Can the Mets Still Be Great After Losing Most of Their Games?
Sometimes, watching the Mets can feel like the equivalent of a teacher watching their star pupil study for a midterm and on the day of the exam, forget all the answers. After making the most of the Trade Deadline by adding four new prospects to their already established goldmine of players, this supernova of a team should have been absolutely unstoppable. It should have been like a birthday cake with all of the ingredients perfectly measured, yet knowing something can still come out incohesive and far too undercooked. There should have been no reason for the already-hot Mets to come into the series against the Giants flat. Unfortunately, that is exactly what they did.
After losing two out of three games in a series against the Giants, the Mets headed back to the East Coast. Hopeful for a home team advantage, fans watched with bated breath as the team faced off against the Cleveland Guardians. Instead of taking back the heat, the Guardians swept the Mets. Fans were left waiting for the team to come together, the way they have all of the potential to do.
Baseball is a sport measured in statistics and strategy – business decisions and trades for the better. As a life-long Mets fan, the word ‘believe’ has been etched into my mind through every season I’ve borne witness to. There’s so much more to this team than just the odds, there is a fanbase wide belief in their greatness. When the Mets begin to lose for absolutely no explainable reason the way they have been doing for the last nine games, it has to go deeper than statistics. For the New York Mets, the greatest barrier to their success becomes themselves.
Think about it for a second. For each of these players, we have seen games that have blown the competition out of the water. David Peterson’s shut-out against the Nationals earlier in this season. Francisco Alvarez’s home run after returning from Triple-A Syracuse. Pete Alonso’s All-Star Homer. Then, we have seen moments of their nerves getting the best of them. Games, like today’s, with an almost no-hitter despite having all of the talent necessary to succeed.
It’s not entirely out of character for this team to have a rough patch and still come out on top. As part of adjusting to the trades, letting go of old players and transitioning in the new, it makes sense that there would be kinks in need of ironing out. Sure, this team has enough talent to be dominating, but a lot of these other teams have greater levels of steadiness and cohesiveness. As the season progresses and the Mets have the chance to adjust, there will certainly be a moment where everything clicks.
With Francisco Lindor back in the leadoff spot, the Mets have their leader. Now, it’s up to Lindor to make sure he remembers exactly how great of a player he is. This entire team is a member of the Mets’ legacy for a reason. Talent, skill, heart, determination, and belief. That’s what the Mets need right now. The minute the Mets realize exactly who they are, the MLB teams better watch out.
