5 truths about the Mets the fans don’t want to hear

Can you handle the truth? New York Mets fans have had to face some tough ones this year. What should have been a club locked into a postseason race right now is playing out the final games of the 2023 season hoping to, at best, spoil a few evenings for fans in other cities.

Optimism hasn’t completely sunk as the Mets at least did something at the trade deadline to redirect themselves. A good roster is still in place. We couldn’t ask for a better owner.

Still, some truths are hard to accept. None of us want to hear it. If you select false for any of these claims, you’re a hopeful romantic.

1) The NY Mets will have a softer offseason than we want

The offseason is a time when Mets fans can now dream big. Under the watchful wallet of Steve Cohen, anything seems possible. Signing Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander in consecutive offseasons to record-breaking AAVs confirmed this club will “go there.” What’s more, the 2023 roster set a new payroll record itself. Nothing is off limits.

Cohen has already said himself that this winter will be a little different. Following the incident of Scherzer spilling the beans on the club’s plans, the truth of the Mets being far less active heading into 2024 came to light. They should be active to a degree. It’ll be more Sweatin’ to the Oldies than Muscle Beach in the 1970s.

A lackluster offseason will pull air out of the fans. Each time a desired free agent lands somewhere else or an underwhelming one comes to New York, we’re going to feel it. How prepared are you to accept the truth that the Mets might let you down in December?

3) David Stearns won’t single-handedly save the NY Mets franchise

On the field is where the battles take place. Before swords are swung, generals in the front office play the Art of War and decide which soldiers they go to Waterloo with. The hiring of David Stearns already has Mets fans giddy for what’s to come. Can he stabilize the S.S. Mets?

One front office guru cannot save a franchise. We’ve romanticized people like Billy Beane and Theo Epstein. Those “outside of the box” sort of thinkers who do it their way intrigue us to the point where we’ll always welcome anybody different into the picture. Stearns has, thus far, been much more like a young Beane than an Epstein at least in terms of what he has been able to accomplish. Could coming to New York give us some insight into what it would’ve been like if Beane bounced from Oakland and went to Boston? We’ll find out.

It’s going to take much more than a President of Baseball Operations to help the Mets win a championship. After seeing talented players come to the Mets and not get the job done, a guy who isn’t throwing a ball or swinging a bat is already at a disadvantage.

Stearns will no doubt bring a different perspective of the game back to Queens. Will it be enough?

4) The NY Mets are further behind than the Phillies than we ever imagined

The Mets are clearly in a different class than the Atlanta Braves. What about the Philadelphia Phillies? It’s easy to rip on them. They’re more beer league than major league at times. Where the Braves thrive at building young talent and finding good free agents, the Phillies seem to stumble into some success; at least this is the perception they’ve had.

The Phillies are actually much more than this. Far from perfect, they do have a solid starting rotation and a bullpen of far more competent relievers than the Mets had at any point this year. It’s the starting lineup where we can be the most envious. Their mix of power hitting veterans and younger players with pop and the ability to get on base is something the team in Queens hasn’t had for a while.

Mets fans aren’t fearing the Phillies because they’re a beatable team. Their best attribute is what happens when they get hot. They can defeat you with their bats or their arms. Unlike last year’s team when they seemed to be assembled to win via home runs and maybe outpitch you with Aaron Nola or Zack Wheeler, they’re much more balanced. They added the speed of Trea Turner. Bryson Stott can become the next Chase Utley if we give it time.

Compared to the Mets, the Phillies are far superior. It’s not really even all that close. Even in the areas where the Mets may be better, the Phillies aren’t far behind.

5) Steve Cohen is better for the fan experience than the on-field performance

Steve Cohen was hoping to and still plans to bring winning baseball to Queens. Unfortunately, he’ll be 1 for 3. Only a single playoff victory since becoming majority owner in 2021 is a major disappointment. The truth about Cohen is he’s far better for the fan experience than he is for the on-field performance.

Is this such a bad thing? A good experience goes beyond winning and losing. The outcome of a game might be more important for those watching at home. Those in attendance are living through something else. A comfortable and fun atmosphere is equally as important to what the scoreboard says.

Luckily, nothing can stop Cohen from continuing to provide the fans with this truth. Mets baseball can be fun. Citi Field can get better. Just sitting in your seat can be an experience worth the trip.

The goal remains to have a positive effect on the field which Cohen has undoubtedly achieved by opening up his wallet. However, it’s those other things he’ll always be better at.

The fans come first. The standings come second. Unless winning becomes the only thing that matters—and it never will—prepare for an enjoyable day at the ballpark and maybe a few sub-.500 years mixed in.