5 positive Mets predictions for the 2023 season we all want to believe

The New York Mets approach the start of the season with high expectations. After an offseason of major acquisitions, the time has come to test the roster that, Billy Eppler and the rest of the front office have put together.

Despite some setbacks this spring training, the Mets have a good core of players with the potential to achieve great things. Among the achievable aspects of this season, there are five predictions that we all want to believe will come true this 2023.

1) The New York Mets will win the National League East Division

Following a 101-win season in 2022, the hopes of Mets fans died quickly in the 2022 Wild Card series after a disappointing final week of the regular season. The team with more experience and hunger to win should come more prepared to face a division as competitive as the East of the National League.

The Mets have, in health, one of the best rotations in baseball. Despite losing Edwin Diaz, the bullpen looks solid with plenty of depth options. The lineup, who was top 5 in batting average last year, possesses good contact skills, power, and discipline.

Despite competing in the strongest division in the major leagues, against the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies, the Mets, accompanied by the leadership of Buck Showalter, have what it takes to win the division. Additionally, the arrival of Carlos Beltran can help the team's hitters adjust in times of pressure and losing streaks.

The Mets have the core players and leadership on the field to win the division. Likewise, the commitment shown by Steve Cohen brings peace of mind knowing that the front office has the necessary support for any movement that helps to guarantee this objective. Let's stay positive, winning the division is an achievable goal.

2) Mets ace Justin Verlander to win NL Cy Young award

Reigning American League Cy Younger Justin Verlander enters this season with high expectations after agreeing to a two-year, $86 million guaranteed contract and a vesting option for 2025. Verlander, entering his 40s this season, is still in top form.

For many, a player of Justin Verlander's age carries a very high risk, which limits his potential. While this is true of the average player, Verlander has shown in his career that age is not his factor. Comparing his performance at 39 years old with a select group of pitchers of the same age in baseball history, Verlander is number one in FIP and number two in ERA behind Cy Young.

Indeed, the new ace of the Mets has posted the best numbers of his career from the age of 34. In this period, Verlander has posted a 2.26 ERA with 825 strikeouts in 652.2 innings pitched, starting in 102 starts.

This level of results is evidenced in spring training, where Verlander has an ERA below 2.50, a WHIP below .900, and the opposition is hitting below .150. Justin Verlander is already in the mid-season form to compete.

Looking at Verlander's performance in recent years and what he's been doing in the preseason, we can expect him to compete for the Cy Young Award. This could be his first in the national league, adding to his Hall of Fame resume and putting the Mets in a head start.

3) Mets power hitter Pete Alonso will hit 50 or more home runs in 2023

Pete Alonso is one of the best power hitters in MLB since his arrival in 2019. During his tenure in the majors, his maximum exit velocity on his hits has consistently finished in the top 1% of the league.

Alonso is a continuous process of improvement. 2022 was his best year. The "Polar Bear" as he is known hit 40 home runs, racking up an impressive 131 RBI total, the most in team history.

If Alonso continues to maintain a HardHit% and Barrel% above 80% and 95%, respectively, we can expect more home runs. Doing a quick exercise, if Alonso placed an HR per at-bats ratio similar to what was evidenced in 2019 and 2020, accumulating 650 turns (less than in 2022), he would achieve the sum of 49.5 home runs in 2023.

It is important to note that Pete would be a free agent at the end of the 2023 season, so the motivation to improve in every aspect of the game and put up their best numbers is even greater. A season of 50 home runs or more by Pete Alonso would not only help his cause but would put the team in a position of greater offensive production that would lead to more runs scored, and therefore more wins.

4) Kodai Senga's Ghost Forkball guarantees him the National League Rookie of the Year award

One of the most intriguing players entering the 2023 season is Kodai Senga. The 30-year-old Japanese right-hander comes to MLB with the Mets team after signing a five-year, $75 million contract after completing 11 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan.

Senga is shaping up to be a dominant shooter. With a fastball that can reach triple digits of speed and a rare forkball that is his most interesting and strange pitch.

Despite having to go through adaptation processes in MLB such as changing the size of the ball, or mound, or preparing it to pitch every five days, Senga is a young man with diverse abilities who has been studying MLB baseball for years. His focus on spring training has been tremendous in getting him ready for the season.

The dominance of his Ghost Forkball is relevant as it will take time for hitters and opposing teams to analyze and study this pitch. This offers a comparative advantage for Senga being able to make the most of the situation.

In terms of his experience versus players of North American caliber, Senga pitched in relief against the United States national team at the 2017 World Baseball Classic striking out 5 in two innings. Among the players, he retired with complete dominance were All-Stars of the time Buster Posey, Christian Yelich, Giancarlo Stanton, Andrew McCutchen, and Eric Hosmer.

Kodai Senga has the stuff, maturity, adaptability, and potential to achieve a great season this 2023, thus achieving the rookie of the year award. His numbers and his Ghost pitch will speak for him and will place the Mets with a great advantage by having a pitcher with ace potential as their third starter.