Just Keep Watching

Apr 24, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets outfielder

(1) is greeted at home by teammates after hitting a walk-off grand slam against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the bottom of the tenth inning of a MLB game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

“Just keep watching, just keep watching, just keep watching watching watching.”  I think the Finding Nemo line is something like that.

April was a rough month for the Mets.  But at this point saying that is basically pointing out that the sky is in fact blue.  As summer approaches it is easy to see why people would put barbecues and days at the beach higher than a Mets game on their priority list. However, it is still way too early to call it quits and even if the wins do not come frequently, watching the Mets can still be worthwhile.

The most obvious reason to watch the Mets is to see Matt Harvey.  He plowed through the first month of the season and came away with the award for National League Pitcher of the Month.  Even if you are not at Citi Field for his starts, watching from home has become a fun experience as Dwight Gooden is even live-tweeting Harvey’s starts.  I have never been one to buy tickets based on the pitching rotation but I still haven’t seen Harvey pitch in person so I may have to change my mindset soon.  Matt Harvey could be a special pitcher for this organization and I would not want to be the one who missed his breakout season because I had given up on the team after April.

The uncertainty of this team may be a turnoff for many people but I am going to use it as a reason to keep watching.  Yes, it is nice to have a winning season with a settled roster, but the Mets simply are not going to have that this year.  I cannot wait to see fresh faces from the Las Vegas ’51s.  We have already seen a bit of Juan Lagares and Andrew Brown is now on his way.  Terry Collins seems set on having an abundance of outfielders so I’m hoping I’ll get another look at my personal favorites Zach Lutz and Josh Satin, both infielders experimenting in the outfield, before the end of the season.  The best Mets minor leaguers are hard to follow with the affiliation change but the movement of the Mets roster gives me a reason to keep up with the team out in Vegas.

Speaking of outfielders, it is impossible not to watch this team and not hope to see Jordany Valdespin do something.  From the moment he stepped on the field he has provided a weird, unexplainable spark to the game and has done so without lacking confidence.  His social media presence and especially his Instagram prowess are a reason in itself to keep in-tune to the Mets this year.  But as long as he keeps getting hits and driving in runs he will be a reason to watch.

If you really have no reason to watch the team on the field, you should still watch if only for Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling, and Kevin Burkhardt.  Mets fans are spoiled by having arguably the best broadcast team in baseball.  Gary Cohen is a walking baseball encyclopedia, you never know what is going to come from Keith’s brain (especially during long extra-inning games), Ron somehow manages to bring sanity to the booth, and Kevin finds a way to tell a fun, new, behind-the-scenes-type story every time he is on the air.  I am so glad I go to school in an American League city because it means I will never have to listen to another group broadcasting a Mets game.

Mets fans have stuck through so much it would be silly to give up after a month.  This team has definitely shown anything can happen, even if it isn’t always good.  So wait a little while to start the fun summer activities and stick with the Mets.

P.S.

You wouldn’t want to let down Captain America, would you?

Apr 29, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; New York Mets third baseman

(5) looks on from the dugout in the sixth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports