Reese Kaplan -- How the Mets Are Realigning and Regrouping

One of the phrases we hear over and over again as we search for excuses for failure or justification for success is the concept of "team chemistry" somehow being at the root of it all.  The logic says that teams that perform well as a group and like one another do better than teams that suffer problems in the clubhouse and have disunity when it comes to working together towards a common goal.

One of the reasons given for the Mets making so many changes over this off season is their lack of chemistry as a team.  We're all well aware of the much ballyhooed fight between Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil over a hybrid rat/raccoon.  

Apparently somehow it was deposed manager Luis Rojas' fault that he was not making his team work well together as a unified weapon.  Rojas was quickly shown the door out after 2 seasons in charge but not making progress.  Now rumors are hot and heavy that Jeff McNeil is going to be traded away not because he doesn't fit the lineup but due to his inability to get along with the ones chosen by the new administration to become core components of the future.  

In a similar vein, one of the primary driving factors for bringing in Buck Showalter to be the new manager was his ability to make members of his teams perform in sync with one another.  

Supporters are quick to point out his three Manager of the Year awards while detractors highlight his final Baltimore season in which his club went an embarrassing 47-115 which approached the legendary 40-120 of the fledgling new team in New York called the Mets in 1962.  Still, if you speak to any players, coaches or team owners who worked with Showalter the feedback isn't even close with the positive easily outweighing the negative by a huge margin.  

Towards the goal of improving chemistry the Mets have scrupulously avoided players known for being issues in the clubhouse while embracing guys like Eduardo Escobar and Mark Canha who were not exactly on the top of anyone's "must have" lists for players to enhance the roster and improve the chances of winning.  

No one is arguing about bringing in the best available pitcher in Max Scherzer nor best available center fielder in Starling Marte.  It's the fringe players who they feel are not only good with their professional skills but also prospective reinforcements to the clubhouse chemistry unlike others who have departed.  

While the logic is all well and good, there are also examples of many teams throughout baseball history that somehow lived with the Albert Belle, Jeff Kent and Robbie Alomar types (pre and post Mets days on the latter two) who contributed to their ballclubs playing competitively.  The Yankees clubs of the Steinbrenner era, the 1986 Mets and many others all somehow managed to win despite internal fights and egos out of control.  

What it comes down to is how to guide whomever is on the roster into a cohesive and competent team.  There is no single right answer as to how to make that happen.  However, the leadership starts at the top with the right owner, the right general manager and perhaps most importantly, the right manager.  The Mets have made great strides in these directions.  

The unknown factors right now are roster composition, player execution and patching the remaining holes that need to be fixed.  Of course, all fans and media can hope for right now is planning and the hiring of coaches.  Towards that end, the Mets front office needs to be active in tackling their workload as best they can.  

By the way, there are no scheduled meetings for the owners and the MLB Players Association despite promises that negotiations would begin after the first of the year.  Many folks feel that when February 1st is within sight that actions will finally be taken because ticket receipts and other revenues for the owners are at risk and player paychecks will not be generated.  Both sides then have conspicuous pressure to act like adults and resolve the outstanding issues.  

Until then, expect playground style bullying and name calling on both sides.