We all know the story of the 2012 New York Mets by now.  Tabbed underdogs by their owners and broke by everyone else in sports, thanks to Bernie Madoff. They were destined to finish last in the NL East, with only about 65-75 wins, at most.  Every other team improved in their division, and the Mets got worse.  They lost Reyes to division rival Miami, Capuano to the Dodgers and Johan Santana and Chris Young were recovering from serious shoulder surgery.  The Mets biggest additions were Frank Francisco, the tempermental modern day Armando Benitez, and Andres Torres, the 34 year old feel good story of a center fielder with ADHD who would replace Reyes’ speed and be less Angel Pagan in the field and on the bases.

Fast forward to present day and here we are about to restart games in just about 24 hours.  The Mets have exceeded all expectations and put a lot of doubt to rest.  The Madoff issue is behind them and the debt, as a result of the ruling, is a fraction of what was originally expected.  They enter the second half of the season in 3rd place in the NL east with a record of 46-40 and just 4.5 games out of first.  Possibly even more surprising is that the Phillies, the team expected to win yet another division title, are in dead last, 14 games back of the first place Washington Nationals.

To get to this point, the Mets have had many things go their way.  They lead baseball in 2 out runs, are 3rd in the NL in total runs, and 8th in all of baseball in the category.  Their starters have been much better then expected and their lineup has produced from top to bottom, no matter who is penciled in on any given day.  BUT, as they are the Mets, many things have also not gone so well.  Mike Pelfrey was lost to Tommy John surgery early in the season, Tejada and Bay have battled injuries, Ike Davis was unaware that the season started before June, and the bullpen, oh that bullpen.  However, since this is intended to be a happy recap, let me only focus on the positive.

The Mets, arguably, have the best pair of aces in baseball in Johan Santana and R.A. Dickey.  Dickey has taken all of baseball by storm.  He started out the season by releasing a book of his life.  It detailed the trials and tribulations faced along the way to becoming the dominating knuckleballer he is today, at age 37.  Dickey has helped ease the pressure on Johan Santana, which was desperately needed, since he is still a work in progress post surgery.  Not to mention, he threw back to back one hitters and is striking out batters like it’s going out of business.  At the break, Dickey’s record sits at 12-1, leading the league in wins, and has struck out 123 batters while only walking 23.  It’s amazing that a knuckleballer can have such impeccable control and master the knuckleball the way he has at this stage of his life, but it just adds to his storybook tale.  Let us not forget his first All-Star appearance as well.

The other half of the dueling aces, Johan Santana, has been almost as impressive as Dickey, especially considering that he is still working his way back from major shoulder surgery.  Also deserving of an All-Star nod, Santana, who has surprised me more then Dickey for the fact that he has not missed a start, has become a permanent part of Mets history thanks to his performance on June 1st when he threw the Met’s first ever no hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals.  Besides that once in a franchise performance, Santana has shown the ability to battle and compete.  While his stuff may not be what it once was, he has the brains to succeed at any level and has done more than an adequate job for the Mets this season.  At the half, Santana is 6-5 with a 3.24 ERA and has struck out 99 batters to just 33 walks.  The most important stat to me is that he has made 17 starts, throwing 102+ innings.  If this two headed monster can continue in the second half, then good things could be in store for the Mets.

When Sandy Alderson joined the Mets last season, there was a promise to build a winning team, longterm, from within.  Most, including myself, assumed that meant years of mediocre baseball as the youth develops.  This season, the youth movement has begun, and most impressively, has led to winning now, not just waiting for the future.  On day 2 of the regular season, Andres Torres went down with a calf injury, the same injury that sidelined him for most of spring training.  Instead of panicking, or worse, starting Scott Hairston for any length of time in center field, the Mets called upon Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who coming into the season had potential, just hasn’t stayed healthy enough to prove he deserved a shot in the show.  Well now came his shot, and despite a late first half swoon, has proved he belongs.  Aside from a knack for striking out, he appears mature beyond his years and plays defense, whether in center or left field, with a never say die mentality.  It is no surprise he was also a football star at one point because when a ball is in his reach in the outfield, he will charge through a wall, a player or whatever else may be in his way to make the catch.  At the half, Kirk is .268 with 7 home runs, 25 RBI’s, 11 doubles and a walk to strikeout ratio of 23:85.  While there are some obvious adjustments to be made, he is putting on quite a display for a rookie who no one thought had a shot of being needed this season, let alone game 2.

The latest member to join the youth movement was Jordany Valdespin.  Known for his ego more then his ability, he quickly proved that he can back up the talk.  In early May, after being demoted and recalled within days, Jordany earned his first big league hit in a big way.  With the Mets trailing the Phillies in the 9th and stud closer Papelbon on the mound, Valdespin silenced all the haters with a go-ahead 3 run shot to right field. While he may be cocky, if the Mets can find this ferociously swinging lefty an everyday spot in the lineup, the results should be more then enough to make up for his mouth.  At the break, Valdespin is batting .257 over his first 70 at bats and has 4 home runs, 14 RBI’s and 4 steals.  He has appeared comfortable at second base, left field and center field, while also proving he is overmatched at shortstop in the majors.

Lastly, the ambassador of the youth movement.  The hopeful replacement to the reigning batting champ and Mets spark plug Jose Reyes.  The 22 year old solid but not spectacular, Ruben Tejada.  While all of those statements are what surrounded talk of Tejada throughout the off-season, all of that is quickly forgotten once watching him play on a regular basis.  While he may not possess Reyes’ speed, personality, or fandom (as of yet), he is by far mature beyond his 22 years, has displayed sparkling defense at shortstop and has become a dependable, clutch, and lovable Met who is cementing himself at the top of the batting order for Terry Collins and the Mets.  Having played in 41 games in the first half, Tejada is batting .325 with 13 doubles.  He has struck out just 30 times in 182 at bats and walked 13 times.  He has shown the ability to work deep counts on pitchers and the later the game gets, the better his approach at the plate becomes.  While he may not provide anything in the power department, being able to draw a key walk or stroke a key single in front of the big boys is a great way to start rallies, or late game comebacks.