NY Mets News: 2 things that have gone wrong, 2 that have gone right in 2023

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The New York Mets have had a much different start to the 2023 season than they had in 2022. Already they have faced more adversity this season than at any point last year. There have been numerous negatives but also some positives over the first month and change of the season.

NY Mets negatives: Max Scherzer has been bad

Max Scherzer has not looked right to start the 2023 season. He has not looked right going back to September of last year when he came up small vs the Atlanta Braves and in October against the San Diego Padres. Over his last 7 starts with the New York Mets Scherzer has a 5.72 ERA and has given up 12 home runs.

His velocity is down and his pitches don't seem to be sharp or have that extra pop we are used to seeing from Scherzer. He has dealt with injuries going back to last year, his side and back have been problems for him.

Scherzer's season got interruped thanks to his suspension for the use of sticky stuff on his pitching hand. Being forced to sit out 10 games may have hurt him in his first start back this week against the Tigers. It is hard to get into a ryhthm or stay sharp with that much of a break.

Max being unproductive has had a trickling effect on the rest of the Mets pitching staff, as the bullpen has been forced to pitch more innings than expected. Less Max and more middle relievers is not the formula the Mets were looking for.

At 39 years old some decline is to be expected but this has been drastic. At over $43 million a year the Mets are counting on Scherzer to be an ace like pitcher for them. The Mets need a healthy and productive Scherzer to compete for a World Series this year.

NY Mets negatives: More injuries than last season

Injuries have really hurt this Mets team, going back to before the season even started. The first and biggest blow was the loss of Edwin Diaz during Puerto Rico's celebration at the World Baseball Classic. Losing the best closer in baseball in March was not a good omen for the Mets.

The injuries continued in spring training as Jose Quintana was diagnosed with a fractued rib that would force him out of action for at least half the season. Quintana was counted on to be an innings eater and coming off a 2.93 ERA he was being counted on to be productive.

As we reached Opening Day we hoped we were safe from further injuries. That was not the case as news broke Justin Verlander would start the season on the IL with a muscle strain. Verlander was our $40 plus million replacement for Jacob deGrom.

deGrom was really the only major injury the Mets had in 2022. 2023 has already surpassed that. The injuries in the rotation have forced depth options to be used and they have not been particularly effective. It has been hard for the Mets to get five innings out of their starters, let alone six. This means more innings for minor league relievers getting shuttled back and forth from Triple-A.

NY Mets positives: David Robertson is doing a great Edwin Diaz impression

When Diaz went down a lot of Mets fans panicked. Diaz was dominant in 2022 and everytime he came into a game at Citi Field it was a party. Losing him was devestating.

Robertson was brought in to setup for Diaz but with him out became the closer. It is hard to ask for much more than what Robertson has provided thus far. In 13.1 innings Robertson has a 0.68 ERA with an 18/3 K:BB ratio. He has been outstanding.

The bullpen has not been a strength for the Mets so far. A lot of guys are getting innings that the front office probably didn't expect. There has been a cascade of relievers going up and down to fill innings. But when the Mets have a lead late Robertson has been there to shut the door.

The start to this season has been a struggle for the Mets at times. They are barely surviving with the rotation pitching poorly and the offense being inconsistent. It has been so important to not let late leads slip away. The Mets would be in a lot worse shape without David Robertson.

NY Mets positives: The young bats are starting to arrive and are producing

The best part of the 2023 season for me has been how good the young bats in the Mets system have produced.

Brett Baty absolutely destroyed Triple-A and has been one of the Mets best hitters since he has been called up. He looks so relaxed at the plate and you can tell he has a great idea of what he is doing. He is patient and has major power. He hits lefties. Baty needs to be in the lineup everyday.

Francisco Alvarez has not had the same success as Baty with the Mets but is well on his way. After a rough start Alvarez is starting to hit up to his potential. Even more importantly he is starting to play nearly everyday. The knock on him has been his defense but the eye test and the advanced stats say he has been just fine.

Mark Vientos is still in Triple-A but the only reason for that is a roster crunch at the MLB level. He has nothing left to prove in the minors. Vientos is crushing it to the tune of a .368/.446/.747 batting line with 9 home runs in 26 games.

Ronny Mauricio is another guy who would probably be a Met if there was an open spot avaliable to him. Going back to the winter league all Mauricio has done is hit. He hit in spring training and he's hit in Triple-A too. His batting line is .333/.373/.604 with 6 home runs in 28 games.

These guys are the Mets future and will be called upon to produce when the veterans on the team do not. The Mets future is bright as long as these guys keep hitting.

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