After June Swoon, Mets’ Focus Returns to Young Prospects
June started on a high note for the New York Mets, After winning seven of nine including four out of five against their divisional rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Mets had moved to within one game of .500, and just 3.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East race.
But after leaving Philadelphia victorious, the Mets dropped six straight and 17 of their next 26, leaving them 10 games under .500 and 9 games back of the Braves as the calendar turned to July.
New York’s June schedule provided a solid opportunity for a team that played 15-11 ball in April. It was an impressive start for a young Mets team that started the 2014 MLB campaign as 100/1 longshots in futures wagering to capture their first World Series since 1986. Betonline was reviewed at the start of the season and the 100/1 looked realistic at that stage.
Now that the Amazins have once again returned to Earth, the focus can return to the development of the team’s young prospects, including two of the youngsters acquired a year ago in the deal that sent 2012 NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays.
After making his Major League debut in a brief stint with the Mets in 2013, catcher Travis d’Arnaud was expected to be a regular with big club this season. While the 25 year-old has been solid defensively behind the plate, he struggled in the early going, failing to keep his average above .200.
The decision was finally made to send d’Arnaud down to AAA Las Vegas to regain confidence at the plate.
And what a difference 17 days makes.
Since being recalled on June 24, d’Arnaud has been an impressive 9-for-27, including connecting for a three-run homerun against the Oakland A’s in his first game back.
Things have not gone so well for pitcher Noah Syndergaard. It was hoped that the 21 year-old fireballer would make his big-league debut with the Mets this season.
But Syndergaard has struggled on the mound thus far. The youngster has been plagued by elbow and shoulder injuries, which have led to missed starts and an ordinary 6-4 record and 5.70 ERA with AAA Las Vegas.
The Mets are expected to continue being patient with their top pitching prospect, waiting for him to have four or five solid outings before considering promoting him to the big club.
