Individual goals make for a Mets team to believe in

Look around at what is transpiring in Port St. Lucie and you will see reasons to believe, but also reasons to think, “Here we go again”. Injuries are always a part of spring training. Think about when you start working out for the first time and some of the little injuries you would get, like pulling a muscle because you didn’t bend your knees when you were lifting that barbell. The Mets are not the only team with injuries this spring. Look at AJ Burnett with his bunt to the eye approach to baseball. It just seems that way because staying healthy has not come easily with this team.

Let us think about the positive. Johan Santana, who pitched a scoreless two innings with 29 pitches, held the Cardinals to one hit and one walk. He peaked between 90 and 92 mph. He played catch on Wednesday and threw a bullpen session on Thursday with no pain. For a man who is coming back from having his shoulder reconstructed back in 2010, that is something to believe in.

Throw in Jonathon Niese. He has added a changeup to his repertoire. It has been the one pitch Dan Warthen has been drilling his pitcher about. He already has a cutter, fastball and curveball. The presence of Santana, is a help since he has one of the best changeups in baseball, is definitely a plus for Niese. We should not expect him to throw a Santana-like changeup, but if he can throw a pretty good one, it will give him the potential to be a top of the rotation type pitcher the Mets sorely need.

Terry Collins has gone on record to state that Josh Thole will have to earn his spot. The same should be said about Mike Pelfrey. Sadly, it isn’t. Well, Thole took everything Collins has said to heart. During the break, he worked on his catching stance. He came into camp looking to get beaten up by the coaches so he can be effective behind the plate. Instead of being a compliment to his partners, the pitchers were a little wild last year with 16 passed balls.

Just on these three players alone, you see a different team. You sense a different attitude. This is not about being underdogs. It is not about Jose Reyes leaving and having to figure out how to compensate for his abilities. This is about working on what each individual player needed to work on coming into the 2012 season. It is about shutting up, listening and taking the advice of those who are paid to teach you. Santana needed to come in healthy. So far, so good. Niese needed a changeup. It is a work in progress and will continue to be so. Thole needs to be solid behind that plate. He has, and is continuing to work on it. There is no “poor us” attitude. The only attitude here is that of hard work and determination. Nothing more. Nothing less. This is all Mets fans can ask for this season.