Well for a second straight season, the Mets end essentially in wimper. While ending in this way is easier to handle than ending like the Hindenburg in 2007 and 2008, these quiet endings leave a lot to be desired. Essentially we were expecting fireworks each of the last two seasons and at times we really just stalled out due to injuires, bad chemistry (the politest way I could phrase the Oliver Perez situation) and just overall poor team construction.
This season was a wild one in the beginning with long streaks, but with a small collapse in July, the trailing two months have just sotra dragged out. There is a lot to think about, and we have a while to think about things right now. Today let's focus on the postives of 2010. The few players that really came into being and hopefully will plug up holes for the near and far future:
1) Josh Thole.
The beginning of the season was great at the catcher position. Barajas and Blanco did a really good job of splitting the work behind the plate. At the start Barajas had a lot of pop but he trailed off starting in May and just kick started an offense black hole in the catcher spot. Thole was then recalled and he was fantastic. He demonstrated that he can not only play his position but that he can also hit the ball to all areas and has some small pop. I'm interested to see if they can move him in the lineup next season (maybe 2nd in the order). One thing should hopefully be for sure in that we don't need a new starting catcher.
2) Ike Davis
You know what feels like a century ago? Tatis and Jacobs starting first base. Ike Davis has been a huge assest for the Mets who have been looking for a young player who can swing the bat to take over first base bag. Yes this displaces Dan Murphy, but Ike Davis is a real long term solution. I'm excited to see what he brings in his sophomore season.
3) R.A. Dickey
The only misfit here in this list because of his age. Dickey came out of no where this year to save the rotation. He was the most reliable starter on the roster and was probably one of the best to listen to Mets. See last week's Thank you note to him for my full opinion.
4) Ruben Tejada
As of right now, I would say that 2nd base is Tejada's to lose. With the Mets high amount of prospects and young players at 2nd base, it should be one area that they should not try to fill next season, and they need to get rid of Castillo. Between Tejada, who is defensive whiz and maybe the bat is coming, Turner, Valdespin, Hernandez and posibbly Murphy, the Mets should be covered in some extent at 2B next season.
5) Angel Pagan
Pagan finally has had the season that many people thought he would have. Needing to step up in a big way this season, Pagan has answered all of his critics with the bat and really with base running knowledge becoming one of the best on the team. A tremendous benefit in every corner of the field and every aspect of the game, Pagan will not only go down as one of the best players of the year and our probable starting CF'er next year, but also one of the best trades by Omar Minaya, who traded for him giving up Corey Coles.
