Sandy Alderson acquired much more in the last 10 days than just three bats and a reliever.
In choosing to buy at the trade deadline, Alderson and the New York Mets have opted for competitive late-season baseball for the first time in the history of Citi Field.
That vote of confidence has had a ripple effect on the Mets clubhouse, who prior to the trade for Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson, had lost six of their last eight, including two of three against the then-division leading Washington Nationals.
Having scored an MLB-worst 3.4 runs per game prior to the July 25 trade, the Mets offense has improved that figure by nearly two runs since. Much of the offense however, has been without the help of the three new additions to the lineup—hat tip to Lucas Duda—who are hitting a combined 9-for-45 with 11 strikeouts in their first week in New York.
We have heard for much of the last five seasons that the Mets have the ability to spend, but after payroll shrank from the $140 million when Alderson took over to as low as $85 million, there had been understandable doubt.
Sure enough, after roughly $8.5 million in payroll was taken on—in part aided by money recuperated from David Wright’s injury and Jenrry Mejia’s suspension—over the course of 10 days, there has been a dramatic cultural shift in the mentality at Citi Field. Following the trio of trades, teams are taking this laughing-stock of recent years turned contender seriously.
In giving the ballclub the pieces needed to make a legitimate pennant push, the Mets gave their team, and their fans, a renewed sense of confidence heading into the stretch run.
This is no better exemplified by the three-game sweep of the Nationals this weekend, a team the Mets had posted a 2-16 record against at home since September of 2013 entering the series.
Two weeks ago the Amazin’s were a team with an unbelievable young group of arms, but no offense to support them. They now have a middle of the order worth intentionally walking and a bench with pinch hitters that are an improvement over the pitcher they’d replace.
Citi Field is packed and the Mets are in the thick of things entering the final two months of the season.
It’s amazing what a little help can do.
