7 Ways New York Mets Can Build on Early 2012 Success

The New York Mets, led by resurgent nine-year veteran David Wright, got off to a start to this season that surprised experts and fans alike. At the All-Star break, the team coming off an abysmal 77-win 2011 was a mere half-game out of the National League Wild Card race. 

Not a bad spot to be in for a team that some professionals predicted to win no more than 60 games.

In the second half, however, a combination of injuries and mediocrity has cursed New York's once-promising 2012 season. The starting pitching that carried them through their successful first half has suffered injuries potent enough to throw the season off course (Dillon Gee and Johan Santana), and simply regressed as a whole—understandably so after the staff's impressive spring-into-early summer.

All is not lost for the Metropolitans, though.

Hold on, we know what you're thinking.

"It's the Mets, of course the season's over."

Not so fast. Let's run through some factors that could revive the Mets from their second-half stand-still.

Dumping Jason Bay

This comes first and foremost.

Jason Bay has been notoriously unproductive since signing his $66 million deal prior to the 2010 season. This season, though, he's transformed from unproductive to entirely unplayable. 

In 159 at-bats this season, Bay has accumulated 21 hits—good for a .150 batting average. He has driven in a total of 11 runs. 

The lifetime .851 OPS Bay, sports a number more than 300 points lower than his career average in 2012 (.510).

It's become clear that Jason Bay's days as a major league player are most likely over, as he pounds fastball after fastball into the left side of the infield.

There was speculation before the trade deadline that the Mets were in talks with Miami to potentially swap problems, in a Bay for Heath Bell deal. This deal could still theoretically be made this season, as you have to believe Bay, Bell and catcher John Buck (also involved in the talks) would all pass through waivers unclaimed. 

Whether it be through a trade or outright release (which G.M. Sandy Alderson has said he will not do), the Mets need to cut all ties with Bay to have any hope for meaningful games in 2012.

Finding a Catcher

The three-year experiment of Josh Thole catching the majority of ballgames for the Mets is going nowhere. The 25-year-old made his MLB debut in the summer of 2009, and has been the team's primary catcher though most of his time in New York.

For a player who prides himself in on-base skills (career minor league OBP of .375 in parts of seven seasons), his .261 batting average and .316 on-base percentage—with little to no power or speed—aren't strong enough to keep him on a major league roster.

Since going on the DL May 7 with a .284 clip, Thole has hit just .254 since his June 1 return, totaling 11 RBI.

The crop to find a replacement for Thole in-season is thin, especially with Geovany Soto being dealt to Texas and Kurt Suzuki finding a home in Washington near the deadline.

Options aren't pretty, but could include Seattle's Miguel Olivo, free-agent Yorvit Torrealba, or even bringing back Rod Barajas from Pittsburgh or Ronny Paulino who's currently in Baltimore.

The names aren't all that attractive, but they likely wouldn't command any major returns, either. 

Regardless of 2012's outcome, Sandy Alderson should be on the lookout for a serviceable catcher this winter. 

Catching Lightning in a Bottle with Matt Harvey

In late July, Matt Harvey was called upon to fill a need in the Mets' rotation, and he has done so very impressively.

Through four starts—including a three-hit, 11-strikeout debut in Arizona—Harvey has pitched to a 3.63 ERA, and has allowed only 17 hits in 22.1 innings.

Harvey has been plenty effective, no doubt, but he may need to return to his debut-form to pitch the Mets into the playoffs.

He has the stuff—a fastball that touches 98 mph, devastating breaking balls and a change-up—to be a front-of-the-rotation pitcher, but the 23-year-old may have to perform well over his head in order for the Mets to play October baseball. 

If the stars align and Harvey's starts are coincided with near-perfect Mets play, we could be in for another miracle in Queens.

David Wright Returning to MVP Form

For much of the first half, David Wright was among the league leaders in batting average, boasting a clip over .350 for months. He had finally regained his spot as a top third baseman in baseball.

Wright is currently sixth in the league in RBI with 74, with a respectable 16 home runs. His average has dipped to a more down-to-earth .324 though, and as the Mets losses have piled up, so have Wright's strikeout numbers—which he managed to keep at bay throughout the first half.

Wright is still on track for the best season of his nine-year career and has done all the convincing he needs to do to Sandy Alderson that he's worth a long-term contract. However, if the Mets want a shot at October, Wright will have to step it up to a new level—one that Flushing hasn't seen since Mike Piazza made his living behind the Shea Stadium plate.

If Wright can prove to New York that he, too, play at an elite level, don't be surprised if the Mets land in one of the two Wild Card spots on October 3.

Adding a Serviceable Reliever

If it wasn't for the bullpen's inabilities, the Mets may have held a playoff spot after the season's first half.

Now, the team's problems aren't limited to relief pitching. Though it may still be its primary issue.

Not one pitcher in relief can be trusted to get a meaningful out, possibly aside from newcomer Josh Edgin. Numbers aside, the pitchers on the staff struggle to retire batters in high-leverage spots. Just look at Jon Rauch, who is currently pitching to a WHIP under one, but has faltered in late-inning appearances. 

Bobby Parnell's stint as closer started off fine, but ended with a 3.38 ERA, 15 hits in 13.1 innings, five earned runs and a .283 BAA. Since his initial call-up in 2008, Parnell has struggled to find how to turn his 100-plus mile-per-hour fastball into a meaningful strikeout weapon. In year five, Parnell appears to be no more than a seventh-inning man.

The pen has been littered with names such as Manny Acosta (with his 8.71 ERA in 27 games), Miguel Batista, D.J. Carrasco, Garrett Olsen, Pedro Beato, Elvin Ramirez and Robert Carson among others. The best ERA out of those names would be Batista's 4.82.

Some dignity—and victories— could still be salvaged if closer Frank Francisco saves games with more regularity than he had in early 2012, and lowers his over-five ERA. Parnell could be effective in a less important role, and Edgin has proven to be gem of a find, being able to pitch against lefties and righties late in games. Edgin also received consideration for the closer role before Francisco returned from injury.

Prospects Jeurys Familia and Jenrry Mejia have been regarded as pieces to help the bullpen in 2012, however both have chances to develop more as starting pitchers for next year and beyond. 

It's on Sandy Alderson to make a meaningful move to bring in a reliever, but it may be too late.

R.A. Dickey Having June-Like Success

Through June, well-traveled flutter-baller R.A. Dickey emerged as baseball's brightest story, and rightly so.

That month, Dickey finished 5-0 with three complete games—including back-to-back one-hitters against Tampa Bay and Baltimore. In Tampa on June 13, DIckey's franchise-record streak of 32.1 scoreless innings concluded, and his spot was secured in franchise record books.

In his six June starts, Dickey allowed six runs on 21 hits in 48.1 innings. He struck out 55 in the month while walking a minuscule eight, and allowing batters to hit a measly .131 off him.

July gave Dickey and his knuckler a bit more problems than the previous month, though.

In his five starts, he suffered his first loss since April, and finished only 2-1, with the Mets going 3-3 in his appearances, which included an unsuccessful ninth-inning relief situation against L.A. on July 21. He allowed 43 hits in 33.1 innings in July, and pitched to an ERA over five while batters teed off, hitting .312 against him.

August has been much nicer to the 37-year-old, and he is seeing much of that June success once again. In his two starts, including a frustrating third loss of 2012 in San Diego, Dickey has struck out 19 and walked just three in 16 innings—most recently including a five-hit, complete game shutout of Miami at Citi Field on August 9.

His ERA now sits at 2.72 (good for fourth in the league), and is tied for the league lead in strikeouts with 166. He's tied for the MLB lead in wins with 15, and will be in contention for the Cy Young Award, regardless of the Mets' record.

As long as Dickey keeps up his current performance, the Mets will be in a much better position to contend, especially with former ace Johan Santana's injury and subsequent mediocrity. 

September Call-Ups Providing Fire

When the rosters expand on September 1, the Mets will be re-acquainted with some familiar faces.

Outfielders Lucas Duda and Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who were once everyday locks for the big club, now find themselves in Triple-A Buffalo. The duo discovered mediocrity at just the wrong time, teaming with Santana's injury, Dickey's regression and Wright's slumping to plummet the Mets to 17 games behind first place Washington, and 9.5 out of a Wild Card position.

It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for the once-effective young players to return to form upon their likely call-ups on September 1st. Duda was the team's only pure power threat through the season's first three months and Nieuwenhuis was in early Rookie of the Year talks, as a result of his .300 bating average and stellar glove.

Injury to his plantar fascia could delay Nieuwenhuis' return, however. He's attempting to rehab the injury without surgery in time to return to the team in September.

Terry Collins, according to the New York Post, stated that Familia and Mejia will join the club once the active roster can hold 40, which will be sure to help the pitching staff, whether they help out the rotation or come out of the pen.

Jenrry Mejia saw time in the major league bullpen in 2010 under Jerry Manuel. He missed most of last season with Tommy John surgery.

Other names in contention for recall at the start of September include Zach Lutz and Josh Satin, who had some time with the big club early on and displayed offensive ability.

Reese Havens is also a name to consider. He has been with the organization since 2008 when he was drafted in the first round. Havens is now 25, though, and is running out of time to make an impact at second base, while hitting only .234 in Double-A. It may be time to take a chance on Havens and see if he'll sink or swim against Major League pitching.

Val Pascucci has hit 15 homers for Buffalo this season, and the career Triple-Aer saw time with the Mets last September. It's possible he'll see another call-up this year to extend the Mets bench options.

Pedro Beato, Robert Carson, and Jack Egbert all saw time in the MLB this season, and could re-join the team in September. Starter Collin McHugh has impressed many this year in Double and Triple-A, and is another name to watch.

The Mets' season ends with a bevy of games against the lowly Brewers, Phillies and Marlins. If managed correctly, the Mets' call-ups could play a pivotal role in finishing the team's ascent to a Wild Card berth.

Make sure you follow me on Twitter at @JSDorn6 for some more bright and shining optimism. Follow @JSDorn6