Mets Core is Reason for 2020 Optimism
The New York Mets came from behind on Sunday to win in walk-off fashion on Dominic Smith’s game-winning three-run homer. This dramatic comeback win capped off an 86-76 regular season for the amazins’ in 2019.
The “never say die” kids finished the season with an impressive eight walk-off wins and 22 come from behind victories, as well.
Despite missing out on the postseason for the third-straight year, the Mets recorded their third winning season since 2015. Coming up just three-games short of the second Wild Card spot, this club certainly has a team they can build off of in 2020 and there is reason for optimism based on the state of their current roster.
What some don’t realize is, the previous two losing seasons were a result of the front office continuing to try and win with the 2015 World Series team by adding what they thought would complement this group. This method worked in 2016 when the Mets got hot in August to capture the second Wild Card, but unfortunately fizzled out in a 70-92 2017 season the following year.
On the bright side, they are no longer relying on the health of Yoenis Cespedes, who has only played in a total of 119 games in the last three-seasons (0 in 2019) since signing a massive four-year $110 million deal.
They tried to complement a stellar starting rotation with sub-par veteran position players such as Asdrubal Cabrera, Jay Bruce, Travis d’Arnaud, Wilmer Flores, Jose Reyes, and Kevin Plawecki. It is pretty crazy to think a team could have been expected to compete with a corps of this caliber centered around Cespedes and Todd Frazier in the middle of their batting order.
Luckily, the Mets moved away from a non-productive, aging, and injury prone group this season by developing their young core of Pete Alonso (home run champion (53), 120 RBI, home run derby champion, All-Star), Jeff McNeil (Top five in batting title race, All-Star), J.D. Davis (21 home runs, .887 OPS), Amed Rosario,(15 homers, 72 RBI, 177 hits, seven triples, 19 stolen bases, .286/.323./.432), Michael Conforto (33 home runs, career high), Brandon Nimmo (five homers, 16 RBI, .256/.413/.526 in 30 games after return from I.L.), and Dom Smith (.278/.352/.506).
The Mets will also most likely have a back-to-back Cy young award winner in dominant ace Jacob deGrom (11-8, 2.43 ERA, 2.68 FIP, 255 strikeouts, 0.971 WHIP, 7.9 fWar). The deGrominator has without a doubt established himself as the best pitcher in baseball over the past two seasons after a historic 2018 campaign, where he posted a 1.70 ERA, 1.98 FIP, 0.912 WHIP, with 269 strikeouts.
This team has several other pieces to build around in 2020 with catcher Wilson Ramos, closer Seth Lugo, Lefty reliever Justin Wilson, and starters Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, Marcus Stroman, and hopefully Zack Wheeler, who the club could re-sign.
Although manager Mickey Callaway kept his team together at 10 games below .500 to see them go 46-26 the rest of the way, The Mets could be looking for a new manager this offseason. Callaway’s questionable in-game decision making and lack of feel for it cost this team several wins in 2019.
Callaway is a nice guy and his players seem to like him, but it is pretty obvious he’s not the leader this team needs to get them to the promise land. If the Mets do decide to part ways with Callaway, the hope is they will pony up and pay a proven manager with prior success such as Joe Girardi, Joe Maddon, or Dusty Baker to elevate this club.
In a year where no one really knew what they had with this team, the Mets new general manager said “come get us.” The Mets now have an identity heading into 2020 and if they address an abysmal bullpen that blew 26 games, they will most likely become a legitimate playoff contender.
It is now up to ownership and Brodie Van Wagenen, to rise to the occasion this off-season by bumping up the payroll and adding the right pieces to complement the young and talented group that developed on the field this season.
The 2019 New York Mets brought life and personality that re-energized a squandering team suffering from two-straight losing seasons. A young slew of players made the transition to developed major-league talent on the field this year and for that reason, fans should believe in spite of the front office.
Here’s to hope and optimism in 2020. It is a new era and one to get excited about if your a Mets fan next season. LFGM!