With the first half in the books and the second half just ahead, Adam Rubin hands out his midseason report card for the New York Mets.
MANAGEMENT
GM Sandy Alderson
"Tight market" or not, Alderson has yet to help the Mets on offense, which helped the Amazin's squander the wins the team banked during an early 11-game winning streak. He also insisted the Mets use Wilmer Flores at short before finally relenting. And about that bench ...
Manager Terry Collins
Quibble with his in-game maneuvers all you like, but Collins has kept the Mets upbeat amid injuries. The Mets are five games over .500 and within two games of first place in the NL East despite a minus-2 run differential.
STARTING PITCHERS
Despite the claims of being "superhuman," Harvey inevitably has been mortal at times as he returns from Tommy John surgery. He still owns an 8-6 record and 3.07 ERA and has logged 111 1/3 innings.
DeGrom has followed up his NL Rookie of the Year campaign with an All-Star appearance. He's 9-6 with a 2.14 ERA.
Syndergaard has experienced a few blips since his major league debut on May 12, including allowing seven runs at San Diego in his fifth major league start. He seems to have hit his stride though, with a 1.23 ERA over his past three starts.
Niese struggled in late May and went nearly two months without a win, but he is not getting traded this season, especially with Steven Matz now out with a lat strain.
Colon has slowed down since his 4-0 start. And he does have a 4.46 ERA. Still, he has been dependable and a good clubhouse presence.
Steven Matz
Matz's long-awaited debut did not disappoint. Nor has his production at the plate. He has five RBIs in two major league games. But Matz has landed on the DL with a lat strain and cannot throw for at least three weeks.
RELIEF PITCHERS
The conversation during the winter centered on whether Bobby Parnell or Jenrry Mejia would be the closer. Instead, Familia has taken the job and been a lifesaver, converting 27 of 29 chances to go along with a 1.25 ERA and 0.900 WHIP.
Bobby Parnell
Parnell took longer than expected to return from Tommy John surgery and is averaging only 92 mph with his fastball. Still, he has been dependable as Familia's primary setup man.
Jenrry Mejia
This grade is about letting down his team by earning an 80-game PED suspension. Mejia maintains he did not knowingly take any banned substance.
Not that he was supposed to be a specialist, but lefty batters are hitting .271 against him. He also has walked 21 batters (one intentionally) in 28 1/3 innings.
Heavy usage in 2014, when he made 73 appearances and logged 97 innings, seems to have caught up with Torres. He has a 4.36 ERA at the break.
The Rule 5 pick closed the first half having tossed 11 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings. At this point, it looks like he'll last the season and officially become Mets property.
Robles mostly has been used in non-high-leverage situations. Still, he has proved he merits being a big leaguer.
CATCHERS
You hate to ding someone based on injuries, especially a fractured pinkie from a hit by pitch, but d'Arnaud again has not proved he can stay in the lineup. He currently is on the DL with a sprained left elbow and has appeared in only 19 games this season.
Plawecki seems to have overcome sinus issues that have caused dizziness. He's hitting a modest .231, but has handled the pitching staff well.
INFIELDERS
Despite homering in back-to-back games during the final weekend, it was a disappointing first half for Duda. After slugging 30 long balls in 2014, he is hitting .241 with 12 homers and 38 RBIs so far this year.
Wilmer Flores
It's not Flores' fault that he was assigned to shortstop. On offense, he is hitting .252 with 10 homers, but has only a .286 OBP and .682 OPS.
Tejada ought to revert to a backup role, but that would require David Wright returning or the acquisition of a shortstop. At least he is now manning the proper position.
Never highly valued by the Mets, but where would they be without Murphy's bat? In his final year before hitting free agency, he is hitting .277 with five homers and 30 RBIs.
"Soup" is hitting only .174. Danny Muno, Campbell, Johnny Monell/Anthony Recker, Kirk Nieuwenhuis et al comprise one of the worst benches in baseball.
David Wright
The captain landed on the DL a week into the season with a hamstring injury, but the major issue ended up being spinal stenosis in his lower back. He has yet to be cleared to resume baseball activity. The Mets should now be recouping 75 percent of his salary via insurance.
OUTFIELDERS
The big offseason acquisition, Cuddyer has dealt with a balky left knee. So far he is hitting only .244 with seven homers and 29 RBIs.
Lagares signed a contract extension during spring training that guarantees him $23 million from 2016 through '19. His elbow clearly is an issue. And he has only a .267 OBP against right-handed pitching.
Granderson walked a lot early and picked up his power production later in the half. Teams are running at will on him in right field.
Signed to mash left-handed pitching, Mayberry has hit .208 with two homers in 48 at-bats against southpaws. Aside from a 4-for-5 game that included three extra-base hits at Arizona on June 4, it was a quiet half.