MLB is currently on a stoppage because of the coronavirus pandemic. The disease, which is easily spread and requires people to confine to avoid further mass infections, has taken a toll on public health as thousands of people have lost their lives. The absence of MLB baseball will extend, at least, for the next eight weeks, which means the New York Mets have to play the waiting game.
In the meantime, we will examine their spring training and prospects of having a successful season in 2020, which were, and still are, very good. The Mets not only have a great rotation anchored by two-time Cy Young award winner Jacob deGrom, but they have a deep unit that includes talented hurlers Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman, Steven Matz, Michael Wacha, Rick Porcello, and even prospect David Peterson, who may be ready to help later in the summer.
The bullpen is talented and deep. Several pieces, like Jeurys Familia and Edwin Diaz, will try to have rebound seasons while newly signed Dellin Betances aims to show he is healthy and still effective. The group is led by the excellent Seth Lugo.
However, the New York Mets’ strongest unit may be their lineup. Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com ranked the top 10 lineups in the Major Leagues, and it shouldn’t be a surprise to see the Queens’ squad at sixth place.
The Mets’ offense have weapons to spare
After all, they have 2019’s home run king in Pete Alonso, anchoring a fearsome unit that includes mashers Michael Conforto, J.D. Davis, hitting machine Jeff McNeil, rebound candidate (and swing changer!) Wilson Ramos, and sweet-swinging Robinson Cano. And don’t forget about second-half breakout Amed Rosario and the currently injured Yoenis Cespedes and Jed Lowrie. Brandon Nimmo will be leading the charge from the top of the lineup.
Castrovince wrote about the Mets: “For the first time in a long time, there’s as much reason to be intrigued and optimistic about the Mets’ offense as their starting staff. That’s a credit to Alonso coming off a rookie season for the ages (Major League-leading 53 homers), McNeil coming off All-Star output of his own (.318/.384/.531 slash), Conforto coming off his best full season (33 homers, 29 doubles), Davis proving a revelatory pickup (.895 OPS, 45 extra-base hits) and Rosario putting up a strong second half (.319 average, .351 OBP), among other factors.”
He continued: “Imagine if Nimmo can get back to his 2018 level of production, when he had a 148 wRC+ that ranked fifth among qualified outfielders in MLB and/or if Canó turns back the clock. Hey, maybe they’ll even get something out of Yoenis Céspedes, too.”
Say what you want about the New York Mets, but they really do have a formidable lineup.