The No-Name New York Mets Youth Movement: Sandy Alderson's 2013 Pet Project???

Well another winter is upon us. Another off-season of questions for the Franchise that has become NY's laughing stock: (no not the Jets) yes it's none other than the New York Metropolitans entering their 51st season. 

While I personally as a Met fan try to remain optimistic it remains hard to be cheerful when your 2013 outfield around could consist of  newly acquired Collin Cowgill/ or Mike Baxter, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and Lucas Duda. Don't get me wrong I like our infield of D-Wright, Tejeda is a nice little hitter, Murphy at second base has vastly improved his defense (if you've seen any games last year you would know that), and at first Ike is a vacuum and though he may not hit over .265 most years in his future i can see him being a legitimate 30 home run 90 + RBI guy.    

The issue remains here. Youth and inexperience. David Wright is the elder statesman of the position players on the ball club and he'll turn 30 tomorrow. Can a team filled with unproven young players with one perennial All-Star (Wright, that is) contend?

Here's Why they can:

1999 Mets Best "Infield Ever": 

Olerud, Alfonzo, Ordonez, Ventura, and lets not forget to include in the infield Catcher: Mike Piazza.

Their Outfield that year:

a mixed bag; mainly including names like Agbayani, McRae, Cedeno, and an aging Rickey Henderson. 

Final Record in 1999:

 97-66, 2nd place in the NL East, NL Wild Card winners.
the next year, 2000, they would claim the Wild Card again and appear in their 1st world series in 14 years. 

Overall, i'm not saying the 2013 Mets infield is the "Best Infield Ever 2.0" but I do think they have one of the better all-around infield's offensively in the NL East:

2012 STATS:

Wright   .306, 21HR 93 RBI
Tejeda   .289 26 doubles
Murphy .291 40 doubles
Davis      32 HR 90 RBI 

Here's why they can't:

Collin Cowgill? Lucas Duda? Nieuwenhuis? Baxter?
A bullpen full of unprovens
A veteran Catcher, newly acquired John Buck has some pop but hits for a very low average and is a below-average defender
Prospect Catcher D'Arnaud??? Will he be as good as advertised? How about his Knee issues last season??

Bottom Line: 

WE ARE IN NEW YORK. We want instant winners and have no patience. And as The San Francisco Giants have proved time and time again as 2 time champs in 3 years. You can have a great infield, outfield, or hit a ton of home runs (like the Yankees) but its always about PITCHING PITCHING PITCHING!

- WOODY