Kallet: Dissecting The Good And Bad As Mets Enter Stretch Run
By Brad Kallet
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As the Mets' pursuit of a National League wild-card berth continues, here are 10 positive thoughts and 10 negative thoughts about the state of the club right now, in no particular order.
THE GOOD
1. Since splitting a four-game set with the Giants from Aug. 18-21, the Mets have won five consecutive series and 12 of 16 games (14 of 18 if you include the final two games of the Giants series). They needed to go on a huge run to get back in the race, and they did. There's still plenty of more work to be done, but New York has risen to the challenge and played great baseball at the most important juncture of the year.
2. What a sensational job Jose Reyes has done since returning to the Mets. He doesn't quite look like the Jose of 2007, but it's not too far off. He's getting on base, stealing, scoring runs and even hitting homers. He's also played a tremendous third base and still has a cannon. No. 7 has been the sparkplug that New York desperately needed when it was lacking top-of-the-order punch.
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3. What a godsend Rene Rivera has been behind the plate. He's not much of a hitter, but he calls a great game and keeps runners honest. The veteran has been gunning down base stealers, and his presence has certainly relaxed Noah Syndergaard, who couldn't hold runners on before Rivera became his personal catcher.
4. How about Asdrubal Cabrera? He suddenly looks like his All-Star self from 2011 and 2012. He's playing through pain and delivering in the two hole, all the while playing a terrific shortstop.
5. Kelly Johnson and Wilmer Flores have formed a very nice lefty-righty, one-two punch at second base in Neil Walker's absence. Both players have hit their stride. Flores demolishes lefties, and Johnson is one of the better pinch hitters in baseball.
6. Curtis Granderson, one of the most disappointing Mets this season, has picked up his play in the absence of some of the regulars. It took him a while, but he's drawing walks again and hitting the ball out of the ballpark.
7. You can't say enough about the jobs Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo and Rafael Montero have done as the mainstay starters continue to go down with injuries. They've pitched well in huge ballgames, and while nobody is saying that they're the next Harvey, deGrom and Syndergaard, they've become largely dependable, which is really all you can ask for.
8. Yoenis Cespedes is the Mets' most important player and most valuable one. He just continues to hit clutch home runs. When he plays, the team more than likely wins. When he doesn't, it's a below-average club. Simple as that.
9. Addison Reed and Jeurys Familia are still virtually untouchable at the back end of the bullpen. They make up what might be the most dynamic setup/closer duo in the majors.
10. Toward the end of August, it looked as if the second wild card was nearly out of reach. Now, just a couple weeks later, not only is the second berth there for the taking, but the first wild-card berth is in the Mets' grasp. Unbelievable.
THE BAD
1. How much longer can Gsellman, Lugo and Montero hold down three rotation spots? The Mets desperately need Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz back in the rotation. How often they'll pitch — and how effectively if they do — remains up in the air. If New York gets past the wild-card game and doesn't have these guys, it will be in big trouble in a short series.
2. Losing Walker for the season is nothing short of crushing. He was white hot when he shut it down, and the Mets will miss his bat. Flores and Johnson are quality major leaguers, but they won't produce as much as Walker did.
3. Where is Juan Lagares? The Mets could use him right now, and there's no indication if he'll be back anytime soon, or at all.
4. Speaking of Lagares, the outfield defense is still a concern. Unless you want Alejandro De Aza playing every day — which you don't — you're asking Michael Conforto or Granderson to consistently patrol center field. That's alarming.
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5. And speaking of Conforto, I'm still waiting for him to get hot. Where's that sweet stroke to left field and gap-to-gap power that we saw last year? I suppose it's difficult to get in a rhythm when you don't play every day.
6. Syndergaard has been very good, but not brilliant. And the Mets need him to be brilliant down the stretch and, potentially, in the playoffs. He's not missing enough bats, and his command is off (way too many pitches). I wouldn't be surprised if the bone spurs in his elbow are still hindering him.
7. Jay Bruce has been better of late, but he's still striking out too much and failing to be an intimidating presence in the middle of the order. Where are the walks? Where are the doubles? Where are the moonshot home runs? It just doesn't feel like he's giving Cespedes much protection and putting fear in opposing pitchers. He appears to be on the right track, which is encouraging, but I need to see more.
8. Suddenly, the Cardinals are winning games. If the Mets handle their business the rest of the way they'll be fine, but it would help greatly if Mike Matheny's club cooled down a tad.
9. The Mets have an incredibly favorable schedule in September, against teams they should largely beat. The last couple of weeks aside, they've had trouble with sub-.500 clubs all year. We know that Cabrera and Cespedes will need rest this last month, but Terry Collins needs to be careful not to give any games away. Every one is massive from here on out, and New York can't take its foot off the gas against second-division clubs.
10. Travis d'Arnaud is still a mostly below-average player. At age 27, he's entering his prime. Is it time to declare him a bust? Not yet, but the clock is officially ticking.
Brad Kallet is the managing editor of TENNIS.com and a frequent contributor to WFAN.com. Follow him on Twitter @brad_kallet
