Season of Optimism Upon Us Again

Hope springs eternal this time of year. And we needed it bad.

Image via New York Mets

I had an article on Pete Crow-Armstrong spending time in Mets camp this spring sketched out for this morning. Going from the heart instead.

On Sunday, Grapefruit and Cactus League games begin across the league, marking the unofficial commencement of a brand new MLB season.

My goodness, we needed this.

It’s been a tough past 12 months, to say the least. The unnecessary loss of life across the world, the civil unrest here at home, the need for systemic change across the board, all of it. Know what reels us back in? Baseball.

Again, we need and deserve this. Better yet, the stars are aligning for a magical season in Flushing.

We all felt the seismic energy shift course its way through the fanbase when Steve Cohen purchased the team in November.

Now, as days are ceremoniously crossed off that wall calendar hanging in the clubhouse at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, that vibe is spiking.

Despite noticeable bumps in the road within and without the baseball operations department — an all-terrain organization, these Metsies — this team is prepared for battle in 2021.

A depth-laden roster is the first cause for elation. It’s tough to recall a more complete 26 residing in Queens in some time.

The Mets employ an offense that's been one of the more productive groups in the game over the last two seasons (fifth in wRC+ as a team since 2019) thanks to the development of guys like Michael Conforto, Dominic Smith, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil, and added Francisco Lindor to the mix. Fireworks on deck.

Unrivaled ace Jacob deGrom has an actual support system behind him in vibe king Marcus Stroman, one of the more consistent starting pitchers in baseball in Carlos Carrasco, a group of hungry back-end options in Taijuan Walker, Joey Lucchesi, among others competing for their keep, and the return of Noah Syndergaard (estimated for June) visible on the horizon.

Edwin Diaz and Trevor May form a tantalizing and intimidating late-game anchor, and if the rest of the Mets’ relief corps can play up to their potential — Dellin Betances, Jeurys Familia, Miguel Castro, etc — this arsenal of live arms should complement the rotation well.

Yes, the National League is an absolute minefield this year (figures to be the case for a while if we’re being honest), but these Mets are well-equipped for the challenge of usurping the Dodgers or outlasting the Braves.

Beating up on inferior teams is paramount to a successful season. It will certainly be the key to the Mets staking their claim on the inside track to October baseball. But it won’t be so easy.

Unfortunately, the Marlins won’t be the pushover some folks are predicting, and the Phillies and Nationals are solid teams, as well. That means no overlooking opponents. No mailing it in.

Every win gets you closer to the goal. No days off unless the schedule dictates as such. The regimen starts on Monday. LFGM.

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