The All-Star break came at the worst possible time for a Mets team playing its best baseball of 2014.
When their season resumes Friday night in San Diego, the Mets will try to show they are more the team that finished the first half with eight victories in 10 games than the beleaguered bunch that was 11 games below .500 before that surge.
Here are five questions to consider as the Mets head to the second half.
1. Can they build off success?
On several occasions in recent years the Mets have teased fans into believing they have turned the corner, only to revert to the same old Mess. That’s not to say the Mets have to duplicate their 8-2 homestand on this upcoming 10-game swing through San Diego, Seattle and Milwaukee, but they also can’t go 3-7.
As mediocre as the NL East has been this season, you would almost expect the Nationals or Braves to get hot and start pulling away from the slackers. The Padres have been brutal, so winning a series at Petco Park would be a good place to start for the Mets before facing Seattle and Milwaukee teams that are in playoff contention.
2. Will they make a trade?
The Mets certainly could use another hitter, but that’s also true of just about every team. For a fourth straight season since his arrival, general manager Sandy Alderson is walking a tightrope, trying to determine what exactly the Mets are as the July 31 non-waiver deadline approaches.
While it would be difficult to label the Mets contenders who might just need another bat to make a run, it would be just as hard to make a case for dealing a potential key component such as Daniel Murphy unless there is major-league-proven talent coming in return. Bartolo Colon is certainly expendable, given his age, contract and the team’s young pitching depth, but he could just as easily remain until the end of the season.
3. Are Lucas Duda, Ruben Tejada and Travis d’Arnaud legit?
All three have improved dramatically as the season has progressed, transforming first base, shortstop and catcher from black holes into solidified positions. But the Mets need all three to continue producing, avoiding pronounced slumps that will place them on the bench and leave manager Terry Collins and the front office again searching for Plan B.
4. Any chance we’ll see Noah Syndergaard?
The organization’s top pitching prospect had a rough first half, surviving two injury scares and going 7-4 with a 5.31 ERA in 16 starts at Triple-A Las Vegas. The right-hander has about 70 innings left in the tank before reaching his limit for this season, so he will have to get hot soon if the Mets are going to consider promoting him in 2014.
5. Is there anybody at Las Vegas ready to help the Mets?
Wilmer Flores, back to playing every day at Las Vegas after getting buried on the bench with the Mets, has seven homers and 24 RBIs in July. He would be the logical call-up if the Mets decide they need more than Eric Campbell for infield depth. Also, reliever Chase Bradford could be next in line at Las Vegas if the Mets need an arm. Bradford is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 15 appearances, using a sinker/slider combination as his primary weapon.