=== The Replace-Mets ===
By Brian Mason, MLB Analyst
Mets team report
(My Sportsbook) - With a $117 million opening-day payroll, the New York Mets probably wouldn't be considered a rebuilding team, but their season is starting to turn in that direction. Manager Art Howe began the new look for the Mets during the offseason and his stamp on the team is finally starting to show life, allowing for youth to take the place of struggling veterans and injured stars.
Mike Piazza, Mo Vaughn, and Tom Glavine came into the campaign as the cornerstones of a once proud franchise, but they have given way to improving youngsters in the organization.
Piazza, one of the most prolific offensive catchers in baseball history and the teams' most visible star, currently finds himself on the DL with a strained groin and reports have him possibly missing the rest of the season. Vance Wilson has taken over in his absence and is making his presence felt, batting .276 with four homers and 16 RBI in 87 at-bats. Wilson's production is one of the main reasons for the possible transition of Piazza's move to first base.
Vaughn is being paid over $17 million this season and finds his career in jeopardy after suffering a knee injury this year. Jason Phillips was recalled from the minor leagues to replace Vaughn at first base and has done so admirably. In 52 at-bats this year, Phillips is batting .308 and has driven in six runs.
Glavine signed a three-year, $35 million contract as a free agent, but has produced a record of just 5-5 and an ERA of 4.28 this season. Jae Seo, who was born in Kwanju, South Korea, was not expected to make a difference this season for the team, but in 11 games he has already given the team glimpses of a possible middle of the rotation starter for years to come.
Seo is 2-2 on the season, but has an ERA of only 3.07 and has recorded 32 strikeouts compared to just 12 walks in his 68 1/3 innings of work.
Ty Wigginton had the unenviable task of replacing the much-loved Edgardo Alfonzo this season. Alfonzo left New York to join the San Francisco Giants, but Wigginton has done a solid job both on offense and defense in his place. He's batting .268 on the season, but his 23 RBI rank second to only Cliff Floyd on the team and his defensive play at the hot corner has been above average.
The next great shortstop in the majors, Jose Reyes, is also one of the future building blocks for the club. Rey Sanchez is currently planted at the position, but his .240 batting average and only 10 runs scored have the New York faithful calling for the promotion of Reyes now. The Mets' brass, including GM Steve Phillips, isn't ready to make that snap decision just yet.
"I'm sure that Steve can't wake up in the morning and turn on his electric toothbrush without hearing that today is the day he's going to lose his job," said one National League executive in the NY Daily News. "Obviously the easiest thing to do would be to bring (Reyes) up, but he's listening to his people. To me, that's impressive."
Phillips gave praise to the young players that are already making a difference in the majors this season. "We're playing better. We're playing a hard-nosed brand of baseball and I hope we sustain it," he told the NY Daily News. "We're doing more of the things we hoped to do, but with different names."
While the Mets haven't fixed their sinking ship completely, they did take two out of three against the Phillies and Braves this past week. They are still 11 games behind Atlanta in the NL East standings and just 11-18 on the road, but the signs of change have breathed life back into the Big Apple.
WHO'S HOT
Jeromy Burnitz has returned from a recent injury with a refound pop in his bat, belting two homers in his last six games and batting .435 in that span with seven RBI.
Sanchez, trying to put behind him a rough first two months to the season, is hitting .417 in his last six games. He has gone 10-for-24 during that stretch and has recorded four RBI.
WHO'S NOT
Glavine has surrendered 11 earned runs in his last two starts and has won just one game in his last six outings. He went just 10 1/3 innings in his two recent outings, allowing 17 hits and recording two losses in games played against his former mates, the Atlanta Braves.
COMING UP
The Mets open up a three-game series against the Brewers starting Tuesday at Shea Stadium and will dive into their interleague schedule on Friday, as they play host to a three-game set with the Seattle Mariners.
