New York Mets: Grading Each of the 25 Roster Members so Far

Despite ESPN predicting that the Mets will finish 27th in the MLB this season in their Week One Power Rankings, New York is currently 13-9 and one game back in the NL East, ahead of big favorites like the Marlins and Phillies.

This would be surprising enough with a fully healthy team, but taking into account the injuries of Jason Bay, Andres Torres and Mike Pelfrey makes the Mets the most overachieving team in the MLB.

In order for them to keep up this pace, some players (that means you, Ike Davis) will need to start getting hot with the bats, but more importantly, the rookies need to keep contributing and taking advantage of all the opportunities they are getting.

Here are the grades (A+ through F) for the 25 Mets on their roster.

Justin Turner, UTIL

Stats: .227 AVG, .292 OBP, 0 HR, 3 RBI in a utility role playing every infield position.

Columnist's take: Justin Turner came into this season knowing that he would be primarily used as a utility player, and has accepted the role gracefully. His numbers are unimpressive, but his utility makes him a valuable asset to a franchise that frequently suffers injuries.

Grade: C

Mike Nickeas, C

Stats: .188 AVG, .317 OBP, 0 HR, 1 RBI serving as the backup catcher.

Columnist's take: The average is low, but he has a good on-base percentage and has only had 16 at-bats. He gives Thole a rest when he needs one, and plays pretty good defense. He will never be an everyday Major League talent, but he is a fine backup.

Grade: C-

David Wright, 3B

Stats: .397 AVG, .506 OBP, 3 HR, 14 RBI as the everyday third baseman.

Columnist's take: David Wright is not only the most important member of the New York Mets, he's one of the best players in baseball. He's hitting for an insanely high batting average, is playing outstanding defense, and getting timely hits to win the Mets numerous games. Without him, the Mets would likely have a losing record. Behind Matt Kemp of the Dodgers, David Wright has to be considered a leading candidate in the early NL MVP race.

Grade: A+

Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF

Stats: .316 AVG, .381 OBP, 2 HR, 6 RBI serving as the everyday center fielder since Andres Torres suffered his injury.

Columnist's take: How great has Kirk Nieuwenhuis been in 2012 for the Mets? After not making the Major League squad out of Spring Training, Kirk caught his break when Andres Torres went down Opening Day with a leg injury. He's been hitting great, but more importantly, he has been playing unbelievable defense, routinely making 'web gems' while patrolling center field.

Grade: A+

Ruben Tejada, SS

Stats: .310 AVG, .366 OBP, 0 HR, 8 RBI as the everyday shortstop.

Columnist's Take: Jose Reyes who? At a fraction of the price, Tejada has played as well—if not better—than Jose Reyes so far in 2012. He's moved from an easy out to a top of the order threat and played great defense along the way for the Mets. If he can keep it up, he will make GM Sandy Alderson look like a genius for not bringing back Reyes.

Grade:  A

Scott Hairston, OF

Stats: .250 AVG, .283 OBP, 2 HR, 7 RBI as a backup outfielder.

Columnist's take: Hairston started off the season painfully slow, entering the Colorado series this past week with a .172 batting average.  However, after hitting for the cycle one night and collecting two hits two games later, Hairston raised his average an incredible 78 points in three days. If he can play the way he did in Colorado, he'll be a great fourth option for the Mets, but if he is cold like he was at the beginning of the season, he may be out of a job.

Grade: B-

Ronny Cedeno, INF

Stats: .250 AVG, .438 OBP, 0 HR, 1 RBI in backup infielder role.

Columnist's Take: Cedeno's already on the DL for the Mets, but he was doing a fine job as a backup infielder when he was healthy. He plays solid defense but needs to stay on the field if he wants to stay in the MLB.

Grade: C-

Lucas Duda, OF

Stats: .256 AVG, .337 OBP, 4 HR, 13 RBI as starting right fielder.

Columnist's Take: Duda started off slowly, but he's starting to get in a groove of late. He will likely hit 20 to 25 home runs in the season, but his average will probably not climb much higher than it is now. He's a little shaky defensively, but the Mets will compromise defense for hitting when it comes to Duda.

Grade: B

Mike Baxter, OF

Stats: .333 AVG, .429 OBP, 0 HR, 4 RBI as backup outfielder and pinch hitter.

Columnist's Take: On a smaller scale than Nieuwenhuis, Baxter has also come up big as a young talent for the Mets. He has a great average, plays good defense, and, As Adam Rubin of ESPN tweeted, is 5 for 11 pinch hitting this season.

Grade: A

Daniel Murphy, INF

Stats: .311 AVG, .364 OBP, 0 HR, 8 RBI as starting second baseman.

Columnist's Take: You love to see Murphy hitting for average, but where's the power he's shown in the past? His defense is also a liability at times, but it would be hard for Terry Collins to take him out when he's hitting over .300.

Grade: B

Ike Davis, 1B

Stats: .169 AVG, .229 OBP, 3 HR, 8 RBI as starting first baseman.

Columnist's Take: Davis has been terrible to start the season, but maybe his three hit game (including the winner in the 11th against the Rockies) will propel him to finally get hot with the bat. Davis is one of the rare threats in baseball to hit over .300 and with 20+ home runs, but the way he has started, he'll be lucky to finish over .250.

Grade: D

Josh Thole, C

Stats: .322 AVG, .412 OBP, 1 HR, 5 RBI as starting catcher.

Columnist's Take: How could you not be impressed with Thole so far this season? After a miserable 2011 campaign, Josh has stepped up both hitting and working with pitchers. He is a much more capable defender and the starters seem to enjoy throwing to him more than they have in the past.

Grade: A

Mike Pelfrey, SP

Stats: 0-0, 2.29 ERA, 1.46 WHIP as starting pitcher.

*OUT FOR SEASON WITH TOMMY JOHN SURGERY

Columnist's Take: I've never been too big on Pelfrey, but it was exciting to see him get off to a hot start. He pitched great in Philly and his last start was eight innings with only one earned run. It is sad both for him and the Mets to see him go down for the season, but it will give young prospects their chance to make a name in the MLB.

Grade: Would have been A- but out for the year gives him an INCOMPLETE.

Dillon Gee, SP

Stats: 2-2, 4.85 ERA, 1.38 WHIP as starting pitcher.

Columnist's Take: Gee is obviously a number four or five starter in the Majors, but he is a serviceable one at that.  His ERA is too high, but he is averaging more than 6.0 innings per start, meaning he is saving the bullpen.  He is a competitor that still has work to do, but you can't expect much more from him. That's also one heck of a goatee.

Grade: C+ 

Bobby Parnell, RP

Stats: 0-0, 0 SV, 3.48 ERA, 15 K in 10.1 IP as relief pitcher.

Columnist's Take: For the past few seasons, I've been expecting big things from Parnell. He has an MLB body, throws extremely hard, and gets his opportunities in the Mets bullpen. His ERA is a little high for a relief pitcher, but his strikeouts per inning pitched ratio is tremendous. He is not closer material yet, but hopefully will be in the coming years.

Grade: B

Tim Byrdak, RP

Stats: 0-0, 4.05 ERA, 10 K in 6.2 IP as relief pitcher.

Columnist's take: Byrdak, a lefty specialist, has had his ups and downs with the Mets so far this year. He is coming off a Spring Training injury and has had some great outings and some rough ones. His last outing, he came in to face Todd Helton and allowed a grand slam to tie the game for the Rockies.

Grade: C+ but his legendary twitter handle, @Givemethelefty, bumps him up to a B-

RA Dickey, SP

Stats: 3-1, 4.44 ERA, 1.36 WHIP.

Columnist's take: As a knuckleballer, Dickey will inevitably not have his best 'stuff' every night, but he is a ferocious competitor despite it. He averages just more than 6.0 innings per start and, despite his high ERA, finds ways to win the Mets ballgames.

Grade: B

Jason Bay, OF

Stats: .240 AVG, .316 OBP, 3 HR, 5 RBI as starting (for now) left fielder.

Columnist's take: Another year in New York, another Jason Bay injury. The under-performing outfielder was off to an average start, hitting for a low average but showing some power and hustle along the way when he went down with a broken rib.  His role could be in jeopardy if Nieuwenhuis keeps playing the way he's been.

Grade: D+

Manny Acosta, RP

Stats: 0-1, 9.31 ERA, 2.21 WHIP.

Columnist's take: Manny Acosta has never impressed me, and I doubt he ever will. He throws decently hard, but I never have had great confidence in his ability to get hitters out. His numbers are a reflection of that this season.

Grade: D

Miguel Batista, RP

Stats: 0-1, 7.84 ERA, 2.13 ERA as a relief pitcher with a spot start.

Columnist's take: Batista is aging, and it's beginning to show this year. He's not an eighth or ninth inning guy, but he has the ability to eat innings out of the bullpen and help rookies with his experience.

Grade: C-

Frank Francisco, RP

Stats: 1-1, 7.71 ERA, 5 SV, 1 BS.

Columnist's take: The Mets overpaid for Francisco and he is showing the fans why.  He's given up a run in five of his past six outings and seems to not be able to handle the pressure that comes with New York City. Granted it is a small sample size, but I do not think Francisco is one of the premiere closers in the game.

Grade: C-

Jon Niese, SP

Stats: 2-0, 2.81 ERA, 0.97 ERA as starting pitcher.

Columnist's Take: The Mets recently signed Jon Niese to a five-year extension, and he's proving to be every bit worth it. A left hander with good offspeed pitches and a competitive spirit, Niese has exactly what it takes to be successful in New York. He is most likely the ace of the future.

Grade: A

Ramon Ramirez, RP

Stats: 2-1, 5.40 ERA, 1 SV as set-up man.

Columnist's take: Ramon Ramirez isn't one of the best set-up men in the game, but he will be valuable to the Mets this season.  He has a rubber arm so he will be able to throw a lot of innings, just don't expect him to have a 2.00 ERA.

Grade: C+

Johan Santana, SP

Stats: 0-2, 2.25 ERA, 29 K, 11 BB

Columnist's take: Johan Santana was a question mark at the beginning of the season, but hes not any longer. Outside of a poor outing against the Braves, Santana has been nothing short of dominant, even if his record doesn't show it. The Mets blew a 4-0 lead after Santana exited against Colorado the other day, and it marked the only time this year they scored more than one run for him.

Grade: A

Jon Rauch, RP

Stats: 3-0, 2.53 ERA, 0.75 WHIP.

Columnist's take: I love this off-season pickup. Rauch has been unbelievable so far this year, and it's hard not to be intimidated by his 6'11" frame. He has solidified a Mets' bullpen that greatly needed assurance, and I would not be surprised if he is closer by the end of the year.

Grade: A-