. If they did, they’ve been proven, um, Wright in spades. It’s not that his stats are astounding – Scott Rolen and Miguel Cabrera still play a pretty hot corner – it’s the intangibles. He’s telegenic, has a flair for the dramatic, is beloved by his home crowd and thrives in the pressure cooker of New York City. He’s Derek Jeter, basically, but in Queens. A+
Cliff Floyd, LF
It’s been a rough season so far for Cliffie. After 2005’s injury-free campaign, the old injury bug caught back up to Floyd in the early going. It had its benefits, namely a tasting menu portion of Lastings Milledge, but if there is any truth to the rumors of Omar Minaya dangling Milledge for Dontrelle Willis the Amazins need Floyd to be in the lineup every day. C
Carlos Beltran, CF
This is what the Mets were expecting from Beltran last year. His 25 home runs lead the club, his OPS is just shy of 1000 and he’s starting Tuesday night’s All-Star soiree, that’s why you spend $13.5 million. Early in the season it looked like Beltran might be destined to play A-Rod for Wright’s nascent Jeter act as fans grew uneasy with his subpar production. After shaking off some early injuries, however, Beltran has been the total package in center. A
Xavier Nady, RF
How far Nady has come from battling with the forgotten Victor Diaz for the rightfield job. Nady’s been very solid for the Mets, playing a decent right while providing some pop in the back of the lineup. With Endy Chavez around as a speedier, left-handed option the team has made something productive out of the hash that the position looked to be in the spring. B
Paul Lo Duca, C
LoDuca is another deserving Met All-Star, especially since he’s the only NL catcher to qualify for the batting title. At .302, it’s not exactly faint praise either. The biggest concern is LoDuca’s penchant for sliding in the second half; the Mets would do well to play Ramon Castro a bit more now that the divisional race looks like an afterthought. He must stay fresh and productive at the plate because his work behind it is less than inspiring. B+
Pedro Martinez, P
Ah, the perils of Pedro. On the mound Martinez has been aces, his seven wins at least two too few because of some faulty relief work, he’s second in the league in K’s per 9IP and, more than anything, his signing was the point that this Met run really began. The downside is the toe problem of the spring and the current hip concern – all of Pedro’s skills on the rubber don’t mean much in the trainer’s room. Handle Martinez with care, Willie Randolph, or face the risk of a postseason with an impaired gardener. A-
Tom Glavine, P
He’s a six-inning starter at this point in his career but if he keeps composing such pretty sextets that should be just fine. It would help if the rotation behind him were a little sturdier because this bullpen could run out of gas but the Mets will take another half-season of just what they’ve gotten from Glavine thus far. His 11 wins lead the National League and his resurgent first three months give the Mets a formidable front end of the rotation. A-
Steve Trachsel, P
Back doing what he does best, eating up innings at about a league average pace, as if last season’s injury never even happened. In a more perfect world, Trachsel is a fourth starter at best, but he’s playing a more integral role for the arms-shy Mets. It would behoove the team to make a trade that pushes him into that role as the Cardinals look much better equipped for a short series on the mound. C+
Orlando Hernandez, P
El Duque is another one who should be dropped a rung in the order, and into a key bullpen role come October. He’s actually been better than Trachsel since returning to New York but if you get six innings from him it’s a story because he’s not built for long-term stays on the mound anymore. C+
Fifth Starters
John Maine, Jeremi Gonzalez, Victor Zambrano, Alay Soler, Brian Bannister all get F’s. Mike Pelfrey is an incomplete to this point but it would be better for all involved if he keeps that mark until next year, at the soonest. The Mets need another starting pitcher for the second half to relieve some pressure on the pen, Trachsel and Hernandez – and to look forward to short series where pitching will be at a premium.
Duaner Sanchez, P
Started the season with an impressive scoreless streak but has been closer to average across the last month. He’s thrown 48 innings already and like many of his relief mates could use a less taxing second half they’re unable to get unless a trade happens. B
Chad Bradford, P
Bradford’s been shaky at times but stable enough as the third righty reliever. He’s pitched in just two less games than Sanchez but 15 fewer innings so he could probably stand to be used a bit more if his back allows it. C+
Darren Oliver, P
An unsung hero on this team, the former starter has provided a key bridge in many lackluster starts by some of those named above. If all he’d done was gobble the 50 innings he’s thrown the Mets would be thankful for his resilience but Oliver has provided high quality work to boot. B+
Pedro Feliciano, P
The pen’s other lefty has been pretty impressive at the meager task that is his charge. He’s actually been a bit better vs. righties than against lefties, which should probably spell some more work at the expense of Sanchez and Aaron Heilman across the second half. B
Aaron Heilman, P
Heilman’s been a disappointment to this point. After a lot of hemming and hawing about his role, Heilman could probably be back in the rotation if he’d pitched better in the first half. He’s pitched a lot, 50 innings at the break, and might react well to some time off but if his head is still focused on not being a starter he could become a liability as the season progresses. C-
Billy Wagner, P
Wagner’s first-half depicts the quixotic nature of the free-agent closer. He hasn’t pitched poorly by any means but the games that stand out most – the four-run meltdown against the Yankees or the long home run to Barry Bonds – are among his four blown saves that just frankly seem like too much for a guy making 10 and a half million bucks. Still, he’s a quality closer with the right makeup and stuff for the job and he’ll prove that contract’s worth in October not June. B+
Date
Mon 07/10/06, 12:44 pm EST
