The Mets Season Is Not As Disastrous As It May Appear

Yesterday was a tough day at the office. The Mets finished off getting swept by the Brewers in brutal fashion. After getting losing 10-0 and 9-0 for the first time in franchise history, it got even worse yesterday. Despite leading the game 6-4 at one point, they lost on a Garrett Mitchell walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth.

The Mets are already dealing with a pitching staff in shambles.

Of course, the best closer in baseball Edwin Diaz is out for the year thanks to the World Baseball Classic. Then, the Mets announced this today:

I'm a biased Mets fan but I don't think any of this means the season is over for the Mets. I acknowledge it hasn't been an ideal start to the season. I just see this more as getting punched in the face as opposed to getting shot through the chest. It's bad, but they aren't dead.

This is still a team that won 101 games last year. The National League also has less depth than the AL when it comes to teams that have a realistic shot at making the playoffs.

Here's how I see the NL shaking out.

Teams with very high likelihood of making the playoffs: Braves, Mets, Phillies, Cardinals, Dodgers, Padres

Teams with at least some chance: Brewers, Giants, Cubs, Diamondbacks

Teams with no chance: Nationals, Marlins, Reds, Pirates, Rockies

I'm probably even reaching with the Cubs and DBacks. Now, an issue for the Mets could be that if the Brewers are for real this year, they could take one of the spots. There's also the questions of how many more key injuries can the Mets weather?

Despite all of this, I do think the Mets can outlast this storm. Verlander is still throwing and even said he'd pitch through this injury if it was the playoffs. As long as he's back by the beginning of May, I think that's tolerable. 

The Mets pitching talent in the minor leagues may be barren but there is some hitting talent in Syracuse. Francisco Alvarez could wind up being a more ideal option than Narvaez. Alvarez had a horrible spring training but already has a couple home runs in just four games.

The biggest issue with the Mets team since the Carlos Correa deal fell apart has been the lack of offensive pop in the back end of the lineup. It's not hard to picture Brett Baty at third base (instead of Eduardo "EZ-Out" Escobar) and Alvarez making that lineup much deeper. 

I am sure Red Sox fans see this and look at the blog I wrote yesterday and think I am writing this with orange and blue glasses. 

I'm absolutely biased but I don't think I'm being unfair. The Red Sox were a last place team last year and have already been swept the Pirates in Fenway. The Red Sox stink and will be lousy this season. The Mets are 3-4 and seem to find a new injury everyday but they were a playoff team last year and haven't even played a home game yet.

Not everyone shares my optimism for the team in Queens.

The season may be very early but there are some things we already know to be true. The Red Sox pitching rotation does stink. The Royals are a horrible offensive team. The Braves are really good. I think the Mets aren't in a situation where we know what this team is just yet. However, if Senga, Lindor and Scherzer all get hurt I'll be joining Frank in the next temper tantrum.