When ultimately thinking back about the 2011 Mets, I have a feeling that we will be smiling. Not because they are going to make the playoffs or maybe even have a winning record, but as one of my buddies put it the Mets are "an emotional roller coaster, but that I do love watching them."
Most of you know the situation. In 2006 they were the toast of the town. In 2007 and 2008 they choked down the stretch. In 2009 and 2010 injuries ravaged their seasons. Combined with a lot of off the field stuff, they were quickly becoming a laughing stock - some media members called them the worst franchise in the league. So when Sandy Alderson took over prior to the 2011 season, not much was expected of them. In an effort to clean house and begin rebuilding, their only major offseason moves were releasing Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo and signing Chris Young, Chris Capuano and Ronnie Paulino. With several free agents coming off the books, the focus for many was 2012.
Then something strange happened. Reyes had a career year. Ike Davis started off hot. Carlos Beltran played in nearly every game. Daniel Murphy hit .320 and their pitching staff, without Johan Santana, was actually pretty decent. At the All-Star break they were 46-45 and after sweeping Cincinnati and winning the first game at Washington, they sat at 55-51 on July 29. Simply put, they were exceeding all expectations. That day they traded Carlos Beltran to the Giants for a top rated prospect and some around baseball wondered if they were waving the white flag. Sure Beltran was bound to walk at the end of the year, but there were only 6 teams in the NL with winning records. Surely they could make a push towards the playoffs...
Alderson didn't get caught up in the playoffs talk and instead did what was best for the long term future of the team. Since then, David Wright has returned from the DL to fill the gaping hole left by Beltran in the lineup. However, Reyes has gone on the DL. Daniel Murphy hurt his knee and is out for the year. Mike Pelfrey continues to get roughed up. Dillon Gee and Jon Niese are starting to come back down to earth. Jason Isringhuasen and Bobby Parnell (thrown into the closer spot after the trade of K-Rod) are blowing a lot of saves...and yet somehow, the Mets continue to chug along. Credit a lot to Manager Terry Collins, but this team is remaining competitive. Who knows if they can keep it up for the final 50 games of the season, but one thing we know is that this team has not only heart but some hunger as well.
They could have closed up shop after losing 5 in a row (and falling 1 game under .500), but since then they have won 3 of 4 thanks to guys like Lucas Duda, Scott Hairston, Justin Turner, Josh Thole and Mike Baxter. None of these guys are household names, but they are hungry to show that they have long term value to the organization. Sure, David Wright, Jason Bay and Jose Reyes (when he is healthy) will really decide how they finish the year, but getting the occasional boost from guys like Duda will go a long way in not only getting results, but changing the direction of the franchise.
In typical fashion, they Mets lost 5 in a row after hitting the high water mark on the season...but then over the past two nights they have come back from 8-4 in the 8th and 4-2 in the 8th to get walkoff wins. I know they were playing San Diego, but these are the type of wins that help you forget losing five in a row. They don't let things get out of control, which is so easy to do these days (ask the Pirates and Mariners both who lost more than 10 in a row this year).
So yeah, it is going to be frustrating when they continue to lose to the Marlins. But with all the news guys (I also forgot to mention Ruben Tejada and Jason Pridie who have stepped in admirably), the team will at least keep things interesting. I personally am excited not only for the final 50 games this year, but excited at the prospects of seeing our minor league arms in the major over the next few years (as well as a healthy Ike Davis in 2012). We may not win the World Series any time soon, but I think I speak for all Mets fans when I say all we want is a fun team of homegrown players to watch. Really, that is all we can ask for.
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