Mets Predictions: 3 preseason expectations I was completely wrong about

The New York Mets have played enough baseball this season for us to know how close or far we were with our preseason predictions. Nobody bats 1.000 with them. Otherwise, why even play the games?

So far, we’ve seen a much different team than expected. Some of it has been good. Other aspects have been bad.

Although I didn’t make any formal predictions for the season I can look back at and make fun of myself over, I am willing to admit how wrong I am at these three Mets predictions I had going into the 2021 season. There’s time for a 180-degree turn on any of them. Thus far, I’m eating a big serving of crow with a side of egg on the face.

The Mets bullpen is actually good

Please tell me I’m not the only one to think the Mets bullpen would be mediocre at best. Certainly still not completely trustworthy, the relievers have performed well—for the most part.

Imperfect with some of the roster spots, the Mets bullpen has been solid. Edwin Diaz looks like the top-flight closer the team thought he would be. The team is getting some big innings from Trevor May, Aaron Loup, and Miguel Castro as well.

Even Jeurys Familia, a guy I don’t think any of us will ever truly trust, is preventing runs from crossing the plate. What is going on with this team? The bullpen was supposed to be only slightly better, not an actual weapon.

I don’t think anyone is ready to put a lot of faith in the team’s relievers just yet. However, they have done well even without Seth Lugo around. If they can maintain this for a full year, the Mets may have a serious shot at going deep.

Jeff McNeil—and the rest of the offense for that matter—felt like a sure thing

Don’t worry, the Mets will score runs! I saw and heard it plenty during spring training. Regardless of how the bullpen performs or how lousy the defense is, the Mets will score! They’re going to hit. They’re going to mash and bash. So what if there are a lot of 11-10 wins? The Mets are a sure thing to hit.

Well, maybe not.

The Mets aren’t hitting well at all this year. It’s not even a case of failing with runners in scoring position. As a team, they have been unimpressive.

Hitting is down around Major League Baseball so it’s not just infecting them. Even so, we all expected a guy like Jeff McNeil to bat .250 in his sleep. One of the guys we all KNEW would put the ball in play and reach base safely with a hit hasn’t done so this year.

The Mets offense has had a few bright spots. J.D. Davis has done incredibly well and Brandon Nimmo is doing his usual awesome thing. I’ll even credit Pete Alonso for continuing to drive in runs. Alonso might be the only guy on this team doing exactly what we thought he might: hit around .250 and knock the occasional dinger.

McNeil and just about everyone else have let us down. Things should turn around at some point. I know it in my gut.

Then again, I didn’t think we’d reach May with so much ineptitude on a regular basis.