Now that the first month of the major league baseball season is in the books, it’s time to take a look at some early report cards for the New York Mets‘ acquisitions made during the offseason.
Let’s take a look:
Bartolo Colon (Starting Pitcher)
Grade: C
Aside from a disastrous outing in Anaheim, the portly right-hander has pitched effectively for the Mets. The 40-year-old Colon has authored four quality starts in five outings so far.
As usual, Colon’s control was been stellar—he’s walked just three batters in 32 innings of work. He needs to improve his batting average against though. Opposing hitters are batting a robust .284 against him.
Expect Colon to improve greatly on his 2-3 record and 4.50 ERA moving forward.
Kyle Farnsworth (Relief Pitcher)
Grade: B
The 38-year-old right-hander has stepped in and done a solid job as New York’s latest closer. Although it’s a small sample size, Farnsworth has collected two saves in two save opportunities and owns a 2.38 ERA in 12 appearances in 2014.
How much longer Farnsworth can remain effective remains to be seen though considering his age and all the innings he’s logged in his 16-year career. He did save 25 games for the Tampa Bay Rays as recently as 2011 though.
So far, so good.
Curtis Granderson (Outfielder)
Grade: D –
Simply put, it’s been a season to forget so far for Curtis Granderson.
The charismatic Mets outfielder is hitting a feeble .129 with just one HR, seven RBI and an anemic .212 slugging percentage.
He is not becoming another Jason Bay, is he?
Mets fans dread the thought. Granderson has to be better than this, doesn’t he?
Sure, the left-handed hitting veteran had a game-winning RBI single last Friday against Miami, but positive results have been hard to come by. Mets fans have been booing him with more vigor recently, and the pressure of playing for a new team may be getting to Granderson.
The Mets play in Philadelphia and Colorado this week, so playing in two great hitter’s parks should get the “Grandy Man” going.
Finally.
Or will it?
Jose Valverde (Relief Pitcher)
Grade: D
“Papa Grande” has saved two games for the Mets this season, but every game he pitches in seems to be a wild adventure for the flamboyant veteran right-hander.
Valverde has 288 career saves to his credit during his 12-year career but was recently demoted to a setup role based on his 5.93 ERA and 1.548 WHIP in 10 games this season.
His four home runs allowed in just 10.1 innings of work have not helped his cause either.
Chris Young (Outfielder)
Grade: D +
Despite a feeble .194 average, the 30-year-old Young has belted two home runs in his last four games and seems to be getting more comfortable at the plate.
He’ll be needed to help supply some much-needed power to a Mets lineup that is usually devoid of it.
The Mets will have a logjam in the outfield once Juan Lagares (pulled right hamstring) returns from the disabled list. In order to stay in the lineup, Young will have to improve his batting average—he’s a career .235 hitter—and provide the power the Mets signed him for this past winter.
Now is his opportunity to prove what he can do. New York is not expecting him to be an All-Star again, like he was for Arizona in 2010, but they are expecting more production than his 12/40/.200 line for the Oakland A’s last season.
*All statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.
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