The Mets’ season was heading toward the bottom of Flushing Bay as of May 29, but that changed with a 27-13 run by the All-Star break.
The second half of the season begins on Friday, and the Mets will certainly be fighting for a spot in the postseason.
Let’s take a look at the results from the first half:
Francisco Lindor: A-
He switched to being a leadoff hitter and the results started to follow.
Had he gotten off to a slower start, he easily would have been an All-Star.
Brandon Nimmo: A-
Last season, he hit 20 home runs for the first time in his career, and this year he might hit 30. He’s a competitive player.
Francisco Alvarez: A-
The Mets’ poor play coincided with his time on the disabled list.
His consistent presence at both catcher and hitter over the past five weeks has been a big accomplishment.
Jose Iglesias: A-
How does someone who couldn’t find a major league job last season lead a team with a .999 OPS at the break?
Jose Butto: A-
First, he strengthened the rotation for a while.
The right-hander then returned from Syracuse and was a threat for multiple innings out of the bullpen.
The team needed that.
JD Martinez: B+
Without the veteran DH’s significant contributions in late May and June, the Mets’ season may have slumped beyond repair.
Mark Vientos: B+
He lost his third baseman position to Brett Batey during spring training, but returned with a thunderous performance after that, leading the lineup with an OPS of .896.
Dedniel Nunez: B+
The rookie prevented the bullpen from completely collapsing during Edwin Diaz’s absence, a player development success story.
Luis Torrence: B+
The Mets strengthened their backup catcher position by acquiring Torrens, who has a strong arm and is known for his timely hitting, from the Yankees as a designated free agent.
Pete Alonso: B
It was a solid but unspectacular first half for the Mets’ lone All-Star.
Although he has the most home runs on the team (19), other players in the batting lineup have also been great players.
Harrison Bader: B
Defense, contact, base running.
He has stayed healthy and provided the Mets with a well-rounded game.
Luis Severino: B
A hard worker, he leads the Mets in innings pitched (109 ²/₃) and is a reliable pitcher at the top of the starting rotation.
Although his strikeouts have decreased, he is still at bat every time throughout the rotation.
Sean Manaea: B
The left-hander struggled to score runs early in the game but has shown improvement in that area.
Starling Marte: B-
While there’s a lot to like offensively, his defensive prowess is lacking, likely due in large part to the bone bruise in his right knee that landed him on the disabled list late last month.
David Peterson: B-
A reliable piece at the back of the starting rotation, the left-hander has kept the Mets in games after missing the early part of the season while rehabbing hip surgery.
Reid Garrett: B-
He showed overwhelming strength at the beginning of the season, but struggled in the second half as he was given more playing time.
But overall, his performance was respectable, posting a 3.64 ERA in 36 appearances and helping lead the bullpen.
Jose Quintana: C+
After a tough period, the season resumed in mid-June.
The veteran left-hander has been in playoff contention before and remains a valuable asset.
Christian Scott: C+
The rookie made waves with his dominating MLB debut and has been a consistent performer ever since.
If Kodai Senga returns, he will be an ideal sixth starter for this rotation.
Tyrone Taylor: C+
There’s a lot to like about the reserve outfielder’s defense and base running.
He has a below average OPS of .654, but he’s hitting a lot of big hits.
Adrian Hauser: D
After a disappointing stint in the starting rotation, he seemed to fit into a long-term relief role, but the right-hander has recently returned to hitting form.
Tyler Megill: D
The right-hander may be the unluckiest pitcher on the staff, but his high walk rate is compounding his own misfortune.
Edwin Diaz: D
From his May slump to his suspension in June, there was a lot of drama surrounding the star closer, and it took a toll on the team.
The Mets need him to do better.
Adam Ottavino: D
The veteran relief pitcher had a terrible May and was moved to a weaker position.
It’s hardly used these days and seems to have fallen into disuse.
DJ Stewart: D
His playing time has been minimal and his contributions even less.
Jeff McNeill: F
The 2022 National League batting champion had a terrible first half of last year and has declined even further this season, posting a .590 OPS.
He’s not even halfway through his $50 million contract extension.
Jake Diekman: F
He became the Mets’ primary left-handed relief pitcher after Brooks Raley was placed on the disabled list in April and subsequently missed the season.
The results were terrible.
Carlos Mendoza: B+
He is a forthright individual who is respected by his players.
The rookie manager understands New York.
David Stearns: B+
He’s not afraid to shuffle the roster and find the right fit, and he found a lot of them.
