Reese Kaplan -- A 37 Year Contrast of What Works Vs. What Doesn't

Back in the 1980s the Mets were the kind of team they hoped to turn into today.  They had some high quality veterans that were acquired via trades like Gary Carter and Keith Hernandez (as well as an underachieving George Foster).  They integrated younger players like Wally Backman, Mookie Wilson, Lenny Dykstra, Howard Johnson and Darryl Strawberry.

Pitching worked pretty much the same way.  You had Bobby Ojeda, Ron Darling, Sid Fernandez and other pitchers who came to the Mets from other ballclubs.  Then there were the younger folks like Dwight Gooden,  Roger McDowell and Jesse Orosco. Again it seemed the blending of new and old, each bringing to the mound something different to challenge the hitters on other clubs.

Now the Mets are looking at an offense with the young veterans from outside like Francisco Lindor, Starling Marte, Daniel Vogelbach, Tommy Pham, Mark Canha and Eduardo Escobar who are not exactly the same level of performers as enjoyed by the World Champions.  Integrated with them are homegrown young veterans like Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo.  Then there are the brand new major league sluggers that include Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty and Mark Vientos (on the rare occasions when he's actually allowed to play).  

For pitching the Mets theoretically have achieved what was intended with multi Cy Young Award winners Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, newcomer from Japan Kodai Senga and seemingly reborn Carlos Carrasco.  In the pen they stellar veterans like David Robertson, Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley, as well as a passel of little known additional contributors who have been up and down with their contributions.  

What comes across here is that the output from the 2023 team does not approach what was given by the 1986 squad.  It could be a combination of better talent, better health, weaker competition or simply a matter of fate.  

The one area which is significantly different is in the man with the lineup pencil.  By all rights manager Davey Johnson was certainly a quality man to lead his club but he didn't have the awards and accolades obtained by current Mets skipper Buck Showalter.  The difference is that Johnson achieved what he set out to do and Showalter has yet to hit the high note while wearing Mets orange and blue.

Consequently many people are already starting to erect an express lane near the exit door for the future Hall of Fame manager.  I've even seen it go so far as to speculate on the suitable replacements who would do a better job than Big Bad Buck.  

I think of Buck Showalter as a general assigned to lead underperforming and untrained soldiers into battle.  The issue isn't so much the output of the youngsters as it is the motivation and execution of the veterans.  Granted, Showalter is not swinging the bats nor throwing the ball, but he is in charge of getting the most out of the folks who are.  It seems untenable that so many are slumping thus far this season and it is the responsibility of the manager to, ahem, buck that trend.  

Now some of the folks underachieving like Canha, Escobar, Vogelbach, Pham and assorted pitchers are on one year deals or the last year of disappointing contracts.  Others like Marte and Lindor will be here longer than that and need to step it up.  The question here is how can Showalter change what isn't working into what could be a championship caliber group of players?

Right now no one knows...and as much as it pains me to say it, perhaps not even Buck.