Despite Losing Diaz, Mets Look For A Big Season 

By Rich Coutinho 

 

 

 

When you build the type of roster the New York Mets built this off-season you realize that the upcoming season is laced with high expectations to have a year culminating with a trip up the Canyon of Heroes. The question is can this team get there? The short answer is yes but certain things have to go their way.

This team is built on pitching and the additions of Justin Verlander and Kodai Senga more than make up for the loss of Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt and Taijuan Walker. With the trio of Scherzer, Verlander and Senga the Mets possess the best trio in the entire sport. However with the loss of Jose Quintana for half the season, the Mets depth will be tested as the combination of Carlos Carrasco and David Peterson will fill out that rotation with Tylor Megill waiting in the wings. My thought is Peterson and Carrasco will be fine in that role and Megill will help add depth to the Met bullpen.

 

Speaking of the bullpen, the loss of Edwin Diaz to season ending surgery hurts the Mets in a number of ways but the 2 right arms of Adam Ottavino an David Robertson can hold the fort till the Mets trade for relief arms at the trading deadline. But the arm to watch in that pen is southpaw Brooks Raley who could be a real find for Buck Showalter as I love his wide assortment of pitches that quite frankly, bats miss on a regular basis.

 

From an offensive standpoint, this team is loaded as Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, Starling Marte , Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil are all All-Star quality bats with pieces like Mark Canha, Omar Narvaez and Eduardo Escobar adding power and RBI strength. The one question is who will be the righthanded DH and can Daniel Vogelbach give them enough from the left side? My sense is Vogelbach will be fine and eventually the right handed DH will be either Mark Vientos or Ronny Mauricio by year’s end. And if Vogelbach falters we will see Brett Baty in Flushing by the Fourth of July.

The NL East will be tough sledding as the Phils, Braves and Mets will be 90+ win teams with all 3 likely making the playoffs. But the Mets have more depth than anyone and the arms on the staff will be the difference. The other thing I like from this team is Buck Showalter has them so well prepared and that can be a huge determing factor in the marathon 162 game schedule

My take is Mets go 102-60 win the NL East…Beat Phils in NLDS 3 games to one, beat the Dodgers in 7 to take the pennant and beat Yankees in 5 games to take The World Series

Should be a historic season for the Mets and their loyal fan base. And we will cover it every step of the way right here.