Mets collapses of 2007-2008 revisited: What future teams can learn

What the 2007-2008 seasons can say about the future?

The reason these seasons stand out as being vital is that those ball clubs decidedly lacked depth. In 2008 the beleaguered bullpen fizzled away with a lack of depth causing severe overuse. This overuse led to diminished results from the only reliable options they had. A lack of rotational depth in 2007 was another issue that was ultimately fatal.

The 2019 Mets, thanks to Brodie Van Wagenen, are much more equipt to start their season more suitable for all the impediments along the way. A bullpen stacked with five legitimately reliable arms and an infield with three potential starting second basemen, a solid third baseman, a rising talent at shortstop and a few options at first base. Of this class, Jed Lowrie and Robinson Cano stand out as the talents that can produce the most with their bats.

The previously mentioned bullpen pitchers are Seth Lugo, Robert Gsellman, Jeurys Familia, Justin Wilson, and Edwin Diaz. Some depth additions like for Luis Avilan will also prove to be wise additions as the season wears on. The areas that are slightly shallow are the outfield and the starting rotation.

The starting five are excellent and are shaping up to be quite a nice rotation, however adding someone who can provide valuable would be smart. Injuries befall players, especially Mets players, therefore some form of depth should be acquired. It should be noted that Hector Santiago is signed to a minor league deal and could provide some of this depth.

Depth was something that was never available in 2007 and 2008. Neither was it available in 2017 and 2018. The sheer number of injuries in 2015 and 2016 and the success they found is a testament to that depth. The Mets added depth during those two offseasons and at those two trade deadlines, just as they have this most recent offseason.

In a sport of adapt or die, the Mets are taking an unconventional route. Hamstrung by a massive Yoenis Cespedes contract that is not coming close to paying off, the Mets were prevented from adding the impactful bat of Bryce Harper. They adapted to their situation and bettered themselves.

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It is very unclear as to whether the club will make the playoffs or if the transactions will come to fruition, but they cannot know if they do not first try. The comparison of 2007 and 2008 to 2017 and 2018 is real, however, it gives rise to a question: can the Mets learn from their past or are they doomed to repeat it? Only the future can tell.