Tom Brennan - NOT SURPRISED BY HOT START FOR METS

9-4, AND CAPABLE OF A WHOLE LOT MORE!

The day before opening day I wrote this (in blue):

MY FINAL SPRING TRAINING THOUGHTS

As the Mets get ready to go to war tomorrow in real games against the Nationals, let's take one more peek at some things important from spring training.

Spring training team stats are not a great barometer of anything.  But that does not mean they mean nothing.

Pitching?

The Mets' pitching ended up with a 5.38 ERA - just 24th best - but the pitching guys going north are in my opinion collectively strong, above average, and ready to pitch.  A top 10 staff, easily. 

Looking, to me, to be a lot better than in 2018's staff.

Hitting?  

Ditto - spring games are not a great barometer - but consider the following:

Mets' spring training hitting splits in 2019 and 2018:

2019: .271/.340/.439

2018: .250/.326/.410

Significantly better this spring.  The .271 was in fact the 5th best team mark in the spring.  But just 13 hitters out of 50 who got to the plate in the spring actually made the team.

Those 13 hitters went 207 in 657 at bats (.315).

Now THAT is hitting, folks.

All that without Jed Lowrie, who had 99 RBIs last year.

End result?  I'm excited - let's go Mets circa 2019.

So now, 13 games in, am I surprised?  Yes, slightly.  

Hitting has been slightly better than I thought it would be so far, and pitching slightly worse.

But overall, I am not surprised.  This team may well compete for the title of Mets' Best Hitting Team Ever.  6+ runs per game so far, and I see no reason it can't be 5+ runs per game this year, as bold a prognostication as that is. Don't forget - this has all been done without heavy hitters in Cespedes and Lowrie.  They could go from good hitting to great hitting as a team.

And the pitching?  I still think by year end it will be a top 10 MLB staff, even if it hasn't been yet.  11 teams have ERAs over 5.00 so far, with the Mets sitting at 4.80.  That will be under 4.00 by year end.

To which I say: LET'S GO METS.