On May 9, It's Time For a Mets Evaluation

So far, it's been a roller coaster ride for the 2010 New York Mets. Nearly everyone predicted this team in spring training to finish towards the bottom of the NL East.

They entered with what people thought was a weak starting rotation. The bullpen was in shambles, and they didn't have a clear eighth inning man.

When the season began, way back on April 5, David Wright hit a home run off of Marlins ace Josh Johnson to help the Mets get an opening day victory behind Johan Santana. Man, have things changed in the last five weeks.

After beginning the season at 4-8, the Mets have changed their looks. It all started with the release of Mike Jacobs at first base and the call-up of Ike Davis (pictured above) on April 19.

That night, the Mets were coming off of a horrible performance the previous night in St. Louis and there were many people calling for manager Jerry Manuel's head.

The Mets were 4-8 and were about to begin a long 10-game home stand against three teams that were seemingly good at the season's start, the Cubs, Braves, and Dodgers. It wasn't looking so good, and Citi Field wasn't drawing any fans to the ballpark.

Jerry Manuel slotted Ike Davis in the sixth spot in the order, playing first base and ever since that game, the Mets have sort of taken off. Although they ended up winning nine games on that home stand, they still have some major issues.

One of them being something that has plagued them for a very long time. The Mets just can never seem to come through with the big hit. Whether it's Jason Bay or David Wright or anyone else in the lineup, the Mets just strand way too many runners. Most of the big outs being made are via the strike out. David Wright entered Sunday's game against the Giants second in the NL to the Diamondbacks Justin Upton in strikeouts.

On the Friday of the Mets long home stand, April 23, Jerry Manuel finally decided to make the move, dropping Jose Reyes from his customary leadoff spot to third in the order. He thought it would get the then-slumping Jason Bay some fastballs to hit. With the exception of some decent games and some steals by Reyes, it hasn't really worked out. It may be time to move him back up to leadoff, reason being, Reyes just doesn't look comfortable in his new spot.

A major bright spot in the lineup has been the continued fine hitting of 23-year-old rookie first baseman Ike Davis. He's batting .316 (18-for-57) through Sunday's game with 13 walks (3 intentional) and a multi-home run game. Davis hasn't really run into any prolonged batting slump, and if Manuel were to re-configure his lineup, he probably should think of moving him to fifth.

The Mets can talk all they want about wanting a stretched out lineup, but one thing that I never undertood about that? What difference does it make? Bunch runs at the top of the lineup and try hard later. Every run counts.

Meanwhile, the pitching has been solid for the most part, but what to do with Oliver Perez? Doesn't seven walks= a trip up to Buffalo? Perez's outing on Sunday was hurrendous. "Just throw the ball down the middle" should have been the motto from pitching coach Dan Warthen.

The Mets will hope to get more of the same out of John Maine that he gave them in his previous two starts, when he takes the mound Monday night against the Nationals.

The Mets' bullpen had been terrific up until the last road trip when they finally started to crack. The bullpen has been used so much that Jerry Manuel elected to bring Jenrry Mejia, not Fernando Nieve, in to the eighth inning on Sunday. The wear and tear on the bullpen has already started to equal loss.

Moving forward, the Mets should be able to stay in the race because frankly, who's running away with things in the NL? Nobody besides the Cardinals in the Central. The Mets will have to compete with the Nationals, of all teams, and the NL West loser when it comes to the NL Wild Card race. Their lineup and pitching should be good enough to keep them around past Labor Day.