Back in April, most of us hoped that if everything went right – if Matt Harvey and Bobby Parnell bounced back, if Travis d’Arnaud and Juan Lagares had breakout seasons, if Jon Niese’s shoulder held up, and David Wright had an MVP-type season, we could approach 85 wins and maybe fight for a wildcard spot.
We were coming off a 79-win season and our biggest off-season acquisition was a guy with enough gray hair to be a manager. We were stuck in the same division as the World Series favorite. And through spring training the name we heard mentioned the most was Tommy John. We quickly lost one of our best young pitchers and our top lefty reliever to the eponymous elbow surgery, while our number one starter and former closer were making their way back from it.
After an improbable 11-game win streak in April, it seemed like fate was finally smiling upon Flushing after nine years of disappointment and futility. But the great start to the season was neutralized by a losing month of May and it suddenly seemed like the wheels were coming off. In rapid succession, we got news of Wright’s spinal stenosis, Jennry Mejia’s suspension, injuries to d’Arnaud, Daniel Murphy and most of our bullpen. Meanwhile, the Nationals had guys coming back from the disabled list to join their early MVP candidate, Bryce Harper, and their unhittable new ace, Max Scherzer. Our rotation, led by Harvey, Jacob deGrom and a resurgent Bartolo Colon, kept us competitive, but the offense was starting to sputter. Our best hitting prospect was still a year away, we had no idea if Wright would be back this season and we assumed ownership would stifle any chance management had to improve the offense via July trade.
We were wrong on all three counts and now, after one of the wildest summers we’ve ever seen as Mets fans, we’re sitting atop the National League East with our sights set on the postseason for the first time in nine years. And if we can hold on and get there, guess what? We’ve got as good a chance to win the World Series as anybody else. Correction, we’ve got more of a chance, because we want it more. This team is full of rookies, pending free agents, aging veterans and players bouncing back from injuries who all have something to prove. Momentum is on our side and big pitching wins championships so look out, here we come.
Throughout baseball history World Series winners have had more than just talent. They get career years from unexpected places (Jeurys Familia), rookies who contribute (Michael Conforto), vets who play hungry (Colon, Juan Uribe), contributions from all over (versatile fielders, hitting pitchers), and a new face or two who provide a spark (Yoenis Cespedes, Tyler Clippard). They get lucky breaks (Ruben Tejada’s inside the park homer, Carlos Torre’s nifty flip play), have funny story lines (a yellow bird, a raccoon, Steven Matz’s grandpa) and win in improbable fashion (Wilmer Flores’ tears-to-cheers walk-off homer).
Pinch yourself. This is not a dream. Your team is in it to win it this year, ahead of schedule. The pieces may not be falling into place exactly how we, or even management, imagined. But like true love, it matters not when or how it happens, only that it does. Embrace it, Mets fans. The magic is back.
It’s not uncommon for at least one of the WS participants to be a team that was meh in July and hot in August and September. So hell yes, that can be us. As you say, why not?
Trouble brewing: Today’s Article by Harper about Boras and innings limits is quite concerning. Will probably be the #1 topic of the day.
Brian Joura, you guys should get a quick post out and start a thread on Harvey innings limit asap. It’s going to blow up today.
James – I don’t see it on the Daily News website. Can you provide the link?
Got it. It’s Heyman, not Harper. http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/25290191/how-much-will-matt-harvey-pitch-innings-limit-debate-coming-to-a-head-
Harvey needs to shut down this talk from Boras right now.
James is right. This is a BFD.
Boras is saying that the Doctors have set the limit on Harvey at 180 innings. He maintains the Mets should not exceed that limit and put Harvey’s career in jeopardy. He cites instances (Shawn Narcum) where pitchers who exceeded their previous number of innings pitched, saw limited success. I believe Harvey wants to pitch, and if so, he should get rid of Boras. The Mets have done all they can to make this return to pitching a success for Harvey. Boras should have brought this up back in April, not here on August 29th as Alderson stated. Boras also says the 17 months that Harvey had to recuperate don’t matter. I say every case is different. Even the Drs don’t know definitively what the limit is.
Of course he doesn’t cite examples of pitchers coming back and exceeding their previous innings. Wainright – 213 year after TJS. Even Tommy John himself. Eff Boras. Eff his timing for this.
Old Geezer, you make some good points. I’m not suggesting we turn Harvey loose like a charging bull, but shutting him down during our first pennant race in years is absurd. And I’m with you that I don’t think he’d want that either- too competitive. There’s a happy medium where we can keep him going while minimizing risk – say, give him 3 more regular season starts of no more than 100 pitches. Same deal in the playoffs and, go with a 4 man rotation instead of 3. In a 7-game series the 4th guy (Niese?) would only get one start. The luxury we have is that with so many great pitchers we don’t need to ride the back of one guy like SF did last year with MadBum.
I like your thinking Matty. Keeps him sharp enough for the post season and doesn’t put extra stress on the arm. And lets not forget that Harvey has fought management every step of the way when they tried to limit his innings by using a 6 man rotation or skipping him back in June or July. Only recently has he become receptive to some cutting back and always with the statement, “As long as I can pitch in October.”
Yes Matt, Why not us ?
Alderson, since July 31st, has put together a balanced team with all the makings of a World Series Champion. Four good starting pitchers, a good setup man and closer, seven starters with double digit home runs and batting above .250 and depth on the bench. They can compete with anyone and have a good chance of winning it all.
If the Mets can just keep their offense up, they will be a legit contender and will be a bug threat come the World Series!
Matt the biggest problem is the innings limits set by doctors for our dynamic young pitchers. If it were not for that I would choose the Met’s starters against any NL team. Yes I believe they will make the playoffs in spite of TC’s poor in game decision making and misguided lust for LOOGY’S.
If I can get a doctor to say he believes Harvey can go to 215 innings, would Boras endorse that? It was never a hard limit of 180. As Boras said himself, one doctor suggested 165 innings as a limit. Suggested. They obviously can’t agree. Bottom line is it’s Harvey’s career. Call a news conference and ask Harvey if he is alright with being shut down after 2 more starts, and he does not get to pitch in the post season if the Mets make it. I bet he will say no. Case closed.
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