Mid-Term Grades

By Jack Flynn
Posted Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The All-Star Break is a time when baseball aficionados traditionally take stock of their team, even if it isn’t the true statistical midpoint of the season. In that fashion, here’s a look at the progress reports for the New York Mets so far in 2008. Remember, you have to take a player’s entire body of work into account before giving him a midseason grade, so don’t expect As for Mike Pelfrey and Damion Easley!

STARTING PITCHERS

Johan Santana: Quick, who is among the Top 15 in all of baseball among qualified starters in ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched? Yes, Santana, even if he has shown a disturbing tendency to give up one big inning at the worst possible time. With a little more run support and a little more concentration, Santana will finish in the 17-18 win range and justify the expenditure. Grade: B+

John Maine: Maine isn’t pitching deep enough into games, as he has failed to develop a true out pitch with which to end pesky at-bats. He’s walking too many batters and running up too many deep counts, which is why Maine is averaging just 5-2/3 innings per start. If he learns to trust his stuff, Maine will be a true ace. Grade: B

Oliver Perez: His maddening inconsistency has cost him millions of dollars this season. Who in their right mind would give Oliver Perez a five-year guaranteed contract now? Still, his last three starts should be an indication that the team which gives Perez a one-year contract with a club option in the off-season truly understands the concept of risk management. Will that be the Mets? Grade: C+

Mike Pelfrey: His first nine starts were brutal, so bad that even the most ardent Pelfrey supporter would concede that he did not belong in the major leagues. His last nine starts have been a revelation, even if no one is quite sure exactly what has changed. Pelfrey still needs an out pitch against lefties, but his performance since the end of May has Mets fans believing again. Grade: C+

Pedro Martinez: Nobody fully comes back from rotator cuff surgery, not even a pitcher as superbly talented as Pedro. His stamina isn’t there, his stuff isn’t there and it appears the end of his career is beckoning. A clever manager would use him 3 or 4 innings at a time twice a week and be pleasantly surprised with the results. Grade: D+

RELIEF PITCHERS

Billy Wagner: If you are only going to pitch the ninth inning of games with a lead of three runs or less, then you should only be judged on one statistic – blown saves. Wagner already has six of them, which overshadows the 0.949 WHIP and the 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Grade: B-

Aaron Heilman: Heilman was simply terrible in April and May, then found his form in June and hasn’t looked back. If he continues on this path the final grade will be higher, but let’s see another 20 or 30 innings of vintage Heilman first. Grade: D+

Duaner Sanchez: It’s been great to see Sanchez return from his devastating shoulder injuries, and for the most part he has been terrific for the Mets. Two truly awful outings take some shine off of his overall numbers, but in his other 38 outings Sanchez has been one of the best relievers in baseball. Grade: A-

Joe Smith: His struggles against lefties are beginning to abate and Smith has reached a point where he should no longer be used exclusively in a specialist’s role. He will need to curb the wildness against left-handed batters, but the low BA and SLG by southpaws is a very good sign. Grade: B

Scott Schoeneweis: Now that everyone seems to understand that Schoeneweis is a lefty specialist, he’s been a valuable member of the bullpen. Omar Minaya should trade him as soon as he can find a team mesmerized by the shiny but ultimately meaningless 2.65 ERA. Grade: B

Pedro Feliciano: 2008 has been disappointing for Feliciano, who is a better pitcher than his stats indicate. At this point, Jerry Manuel has to bury him in the back of the bullpen and hope he rebounds in 2009. Grade: D+

Carlos Muniz: He has spent more time in the air between New Orleans and New York than he has on a pitching mound, but hasn’t done enough in the majors to suggest he belongs there on a full time basis. Grade: C-

CATCHERS

Brian Schneider: He’s doing exactly what you would expect – not hitting and throwing out base-stealers. That doesn’t mean he should be starting over Ramon Castro. Grade: C+

Ramon Castro: The difference between Schneider’s game-calling and arm is not enough to overcome Castro’s huge advantage with the bat. Give Castro 40 starts in the next 65 games and the Mets will benefit. Grade: B

INFIELDERS

Carlos Delgado: Two weeks does not make a season. Or did you forget that Delgado’s line stood at .228/.307/.419 on July 1? Picking up Delgado’s option simply is not an option. Grade: D+

Luis Castillo: The batting average is down and the power is non-existent, but Castillo’s biggest problem is that he’s still seen as a #2 hitter. Would you argue with that production if he was batting eighth? Still, 2011 can’t come soon enough. Grade: C-

David Wright: One of the franchise cornerstones, Wright needs to pick it up against righties in the second half of the season. There’s no reason to believe he won’t – you can expect a .final line of .300/.400/.530, at which point I’ll add something to this grade. Grade: B+

Jose Reyes: The other franchise cornerstone, Reyes is still showing signs of maturity issues and struggling a little bit in the field. Otherwise, he’s a superstar in every sense of the word. 50 steals will be a struggle this season, but no one will care if he chips in 75 extra-base hits. Grade: A-

OUTFIELDERS

Carlos Beltran: He’s never going to justify that contract, but Beltran is still a fine defensive outfielder and a multi-faceted offensive threat. This is exactly the type of production that should be expected from Beltran; 40 home run seasons should be looked upon like the rare treats they are, not expectations. Grade: B

Endy Chavez: There’s no better defensive outfielder in baseball, when you take into account that Chavez plays three positions at an outstanding level. But he can’t hit, which is why he’s doomed to ultimately be a fourth outfielder. Championship teams feature players like Chavez in a reserve role, and his was of the few multiyear contracts Minaya handed out in the off-season that was entirely justified. Grade: B-

Ryan Church: He really should be getting an “Incomplete” because of his concussion woes, but Church was so impressive when healthy that he deserves recognition for it. Before the concussion, Church was playing at a level that Lastings Milledge fans believed their man would play at one day. If Church fully recovers and keeps playing like he did in April and May, it will justify the trade. Grade: A

Moises Alou: He will hit until he’s 50, but his body is shot. Moises put bat to ball in his few appearances this season, but the lack of power should be a final sign that it’s time to retire. Grade: Incomplete

BENCH

Damion Easley: A hot streak that started in early June doesn’t change the essential fact that Easley is a backup middle infielder who can’t man second base for the rest of the season if the Mets want to win the division. Grade: C+

Fernando Tatis: A hot streak that started in late June doesn’t change the essential fact that Tatis is a backup corner infielder who can’t man left field for the rest of the season if the Mets want to win the division. Grade: C+

Marlon Anderson: Anderson is emblematic of everything that’s wrong with Minaya’s theory of roster construction. It is the height of folly to give a multiyear deal to a backup utility player in his mid 30s who can’t hit, run or play defense. Grade: F

Angel Pagan: Pagan did a good job filling in for Alou at the beginning of the season before an unfortunate incident with a wall at Dodger Stadium. Poised to return after the All-Star Break, has the potential to be a valuable fifth outfielder. Grade: Incomplete