It’s virtually time for baseball.
After an eventful offseason, the Mets have arrived in Port St. Lucie to prep for the upcoming season. There hasn’t been this a lot pleasure round this group in years. The membership made a number of splashy offseason additions, together with including three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander, standout Japanese right-hander Kodai Senga, All-Star catcher Omar Narvaez and a handful of strong bullpen additions, like David Robertson and Brooks Raley. They additionally introduced again nearer Edwin Diaz and homegrown outfielder Brandon Nimmo.
New guidelines are being applied throughout the league this spring and a number of other groups — the Mets included — are getting ready to lose a few of their finest gamers to the World Baseball Classic. The Mets should take care of these two obstacles like each different group, however within the confines of Clover Field, the membership has just a few extra urgent points.
The Mets may need had the most effective offseason of any group, however nobody wins the World Series in February. The work begins Wednesday when pitchers and catchers report back to camp and kicks into gear Feb. 20 when the membership holds its first full-squad exercise.
Here are 5 storylines to look at as camp opens up this week.
ARE ALVAREZ, BATY READY?
The Mets don’t need to rush their two finest prospects and there’s no must, with Narvaez and Tomas Nido behind the plate by means of 2024 at the least, and Eduardo Escobar at third base subsequent season. Still, there may be some curiosity as as to whether or not the 2 are prepared to supply on the Big League degree proper now.
The two will see a ton of taking part in time in spring with so many gamers leaving for the WBC in order that they’ll get an opportunity to indicate what they’ll do in opposition to Major League pitching. But the membership desires to ensure they’re defensively sound earlier than handing over the catching duties to Alvarez and the full-time third base job to Baty.
Alvarez has been working with catching coordinator Glenn Sherlock in Port St. Lucie and Baty labored with former shortstop Troy Tulowitzki on his protection over the winter. He’ll additionally get time at third base with David Wright this spring.
They can have each alternative to make the group out of camp, however beginning them within the minor leagues this season may not be a foul factor.
WILL DARIN RUF REBOUND?
Darin Ruf was acquired on the commerce deadline final season to hit left-handed pitching. It was not the most effective acquisition made by Eppler since Ruf struggled immediately. He hit simply .152 with a .413 OPS in 28 video games with the Mets. A late-season neck harm had his standing on the playoff roster unsure, however the membership opted to make use of him and Alvarez within the NL Wild Card sequence.
His spring at-bats shall be closely scrutinized. The Mets may use Tommy Pham at DH and there are nonetheless some discussions about utilizing Alvarez as a DH in opposition to lefties if Ruf doesn’t put up numbers this spring.
The membership selected to not purchase a real energy bat this winter and we’ll discover out quickly if they should search for one through the season or not.
BULLPEN COMPETITION
Eppler mentioned he needed a bunch of high-leverage relievers and for probably the most half, your complete group has expertise pitching in high-leverage conditions. The Mets can line up Robertson, Drew Smith and Diaz for innings seven, eight and 9. Joey Lucchesi could possibly be the lengthy man, however the Mets do have Tylor Megill and David Peterson able to going lengthy as nicely.
There is a bunch of unproven relievers behind them vying for one or two spots within the bullpen that consists of Rule 5 pickup Zach Greene, his former teammate within the Yankees system, Stephen Ridings, and right-hander Jeff Brigham. More skilled arms like right-hander Elieser Hernandez and left-hander Sam Coonrod are additionally vying for spots.
Most of them have choices, which permits for some flexibility all through the season.
STARTING PITCHING HEALTH
Starting pitching accidents have been a recurring theme with the Mets in recent times. Last 12 months, Jacob deGrom did not make it out of spring coaching wholesome and Max Scherzer had some issues along with his hamstring in spring coaching, although he was capable of pitch within the first sequence of the season.
The rotation is fairly set with Scherzer, Verlander, Senga, Jose Quintana and Carlos Carrasco, however whether or not or not all 5 will make it out of spring and out of the WBC wholesome is a complete different story.
FRONT OFFICE PERSONNEL
Former assistant basic supervisor Bryn Alderson, the son of outgoing group president Sandy Alderson, left the group final week. Alderson was the membership’s director of professional scouting after having labored his manner up from assistant director and professional scout. Alderson’s departure got here days after Carlos Beltran joined the group as a particular assistant to Eppler.
It’s unclear if the 2 strikes are associated, nevertheless, Eppler has made some personnel adjustments this winter in an effort to usher in a few of his most well-liked folks. The group doesn’t have numerous former gamers within the govt workplaces and supervisor Buck Showalter plans to lean closely on Beltran’s data and expertise.
A seek for Alderson’s alternative stays ongoing. The former GM introduced his intention to go away his position in September and the membership is specializing in hiring somebody to concentrate on driving the expansion of income for the position.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com