What is it about the return of baseball that always excites the baseball fan? Is it the promise of better weather with spring and summer hovering around the corner? Is it the excitement of a return to cheering for a team that has revamped itself with free-agent signings or trades over the winter? Or is it the hope that this is finally the year that answers the "wait til next year" question? For me, spring and summer have a more deeper meaning...plenty of sunshine and hot, hot, hot! My teams did not revamp themselves with trades and blockbuster free-agent signings and to tell the truth, the Arizona Diamondbacks (team by adoption) looks to have a pretty dismal year. The Mets...the poster children for "wait til next year" (or more like "not in my lifetime") are relying on the Yankee formula (why not copy a team that has produced 27 World Championships) of bringing young players up from the farm system and sprinkling in some decent veterans. The Mets hopes all rely on a treasure trove of young pitchers many of whom have not produced in the majors but are ranked very high in baseball's top prospect lists.
The key is the return of Matt Harvey from Tommy John surgery, who missed all of last year but made a spectacular debut in 2013. Until he went down with the elbow injury, he was leading the majors in strikeouts, was a Cy Young candidate, and started the All Star Game for the National League. Zack Wheeler and Jacob DeGrom (NL Rookie of the Year) return from last year and the best prospect is still in the minor leagues... Veterans Jon Niese and Dillon Gee and very veteran (42) Bartolo Colon return to give the Mets a ton of starting pitching. The closer is also returning from an injury (Bobby Parnell), but the bullpen is also a solid group. The problem will be where the heck will run support will come from...Curtis Granderson stunk up the place last year, David Wright is returning from shoulder surgery, our catcher is a light hitting one and we don't have a proven shortstop...This is where the hope springs eternal part comes in. The addition of John Mayberry Jr. and Michael Cuddyer (can he hit at sea level after a great year in Denver) isn't scaring anyone in our division. But the Phillies are old and the Braves have traded away some important players so the Mets have a chance to do something. There are too many question marks as to how the team will shape up, but that's the joy of being a fan...with each spring there comes the hope that this will be the year that the team makes a run for the playoffs...(although if they could play some meaningful games in August and September, that would be great).
Stay warm, East Coast and all of you struggling through another tough winter...spring and summer are just around the corner... The Boys of Summer are back!
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