No one knows when/if the 2020 season will get underway. Maybe the only thing we can say with a high level of certainty is that we won’t have a 162-game regular season this year. We haven’t seen a truncated season since 1995 and that year teams still played 144 games. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the 2020 season contained half that many games. Even in the strike-shortened 1981 season, each team played at least 103 games. We’re in uncharted waters here.
The uncertainty at how long the season will be also creates uncertainty at what’s going to be most important. You manage differently for a 162-game season than you do in a best-of-seven series. But those postseason series have more days off than a regular season. Rumor has it that we might see more games – think doubleheaders – bunched in the schedule, however long that schedule may be. Knowing what’s most important will help determine how to fill out rosters should, as rumored, the plan to play in 2020 includes up to 29 roster spots per team.
What will be most important in a shortened season?
- Starting Pitching (62%, 13 Votes)
- Relief Pitching (14%, 3 Votes)
- Depth (14%, 3 Votes)
- Other - Specify what in comments section (10%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 21
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1. Pitching
2. Pitching
3. Pitching
Probably pitching especially pitching depth and the Mets don’t have much though I’m very high Peterson there’s not much behind him. I don’t think there’s going be a season and that’ll break my heart.
Lack of any slow start/prolonged slump from any of our starting 8.
Relief pitching especially depth in relief pitching.With a compressed schedule and double headers there should be more opportunities for #9-13 on the pitching staff because there may be less days off.
Starting pitchers are going to stay on a 5 man rotation, pitched an average of 6 innings,just like they usually do.
Starting position players are not going to hit the August Dog Days this year. August will feel like a typical June so depth no nice but not necessary.
Reliever pitchers might have to pitch 3 days in a row,or secondary relievers pitch more innings, because there would not be enough off days compounded by double headers.
Tim Britton of The Athletic in his weekly Q & A was asked this specific question and his answer was Depth. He noted the probability of many doubleheaders and the need for depth. He did note that the Braves had more pitching depth than the Mets, especially in light of Syndergaard’s injury.
My vote was for “Other” because I think a fast start can hide many warts and relieve a lot of pressure. While I do expect an expanded playoff, I recall the the Tigers starting 35-5 one year and the division was over in mid-May. I’d like to see the Mets come out of the gate blazing, like 30-10 or even better. Make that 100 game season (for example) into a sprint that if they just coast to a .500 record the rest of the way, they have a t l e a s t a .600 winning percentage. But after that fast start, I’ll take any bet they play over .500 with that deep lineup and JDG and Stroman two out of every five games. All Wacha, Porcello and Matz have to do is not suck. As for the bullpen, what are the odds of them all cratering again? But I’d make Lugo the closer – if he isn’t in the rotation – and stop playing games.
Rather Lugo remain the Mets relief ace he’s most valuable in that role