Four weeks into the 2015 season, the Mets sport a 16-10 record and lead the National League East by three-and-a-half games. Despite unfortunate injuries to key players and a recent skid, much has gone right for the Amazins. An unexpected 11-game winning streak brought excitement to the fan base, and optimism about the team’s outlook is the highest in recent memory. But the team is not without flaws. As the Mets continue their push to a potential playoff berth, general manager Sandy Alderson will need to address several weaknesses.
The middle infield
Perhaps the greatest concern among Mets fans at this stage of the season is the reliability of middle infielders Daniel Murphy and Wilmer Flores. Murphy’s slow offensive start has been exacerbated by his propensity for infuriating mental errors and inconsistent defense. Murphy, a career .287 hitter, has struggled at the plate and has already committed four errors in the field.
Right next door to Murphy, Flores is similarly unstable defensively. Even if he lives up to his potential as a hitter, the Mets will need him to reduce his error totals and improve at turning the double play. In the season’s first month, Flores has been shaky on routine chances and has seven errors in just twenty-two games.
The familiar baseball adage says that teams should be "strong up the middle," and the Mets have one of the game’s best center fielders in 26-year-old Juan Lagares. Unfortunately, even with Lagares’s frequent highlight reel catches, the team will suffer if their double play combo fails to be dependable. The Mets recently called up second base prospect Dilson Herrera to improve their infield situation, but the onus is still on Flores to become a steadier presence. Without better defensive performances from their infielders, the Mets could struggle to win close games.
The bullpen
In addition to the suspect play of their middle infield, the Mets should also be concerned about their bullpen. Thus far, the team's relievers have exceeded expectations and have been an integral factor in the team’s early success, with a 2.95 ERA and walking the second fewest batters of any relief staff. In particular, closer Jeurys Familia has dazzled with improved command and sharp breaking pitches. Other relievers like Buddy Carlyle and Carlos Torres have also been solid, with the exception of a few outings. Despite the losses of Jenrry Mejia, Josh Edgin, Jerry Blevins, and Vic Black, New York’s relief corps has provided a noteworthy performance.
While the early returns have been promising, there is still reason for trepidation. Lefty specialist and Rule 5 pick Sean Gilmartin is a soft-tosser whose guile masks underwhelming stuff, but his minor league track record suggests he is far from unhittable. Fellow lefty Alex Torres, known as much for his bulky protective cap as he is for his pitching, possesses strikeout stuff but occasionally loses the strike zone. Newcomer Hansel Robles remains an unproven commodity at the big league level, as does righty Erik Goeddel.
Considering the sheer number of relievers who have been lost to injury (or in Mejia’s case, disciplinary action), Alderson has done a commendable job piecing together a bullpen. Anyone who remembers the collapses of 2007 and 2008 understands that a weak pen can derail an otherwise successful season. This year’s relievers most likely will not undergo the same meltdown, but the Mets will have to hope their relievers can avoid any long periods of ineffectiveness.
The bench
With five months remaining in the season, the final major concern for the Mets is their bench. Despite a strong year in 2014, Kirk Nieuwenhuis has looked over-matched by big league pitching. In his first twenty-two at-bats of 2015, "Captain Kirk" has only recorded two hits and has struck out seven times. Likewise, John Mayberry Jr. is off to a slow start and has yet to live up to his reputation as a lefty masher. Backup catcher Anthony Recker works well with the pitching staff and hits clutch home runs on occasion; unfortunately, he is a large step down offensively from both Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki. As a utility man, Ruben Tejada is sure-handed and patient enough at the plate to spell Flores and serve as a late-inning defensive replacement.
This is far from the worst bench the Mets have featured in recent years, but the team needs a legitimate threat to face hard-throwing relievers. Though it would be unrealistic to expect performances like Scott Hairston’s 20 home run campaign in 2012, the team would benefit from a stronger unit of reserves.
While the Mets’ roster may be imperfect, there is no reason for fans to panic. There is a tendency to wait for the other shoe to drop when it comes to the Mets. Similar hot starts in the past few years—including a 15-10 April in 2014—also make it hard to believe that prolonged struggles are things of the past.
In baseball, small sample sizes can give us tantalizing glimpses of excellence and misleading glimpses of ineptitude. We know that while Murphy’s glove is a legitimate concern, chances are that he will not end the year hitting in the low-.200s. For any organization, the key to sustaining a winning club is to identify potential weaknesses and make necessary roster changes when opportunities are presented.
If Mets fans have one reason to feel hopeful that the rest of the year will be as exciting as the first month, it is that the organization no longer appears to be lacking in depth. Alderson has already called up promising prospects like Plawecki and Herrera to fill crucial roles on the roster. As the season progresses, he will need to remain proactive in addressing weaknesses and bolstering his roster.