Mets rookie Ike Davis looks like the real deal in our 2010 simulation

A roster of veterans, journeymen, and some talented rookies help make the New York Mets relevant in our 2010 simulation.

It’s a new decade for the virtual New York Mets. Citi Field is their home now and there’s promise for some better days ahead. Unfortunately, coming off of a poor 2009 campaign, it may not arrive in our next simulation of the 2010 season.

David Wright remains one of the league’s premier players. The Mets also have a few more awesome offensive players. Unfortunately, they do not have a complete roster.

Before setting off on a possibly down year, let’s catch everyone up on what the Mets have done in years past:

1962: 52-108
1963: 43-119
1964: 44-118
1965: 50-112
1966: 56-105
1967: 64-98
1968: 74-88
1969: 93-69
1970: 101-61 (NLCS loss 3-2)
1971: 100-62 (World Series Champions)
1972: 80-76
1973: 83-77
1974: 72-90
1975: 75-87
1976: 88-74
1977: 78-84
1978: 68-94
1979: 64-98
1980: 65-97
1981: 34-69
1982: 69-93
1983: 64-98
1984: 83-79
1985: 98-64 (NLCS loss 4-3)
1986: 90-72
1987: 95-67 (NLCS loss 4-3)
1988: 99-63 (World Series Champions)
1989: 110-52 (World Series loss 4-1)
1990: 103-59 (World Series loss 4-0)
1991: 84-77
1992: 76-86
1993: 80-82
1994: 43-70
1995: 74-70
1996: 74-88
1997: 89-73
1998: 88-74
1999: 92-70
2000: 85-77
2001: 76-86
2002: 74-87
2003: 54-107
2004: 82-80
2005: 97-65 (NLCS loss 4-1)
2006: 76-86
2007: 89-73 (World Series 4-2 loss)
2008: 86-76
2009: 69-93

Do the Mets have enough to make a playoff run in 2010? The answer may surprise you.

Preseason Predictions

The preseason predictions haven’t always been perfect in this simulation. Hopefully, this time they’re pretty accurate. The 2010 Mets are expected to go 87-75 and finish first in the NL East. I am pleasantly surprised.

David Wright is the only player in the preseason’s top ten. His yearly projections have him hitting .294 with 30 home runs and 103 RBI. The two-time MVP should, yet again, keep this team competitive.

The Mets didn’t have a spectacular spring training. They finished 15-15. One thing important to note from the spring training standings is how well the Washington Nationals did. In doing so, they reminded me that this is around the time the real life version of that organization got good. Let’s see if the same thing happens in our simulation.

Regular Season Results

Through the early part of the 2010 season, all five teams in the NL East played an evenly matched game. After 50 games, they were all within five games of each other.

As the season went on, distance between first and last place did grow. When the All-Star Break hit, the division was still tighter than most. The only team you care about, the Mets, sat in fourth place with a 43-45 record. The good news is it put them only four games out of the division lead shared by the Atlanta Braves and Florida Marlins.

Noticeable in this year is how few Mets are among the league leaders. David Wright had the second-best WAR in the first half but nobody else had their name pop up at any time in the top three of major statistics. This was reflective in the single All-Star selection.

With some huge obstacles to overcome to earn a playoff berth, the Mets embarked on the second half of the season with some huge challenges.

In the end, the Mets managed to finish with a respectable 83-79 record. It shouldn’t surprise you to learn this wasn’t good enough for first-place. Instead, the Mets settled for third and another year without the postseason.

Honors

The All-Star Game wasn’t as Mets-filled as recent years. Only David Wright, the NL’s starting third baseman, made the trip.

Captain America went hitless in the game but did draw a walk.

We do have some notable announcements to make regarding the Mets and awards. Ike Davis took home the NL Rookie of the Year. He certainly deserved it, slashing .275/.350/.464 while belting 20 home runs.

Yet another award for his home, Wright won his fifth Silver Slugger.

Notable Individual Statistics

Mets pitching wasn’t half bad this year. R.A. Dickey went 11-9 with a 2.73 ERA. Jon Niese was 9-10 with a 2.67 ERA and Dillon Gee finished 8-2 with a 2.15 ERA.

The offense was a much different story. Outside of David Wright, who finished hitting .312 with 34 home runs and 108 RBI, there wasn’t much.

Ike Davis clobbered 20 home runs while hitting .275. Third on the team in home runs was Rod Barajas. He only played in 85 games for the Mets.

Among the notable debuts, a kid named Jacob deGrom happened to pitch a few games in relief for the Mets. Perhaps he develops into something special a little earlier than expected.

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We’ve entered an era of Mets baseball less focused on winning and more engineered toward crossing our fingers and hoping for the best. If more players like deGrom make the big leagues sooner than expected, perhaps there is a playoff appearance sooner than expected.