A scenario for Spring 2018 to consider as Hope Springs Eternal.
Spring Training, 2018 was set to begin on February 20th, but the New York Mets pitchers, led by Jacob DeGrom, had all been there two weeks earlier, focusing upon fundamentals and conditioning.
DeGrom and Wheeler, two fierce competitors, joined Steven Matz in the off season in strengthening and flexibility training, but were careful to limit the work, eat well, and got plenty of rest.
Dominic Smith showed up 15 pounds lighter, with no dangerous rapid weight loss. The additional paycheck from 2017 gave him the ability to circumvent late night fast food and hire a cook. He will never be lean without sacrificing strength due to his genetics, but showed up in great shape.
Amed Rosario was another early show. He was like a little kid Christmas morning; he just could not stay home in bed.
He carefully added 5 lbs of muscle to his still immature 6' 1" frame and is even stronger. He worked on his backhand, but also did wind sprints to increase his explosiveness out of the box and for base stealing.
Michael Conforto arrived, rested, in shape and ready to pick up where he left off.
Tomas Nido, catching prospect who spent the last few games slugging in Vegas, came hungry to make the team.
Jeureys Familia arrived too, looking to reclaim his closer spot.
Addition by subtraction, some of the "distractions" have been shipped out, left unsigned, or will start the season on the DL. There is a fresh wind blowing in Florida that the eager players can sense.
But the best of all was not the commitment to health showed by the bruised, battered and DL'd New York Mets who came early and ready for the 2018 season.
Best of all was the grizzled dead panned face of their new manager.
***** ******* was hired to reclaim the club house, bring his old school Marine-like discipline, and give back the Mets the team first, self sacrificing, fight in the trenches for each other mentality that had been so sorely lacking.
The earliest arrivals were told to expect nothing short of eating, drinking, and sleeping baseball for the next 8 months, and that celebrations would be held off until October.
Fun, he told them, is winning.
The squad loved it.
Hope Springs Eternal.
3 comments:
No Hodges out there!
How about Chip Hale with a David Wright as a bench coach?
Lets go get Stanton, they are willing to take less on prospects if the other team takes on all money owing.
As long Conforto DeGrom Syndergaard and Rosaio aren't part of the deal!
It will be worth it
Think of the OF the Mets could have?
Here's to dreaming
Nothing will change unless they start with Alderson. If he goes, then the likelihood of a new manager (needed for the past 6+ years) increase dramatically. If he stays, then Collins likely gets another extension for reasons no rational person can explain.
2018 - I thought that was the sum of Sandy's and Terry's combined ages! Only a guy who is 60+ like myself can make jokes like that!
I think Matz will be all right next year. I think the injuries will stop and a 15 win season awaits.
And if there is ANY silver lining this season, it is Flexen and Montero getting a much greater opportunity in 2017 to show what they can/can't do. I probably should throw Gsellman in there too. And of course Sewald, who has been mostly very good. In an injury-free season, it would have been a lot different for those 4 this year.
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