Mets Pitching is Keeping Them Afloat

Through ten games this season, the New York Mets record stands at 7-3. They are in second place in the Eastern Division, a half game back of the Philadelphia Phillies.

What's remarkable about that isn't so much the record - they were after all two wins away from going to the World Series last year. It's that they've done it while averaging 3.5 runs per game: 7th lowest in the majors. If I told you a team with Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso would be this anemic offensively this early in the season and still be in second place in their division, you'd think I was pulling your leg.

So why are they doing so well? In a word, pitching. The Mets team ERA through ten games is a league best 1.72. How significant is that? The Los Angeles Dodgers are second with a team ERA of 2.63, and they were supposed to have the best pitching staff in all of baseball.

The starting rotation, which was supposed to be a sore spot for this team, has so far been outstanding. Just take a look at the numbers below. Not one starter has an ERA at or above 3.00.

But as good as the starters have been, the relievers have been even better. With the exception of A.J. Minter - who was brought in from the Atlanta Braves to be the set-up man for Edwin Diaz - and Danny Young, they have been virtually untouchable. Through ten games, Diaz, Huascar Brazobán, Jose Butto, Max Kranick, Reed Garrett and Ryne Stanek have allowed just one earned run. Somewhere up in Heaven, Rube Walker and Tug McGraw are looking down and smiling. 

Can you imagine where the Mets would be right now without their pitching? I can assure you they wouldn't be 7-3; more likely 3-7. And that is very good news because there's no way this team with all its offensive talent is not going to break out sooner or later. Already, Lindor is starting to get untracked. After going hitless in his first three games, he's 8 for his last 22 for a .363 batting average; Soto has reached base safely in all ten games and is batting .286; and Alonso is leading the team with 3 home runs and 11 RBIs. His 1.086 OPS is 12th best in the majors. 

If there is a concern it's at third and second base. Mark Vientos, Luisangel Acuña and Brett Baty are a combined 8 for 73 for a .110 batting average and one run batted in. That would be unacceptable even on the '73 Mets, and that team had the likes of Don Hahn, Ed Kranepool, Ron Hodges and Jim Fregosi on the roster.

Once Jeff McNeil comes back, that should take care of second base. McNeil is a proven hitter with some pop in his bat. But Vientos at third remains a problem. He has got to produce. Last year, he batted .266 with 27 HRs and 71 RBIs, and the Mets are counting on him to put up similar numbers this season. If there's one thing you can point to that's encouraging it's that last night he walked three times; a sign that he at least isn't swinging at bad pitches. Sometimes you have to walk before you can run, no pun intended. 

Think about it: last year, the Mets got off to an 0-5 start, CitiField was a ghost town, and the fans had little to root for. This year, they're off to a 7-3 start with two more games against the Miami Marlins before they hit the road to play the A's and Twins. A 5-1 trip is not out of the question. 

The excitement is palpable; the expectations couldn't be higher. 

For the Mets, the Future Looks Very Bright

They started off 0-5; were eleven games under .500 going into June. And from that point on, the New York Mets had the best record in baseball. For a team that was supposed to be punting on the season, what this group of players did was nothing short of amazing. 

They made the playoffs literally on the last day of the season, then went on to beat the Milwaukee Brewers in the Wild Card round and the Philadelphia Phillies in the divisional round, before finally losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. 

To come within two wins of going to their first World Series since 2015 sucks, I know, but the pain will go away. As Howie Rose said on the Mets radio broadcast, this team took its fans on an "incredible ride" this season, a ride that was improbable only a year ago. Not only is the glass half filled, the glass is literally under a running faucet. The Flushing faithful may finally be rewarded for their patience.

But before we get to 2025, let's first acknowledge the accomplishments of 2024.

Francisco Lindor: The team MVP delivered. Not only was he the most consistent player on the roster, his two-run homer in the top of the 9th inning in Atlanta was responsible for getting the Mets in the playoffs. His players-only meeting in late May likely saved the season.

Pete Alonso: The Polar Bear had a disappointing regular season, but came through with flying colors in the postseason. He hit two huge three-run homers: the first against the Brewers and the second against the Dodgers. Both times the Mets were facing elimination. No one knows whether Steve Cohen will re-sign him, but even if this was the last hurrah for Pete, at least he can say he went out with a bang.

The starting rotation: Even before Kodak Senga went down, this staff on paper more closely resembled Moe, Larry, Curly and Shemp than a legitimate rotation. And yet it wound up being the club's biggest strength. Sean Manaea and Luis Severino had career years and led the team in wins with 12 and 11 respectively. Jose Quintana and David Peterson - who had his best year as a Met - finished with 10 wins a piece. A healthy Senga could mean an extra 10-15 wins for the team next season. 

Mark Vientos: This burgeoning star, who began the season in Triple A, finished third on the team in home runs with 27, and had a team-leading .327 batting average and 14 RBIs in the playoffs. The Mets finally have their third baseman.

Luisangel Acuna: The center piece in the Max Scherzer trade last year, came up late in the season and took over at short stop when Lindor was out with a back injury. The 22 year-old contributed with 3 HRs and 6 RBIs with an OPS of .966. Just imagine him at 2nd base next year.

Carlos Mendoza: The rookie skipper probably won't win manager of the year, but there's no denying the impact he had in the dugout. His belief in his players when the season was on the brink kept the wheels from falling off. And while his handling of the bullpen at times was puzzling, he has the makings of a great manager. The Mets appear to have found their next Davey Johnson.

And now for 2025:

Center Field: Let's face it, while both Harrison Bader and Tyrone Taylor are excellent fielders, neither are terribly gifted offensively. David Stearns needs to find someone who can both hit and field for this position.

Juan Soto: File this under "Who do I have to kill?" Two years ago, I wrote the Mets needed to move heaven and earth to acquire the young star. Turns out, they didn't have the prospects to land him. Now that he's a free agent after the season, the only thing standing between him patrolling right field in Flushing or in the Bronx will be money. Fortunately for the Mets, Cohen has a boat load of it. If he elects not to re-sign Alonso, he can put the savings towards signing Sota. There's also the possibility that Cohen may want both players. Can you imagine what a lineup of Lindor, Vientos, Soto, Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Alvarez would look like?

The bullpen: Stearns addressed this weak spot for the Mets at the trade deadline, but he will need to do more during the offseason. The Dodgers pretty much had their way with them in the NLCS. Hopefully, Adam Ottavino has played his last game as a Met.

Francisco Alvarez: There's no denying the kid's talent, but he needs to improve his defense as a catcher and become more disciplined at the plate. Perhaps playing Winter ball will help him in both areas. He has the power to hit 25-30 home runs per season. 

JD Martinez and Jesse Winker: They proved to be an effective DH tandem for the Mets, but Martinez struggled over the last couple of months. Both are free agents and could be re-signed for a reasonable price, which will be necessary if Cohen goes after Sota.

To sum up, 2024 was a great year for the Mets. They thrilled their fans and stunned their detractors. 2025 promises to be even better. Gary Cohen drew comparisons to the 1984 team that won 90 games. Personally, I prefer 1985, myself. 

Either way, the future looks very bright for the men in orange and blue.