I was going through some old posts from a couple of years ago looking for something I once had written about Juan Lagares when I came across this photo.
It was taken by a Mets staffer during a flight and posted on Mets.com, and I used it in a post that said, “the Mets future looks bright.”
Here we are heading into the 2015 season and I look at those five players and I thought, “Wow, these five guys are now so critical to our success and each of them can play a vital role in what could be the most exciting season we’ve seen in years.”
Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Travis d’Arnaud, Juan Lagares and Wilmer Flores. Throw in Jacob deGrom, Jenrry Mejia, Jeurys Familia, and Vic Black and call me crazy, but this could be the making of an incredibly exciting and young core to build a dynasty around. Yes, I said dynasty.
What’s even more impressive is all the top flight prospects that are yet to come and knocking at the door. Talents like Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, Dilson Herrera, Akeel Morris and Michael Conforto.
Some of you thought I was nuts last week when I said the Mets are well positioned to dominate the NL East for the rest of this decade. Well, I wasn’t kidding, my friends. I don’t see any other teams in our division bursting at the seams with the high caliber prospects we possess in our system – a system which many experts rank in the top five in MLB.
I think one of you suggested I needed to seek therapy when I also said last week that I felt the Mets could contend in 2015 even if they had made no significant additions this offseason. Guess what, I still feel the same way. After watching the rest of the teams in our division each get minimally or significantly worse this offseason, while we got better, I can’t help feeling they’ve paved the way for a wild card finish and with a little luck a division title.
Why is is it so difficult for some of you to see the incredible potential this team has, a vast potential that is mostly based on a solid foundation of high upside youth and complimented by veterans like Wright, Duda, Murphy, Granderson and Cuddyer on offense, and Niese and Colon to stabilize the rotation?
I’m serious… Look at this team fairly and objectively and compare it to the Braves, Marlins, Phillies and Nationals. I wouldn’t trade our roster right now with any of those teams.
Does this team have issues? Of course it does, what team doesn’t?
But to me, the two biggest underlying concerns I have with the Mets are not even with the roster – which I love.
My concerns lie solely with a manager I’m not sure is right for this team, and owners who may not provide the financial flexibility we need to add a significant player at the trade deadline to strengthen and bolster our postseason chances.
That’s it.
That’s my biggest fear going into the 2015 season. I have zero problems with Flores at shortstop as you all know. I’m confident that one of Granderson and Wright are going to have a big bounce-back season.
I absolutely love the quality depth we have if we get hit with injuries. Herrera, Reynolds, Puello, Plawecki, Montero, Syndergaard, and Matz will all be in Vegas and a phone call away. You know how amazing that is? I doubt there’s more than 2-4 teams that can boast Triple-A depth like that.
Look, all of you know I’ve never really been a glass half-full kind of guy. But this team has me oozing with optimism and I’m unafraid to admit it. I can’t wait to get this 2015 season started already. This is going to be fun. I just hope that management and brass don’t muff it up.
