Who would have thought? The Mets are going into the All Star game tonight with a record of 46-40 and within striking distance of a playoff spot with 76 games remaining. It all starts with the pitching staff and the question mark at the top of the rotation began with Johan Santana. Coming off shoulder surgery, many were not sure how Santana would pitch. He would come out looking like the Santana of old in the first half. Mets fans got to witness something they have been waiting 50 years for...a no hitter. With the exception of a couple of starts this year, Santana has pitched tremendously. He comes into the half with a 6-5 record and a 3.24 ERA.
The major surprise for the Mets and for all of Major League Baseball has been the first half that knuckleballer R.A. Dickey has put together. Dickey has been nothing short of spectacular coming into the break with a 12-1 record and a 2.40 ERA with 123 strikeouts. Dickey threw two consecutive complete game one hitters which is unheard of in baseball today. He was snubbed out of starting the All Star game because of a poor decision by Tony LaRussa, but will still get his chance to pitch in the game for the first time in his career.
When Mike Pelfrey went down in April, Jon Niese and Dillon Gee knew that they would have to step up and they have done just that. Niese signed a 5 year contract extension before the season as the Mets are expecting big things from the young southpaw. Niese is 7-4 with a respectable 3.73 ERA coming into the break. Dillon Gee has surprised many as the Mets fourth starter with a 6-7 record and a 4.10 ERA. Chris Young has also stepped in and done a nice job as the fifth starter since his return on June 5th. Young has had a quality start every time he has pitched not allowing more than 3 earned runs in his six starts. The Mets rotation has surprised many and is a big reason why this team is in a playoff race.
Another surprise to many is how the Mets lineup has come together and done an excellent job, especially with two outs. This lineup led by All Star David Wright has come up with clutch hits every night with two outs. It has been a recipe for their success in the first half and something that needs to continue for them to have a strong second half. David Wright's numbers have been off the charts all season long. He has not slumped all year and day after day continues to show why he is the cornerstone of this franchise. He is hitting .351 with 11 home runs and 59 RBI coming into the break with an astounding .441 on base percentage.
Ike Davis who struggled mightily the first two months of the season has finally got it together in the month of June and so far in July. He has 12 home runs and 49 RBI in the first half. Lucas Duda, who has been streaky at times is also contributing in the middle of that lineup with 12 home runs and 44 RBI. The guy who has surprised most has been Scott Hairston. Hairston is tied for the team lead with 12 home runs. Hairston has abused left handed pitching all season and has been monumental in the Mets first half success. Guys like Daniel Murphy, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Mike Baxter, Ruben Tejada have also come in and have done a tremendous job for skipper Terry Collins.
The main weakness of this year's team has been the bullpen thus far. Frank Francisco has been very up and down and is currently on the disabled list as he works his way back in the coming week. Manny Acosta who is in Triple-A Buffalo now was terrible when he had his time with the Mets. Ramon Ramirez has not been the guy the Mets hoped they would acquire in the trade for Angel Pagan. Pedro Beato has just returned and will be a pivotal piece of the Mets middle relief in the second half. Two guys out of the bullpen who have been great all year for this team have been Bobby Parnell and Tim Byrdak. Parnell has filled in for Francisco nicely at closer since he went down with injury and Byrdak has been the guy to come in and get lefty hitters out and he has done it with great success.
The question is if the Mets can keep up what we have seen in the first half. We saw a resilient team that following a loss or a tough streak would come back and string some wins together. This team never gives up and finds ways to come back and win ball games. They start the second half with Dillon Gee going down with injury. Gee will start the second half on the disabled list as he has a clot in his artery in his right shoulder. For this team to win down the stretch, it is pivotal that they acquire an arm for the bullpen in a guy like Huston Street. They need a veteran relief pitcher who has been there before and that can help them shut down games late. Also, with Jason Bay failing to stay healthy and his failure to produce, this team needs a right handed hitter with some power to help out a predominately left hand hitting lineup. A guy like Carlos Quentin would fill that role perfectly. If this team could add those two pivotal pieces, don't be surprised if the Mets are playing meaningful games in September. This team has shocked all of baseball and if their rotation continues to pitch the way it has, they can make a run at one of those two NL Wild Card spots. Nobody in the NL wants to face R.A. Dickey if it comes down to a one game playoff.
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