2022 MLB Playoffs - The New York Mets Need All The Help They Can Get
This is a blog series I put together on the 8 MLB Wild Card playoff teams. You can click these links for the other previews already published:
1. Guardians
2. Rays
3. Cardinals
4. Phillies
5. Blue Jays
6. Mariners
7. PadresHopefully it helps improve your MLB playoff experience whether you're a diehard like me or just getting into the season and don't know where to start.
And of course - follow Starting 9 for world class MLB playoff coverage.
Let's get into it:
But first you animals need to know that Bombs Away is the hottest bet on the internet. Hottest is a subjective definition so don't start talking units. Let's talk VALUE
That's a pretty easy ask when you really think about it. The Mets, Phillies and Cardinals are all top 10 in slugging percentage. There's gonna be some pops on the board and +185 is a great number for the action. So go get a taste under the exclusives tab here:
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The New York Mets
League: National
Division: East (2nd)
Record: 101-61
Playoff Seed: 4th of 6
Wild Card Opponent: Hosting (#6) San Diego Padres
Obligatory Sweet Moment:
Leadership
Manager: Buck Showalter
Years Managed: 21 - 1st with Mets
Record: 1652-1578 (.511)
Postseason Record: 9-14 which is much worse than I originally anticipated
Accomplishments: 5 playoff appearances, mostly on underwhelming teams where Buck has been seen as the catalyst/engineer to the club's success. He's considered the smartest man in any job at any level across the sport. That's nice, but…
Noteworthy Nuggets: Buck Showalter has only won 1 playoff series in his entire career. It was the 2014 ALDS with Baltimore over the Detroit Tigers. Kinda shocking one of the most revered managers in today's game has such a limited October resume. But that's the nature of the game. He does the best with what he has and there's really no room to argue that.
Head Honcho: Sandy Alderson (10 years, kinda) is an OG around Citi Field. He was with the Mets from 2011-2018 but then had to step down to fight a cancer diagnosis. After getting healthy, he resumed front office work with Oakland as a senior advisor to Billy Beane. But then Steve Cohen bought the team and immediately hired Sandy Alderson to be in charge of all things baseball related effective September 2020. So while there's a gap in his tenure, it's basically been his show since 2011.
Rich Schultz. Getty Images.
And probably most significant to me is that Sandy Alderson was hand picked by Steve Cohen long before he owned the team.Almost like it was a mandatory part of him owning the team. That says something about Sandy's approach and demeanor. Worth noting he's one of the few guys I've profiled today with an actual career before baseball. He was a partner at a big law firm for years before a friend's father-in-law bought the Oakland Athletics and they needed a general counsel. That was almost 40 years ago.
Mets Owner's Box
Owner: Steve Cohen who I like so much that I drafted him in the "Leaders" Snake Draft. He made it on my big board because he's a ruthless savage. At his opening press conference following the 2020 season, he said "If we don't win a World Series in the next 3 to 5 years - I'd like to make it sooner - then I consider that disappointing." With that, this is Steve's first taste of MLB playoffs and right inside his generous window of expectations.
Net Worth: $17.4B
Source of Wealth: Compound Interest and Long Term Capital Gains
Duration: 2 years
Purchase Price: $2.4B
2022 Team Value: $2.7B
2022 Payroll (MLB rank of 30 teams): $281 Million (1st of 30)
The 2022 Mets:
Brand Recognition: Cursed? That's how it feels after the last two weeks. Otherwise they're one of the best teams in MLB. Just not this time of year, ever.
3 Best Players:
1. Francisco Lindor, SS = complete in every way
2. Pete Alonso, 1B = big sumbitch eats heaters and hungry jack dinners
3. Jeff McNeil, 2B = probably has a huge dong
Best Pitcher: Max Scherzer Jacob deGrom
Surprise Guy To Watch: Darin Ruf and I know that makes me crazy but just listen for minute. If he's healthy enough to be on the roster then you absolutely start him against Blake Snell game 2. He's got a career 1.457 OPS against the lefty which is significant enough for me to single him out in this blog despite questionable health and an uncharacteristically brutal September (.103/.182.103 in 33 plate appearances).
Oldest Guy On The Team: Max Scherzer, 37
Youngest Guy On The Team: Francisco Alvarez, 20
Strengths: The 2022 Mets have a lot of magic in them and that's undeniable. This team has been different and there's every indication that won't change just because they lost 7-1 last night. They're resilient. Experienced. Gritty. Talented. And playing at home with the most talented pitcher of my generation taking the mound. It's never easy. Sure. But these are essentially optimal playing conditions all things considered.
Weaknesses: They're down 0-1 and you would honestly think pets heads were falling off. Buck Showalter has only won 1 postgame series in his career despite boat loads of respect that suggests otherwise. Scherzer got smacked around last night and there's not a shred of momentum to lean into. Feels like the season's already over.
3 Biggest Questions:
1. Can the Mets grow some cherries between their legs and put up a fight?
2. Is Darin Ruf seriously about to start this game?
3. Can Jacob deGrom do everyone a favor and throw a no-hitter?
The Mets can win the World Series if…
I mean it's not hard at all. They're outstanding at every position but catcher. Really they just need to get past the Padres and out to LA. I'd rather play the Dodgers in 5 than the Dodgers in 7. And I think the Mets really have the lineup that gives the Dodgers rotations fits. They're balanced and smooth and smart. You don't have many assholes swinging out of their shoes. It's a good squad. You just need to give Max a chance to bounce back because God knows he's about to throw 20 straight scoreless this post season. Just watch.
For more on the Mets and what makes them special, please check out this week's Starting 9 with Rico and Clem