Three Mets we should still be concerned about in the 2021 season

Based on 2020 performances, which members of the New York Mets should we be concerned about next season?

It’s difficult to judge any player on his 2020 performance because of how it all played out. Nobody on the New York Mets had an opportunity to kick things into high gear as they normally do.

Spring training was completed in the middle of summer while people in the Northeast blasted their air conditioners and dined at home. With only 60 games available to make their season a memorable one, there wasn’t enough time to turn their campaigns around.

Even with this taken into consideration, there are some members of the Mets we should be worried about.

You may not have pressed the panic button too hard on them. However, given their slumps and/or shady numbers, I’m not exactly confident in what they can provide the team in 2021.

Pete Alonso

How worried are you about Pete Alonso? Rising Apple’s Zach Rotman isn’t worried. I wish I could relax as much as him.

The big guy slashed .231/.326/.490 this past season in 239 trips to the plate. His power was present and so was his ability to drive in runs. Alonso was on pace to come close to replicating many of his 2019 numbers except for some of those important metrics.

Alonso may not be able to hit .250+ every year and that’s okay. He’s not in the big leagues to win a batting title. Like Big Al of Little League World Series fame, he’s here to hit dingers.

I’m not terribly worried about Alonso, but there is concern on my part. He probably won’t be the perennial MVP candidate every year like his rookie season suggested. In all fairness, how many big sluggers really are?

Alonso still has some growing and developing to do in baseball. If his weaker than expected 2020 season allows him to correct some weaknesses, it was all worth the mild concern.

Jeurys Familia

Unlike Alonso, I think many more people are on my side when it comes to Jeurys Familia. Familia did a lot to improve this past year. In 26.2 innings, the veteran righty was 2-0 with a 3.71 ERA. He cut down his ERA by almost two full runs.

In nearly half as many innings as he tossed in the year prior, Familia showed positive signs. The Mets didn’t seem to use him in important innings unless they absolutely had to. This may have played a slight factor in the turnaround.

A 3.71 ERA from a guy like Familia isn’t great, but I will accept it. What has me concerned are some other numbers on his stat sheet.

Familia had a 4.92 FIP, 1.46 WHIP, and 6.4 walks per nine. Let’s also add in his 7.8 strikeouts per nine. In an era where 150 strikeouts are common, Familia was pitching to contact far too often in 2020.

These numbers suggest Familia was luckier than his statistics show. His FIP was actually slightly worse this past year than it was in 2019.

Fortunately, a pitcher can survive a full season with bad metrics. Ultimately, it’s the more basic statistics like runs allowed and ERA that matter. So what if every appearance ends with the bases loaded? A win is a win.

Mets fans have seen enough of Familia to know he’ll get himself into jams. The panic comes in when everyone remembers how jittery he can get on the mound.

Familia may never pitch in another huge moment for the Mets again. Those who saw him in the postseason won’t mind. It’s in those national moments when most of us want to see him the least.