Improving the Mets for the 2nd Half

The Mets stumbled into the All Star break losing 2 out of 3 to the Atlanta Braves and falling 4 games back. They start the second half with a very tough 11 game west coast road trip. They're probably too good to fall completely out of it quickly. To me the Mets biggest enemy is themselves. In terms of personnel that they actually already have, there are 3 different situations that could affect the team greatly.

First is the catching situation. Rod Barajas has 11 homeruns but hasn't hit one since May 31st. To go even further he has only had 3 extra base hits since June 1st. With Josh Thole on the roster, seemingly permanently he has got to start. He has reached base in 12 of his 20 plate appearances in the majors this season. His plate approach is so far and away better than Barajas it's not even funny. Just consider this: Barajas 244 Plate Appearances 8 Walks, Josh Thole 20 Plate Appearances 3 Walks. Thole has to start.

At second base Luis Castillo has been on the DL for a while now and 20 year old Ruben Tejada has filled in pretty capably with Alex Cora making one or two starts a week. None of them hits all that well. I would like to see Tejada get the bulk of the starts even after Castillo gets back. But if the Mets wan't to be real serious about the playoffs this year, this is the one position that they can improve via trade. And they can improve it greatly. It's time to finally admit the Luis Castillo contract was a mistake. The Mets are one of the only teams in the race with a bad offensive situation at second base. From what you hear there seems to be some guys available. The 3 names you hear are Kelly Johnson, Dan Uggla and Rickie Weeks. Who knows if they actually are but the Mets could really get better and seem to have the prospects to make a trade. Uggla is the guy i'd go for and do you really think the Marlins are against trading in the division? If the Mets can't afford in money or prospects to acquire a front line starting pitcher like Danny Haren or Roy Oswalt they will go for a middle of the road starter like Ted Lilly or Fausto Carmona. The big rumor in New York is that they will make a play for Ted Lilly. I like him especially in Citi Field, but if the Mets can only make one trade I think they would improve more by acquiring a power hitting second baseman.


With Carlos Beltran returning in the first game after the All Star Break someone is going to the bench. Jerry Manuel held a meeting with Jeff Francoeur a few days ago to tell him that Angel Pagan would get the bulk of the time in right field with Beltran back. Pagan just has to play every day. He has come into his own as a player. He has been the Mets best player this season besides David Wright. Manuel has already said Beltran will play center upon his return. Most people would agree especially with his knee problems that Pagan should play center and Beltran right. Despite Francoeur's good numbers and Pagan's bad numbers against lefty pitchers, I would not give Francoeur too many starts. Beltran is not going to play 7 days a week so if Francoeur has to play he should probably do so when Beltran is sitting. I would say more but I think it's all been said and the Mets seem to finally get that Pagan is a much better player than Francoeur.


Even without making a trade the Mets can put themselves in a much better position than they are right now. If Thole and Pagan are full time starters for the second half of the season the offense is much improved. They are 4th in the division in runs scored with 396 but not too far off from the Phillies who are 1st with 410. These minor tweaks can possibly put their offense at or near the top of the division, especially with Chase Utley still out for a while and the Braves untrustworthy (in my opinion) offense. They have the pieces to make a good run even without making a big splash at the trade deadline, it's all up to Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel to use them correctly.