How the Mets can replicate the success of the last two National League pennant winners

The New York Mets are suddenly winning again and they are getting fans to invest time and money in the team again. Given that the Mets are in the slightest conversation for a Wild Card spot in the National League this year, this gives them reason to believe that anything can happen, no matter how improbable this season has been up to this point.

The last two National League champions, the Philadelphia Phillies in 2022, and the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023, were the No. 6 seeds in the league playoffs, yet made unexpected trips to the World Series. So how can the Mets duplicate their runs in 2024? There must still be improvements, but the fixes are simple, yet with complicated solutions.

The Mets pitching staff must cut down on the walks.

The Mets have issued 3.9 walks per nine innings this year, which the highest in the National League this year. The walks have been a big issue and perhaps the reason why the Mets have made so many pitching changes this year, leading to a worn down bullpen that cost the team a lot of games in May.

When the walks are down, it means that pitchers are not afraid to challenge hitters by throwing strikes. And it also means that they can be more efficient in doing their job of getting outs. Carlos Mendoza can then manage his bullpen the way he wants to.

In the interim, there are two good pieces of good news. The Mets have issued fewer walks with Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens behind the plate than with Omar Narvaez and Tomas Nido. Alvarez's leadership behind the plate makes it easier for the pitchers to calm down and throw strikes under his guidance. Also, the Mets have every regular reliever healthy except for Brooks Raley, who had Tommy John surgery in May.

If the Mets want to get to the World Series, they will probably need to add multiple relievers that don't have control issues.

The 2022 Phillies and 2023 Diamondbacks issued 2.9 and 3.3 walks per nine frames, respectively, which are generally seen as good marks to have.

The Mets starting rotation must improve or the team must upgrade from their current rotation.

The Mets rank in the bottom half of the majors in starting pitching ERA, WHIP, walks, and strikeouts. Their current rotation has been pedestrian at best, but more importantly, it has been inconsistent, and they need to be a better unit.

The Phillies were built on great starting pitching behind Aaron Nola and ex-Met Zack Wheeler. The latter has been excellent in the postseason the last two years, while the Diamondbacks had a great 1-2 punch in Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. The Mets best and most consistent starting pitcher so far in 2024 has been Luis Severino (3.12 ERA in 13 starts). The next best has been... Jose Butto (3.08 ERA in 7 starts). Butto is in the minors right now! That's how lacking the Mets are in their rotation.

The Mets can add to their rotation in three different ways. The first, and most obvious, method is to wait for Kodai Senga to come back from the lingering injury woes. The second is to recall Butto or Christian Scott. The third, and more difficult method, is to acquire outside help at the trade deadline, for a steep price, given that a lot of teams will be searching for rotation help.

The Mets team defense must improve.

A hallmark of David Stearns' consistent success with the Brewers was the construction of great defense and run prevention. His methods of evaluating players based on those things were innovative and needed for a franchise that had little sustained success in its history prior to Stearns' arrival there.

After seeing the Mets defense flounder last year, Stearns focused his offseason signings on players whose defensive skills would help the team win games in a different manner. Joey Wendle and Zack Short were two such examples. However, Wendle's defensive play was not there and eventually had to be cut. The Mets had no place for Short in their everyday plans, so he had to be let go too.

Harrison Bader, however, has been a wonderful addition to the Mets, with his defense playing as big a part of his success as the clutch hitting. Luis Torrens has been an asset behind the plate with his defense in his small sample since being acquired from the Yankees.

Among returning players from last year, Francisco Lindor has been strong defensively, while Jeff McNeil, Pete Alonso, and Starling Marte have been lacking, as their fielding run values are poor.

The Diamondbacks last season committed the fewest errors, had the highest fielding percentage, and ranked 4th in defensive runs saved. This year, the Mets, even with the shift in front office philosophy, rank near the bottom in all of those categories this season.