Reese Kaplan -- No One Could Have Written a Best First Series Outcome

A weekend four-game series with the Washington Nationals has been completed and you have to either admire the job done by Buck Showalter and his Mets team, or you have to hold your hand over your mouth and snicker about the second rate performance put up by the Nationals.  

First of all, let's give a HUGE hats off to Tylor Megill who was thrust into the late-starting emergency Opening Day hurler role when Jacob deGrom hit the IL for what's likely going to be a long time.  Megill had looked impressive in Spring Training and he was surely the front runner to take over for the two-time Cy Young Award winner, but no one expected him to pitch like him.  Megill rose to the challenge, keeping Nationals hitters off stride, finishing his five innings of work with a very impressive 5 inning stint during which he only gave up 3 hits, didn't walk a batter and fanned 6.  He starts his 2022 campaign with a perfect 0.00 ERA.  You can't ask for more than that!

Max Scherzer was not quite as dominant in his start that followed, but to be charitable he was working through a hamstring issue and was facing his former team for whom he won back-to-back Cy Young Awards (his second and third) in 2016 and 2017.  His Friday night start against the Nationals was competent but not noteworthy.  He hurled six innings, gave up 3 runs on just 3 hits, but struck out 6 and walked a single batter while finishing up with an early season 4.50 ERA.  The Mets scored 7 runs, so his first start struggles didn't impact the outcome of the game and no one is doubting the level of talent the man has on the mound.

Perhaps the best effort of all came from trade acquisition Chris Bassitt.  Already people have heard his winning take-no-prisoners attitude in press quotes.  What's even more important is that he was able to convert that confidence into performance on the hill.  Just like the award-winning Scherzer, Bassitt delivered a six-inning performance during which he struck out 8 and walked 1.  He only gave up 3 hits and kept the Nationals off the scoreboard while making hitters look thoroughly confused by his spin and delivery.  Yes, the Mets gave up some fine young talent to acquire him, but in this first entry into the National League he's definitely demonstrated that he's everything he hoped he would be (and then some!)

What probably came as a huge surprise to a great many fans was the performance of Carlos "Cookie" Carrasco.  After his injury plagued and highly ineffective 2021 everyone was ready to throw in the towel on him.  Then when his 2022 preseason didn't start off any better, the consternation built considerably.  However, his final Spring start was commendable and it appeared there were flashes of what he once was.  However, when he gave up a first inning home run to Nelson Cruz, you could hear the cries of, "Here we go again!" echoing off the stadium walls.  Fortunately he settled down and finished his opening starting assignment with 5.2 IP, only allowing one other hit, no walks and notched 5 strikeouts.  His starting ERA for the 2022 season is a tidy 1.59 with 50 of his 72 pitches being recorded as strikes.  That's the Cookie Carrasco we'd been hoping to see.  Unfortunately the pen could not preserve the game, but you can't fault a thing Carrasco did.

Many were concerned about the quality of the Mets bullpen as the bell rang for the opening of the 2022 season.  While they've not been completely perfect, there have been enough highlights to suggest that perhaps some of that worry was misplaced.  Everyone kind of knew what to expect from the returning veterans, but oft-injured Drew Smith looked almost untouchable and Joely Rodriguez made his Mets debut with a scoreless inning pitched.  With Edwin Diaz gone on bereavement, the club is kind of doing closer-by-committee for three days, but all of the sudden that doesn't seem like the death knell we feared it would be.  

On the hitting side, there have been some great contributions, none better than the grand slam revenge Pete Alonso delivered after a nasty beaning earlier in the series.  Surprisingly, it was his first ever time using the long ball to clear the loaded bases, but his 106th home run was a memorable one that pretty much cemented the 3rd victory of the season with the way Bassitt was pitching.  

Jeff McNeil, Robinson Cano, Starling Marte, Eduardo Escobar and others have all contributed positively to this nice first place start for the Mets.  The lesson learned during this Nationals series is that the Mets have a number of ways to beat you, be it with the long ball, a bunt, or just good contact hitting.  Yes, there were some base running goofs, but I'm never one to fault aggression by the coaches as you are gambling on sheer perfection by the defense to stop the base advancement.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.  That's why they call it gambling.  

While a 162 game season is quite long and many things can happen between health, productivity and the performance of competitors.  Still, nothing feels better than starting off with all available cylinders clicking properly which lands you in the W column.  Keep it up!