3 Mets players who don't deserve blame for the team's horrific 0-4 start

3) Francisco Alvarez is on his way to becoming the face of the franchise

You can feel a changing of the guard coming with the Mets. Pete Alonso's name was thrown around in trade rumors all offseason, and he's currently playing out his contract year without an extension. Brandon Nimmo moved to left field to make room for the defensively superior Harrison Bader, and Jeff McNeil is picking fights instead of getting hits. With Francisco Alvarez behind the plate, Brett Baty locking down the third base job, and the most talented farm system the Mets have had in over a decade, it seems that it's only a matter of time until the kids take over for good.

Alvarez is leading the way. The power-hitting catcher has already become a fan favorite after winning the job last year, and with his titanic blasts and patented winning smile, it's easy to picture this becoming Alvarez's team sooner rather than later.

The 22-year-old has even made great strides learning English in the past year, and he's conducted interviews outside his native tongue with confidence. His play on the field has matched his intangibles, as he's looked like far and away the Mets' best hitter. His three hits against the Brewers on Saturday had a little bit of everything: a home run off of a curveball that he pulled to left to get the Mets on the board in the second, a single up the middle in the third to score a run, and another single that he sliced to right field in the eighth.

Carlos Mendoza has noticed Alvarez's play, as he's moved him up from seventh in the lineup on Opening Day to cleanup in the first game of the Tigers series. Alvarez was also slated to again hit cleanup Tuesday before the game was rained out, so we would assume he'll be there the next time the weather allows the Mets to take the field.

The early returns on this Mets season have not been good, but Marte, Manaea, and Alvarez provide hope that maybe thngs can get turned around. Let's see if their teammates can hold up their end of the bargain.