HOUSTON — There’s no approach for the Mets to really replicate what they did a yr in the past, after they exceeded practically all expectations underneath first-year supervisor Carlos Mendoza.
From coming again after beginning the season 0-5, to the OMG craze, to a late-season push to the postseason that resulted in a run to the NLCS, 2024 was a feel-good story in Queens, punctuated by grabbing Juan Soto away from the Yankees in free company.
And now the true work is about to start.
The crew is about to work out at Daikin (RIP Minute Maid and Enron) Park on Wednesday prematurely of Thursday’s season opener.
That’s when Clay Holmes takes the mound for his first begin since 2018 — and simply the fifth of his main league profession.
Holmes — and the remainder of the rotation — is among the many query marks for the Mets heading into the season, one wherein they’ll be coping with a playoff-or-bust mentality.
Right here’s a take a look at a number of the keys to the early a part of the season:
Beginning out
The Mets took an opportunity on Holmes, a dependable reliever for a lot of his profession with the Yankees, however who misplaced the nearer’s job final season.
After signing as a free agent, the right-hander impressed this spring, sufficient in order that he obtained the decision for Opening Day.
After all, a part of the choice to go together with Holmes is that the rotation is with out different free-agent starters Sean Manaea (recovering from an indirect damage) and Frankie Montas (lat pressure).
“We wished to see how pitching was going to shake out and getting going, pitching is all the time powerful to remain wholesome,’’ Brandon Nimmo mentioned. “We’ve had a few guys go down, however really feel like Clay Holmes has been an actual good shock for us and he’s constructed up and he’s going to be beginning Opening Day.”
President of baseball operations David Stearns had related ideas.
“I believe a number of the changes we now have seen with Clay, adjusting very well to the longer stints bode nicely going ahead,’’ Stearns mentioned.
Different query marks within the rotation have additionally been strong, together with right-hander Griffin Canning.
“I’ve been impressed with how Griffin Canning has taken to our group somewhat bit,’’ Stearns mentioned. “David Peterson and Tylor Megill getting by this [spring] wholesome and … wanting actually good has been constructive.”
Second coming
One of many larger disappointments of final season was the efficiency of Brett Baty, who misplaced the beginning job at third base to Mark Vientos and spent a lot of the remainder of the season at Triple-A Syracuse.
Baty entered the spring trying to win a job, however his potential position grew extra necessary when Jeff McNeil went down with an indirect damage, opening up a spot at second base.
Baty has responded each together with his glove and his bat, reminding folks why he was a extremely regarded prospect earlier than final yr’s struggles.
“One of many issues we wished to see was how Baty was going to be coming by the spring and he’s answered that emphatically,’’ Nimmo mentioned. “It’s been an ideal spring for him, so I’m completely happy for that.”
Stearns agreed.
“[Baty] performed nicely and that’s what we’ll take from this: He’s in a very great place [and] he performed nicely on each side of the ball,’’ Stearns mentioned. “I believe Brett is in a superb way of thinking and able to go and compete. He’s a proficient man, so I believe if we hold him in a spot the place he can simply concentrate on the second at hand, he’s going to be in fine condition.”
Coping with success
This season, the Mets received’t be capable to sneak up on anybody. They’ll attempt to keep away from an identical tough begin to the season that just about derailed them in ’24.
“I believe the largest factor coming into a brand new yr, a brand new season, is how guys are going to suit into that locker room,” Mendoza mentioned. “New guys, new faces, a number of the guys that we introduced again. I believe it’s simply, ‘How lengthy is that going to take?’ How is that going to go early in camp? And I believe straight away, I may inform the brand new faces have been becoming in. That’s a credit score to the group in there — the fellows that have been right here final yr — they usually have been right here fairly a bit now, ensuring that they really feel welcome right here and that’s what they’ve achieved from Day 1.”
“There was undoubtedly an unknown coming into camp of, ‘Hey, it is a new crew, despite the fact that we now have related folks,’ ’’ Nimmo mentioned. “Individuals are a yr wiser, a yr older, all that stuff. OK, what are we going to get out of it? I’ve been fortunately shocked with how this crew is shaping up come Opening Day, however in the end the season will inform us.”
— Further reporting by Mike Puma in Port St. Lucie
