Reese Kaplan -- Mets Winning Comes From Unexpected Sources

The Mets as of Wednesday morning were sporting a 10-game-over-.500 record of 18-8.  No one truly saw this result coming out of Spring Training when both the good and the bad were on display for fans and media.  When the news about Jacob deGrom broke, many felt it was a case of same old same old...the Mets off to a fresh start only to have the rug yanked out from under them.

The irony thus far is that it's the role players and the 2021 under performers who have been responsible for the team's winning ways.  When people tried to prognosticate what it would take for the Mets to be competitive they penciled in prospective statistical results from the returning roster as well as the newly arrived ballplayers.  Wow, they got a lot of them wrong!

First let's hit the obvious standouts in the early 2022 season.  Tylor Megill is still bedazzling fans with his ability to cover for recuperating Jacob deGrom.  Thus far Megill is pitching deGrom-like having made 5 starts with a 4-0 undefeated record, a 1.93 ERA and having struck out 27 batters in 28 innings pitched.  His ERA is a stellar 0.857 and he's walking fewer than 2 batters per 9 IP.  

Not to be outdone, Drew Smith is demonstrating who should not only be the setup guy for Edwin Diaz, but who might supplant him as closer if the ex-Mariner opts to leave via free agency at year's end.  He's been in 10 games already having pitched 11.1 innings.  During that stretch he's fanned 15 opposing hitters and only allowed 4 hits.  He has yet to give up an earned run and looks pretty intimidating to people who have the bad luck to face him.

Kudos also need to be given for someone who was likely in the 27th or 28th roster position for the first month, Travis Jankowski.  I had the pleasure of seeing him play quite often for the El Paso Chihuahuas when he was a part of the San Diego Padres organization.  Batting average and power were never strong suits for him, but back in 2016 he spent about half a season in San Diego and stole 30 bases.  It was his speed and defense that brought him here, but watching him play it is his attitude that's keeping him around.  He's currently hitting an uncharacteristic .321.  No one expects that to continue, but as long as he's putting the ball in play, stealing bases and working any of the outfield positions he will likely have a role here.

Carlos Carrasco is another player people were writing off after his horrific 2021 season.  Recovering from multiple injuries really took their toll on the man but he's demonstrated this season why he was a stalwart in the Cleveland rotation.  After Wednesday's brilliant shutout performance Carrasco lowered his season's ERA down to 3.30 and sports a 2-1 record over 5 starts with a 1.000 WHIP, enviably good control and the ability to spot his pitches pretty much anywhere he wants.

Jeff McNeil had been too good for too long to let his one bad season render him into a trade chip.  As of Wednesday he was hitting .354 which is even good for McNeil standards.  He looks alive out there, bunting, hitting against the shift, splitting his time effectively between the outfield and second base (which is likely where he'll reside most of the time now that Robinson Cano is on the unemployment line).  

Newcomer Chris Bassitt has been even better than anticipated after his excellent 2021 season.  Thus far in 2022 he is 3-2 over 5 starts with a terrific 2.61 ERA.  He's striking out 9.9 per 9 IP and not giving away too many free passes.  More importantly, his attitude is about winning, something the Mets have not seen from many of their ballplayers in the past.  

Not all is a bed of roses.  Starling Marte has been fielding well and driving in runs but he's not been as successful as a base stealer and he's not hitting for average as of yet.  Eduardo Escobar hasn't really gotten on track yet other than making opposing pitchers work very hard.  The catchers have both been far below par.  Francisco Lindor did have a hot streak to show folks in New York what he can do but has cooled off.  

The rest of the bullpen has had its ups and downs.  They've already lost Sean Reid-Foley likely for the rest of the year and now Trevor May is gone for a month.  

Max Scherzer is doing what they expected and Taijuan Walker in limited use resembles the good first half All Star.  Pete Alonso is earning his reputation as a run producer.  Brandon Nimmo has been solid at the plate and has made a few highlight reel plays in center field.  

If we assume the players performing well continue to do so and that the ones not earning their keep will improve, there's reason to smile that this team may be much more than a hot start.