Reese Kaplan -- Time to Think About the Games Starting Next Week

With the return of my free Mets game TV service courtesy of T-Mobile I was truly looking forward to seeing what the Steve Cohen Mets looked like in person now that the games count in the standings.  There’s no point in rehashing the whole decision to drop the opening series due to the COVID infections on the Washington Nationals. 

In fact, despite people clamoring for the games to be played with the taxi squad players making up for the 4 or so who were isolated due to illness, it’s actually in the Mets best interest that the league chose to take the cancellation route.  After all, there are already known contagious people within the Nationals environment, so stopping the games is a way of trying to protect the Mets players from catching the same illness.

Granted, it’s frustrating when you’ve been waiting all fall and winter for the arrival of Spring and real baseball, but the league has done what made the most sense to prevent further immediate contagion problems.  Yes, there is some truth to people getting out of rhythm without regular game play, but that’s why there are workout routines and game simulations.  Furthermore, the rest provided to the players who are not yet 100% is most welcome.

The officially published roster of Mets players who came north with the team really didn’t contain any surprises not named Robert Gsellman.  It is entirely possible that these first few weeks of the season will let the club know who does and who does not have a future with the big club.  It’s difficult to make that determination in a small handful of games, but those cards have been dealt.  People who are marginal need to make the most of whatever opportunities they get in order to ensure the manager and front office that they indeed belong in a major league Mets uniform.

Of course, there are only a limited number of spots available on the roster and no matter how well you do, there’s no guarantee you will make the club.  After all, take a close look at what Jordan Yamamoto did during the preseason and he got a ticket to Syracuse.  It’s not necessarily a long term sentence there as some of the pitchers on the big club are hanging on by rather slender thread.  

Then again, about the same time the Mets might be inclined to promote from within they may receive back pitchers who are currently hurt like Carlos Carrasco and Seth Lugo.  When they return changes will need to be made and it could be that players holding options like Gsellman are banished upstate.  The other question will be in the starting rotation where you currently have both David Peterson and Joey Lucchesi taking the ball every fifth day.  One of them needs to go to the bullpen or down to the minors when Carrasco returns to the hill.  

Everyone is aware that the season ending injury to Jose Martinez opened up a door for Albert Almora and Kevin Pillar both to make the team as reserve outfielders.  While neither are the pure hitter that Martinez has proven to be during his late arrival and tenure in the majors.  However, neither will embarrass the team if they need to start occasionally against tough pitchers or to give the regular outfielders some much needed rest.  

Perhaps the toughest nut to swallow on this missed opening series with the Nationals is not seeing the day-to-day play of the $341 million man at shortstop.  Everyone was happy when Francisco Lindor arrived and ecstatic when Cohen forked over enough money to keep him here.  Now folks want to see what he will do when he’s in the lineup every day when the games really count.  

Some bemoan the lack of regular play which could curtail some of the hot hitting that was seen in the preseason like Pete Alonso, yet no one is making any noise about how the forced days off could be just what was needed by others like Jeff McNeil who did not post numbers worth repeating.  We’re all anxious for the games to begin and see if the team that’s been built is indeed worthy of challenging for the post season.