Remember When the Mets Were Old?

I was just looking at the average age of some of the other teams, and the Mets sure do look young right now, or at least "not old", especially compared to past seasons.  In fact, I'd say the Mets have it about right.

The Mets are the "8th oldest" team in baseball, with an average age of  29.8, but that compares favorably to year's past when the team was easily the oldest in baseball at around 32 years of age on average.

The current oldest team is the Phillies, at 31.7 on average.  Of course having Jamie Moyer on the team skews that stat a bit.

The oldest Met is Henry Blanco at 38, and the youngest, of course, is Jenrry Mejia at age 20.

Most importantly, the core of David Wright, Jose Reyes, Mike Pelfrey, Frankie Rodriguez is young, as are Jonathan Niese, Jeff Francoeur, Ike Davis, and other key players.

FUN FACT:  The Mets are the lightest team in all of MLB with an average weight of 202 lbs.  The heaviest are the Chicago White sox at a whopping 216.

MLB Roster Analysis
RK	TEAM	RHB	LHB	SH	RHP	LHP	HT	WT	AGE	YNG	OLD
1	Philadelphia	6	6	1	8	4	6-1	208	31.7	24	47
2	Boston	7	4	2	9	3	6-1	205	30.9	23	43
3	Houston	8	2	3	10	2	6-1	213	30.6	25	38
4	Milwaukee	6	6	1	8	4	6-1	209	30.5	23	42
5	Chicago Sox	8	4	1	8	4	6-2	216	30.2	23	42
6	NY Yankees	4	4	5	8	4	6-2	212	30.2	23	40
7	NY Mets	6	3	4	6	6	6-1	202	29.8	20	38
8	LA Dodgers	8	4	1	9	3	6-0	214	29.8	22	37
9	LA Angels	7	2	4	9	3	6-1	206	29.6	25	36
10	Atlanta	6	4	3	9	3	6-1	205	29.5	20	40
11	Colorado	6	6	1	7	5	6-2	203	29.4	24	39
12	Toronto	9	4	0	8	5	6-1	214	29.3	22	35
13	Cincinnati	9	4	0	10	2	6-1	215	29.2	22	40
14	Chicago Cubs	8	4	1	8	5	6-2	214	29.1	24	34
15	Washington	8	4	1	8	4	6-1	213	29.0	24	39
16	Kansas City	5	5	2	11	2	6-1	206	28.9	24	35
17	San Francisco	6	4	3	8	4	6-1	210	28.9	23	36
18	Minnesota	5	5	3	9	3	6-2	215	28.8	22	39
19	Seattle	8	3	2	10	2	6-1	209	28.7	23	40
20	Baltimore	9	2	2	8	4	6-2	209	28.6	23	35
21	St. Louis	9	3	1	9	3	6-2	214	28.6	23	37
22	Pittsburgh	7	4	3	7	4	6-1	211	28.4	23	38
23	Detroit	8	3	2	8	4	6-2	207	28.4	21	36
24	San Diego	7	4	2	9	3	6-1	208	28.1	22	42
25	Arizona	7	4	2	12	0	6-1	205	28.1	22	36
26	Texas	8	4	1	9	3	6-2	215	28.0	21	39
27	Tampa Bay	6	4	3	10	2	6-2	209	28.0	24	34
28	Cleveland	7	5	1	8	4	6-1	207	27.9	23	39
29	Florida	10	3	0	9	3	6-2	215	27.7	23	34
30	Oakland	6	5	2	7	5	6-1	206	27.2	22	32

Mejia's Spring Numbers - Truly Amazin', or a Mirage?

New post from NY Sports Dog contributor Andy the Lawyer:

Jenrry Mejia may very well turn into the second coming of Mariano Rivera, but its hard to see how the Mets brass has settled on that prognosis for him based on just Spring Training.  Its true that Mejia has been very effective thus far (10 IP, 1.69 ERA, .184 average against), but if that sample size is enough to conclude that someone will be a great relief pitcher, the Mets are already in great shape.  Look at all the relief "studs" that the Mets already have (based on Spring training numbers):

• Pat Misch:  10 IP, 0.90 ERA, .182 average against
• Elmer Dessens: 5.1 IP, 1.69 ERA, .238 average against
• Nelson Figueroa: 8.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, .143 average against
• Hisanori Takahashi:8.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, .138 average against

Considering that Feliciano and K-Rod are locks to make the team, and given that its pretty likely that one or more of Parnell, Green, Nieve, or Igarashi will be allowed to stick around through April, why is it so important to convert Mejia into a reliever?  Seems pretty clear tht there are 4 other Mets pitchers who are pitching just as effectively as Mejia, and none of them have the potential to be ace starting pitchers, or are only 20 years old.  Are the Mets planning on using an 8 or 9 man bullpen to start the season?

The point is that Spring training numbers do not matter - but even if they did, the Mets should be just as happy to have any of these 4 guys pitching for the big club as Mejia, and simply let Mejia keep working on his command and secondary stuff in the minors.

Moreover, having Mejia work on being a starting pitcher in the minors is much more likely to pay dividends for the Mets - even this year - as not one of Pelfrey, Perez, or Maine has had a particularly impressive spring.  The Mets may need a reliable starting pitcher to add to the rotation in July much more than they need a 6th inning reliever in April.

102 mph for Mejia?

Though it seems at time that the Mets minors is devoid of stars, there are a few guys that get the juices flowing.

My friend Mack of Mack's Mets, does a great job covering these guys, and his blog is the first I open each morning.

Another guy I enjoy reading is Brian Moritz.

Moritz, who does a fantastic job covering the Bing, wrote the following:

First of all, here's an unofficial breakdown of Jenrry Mejia's outing:
1st inning: 2 balls, 6 strikes, 8 total.
2nd: 9 balls, 13 strikes, 22 total.
3rd: 5 balls, 13 strikes, 18 total.
4th: 3 balls, 8 strikes, 11 total.
5th: 4 balls, 4 strikes, 8 total.
6th: 9 balls, 13 strikes, 22 total.

Totals: 31 balls, 57 strikes, 88 pitches.

Yes, as I wrote yesterday ... one of his pitches hit 102 on the gun on the scoreboard at NYSEG Stadium. I don't know exactly how accurate that is ... but Mejia was throwing in the high 90s with his fastball.

Just as impressive was his use of the curveball, especially a couple times as a strikeout pitch. When you're throwing a fastball in the high 90s and a curveball in the high 70s, you've got good stuff.

The more we see and hear with Mejia, the more exciting it is...this is a potential star for us.

Call me crazy, but he throws a little like Pedro.