As with most seasons, the ending is bittersweet. I’ll miss Mets baseball, but the ending means they’ll be back to even next time we watch, dreaming and hoping on 2013. \u00a0It’s a long month of playoffs before much will happen with the Mets in terms of real signings, trades and acquisitions but that provides the perfect backdrop to spend some time reflecting on what went right in 2012 and gives us hope.<\/p>\n
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It’s all doublespeak right now, but many things seem to point to the Mets wanting to keep David Wright<\/a><\/strong> and David Wright wanting to stay.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n R.A. Dickey<\/a><\/strong> may win a Cy Young, and is cost-controlled for next year. \u00a0Sure he’s got an injury, but it’s not likely to affect his 2013 season. \u00a0He’s been amazing as a Met and I suspect we have at least another year of that.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ike Davis<\/a><\/strong> shook off his injury-shortened 2011 and a\u00a0disastrous\u00a0start to have a pretty terrific last four months. \u00a0Those four months weren’t without their own issues at times, but if he could simply extend those four months through 2013, he’d be a huge part of the Mets offense.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bobby Parnell<\/a><\/strong> was the best Mets reliever this season, taking a nice step forward and really doing some very good work. \u00a0Best Mets reliever is a low bar this season, but Parnell had the best ERA on the team, minimum 20 IP.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Johan Santana<\/a><\/strong>‘s no-hitter will forever be the highlight of 2012. \u00a0He dealt with some bumps and bruises and then tailed off pretty badly, but his first half suggests that he’s still capable of being a good pitcher. \u00a0There is some hope that with the period of rest this offseason without rehab and trying to build up his arm he’ll have a strong 2013.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jon Niese pitched a full and complete season, and was very very good. \u00a0According to Baseball Reference<\/a>, Niese’s best pitcher comparison is Gio Gonzalez<\/a><\/strong>. \u00a0Niese will only be 26 next year, and has a very reasonable contract going forward. \u00a0 I don’t advocating trading talented pitchers, but any way you look at it, Niese is extremely valuable.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n