Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Back in 2008, the New York Mets were coming off their second straight season of missing the playoffs by one game; they had been eliminated in game No. 162 each game. It was rough for the coaches, players and fans, but at least the puzzle was nearly put together.
Two years later, and they’re in no better place.
After the 2010 season, the Mets fired GM Omar Minaya. He was a free-spender who had the Mets’ payroll consistently among the tops in the league. Minaya made a huge impact on the Mets, taking them from a declining franchise to playing in the NLCS. He acquired Carlos Beltran, Pedro Martinez, Billy Wagner, Carlos Delgado and Johan Santana – the man who gave the Mets their first no-hitter.
The Mets, blaming Minaya for depleting their farm system and overspending (which they had some claim to argue) hired a new GM as opposite as possible — Billie Beane’s mentor, Sandy Alderson, the visionary behind the sabermetrics ideology. Alderson wanted three years to rebuild the Mets’ farm system, at which point he felt he would have a complete team ready to compete.
Three years later, and the Mets still aren’t competitive.
In 2013, they had the exact same record as the year prior. They hadn’t made any progress; well, okay, due to a declining NL East, they finished in 3rd as opposed to 4th in 2012, but Alderson’s plan hadn’t come together by the time he said it would. What Alderson did have, however, were signs that the Mets weren’t entirely hopeless. David Wright was locked up for years to come, and pitcher Matt Harvey was showing incredible potential as the ace of their pitching staff.
One year later, and the Mets’ progress was again hindered.
Alderson made the first big free agent acquisition of his tenure, signing outfielder Curtis Granderson to a four-year, $60 million contract, in addition to workhorse Bartolo Colon and a risk/reward signing in Chris Young. Colon panned out the best of the three, and Young didn’t even finish his one season with the Mets. Wright didn’t even play the full season due to an ailing shoulder, and the loss of Harvey was too much to overcome.
Unlike the previous two years, however, the Mets played generally competitive baseball, going 79-83 – their best record since 2010 (Minaya’s last season). Fortunately, the Mets’ pitching staff is turning out to be one of the best in the Bigs. Zack Wheeler, Jacob deGrom, Jenrry Mejia and Jeurys Familia are all young players with tons of potential, and they’re backed up by Colon, Dillon Gee and Jonathon Niese as solid, veteran presences.
One year later, and everything should be looking bright for the Mets.
Harvey is back, the pitching looks great, and the offense has room to improve, as Lucas Duda seems like a true cleanup hitter now, and Wright should be much healthier. They only need a corner outfielder and a shortstop to really turn them into contenders, but Alderson isn’t doing anything about that.
Yes, he signed Michael Cuddyer to a two-year deal early in the offseason. Wright and Cuddyer go way back, so it will be interesting to see if their chemistry elevates their play, but the reality is that Cuddyer is a 35 year old coming off an injury-riddled season. There are better outfielders available, but Alderson went for a cheap option. And he’s apparently doing nothing about shortstop.
The Mets seemed fed up with both Ruben Tejada and Wilmer Flores, as neither are great hitters or true shortstops. Such a vital positions demands – deserves – an upgrade. While the free agent market is thin with shortstops who could provide an upgrade, the Mets have plenty of pitching to trade. Alderson made a great trade in 2011, swapping Beltran for Wheeler, but hasn’t done much in that department since. He shouldn’t be afraid to pull the trigger.
Before Minaya was fired, the Mets were sick of his free spending ways, trying to build a team solely through free agency. Four years later, and the fans are tired of Alderson’s small contracts and unwillingness to sign a big free agent. Sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone in order to succeed. Alderson hasn’t done that, and until he changes his ways and pulls the trigger on a big-ticket, real difference-maker, the Mets will never be more than Spring Training hopes.
Matt Turner is a New York Mets Writer for www.RantSports.com. “Like” him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter @MTurnerNY, or add him to your network on LinkedIn or Google.
