Mid-May Mets Update

So I’ve been busy with other things that I haven’t really discussed the Mets at all. This is probably because I haven’t been keeping up with the Mets the same way I have over the last couple of years. Sure, I read the box scores and keep up with everything going on at Metsblog, but I haven’t been watching as many games as I did in the past. This was underscored when the other night I watched Baseball Tonight (and caught the end of Gavin Floyd’s near no-hitter) rather than watch the beginning of the Mets-Dodgers game on SNY. I think that once it starts to get warmer, I’ll start watching more games.

So far, the Mets have been tepid at best – they look like a million bucks one day (see 12-1 rout of Dodgers) and like a dollar on other days (see the previous Dodgers games). Predictably, the NY media began their Chicken Little routine, calling for Willie Randolph’s head. While the Mets didn’t storm out of the gates as many expected, there’s a lot of baseball left to be played.

While the Mets flounder around .500, the two major moves this offseason have paid dividends. First, GM Omar Minaya looks brilliant for trading Lastings Milledge for Brian Schneider and Ryan Church. While Milledge goes through the motions in the Nationals’ outfield, Ryan Church has been one of the biggest bright spots for the Mets so far this season. Perhaps the most impressive part of Church’s game to this point has been his defense, specifically his rocket arm that’s throwing out runners from right field.

Of course, the Johan Santana seems to be a success as well. While Santana might not be blowing away the National League like many thought, he’s put up a series of solid starts that the Mets squandered in their late innings. It’s too early to fully evaluate the trade, but so far so good.

I’m happy to have Santana in Queens, but I was also happy to see that Carlos Gomez, one of the young Mets traded to acquire the ace, hit for the cycle the other night. After the trade, I wrote that while Gomez can’t possibly replace Santana (or even the departed Tori Hunter), Minnesota should appreciate Carlos Gomez. In his brief time at Shea last year, Gomez showed the hustle and skill that will make him an asset to the Twins.

So, for now, I refuse to pass judgment on the Mets and hope that as the weather heats up, the bats do as well.