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4 reasons to remain optimistic about the Mets
It has been a struggle for the New York Mets to start the 2023 season. When the offense has produced the pitching has been bad. When the pitching does well the offense can't score. The bullpen has been the only thing consistent. Bad. That doesn't mean there aren't reasons to think the Mets can turn it around though.
1. NY Mets kids are alright
Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, and Mark Vientos are all up with the big league team after tearing it up at Triple-A. Ronny Mauricio is not far behind them. Alvarez has been a legit star so far and is one of the favorites to win Rookie of the Year. His defense has been much better than expected with the advanced stats saying he's one of the best framers at the catching position in MLB.
Alvarez's offense has provided the Mets with many big hits and he is third on the team in home runs. I don't know where the Mets would be without him. Baty was performing well before a recent slump and even while his numbers aren't great he is still helping the team. His defense has also been better than expected.
Alvarez and Baty are two of the best prospects in all of MLB, they are going to be cornerstone Mets for a long time.
Vientos is not getting consistent playing time which may be hurting his production but he is still hitting the ball hard. He might have more raw power than anyone on the team besides Pete Alonso. Mauricio is waiting in the wings for an opportunity and has done nothing but hit since the winter. He is now playing the outfield in addition to second base to give him more chances at playing time with the big league team.
These four kids raise the ceiling of this team and while ups and downs should be expected the more experience they get the better the team will be in the long run.
2. NY Mets SPs Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are healthy and starters are pitching deeper in games
To me, this is the biggest key to the Mets season. If Scherzer and Verlander aren't healthy and pitching like aces the Mets aren't going anywhere. After a rough start, Scherzer has gotten himself into peak form, looking dominant at times. Verlander has been more up and down but seems to be getting closer to where he needs to be as well.
The Mets are built around these two aces at the top of their rotation. It is what gives them a shot to win the World Series. Having two future Hall of Famers starting in a short playoff series is what we dreamed of in the off-season and after several injury scares early this season that is still a possibility. It's not just Scherzer and Verlander though. Kodai Senga has been inconsistent but has pitched deeper into games, his last start notwithstanding.
Carlos Carrasco has had a couple of good starts since coming back. The Mets have the best record in MLB when their starters pitch at least 6 innings. They need their starters to pitch deep because the bullpen is very shallow. There are only 3-4 guys at best you can trust right now in the bullpen and when the starters go deep Buck Showalter can go right to his trusted relievers. Jose Quintana being on the mend and on his way back will only help this even further.
3. NY Mets struggling veteran hitters due for a turnaround
Francisco Lindor, Starling Marte, Mark Canha, Eduardo Escobar, and Daniel Vogelbach are all hitting below their career norms. You have to expect some if not all will turn their seasons around. Lindor has been the biggest culprit so far. He is putting up by far the worst numbers of his career.
There is some hope however as he has been a much better hitter in the second half of seasons than in the first half. Lindor is a $340 million player for a reason and I fully expect him to get it going. This is not a situation like his first year where he was getting used to New York, this is a case of underperformance. Marte, Canha, and Escobar have already started their turnarounds. These guys are established players and will eventually hit to the numbers on the back of their baseball cards. If they don't the kids will get an even bigger opportunity.
That means more at-bats for Mark Vientos and possibly Ronny Mauricio being called up. Even Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil can get to a higher level offensively. This is a loaded lineup with no holes in it. It is time for them to start hitting like it.
4. NY Mets just have to get in it to win it
As we have seen from the 2019 Nationals, 2021 Braves, and 2022 Phillies it doesn't matter how you start the season, it matters how you finish it. All the Mets need to do is get hot at the end of the season. Having Scherzer and Verlander at the top of the rotation will make them a tough team to play in the playoffs.
This Mets team has too much talent to be held down much longer. They have a dedicated owner who will do whatever it takes to win. If the struggles continue to the trade deadline you can bet moves will be made to improve the team. The bullpen is an obvious place for improvement. I can see the Mets getting into talks with the Chicago White Sox about Liam Hendricks and possibly Lucas Giolito too.
The expanded playoffs also help the Mets as it would be hard for them to miss the playoffs. Six teams from the National League will make the playoffs, if the Mets are not one of those six it would be a massive disappointment. The Mets have not played to their potential thus far but it is a long season and the Mets still have plenty of time to turn it around.
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