New York Mets Remaining Players Have To Carry The Load

First-it was Zack Wheeler and Josh Edgin who both required Tommy John Surgery to repair a torn UCL (Edgin-Bone Chip in UCL), discovered during spring training.

Then, the projected closer, Jenrry Mejia, who felt elbow stiffness and was placed on the DL-April 7th, was suspended 80 games for using performance enhancing drugs.

From that same bullpen, Vic Black is currently progressing through a Double-A rehab assignment, recovering from right shoulder tendinitis.

Even without the men listed above, the New York Mets got off to a hot start, and claimed an early lead in the National League East, currently 11-3 on the 2015 MLB season, which unfortunately came with a price.

In their series-clinching game against the Miami Marlins, a 7-6 win which capped off a 4-game sweep, the Met's lost reliever and lefty-specialist, Jeremy Blevins-in the 7th, on a Dee Gordon come-backer which fractured his left forearm and Travis D'Arnaud later in that inning on a hit-by-pitch.

And add "The Captain", well, our captain, David Wright, who was off to a torrid start-hitting .333, with a homer and four rbi's, who found himself on the DL, just last week with a mild right hamstring strain.

In the third week of the season, the Met's, the 2015 Met's, whose off-season's theme centered around an organization moving in the right direction, minus the last eight years, due to an abundance of young and live arms, a revamped farm-system and a mixture of veterans and young position players will face their toughest test of the season, now.

Will they survive?

It's pretty obvious that the Met's have put the National League East on notice, early this season and I'm pretty sure the baseball experts and analyst did not pick the Met's as the division leaders, despite this small sample size.

Even still, here we are, and the Met's, currently on a nine-game winning streak, a feat they haven't accomplished since the 1985 season, with their 7-1 win against the Atlanta Braves last night (first game of a three game set), will have to do what is necessary to remain on top until the cavalry arrives.

The Met's will have to rely on a select few of individuals to offset the injuries and of course persevere collectively.

One of those individuals is the no.2 prospect in the Met's farm system and the no.6 overall catching prospect according to MLB.com's, 2015 Prospect Watch: Top 10 Catchers, by Jim Callis, in Kevin Plawecki, who has been optioned up to fill in the void and become the everyday catcher, with Anthony Recker remaining as the back-up.

In his major league debut against the Braves, Plawecki caught a one-run game thrown by Jon Niese, who picked up his second win of the year, while collecting two hits and scoring twice.

It’s exactly the type of debut that gives the fans, the Met's and their front office the confidence that Plawecki can perform in D'Arnaud's absence.

Plawecki contributed to the win, added to the momentum and did it all in his first game in the big leagues, looking like he's been there before.

"It's special, we’re here to win, I'm just happy to be a part of it and happy to be along for the ride," Plawecki said post-game to SNY's Steve Gelbs.

Like Plawecki, who has to step up and be the everyday catcher, Alex Torres has to step up and become a player he was not destined to be, at least for the start of this season.

Torres was brought here from the San Diego Padres to give the Met's lefty insurance out of the bullpen, along with Blevins who was acquired for the same role in the aftermath of Edgin's season ending injury.

And now with Blevins out for the foreseeable future, Torres has to claim that role, something he is not used to doing, but tonight, with his protective hat and all, Torres relieved Eric Goeddel in the bottom of the 7th, and with two men on-base, struck out Freddie Freeman after falling behind in the count to end the inning.

That was big.

Another name that has to perform and or continue to perform is Eric Campbell, the versatile utility-man optioned up from Triple-A Las Vegas last week to fill-in at third-base.

Since his call-up, Campbell has responded picking up five hits in his first eighteen at-bats of the season, three rbi's and seven runs-scored, including two runs scored in the Met's 7-1 win over the Braves.

The Met's don't need Campbell to be Wright but to be the best version of Campbell he can be and so far, his exploits at the plate, on-base and on the field will do.

Continuing on the bases, position players like Curtis Granderson, Michael Cuddyer and Lucas Duda have to lead this squad until some of the core players return.

They are veterans and fortunately for the Mets, all three haven gotten off to great starts.

Granderson, placed at the top of the order, leading-off, which almost seemed like a terrible call by manager Terry Collins, has paid off for the Mets, as Granderson has gotten on-base with consistency (leading the league in walks-12) as well as come-through with the bat like he did tonight.

Granderson picked up three-hits in five at-bats, driving in four runs.

That has to continue.

Although Duda went hitless in this game, to start the season, the first-basemen has arguably become the Met's best hitter leading the team in batting average, .327 and second in rbi's in eight.

Also must continue.

And Cuddyer is actually in a three-way (Granderson, Duda other two) tie with runs-scored in eight.

You know the rest.

It doesn't hurt that Juan Lagares, a gold-glove honoree and Wilmer Flores, a capable short-stop are finally joining the party at the plate.

We all know what the starting pitching will bring so there's no reason to further their praise, but I will anyway.

In the Met's 11 wins presently, the pitching staff of Bartolo Colon, Jacob DeGrom, Matt Harvey, Jon Niese and Dillon Gee, along with the bullpen have limited teams to three-runs or less including four, one-run games and a shut-out.

Harvey and Colon lead the league in strikeouts per walk, 24.00 and 18.00 respectively and Jeurys Familia, who is the closer replacing Mejia, is in a tie with Atlanta's Jason Grilli for the most saves thus far in six.

I believe the Met's can continue this trend.

They just have to continue to pitch well, hit in critical spots and avoid additional injuries to anyone else.

In other words, they just have to play survivor.

The New Face of New York Baseball

Now that New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has retired, who will be the face of New York baseball? Will it be Matt Harvey, Masahiro Tanaka, Curtis Granderson, CC Sabathia, Didi Gregorius, or minor league baseball player, Aaron Judge?

On September 26th, 2013, the New York Yankees hosted the Tampa Bay Rays in front of a sellout crowd of 48,675. With the Yankees playoffs fate sealed, the sellout crowd's interest focused on other reasons. This was Yankees closer Mariano Rivera's final game and his departure from the game as he retired his last batter featured one of the most touching and heartfelt signature moments for Major League Baseball as well as the Yankees organization.

The Rays were ahead four to the Yankees nil in the top of the ninth inning. On a 1-0 count with 1 out in the inning, Rivera threw a pitch to Rays SS Yunel Escobar, popping him out recording the final out of his career. It was time for Rivera to exit this inning, the mound, the Yankees, and his career as a Major League Baseball player. Usually, Yankees manager Joe Girardi makes his call to the bullpen and walking out to the mound to retrieve his pitcher, but on this night, acknowledging the moment, Girardi sent two of the men who began their careers alongside Rivera in pitcher Andy Pettitte and shortstop Derek Jeter. These two faces were all too familiar for Rivera, and when they finally reached the mound, as Jesus once did, Rivera wept as he was embraced by both Pettitte and Jeter. Rivera left the mound to a standing ovation which he ultimately deserves from the Yankees faithful, as well as, the entire baseball community for the excellence he exhibited throughout the duration of his career.

Another Yankees Dynasty Ends

The MLB 2013 regular season is over, and with its closing introduces the MLB 2013 postseason, a postseason the Yankees aren't apart of for the second time in 19 years, which raises numerous questions beginning with Why? Why didn't the Yankees make the postseason this year? I think I have the answer and it's pretty simple actually so here it is: The Dynasty is over. Yes I just said that. "The Sandman's" exit symbolizes what once was and used to be the base of the ingredients: Their core, which has been unable to solve the enigma that is father time which will and always be undefeated. Jeter is 39 years of age, Pettitte announced his retirement on September 20th, 2013, Yankees catcher Jorge Posada recently retired last year, and Rivera has just completed his Goodbye tour this year, leaving Jeter as the lone member remaining of this dominant group. This four also known as "The Core Four" all made their major league debuts during the summer of 1995 and since that summer, have produced 34 All-Star appearances, 5 world series championships, 2 World Series MVP awards and the MLB record for career saves. Four players can never make up for what the significance and strength lies within an entire team but if there were ever a group of four players to lead and help further establish the prestigious brand that is the Yankees organization, it what this group. This four contributed once and a lifetime experiences and are probably responsible for the Yankee fitted being universally recognized.

Back to reality. The Yankees lineup that management envisioned struggled to stay on the field battling injuries which resulted in midseason utility player rentals and you guessed it, poor play. With the initial breaking of his left ankle in game 1 of the AL Championship series against the Detroit Tigers last postseason, Jeter experienced those longing effects into the 2013 season acting as a hangover as he found himself on the DL countless times this season due to a tight right quadricep, a strained right calf and an injury to his left ankle allowing him to generate only 17 games this season accumulating a .190 average, a homer and seven RBI's.

Former All-Star 1st basemen Mark Texeira slightly tore the tendon sheath in his right wrist while playing for team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Texeira made his regular season debut late in May only to provoke the same injury in June in which he elected to remove himself from the show deciding to have surgery in July, ending his season with a .151 average, three home runs and 12 RBI's in 15 games.

Outfielder Curtis Granderson, "The Grandy Man", adds to the list of fallen Yankees aching with an injury from a Spring Training game before the 2013 season began by breaking his right forearm in a hit-by-pitch, a fate he suffered once more breaking his left pinkie in another hit by pitch, two injuries which cost him to miss most of the season but playing more games than the previously mentioned individuals, making appearances in 61 games, ending the season with a .229 average, seven home runs and 15 RBI's.

The Yankees also witnessed a number of departures to their ball club due to injuries and free agency including first basemen Kevin Youkilis, SS Eduardo Nunez, Catcher Francisco Cervelli, and others including most notably Raul Ibanez, Nick Swisher, Russell Martin and Eric Chavez. It's safe to say that the Yankees are no longer the "Bronx Bombers", but what will the team that leads MLB in championships won do moving forward into the future. Jeter's days are numbered and a number of players that have contributed to the Yankees success in previous years have reached free agency which include pitchers Phil Hughes, Hiroki Kuroda, Boone Logan and Joba Chamberlain. Second basemen Robinson Cano, a player who was once expected to receive the torch from the most recent prominent Yankees to lead the next generation of a possible Yankee resurgence, is awaiting free agency to test the market, looking for a contract that will induce a sum of money that our economy needs more than he.

What was special about the dynasty that the Yankees enjoyed for the duration of almost two decades was the fact that they won from within. The "Core Four" were all products of the Yankees farm system, talents that were so superior that each version of their previous championship runs were all built around those four stars. The Yankees' solid farm system still prevails, boasting catcher Gary Sanchez, pitcher Manny Banuelos and Outfielders Mason Williams and Tyler Austin.

However, what happens to the Yankees from this day forward lies in the hands of General Manager and Senior Vice President Brian Cashman, the man behind the construction of the five world championships. There are not many GMs with five world championships on their resume in baseball today. Nevertheless, if the late former principal owner and managing partner George Steinbrenner were alive and well today, he would make it known that Cashman's job and position in the organization were on thin ice. The "what have you done for me lately" owner would be incensed that the Yankees last World Series visit and win came in 2009.

Brace yourself, Yankees fans as it may be a long time before we see the equivalent success that the "The Core Four" have enjoyed. The farm players previously listed are promising, but have yet to step foot on the biggest stage. Consequently, the Yankees future for now is an unknown, which makes it even more painful when discussing what used to be, and that is quite frankly greatness.

Granderson Ditches Pinstripes for Blue and Orange and the No. 7 Train

One of the reasons why the No. 4 train, beginning its journey in the borough of Brooklyn, New York and concluding its route in another borough, the Bronx, piques the interest of most New Yorkers and tourist from around the globe is the fact that one of its stops features more history than most. The stop at 161st Street equals Yankee Stadium, the place where the New York Yankees call their habitat. And yesterday, December 6th, 2013, one of its members has decided to flee, seeking other opportunities.

The ex-member happens to be former Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson. He has agreed to a 4-year $60 million dollar contract to become a New York Metropolitan. From the No. 4 train line to the No. 7. From the "Boogey Down" Bronx to Queens. From pinstripes to orange and blue. To say that this addition to the Met's is just another signing is an understatement, considering the team's recent past that has already been cemented into its franchise history.

The 2006 Mets represented what could have been and what may never be. The team spearheaded by young stars in SS Jose Reyes, 3B David Wright and sluggers CF Carlos Beltran, and 1B Carlos Delgado have long been removed as the face of this franchise while one has remained. The inexistence of 3 out of the 4 players previously listed has resulted in the Mets failing to qualify for postseason play since October of 2006. It is now 2013, and the Mets faithful has experienced enough pain to warrant an arrest against the Wilpon family, the executives of the organization but that's another story for another day. What's important is the here, now, and going forward. It's no question that's what current Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson is focused on with this deal confirmed.

With the emergence of SP Matt Harvey establishing himself as one of the premier young pitchers in this league albeit his absence from the upcoming 2014 season due to Tommy John surgery to repair his right elbow, the rise of SP Zack Wheeler looking to follow in his footsteps, and solid rotation starters in Jon Niese and Dillon Gee, the Mets finally have the pitching to make a statement moving forward in a National League that will potentially be up for grabs. There has to be balance between the pitching staff and the group responsible for converting the 0's on the scoreboard, which is one of the complications the Mets have suffered from in recent years.

Enter Granderson. He has the capability to reverse that. For those unaware of the services that Granderson can provide, here is some data. Granderson is a 3-time All-Star, a Silver Slugger award recipient, the AL RBI leader in 2011, led the MLB in triples, back-to-back years 07-08 and a member of the 20-20-20 club, which constitutes for 20 doubles, 20 triples and 20 homeruns. Now this is the Granderson at the age of 32, still in his prime. Two freak injuries featuring a right forearm fracture and a broken knuckle in his left pinkie reduced his production to 61 games through the duration of the 2013 MLB season with his former employers in the New York Yankees, where he managed to manufacture a .229 batting average with 7 homeruns and 15 RBI's. The previous year he recorded a .232 batting average, launching 43 homeruns and 106 RBI's. Granderson does strike out, but 43 homeruns is 40+ more homeruns that the Mets have not managed to duplicate since Beltran in 06, Todd Hundley in 96 and Mike Piazza in 99. Forty-three homeruns is what Granderson can belt and even though it is not a lock that he will launch that particular number, it is a possibility.

The Mets need his presence to protect the likes of the captain in Wright. The Mets need his bat. The Mets needed this splash to convince the fan-base that they indeed have a pulse and plan to move this franchise back to respectability. Granderson is just a piece added to a projected outfield that presents Granderson in left, promising Juan Lagares in Center and newly signed Chris Young in rightfield. With Granderson inked, the Mets need to fill the void that Harvey has left whether it stems from the minor leagues, most notably P Noah Syndergaard awaiting stage left or the free agent market. Another outfielder is needed and what's to become of the first base position must be dealt with regarding Ike Davis and Lucas Duda. Granderson does not amount to the creation and fullness of an entire cake, but in this case the correct batter has been bought. Let's see what else the Mets add to this mix currently in progress.