Top 10 Surprises of the 2013 NY Mets

by John Vittas

1. Matt Harvey’s Rise to Stardom

As promising of a glimpse as Matt Harvey was in 2012, no one could have expected what he did in 2013. He allowed just three runs in his first four starts, striking out 32 along the way. As he sustained his dominance through the summer, Harvey became a New York heartthrob, rock star and symbol hope for Mets fans everywhere, garnering comparisons to less contemporary New York icons Tom Seaver and Joe Namath. It all culminated in Harvey earning the All Star game start, just two days after this Jimmy Kimmel video got people talking about the suave Connecticut flamethrower.

If you want any more proof that he's the man, read this Men's Journal article on Harvey

2. Marlon Byrd

Shy of R.A. Dickey, Marlon Byrd might be the best Minor League signing the Mets have ever made. He pinned down the right field job from day one and was alongside David Wright in the Mets order until his departure in late August. He finished top-10 in the league in total bases and top-5 in slugging.

Call it the steroids, but Byrd had the best season of his career at 35 years old. I’m not sure if Sandy Alderson deserves credit for this or not. But either way, think of what the Mets have gotten from the two minimum-wage signings of R.A. Dickey and Marlon Byrd: Travis d’Arnaud, Noah Syndergaard, Vic Black and Dilson Herrera. Four legitimate prospects. Now that’s making something out of nothing.

Some of the big moments Byrd provided this season

3. Juan Lagares

For a guy who was an afterthought in the realm of Mets’ prospects, Lagares was the most impressive call-up in 2013. A former infielder, Lagares looked as natural and graceful in center field as anyone since Carlos Beltran patrolled Shea Stadium.

Despite some September regression, Lagares finished with respectable numbers for a rookie. But more importantly, he proved his ability to play a grueling position each and every day, doing it with ease. Lagares led the league in centerfield assists, showing all the tools necessary to be an elite defender.  

If you're a believer in sabermetrics, Lagares ranked sixth in the Major Leagues in defensive WAR (3.5), and third among all Big League outfielders, behind only Carlos Gomez and Gerardo Parra. His 3.5 score would have led MLB in 2011.

How many times did we see this in 2013?

4. Dillon Gee’s Second Half

Talk about contrast, Dillon Gee had one of the starkest mid-season turnarounds in recent memory. After carrying an ERA above six through his first ten starts, Gee became a new man. Yankee stadium is rarely an exilir for pitchers, but Gee K’d 12 and allowed just four hits on May 30 in the Bronx and never looked back.

From that day until September 10, Gee was a top-10 pitcher in the Major Leagues, posting a 2.40 ERA over that 3-month span. Not only did he finish strong, he earned his spot in a very competitive rotation and established himself as one of the best finesse pitchers in the game.

5. Eric Young

In what turned out to be a nice little move by Sandy Alderson, the Mets traded for Young midseason and finally got legitimate speed into their lineup. Despite his mediocre OPS (.658), Young provided some spectacular catches, 34 stolen bases and became the first actual leadoff hitter the Mets have had since Jose Reyes and Angel Pagan left New York.

Catches like this became routine for Young

6. Jenrry Mejia

Mejia’s Big League future was in jeopardy following Tommy John surgery in 2011 and a less-than-impressive 2012. But after some extra rehab in Florida and a couple tune-up starts in the Minor Leagues this year, Mejia hit the ground running as a Big League starter. Even though his season was cut short with yet another injury, Mejia looked like a guy finally ready to make an impact. For the first time, he had a breaking ball that had significant downward drop and a fastball that he could locate. Hence the 2.30 ERA. If he can stay healthy, it looks like Mejia finally has the command to get it done in the long run.

7. Josh Satin

After five straight minor league seasons of .815 OPS and above, Josh Satin finally got his chance in 2013, and he did not disappoint. In a season defined by a revolving door of 4-A players, Satin was able to shed that label and prove he could handle Big League pitching. A .281 average in his first real MLB season should earn him a spot somewhere.

Josh Satin finally got his chance in 2013

Photo: centerfieldmaz.com

8. LaTroy Hawkins

The guy is 40 years old and hit 96 miles per hour in his 70th outing of the season. That basically sums it up. He’s a freak and is still an above average late-inning reliever in a role that sees more turnover than any. Of all the low-risk, high-reward bullpen signings the Mets made, none proved more valuable than Hawkins.

9. All Star Weekend

The All Star festivities at Citi Field will undoubtedly be the highlight of the 2013 season, we expected that. But I don’t think baseball fans expected the Mets to put on the star-studded show they pulled off. From performances by Pitbull and Neil Diamond, to a laser show from Yoenis Cespedes, to Mike Piazza hitting one last home run in a Mets’ uniform, to one heart-wrenching farewell to the best closer in baseball history, the three days at Citi Field provided great moment after great moment. To be honest, witnessing a sold out Citi Field was good enough for me.

Notably Absent: Robinson Cano getting drilled in the knee by Harvey

The Cespedes Show

10. Journeymen Relievers Scott Rice and Carlos Torres

When Spring Training began, Scott Rice and Carlos Torres were (if you even knew they existed), at best, afterthoughts. Torres had a Major League ERA above five and Rice had only dreamed of it. Well, to the surprise of many, Rice not only made the team but carried an ERA of 3.08 into June as the team’s featured left hander. Torres earned a mid-season call-up and gave up just one earned run over his first 17 and two-thirds innings. To boot, neither one saw their success fade, both finishing with respectable season-long marks in extended innings (Rice at 3.71 and Torres at 3.44).

10 Pleasant Surprises for the Mets in 2012

by John Vittas

My analysis of the list

10.   Jeremy Hefner

I know what you’re thinking, what did Jeremy Hefner do that was so great? But what you should be asking is, what didn’t he do? Hefner was the Hisanori Takashashi of 2012, filling whatever role the Mets needed and doing so adequately.

He finished 4-7 with a 5.09 ERA, but some of his deeper numbers suggest he pitched much better. If you take out his 7-run debacle against the Phillies in late September, his ERA becomes a respectable 4.42.

And how did Hefner respond to that adversity? He won his last two starts, pitching 14 and one-third innings and allowing just two runs on eight hits, while striking out 14 and walking only three.

It was an up-and-down rookie season for Jeremy Hefner, but who expected he would chew up 93 innings for the Mets prior to the season? No one. That’s why he sneaks onto this list of surprises, and he’ll have a chance to do it again in 2013, either as a long man or as a member of the rotation. 

9. Collin McHugh’s Major League Debut

After Johan Santana was shut down for the season, the Mets called on an 18^th rounder out of a tiny Georgia college. Collin McHugh arrived to the ballpark just hours before he was set to take on the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field.

He took the mound and never looked back, tossing seven shutout innings of two hit ball, walking only one and striking out nine. McHugh struggled as the swingman in September, but his August 23^rd debut provided a much-needed shot in the arm for a struggling team and showed the potential that McHugh and the entire Mets farm system has in the years to come.

Collin McHugh

8.    Chris Young and Jon Rauch Standing Tall Through Injury

The Mets pitching staff had a lot of holes to fill this past season, especially after Mike Pelfrey and Dillon Gee went down with season-ending injuries.

While the Mets struggled to fill those gaps with average pitchers, two veterans who did step up despite physical ailments were Jon Rauch and Chris Young.

Young overcame a second major shoulder surgery to become as reliable as anyone in the rotation. While a 4.15 ERA might not win him a Cy Young award anytime soon, the Princeton grad gave New York 12 quality starts and never missed a start, finishing the season strong with a 2.73 September ERA.

Rauch, on the other hand, flourished in the middle of the season, allowing just two runs in 25 appearances between July and August.

What makes Rauch’s effort so remarkable was that he put together a solid season at age 33 after a rough 2011, which left many wondering whether he would ever amount to his old self again.

But Rauch answered the questions by grossing a WHIP below one, somehow managing to stay off the disabled list despite battling two balky knees that had to be drained several times throughout the season.

And yes, I know, the joke’s on me but you have to admit the title of this section is clever (Rauch is 6’11” and Young is 6’10”).

7.  The Ability of and Emergence of Young Lefties Jordany Valdespin and Josh Edgin

Of the many Buffalo Bisons that emerged out of the Mets dugout this year, Jordany Valdespin and Josh Edgin proved they belong in the orange and blue.

Edgin allowed just three runs in his first 13 outings, and backed it up with a stretch of 16 straight scoreless appearances in August and September.

After two disappointing outings against the Phillies, his ERA ballooned to 4.56 and the Mets shut him down. But don’t overlook the mediocre earned-run average. Edgin’s WHIP was only 1.13 and he struck out 30 batters in under 26 innings.

The southpaw out of Francis Marion College proved he can get Major League hitters and out and even overpower them at times. At the very least, Edgin can be a lefty specialist. He held left-handed hitters to a remarkable .164 average this year.

Valdespin, on the other hand, has a package of talent unmatched throughout the organization. In my amateur opinion, he’s the only current Met that could have competed with Jose Reyes and Angel Pagan athletically.

If you extend Valdespin’s production over a full MLB season, he would have hit 25 home runs and stolen over 30 bases. That’s a rare speed-power combo to say the least when you look across the Mets’ skill set.

On top of it all, Valdespin broke the club record for pinch-hit home runs in a season and provided a large portion of the exciting moments of 2012.

But in addition to his long swing, Valdespin’s primary downside has always been his behavior. He was suspended for two games for not running out a batted ball in the Dominican Winter League last month and decided it would be a good idea to tweet pictures of himself in fancy clothes wearing a Miami Marlins hat.

Selfies on Twitter? What grown man does that? Imagine Bill Gates tweeting a picture of himself smiling behind an iMac. I’m sure that would go over well.

As Valdespin continues to walk the fine line between swagger and obnoxiousness, there’s no doubting his ability to be an impact player at the highest level.

Jordany Valdespin's Season Highlights

6. Jon Niese's Big Step Forward 

Not only did Jon Niese finish his first full and healthy season in the Big Leagues in 2012, but he achieved the most success he’s ever experienced in the Major Leagues. The lefty from Ohio put up career highs in wins, innings, strikeouts, ERA and WHIP, essentially the five most important basic statistics for a starting pitcher.

After fading down the stretch each of the previous two years, Niese stayed healthy and effective until the end of 2012. In fact, he put up some his best efforts in the final two months, earning an ERA of 2.57 over that span.

With R.A. Dickey in Toronto, Niese heads into 2013 as the de facto ace. Johan Santana may still get the ball on Opening Day, but Niese will likely be the best pitcher the staff, as he enters his prime at age 26.

Jon Niese

    

5. Official Announcement of Citi Field as the Host for the 2013 ASG

Rumors had swirled that Major League Baseball had interest in moving the All Star Game back to New York in 2013, but when the announcement was formally made in mid-May, every Mets fan had to be delighted.

It will be the first Mid-Summer Classic to be hosted by the Mets since Shea Stadium’s inaugural season of 1964. The entire baseball spotlight will be focused on Citi Field for a few days, and that thought alone has to make Mets fans smile. Because let’s be real, the good memories at Citi have been few and far between in the stadium’s lackluster history.

Commissioner Bud Selig makes ASG Announcement and Wilpons offer thoughts

4. The Value of Scott Hairston

One of the biggest offseason questions still surrounding the Mets’ 2012-2013 offseason his certainly whether Scott Hairston is worth bringing back on a two-year contract.

When you look at his value to the team in 2012, he undoubtedly is. Hairston stepped in to start 86 games in 2012, much more than he signed up for.

Usually extended at bats will expose a bench player, but Hairston more than held his own, leading the entire club in slugging, earning a .504 mark, twelve points ahead of David Wright.

He never got cheated on a single swing, spanking several missiles into orbit in his tenure with New York.

Hairston hit 20 home runs for the first time in his career in 2012 and appears to be getting better at age 32. If the Mets fail to acquire an impact outfield bat this offseason, they will miss Hairston’s power tremendously.

3. Matt Harvey’s Test Run

There is no greater source of hope for the Mets than Matt Harvey. The 23-year-old from Connecticut set the National League on fire following his promotion to the Major Leagues.

Harvey provided one of the highlights of the season on July 26, dazzling the Diamondbacks in his Major League debut, punching out 11 Arizona hitters over 5 and one-third shutout innings in a truly dominating performance.

But the best part was that Harvey sustained his effectiveness over ten starts, finishing strong with a 7-inning, one-run gem against Philadelphia to end the year.

All in all: 70 strikeouts in 59 and one-third innings, an ERA of 2.73 with eight of his ten starts going for 2 earned runs or less.

With R.A. Dickey gone, more weight falls on Harvey’s shoulders to be a stopper in 2013. With his perfectionist attitude and razor-sharp focus, Matthew Harvey should blossom into a superstar very soon.

Matt Harvey

2.  Johan Santana’s No-Hitter

Most Mets fans may be surprised to find Johan’s no-no at #2. Some might put it number one for the decade. But you’ll find out why in a second.

June 1^st was a night to remember for Mets fans. A left arm trying to return to relevance after a devastating injury that left Johan wondering if he would ever pitch well again.

Dramatic words aside, everything about Santana’s no-hitter was indeed, theatrical. From Baxter’s spectacular catch, to Beltran’s line drive that clipped the third base line (or, didn’t), to the final inning, it was undoubtedly the best night in the history of Citi Field.

Eight strikeouts, five walks, 134 pitches. Nine innings, no hits. History sealed for the aging lefty legend from Venezuela. Every bit of that 6 year, $137.5 million dollar contract, earned. 

Brilliant Call of Howie Rose

Johan's Victory Cry

ESPN's Jayson Stark puts it in perspective

1.  R.A. Dickey’s Cy Young Campaign

As impossible as a Mets no-hitter seemed, a Cy Young-award season from a journeyman knuckleballer was an equally as unlikely tale.

R.A. Dickey came into 2012 with 1283 innings logged in the Minor Leagues over 14 painstaking seasons. He had been through four organizations and had been released, discarded or demoted more than anyone could count.

With only one full Major League season under his belt, Dickey not only proved he belonged, but dominated a level of baseball that had eluded him for over a decade.

The numbers tell the story, 233 innings, 230 strikeouts, a 20-6 record and an ERA of 2.73. He finished it off with a day to remember, picking up his twentieth win in front of a grateful Citi Field crowd, who came to celebrate R.A.’s brilliance and cheer for him one last time.

Dickey baffled the National League with the most effective pitch Planet Earth has ever seen. Seriously though, what other pitcher has ever been able to dictate an entire league with one pitch?

Dickey’s six years of work with the knuckleball has finally come to fruition. Just in time for New York to cash-in on two front-end prospects. After all the memories Dickey has provided the past three years, there is no doubting how much he will be missed in 2013.

SNY Post Game Extra - Dickey's 20th Win

Season Highlights

ESPN's E60 Piece on Dickey's Journey