Photo by Ed Delany of MMO
On this eve of the New York Mets spring training opener, let us pause and first appreciate the reality that baseball is in fact back, finally. Ok, now let’s talk shop. This spring is unlike previous springs for several reasons including the delay, the new toys, and the endemic response. Here are five things to monitor during spring training, 2022.
New York City Vaccine Mandates
We were recently reminded about the city requirements to athletes: no vax, no play. While reports will continue to prove murky, there will undoubtedly be key players on the roster forced to sit out home games unless/until the mandates change. As most New York sports fans have noticed, mercurial Brooklyn Nets’ star Kyrie Irving has been the inaugural poster child for this circumstance. Many hope the road block will be cleared, but we’re in a wait-and-see pattern that will certainly bear continued monitoring.
New Toys
In his second year as owner, Steve Cohen has brought in a treasure trove of new toys. In addition to new GM, Billy Eppler, and new manager, Buck Showalter, the front office has revamped and revitalized scouting and analytics departments and the coaching staff as a whole. Oh, and let us not neglect immediate impact additions like Starling Marte, Eduardo Escobar, Mark Canha, Chris Bassitt, and future Hall of Famer, Max Scherzer, to name a few.
Spring training will give us our first glimpse of these new pieces and moving parts. We’ll get a sneak peek at lineup iterations, position trials, managerial strategies, and post-game presser nuggets.
Hot Stove
While the 2021-2022 free agency redux 2.0 period has already been in swing, there are still a plethora of names out there that are worth watching. New York’s own Michael Conforto is still looking for a home and while rumors suggest no such reunion is in the cards, many fans are still holding out hope the prodigal son returns. The addition of Adam Ottavino is a piece, but most would argue the Mets need more, specifically a lefty, in the bullpen. While the front office may be done with big splashes, it’s likely supplements will still be secured this spring.
Prospects
This may be the first of these five that resembles a traditional spring training. As always, this period allows the organization and the fanbase to preview the Mets’ future. Potential stars like Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, and Ronny Mauricio, to name a few, will get a taste of the bigs as they suit up and find time in the lineup and on the rubber.
Health
It goes without saying, but let’s say it anyway. Just. Stay. Healthy. Mets fans are all too accustomed to reports of strained obliques, bone spurs, and muscle strains that often turn into stints on the 60-day IL. All any fan can hope and pray for by the end of spring training, more so than batting averages and strikeouts per nine innings, is that the guys come out healthy and ready to play.
