Reese Kaplan -- Maybe Post Season Baseball is Not a Realistic Goal

The original intention of this follow up article was to examine the relief pitching corps but other than a nice appearance by Edwin Diaz there is not much to say in support of the fallible starting pitching.  

Instead we will look at the anemic hitting that has unfortunately carried over from both the 2023 season and Spring Training.  Yes, Starling Marte delivered a home run in a single hit performance by the entire team.  Yes, Brett Baty delivered an impressive 3-run homer in a pinch hitting role against a lefty on the mound.  That output is very nearly it during the team's 0-2 start.

Now one day or two days is not indicative of what an entire season can be.  The encouraging signs from Marte and Baty were good to see.  What we need to see more of is contributions from the veteran star level performers like Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo and even youngster Francisco Alvarez.  Right now it seems that a 1-0 deficit is nearly insurmountable and if anyone harbors unrealistic dreams of postseason baseball, then there needs to be more output from the top and middle of the order.

To be fair, the late addition of J.D. Martinez has not yet been felt as he's on the extended Spring Training route to Queens.  He is obviously a high quality hitter who was obtained at a bargain price with deferrals to make the impact even less painful than it might otherwise have been.  

Of course, the arrival of Martinez meant the diminishment of Mark Vientos' chances to make an impact at the major league level.  It's entirely possible that Zack Short will be cut loose when Martinez is deemed ready but still that makes no room on the big league roster for Vientos who has already had a multi extra base hit game for Syracuse.  

There was some consternation published about Vientos and Acuna praising the hit by Rhys Hoskins that led to the dust up with Jeff McNeil.  While it's understandable in Vientos' case being somewhat miffed about his demotion after leading the team in HRs and RBIs in Port St. Lucie, the Acuna positive reaction to an opponent doing damage to the Mets is a bit more puzzling.  

You would think that despite human instinct to seek a schadenfreude reaction to the Mets' misfortune, it's not really underscoring your standing with the team.

Of course, until there is a major roster change in the majors there is no room for either of these temporary malcontents.  A trade of Pete Alonso would be an example of something that would open up opportunities, not that doing so would be regarded as a prudent move.  

It's entirely possible for David Stearns midway through a potentially mediocre year to trade away Pete Alonso for prospects and then for Steve Cohen to try to bring him back for 2025, but once you're labeled unnecessary it's difficult to embrace the team that sent you packing.  

As of now the 2024 season looks very much like the 2023 season which is not what David Stearns was brought in to improve, but it's only been a couple of games and way too soon to push the panic button.  Still, offense and starting pitching both have not delivered what was hoped.  That could and should change but we'll only know as the games are played.