5 Mets predictions we all wish we made before the season began

How are your preseason predictions for the New York Mets looking right now? It’s okay if you missed on a couple. You’re not Biff Tannen. You’re only working with gut feel and educated guesses, not sports almanacs.

Now two full weeks into the season, it’s time to redo some predictions; sort of.

Based on what we have seen from the Mets thus far, things are looking pretty positive. If only we had been bold enough to make these predictions with someone in Las Vegas a few weeks ago we might be able to afford that new addition on our homes—if only you could ever get a contractor to show up for the appointment.

Mets prediction we wish we made: The starting rotation will be the best in baseball even without Jacob deGrom

The Mets starting rotation has been brilliant in the early part of the season. The most amazing part of it: they’ve done it without a pitch from Jacob deGrom.

Somehow, the Mets starting rotation has managed to be one of the best in baseball despite not having the best pitcher in baseball present. deGrom’s injury should have at least knocked the Mets down a few spots among the best rotations in the game. Instead, everyone is stepping up.

It’s still early and those round numbers in the players’ ERAs will get a little more crooked as time goes on. Still, who would have guessed the Mets would be this okay without their number one starter?

Question: is it really possible to move around the earth fast enough to reverse time like in Superman?

Mets prediction we wish we made: Tylor Megill is going to the All-Star Game

A surprising performance from the rotation comes from the right arm of Opening Day starter Tylor Megill. We got glimpses of what he can do last year. However, in 2022, he looks even better.

Megill didn’t allow a single earned run in his first two appearances. It wasn’t until he faced the tough lineup of the San Francisco Giants until he finally saw his 0.00 ERA evaporate. Even in that outing, Megill looked solid. Could he, like Taijuan Walker last year, be headed to his first All-Star Game in 2022?

It’s a major leap to take but a bold enough prediction to catch anyone’s eye. Megill is still greener than the other Mets starters. He’ll need to continue pitching brilliantly to have a chance at being named to the All-Star Game later this year. It’s a tough feat made only harder if the Mets continue to play well and have other candidates for the National League roster.

Even if you somehow found a way to go back in time and predict big things for Megill, I’m not sure you’d be ready to have him making an All-Star team. However, with all things equal between him and the other Mets starters, he should get an edge. It’s not uncommon for starters to bow out of appearing in the game if they’ve been there before. The others already have. Maybe this year is Megill’s chance.

Mets prediction we wish we made: Chasen Shreve will be a top lefty reliever this year

Chasen Shreve has earned our trust. The veteran lefty signed a minor league deal with the club in March and battled his way onto the Opening Day roster. He looks ready to stay, too.

Shreve’s career has been rather low-key even with several seasons as a member of the spotlight-grabbing New York Yankees. He is coming off of a good year with the Pittsburgh Pirates following a couple of decent ones with the Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, and even the Mets back in 2020.

Shreve could very well turn into one of the best lefty relievers in the league this year. Aaron Loup set a standard last season he probably won’t much. On a much smaller scale, maybe he can have an ERA in the 2.00s which is impressive enough.

Expectations for Shreve this year weren’t particularly high given the fact that he had to settle as a non-roster invitee in spring. A successful beginning to his 2022 season should have fans pleased with what they have seen so far. There’s a lot of Jerry Blevins in Shreve from the way he pitches to the way both look. As beloved as Blevins is, it may now be Shreve’s turn to take the torch as the most favorite awkward-lefty in blue and orange.

Mets prediction we wish we made: Pete Alonso is going to win an RBI title

Pete Alonso is a beast at driving in runs and he should have a great chance to do something only one other Mets player ever has: lead the league in RBI. Alonso drives in a lot of runs with home runs. He’s also capable of doing it with lesser hits as well.

The key for him will be to make the most of each runner in scoring position he has as he steps up to the plate. One way he has accomplished this is with sacrifice flies. In the home opener, Alonso had two in one game after his 5 RBI performance two days prior in Philadelphia.

Alonso will benefit greatly from an improvement at the top of the Mets order. This includes any combination of Starling Marte, Brandon Nimmo, and the return .300-hitting Jeff McNeil.

Add in Francisco Lindor batting in the number three spot and performing at a high level, Alonso should have more RBI opportunities than he knows what to do with.

Last year, as the Mets bats struggled, Alonso remained one of the most consistent. He fell shy of 100 RBI by 6. This year, if health favors him, it shouldn’t be a problem. Alonso will probably start as much as possible with occasional DH opportunities allowing him to rest a little more.

Many of us were expecting big things again from the Polar Bear in 2022. With a few games now in the rearview, an RBI title prediction seems to be a good one.