Collins will need to find others to replace Byrd's production if he's traded

On Friday, Terry Collins spoke to reporters about Marlon Byrd and his great production, and added that if Byrd is traded before the trade deadline on July 31, the team would need to find production from other players on the roster. 

"If there's moves made before the end of the season, whenever that might be, I certainly think [if] you're taking one of our better bats out of the lineup, someone really has to step up, and again, you point your fingers only in a couple of directions." Collins explained. "We're not going to ask Juan Lagares all of a sudden to be the run-producer that Marlon Byrd is, or even Kirk Nieuwenhuis. We're going to look at those that have had major-league experience before, those guys that when we started March 1, there were expectations for them to be run producers."

Collins also said that he does not want the team to trade Marlon Byrd. 

"Hopefully Marlon is still here, but if he's not, then someone else has to pick it up." Collins said. 

Byrd is currently hitting .270 with 16 home runs and 54 RBI in 80 games with the Mets this season.

I've said this before and I will continue to say it: the team HAS to trade Marlon Byrd. They picked him up on a minor league deal, so he was a low risk investment, and he has played extremely well. They need to cash in and get a nice prospect for him sometime this month. Teams always overpay for outfielders, and bench players, so the Mets would likely get a good offer for Byrd. 

Obviously if the team trades Byrd, that leaves a big hole in the lineup. Collins is right, it would be unfair to ask someone like Lagares or Nieuwenhuis to replace Byrd's production. When Collins talked about players who have had major league experience, he is talking about Ike Davis and Lucas Duda. Both will need to step up big time if Byrd is dealt, even if it is a lost season.

Could Carlos Beltran enter the HOF as a Met?

Carlos Beltran recently said that if he is lucky enough to be elected, he could enter the Hall of Fame with a Mets hat, according to Mark Hale of the New York Post. 

"It could be," Beltran said. "I don't know how that works. I don't know how you choose that. But, yeah, it could happen ... If you look at my numbers, I think I had better numbers with the Mets than the Royals."

With the Royals, Beltran hit 123 home runs with 516 RBI, and 164 stolen bases. With the Mets, he hit 149 home runs with 559 RBI, and 100 stolen bases. In his career, Beltran has 2,166 hits, 353 home runs, 1,296 RBI and 308 stolen bases. 

In my mind, Beltran was incredibly underrated during his time with the Mets. He had some amazing seasons, including the 41 home runs in 2006 that helped lead the team to the NLCS. As for his career numbers, I don't know if he is a shoe-in Hall of Famer, but he is borderline. 

It is very rare to find a player with a perfect combination of speed, power, and defense in today's game. Beltran was a perfect example of a five-tool player. 

With the Mets, Beltran started off hot, then cooled down a bit because of injuries. However, he finished his Mets tenure very strong, hitting .289 with 15 home runs in 98 games before being traded to the Giants in 2011. 

It's obvious that Beltran's numbers are better with the Mets than with the Royals. Beltran's prime was in New York, and that is where he thrived the most. If he does indeed make the Hall of Fame, I expect him to wear a Mets cap. Beltran was a great player with the Mets, and if he is not elected to Cooperstown, he should easily be elected to the team's Hall of Fame. 

Valdespin throws tantrum after being demoted

Jordany Valdespin threw a tantrum in front of his teammates on Friday after he was told by manager Terry Collins that he was being optioned to Triple-A. 

According to Newsday, multiple clubhouse sources confirmed the incident. The New York Post reported that Valdespin cursed out Collins and demanded to be put on the disabled list.

"Everyone gets upset when that happens, but you just need to shut up and pack your bags," an anonymous source told Jorge Castillo of the Star-Ledger. "He acted like he was the first guy who ever got sent down."

Valdespin has gotten in trouble several times over his professional career. According to the Daily News, he was  "suspended for insubordination multiple times in the minor leagues and winter ball."

It's sad to think that at one point in this season, I, like most Mets fans, were pushing for Valdespin to earn more playing time. He has so much raw talent, but his attitude and antics have severely held him back. Terry Collins clearly wasn't impressed with him, and I can only imagine how bad the blood will be between the two if they ever cross paths again.

At this point, Valdespin is what he is. He isn't going to wow anyone with any of with tools, so he'll likely be a bench player if anything in the future. If he gained some maturity I'd think otherwise, but this was not the first time he was gotten in trouble by the organization. Last year in San Francisco, some of his teammates pranked him for not listening to the team's dress code. Also, in May of this year, he seemed to show-boat after hitting a home run in a meaningless blowout game, which led to him being hit by the next pitch he saw, and being ignored by his teammates.

For a guy hitting .188, Valdespin thinks way too highly of himself. Players need to prove themselves before acting like he has, and Valdespin only has 350 plate appearances in his short career so far.

Unfortunately I think this is the last we see of Valdespin, at least for a little while. Even if he has success in Las Vegas, the organization will be reluctant to call him up because of the off-the-field distractions he brings to the table. Also, I think it is safe to say Sandy Alderson was not pleased with Valdespin's behavior, considering that he was standing in the clubhouse when it all happened.

Mets are "not interested" in trading Syndergaard

Noah Syndergaard is putting up extremely impressive numbers down in the minor leagues, and is getting fans very excited about the future of this ballclub. It is obvious at this point that the Mets need a big-time outfielder, and they would most likely need to trade a top prospect or two to acquire one. However, it doesn't seem like Syndergaard, who was acquired by the Mets in the R.A. Dickey deal, will be one of those players. 

"We're not trading Noah Syndergaard," an organizational source told John Harper of the Daily News.

Syndergaard recently started for Team USA in the Futures Game, and tossed a scoreless inning. 

"There's a lot of buzz about him," Sandy Alderson said. 

Syndergaard has a combined 2.69 ERA in 16 starts with Single-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton this season. In his four Double-A starts, he has put up a 1.35 ERA with an outstanding 11.7 K/9 ratio, and a sparkling 1.8 BB/9 ratio.

Syndergaard is projected to be a future number 3 starter behind Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler, but I truly believe that he is capable of being a dominant number two, or even number one, in this game. There is nothing you can't like about this kid, who at 6'6" 240 lbs, has the perfect body to be a power pitcher. 

Scouts have raved about his dominant fastball, and his incredible off-speed pitches. I, for one, know that the Mets would be incredibly foolish to let someone like Syndergaard go. His ceiling is just too high, and there's that old saying "you can never have too much pitching." 

The Mets will need to acquire an outfield bat, but I would much rather give up someone like Rafael Montero, who does indeed have potential to be a successful player in the game, but doesn't have the same upside that Syndergaard carries. 

As for Syndergaard's future, he will likely finish the season out with Double-A Binghamton. At 20 years of age, there is no reason to rush him to the big leagues. I think its reasonable to see him at the Major League level sometime in September of 2014, the earliest. That would stick him in the rotation at roughly 21, 22 years of age, and put him in position to have a nice, long, successful career with the Mets.

Piazza to be inducted in the Mets Hall of Fame

The Mets have announced that Mike Piazza will be inducted in the Mets Hall of Fame on September 29. Piazza will become the 27th member of the Mets Hall of Fame during the pre-game ceremony. 

The current 26 Hall of Fame members are: Joan Payson (1981); Casey Stengel (1981); Gil Hodges (1982); George M. Weiss (1982); Johnny Murphy (1983); William A. Shea (1983); Ralph Kiner (1984); Bob Murphy (1984); Lindsey Nelson (1984); Bud Harrelson (1986); Rusty Staub (1986); Tom Seaver (1988); Jerry Koosman (1989); Ed Kranepool (1990); Cleon Jones (1991); Jerry Grote (1992); Tug McGraw (1993); Mookie Wilson (1996); Keith Hernandez (1997); Gary Carter (2001); Tommie Agee (2002); Frank Cashen (2010); Dwight Gooden (2010); Davey Johnson (2010); Darryl Strawberry (2010); and John Franco (2012). 

In 872 career games with the Mets (1998-2005), Piazza hit .296 with 220 home runs and 655 RBI. His 396 career home runs as a catcher are the most by a backstop in baseball history.

I've never really had the opportunity to get good look at Mike Piazza in his prime, but based off of his numbers, he was a heck of a player. He was a fan favorite in New York, and quickly made the Mets a contending team once again, leading them to the 2000 World Series against the Yankees.

Of-course, his most memorable moment with New York will be his incredible home run in 2001 against the Braves. The game was played a week or so after the 9/11 attacks, and Piazza's home run gave the fans something to truly cheer about after an extremely horrifying week.

Sooner or later, Mike Piazza will have a Hall of Fame plaque in Cooperstown, and will be remembered as one of the greatest catchers, if not the greatest catcher in baseball history. The fact that he was drafted in the 62th round of the draft by the Dodgers back in 1988 completely baffles me. Piazza proved the doubters wrong, and had an unbelievable career. 

Mets activate Atchison, option Valdespin to Vegas

The Mets have activated relief pitcher Scott Atchison from the disabled list. To create space on the roster, the team has optioned Jordany Valdespin to Triple-A Las Vegas. 

Atchison has not pitched since the second week of May because of bone spurs and loose bodies in his right elbow. He was initially activated from the disabled list on June 18, but suffered a setback in his rehab assignment. Atchison has made 19 appearances for the Mets this season, posting a 4.50 ERA in 18.1 innings pitched.

Valdespin hit just .188 with four home runs in 143 plate appearances for the Mets in 2013.