METS and YANKEES PREVIEW 2016 The New York Mets had a magical 2015 run, both during the regular and postseason. Not since 1973 had fans experienced anything like it. The last time the team reached the postseason in 2006, expectations were sky high along with the team’s payroll. And they almost lived up to the lofty goal of a World Series, just falling one game short of reaching the fall classic. What followed were years of disappointing finishes, head scratching injury problems, payroll slashing and consecutive seasons under .500. However, rebuilding an entire ball club from the ground up doesn’t happen overnight. Thanks to the patience of General Manager Sandy Alderson, the team held on to highly touted prospects, traded veterans to add to minor league depth, and finally last season, the fans were rewarded. Not only did the team win 90 games, it acquired all-star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes for some desperately needed pop in a once anemic lineup, a move that showed diehards that the team was all in. The Amazin’s, who were heavy underdogs against their division rivals, the Washington Nationals, bested them, sweeping them in two consecutive series late in the season to catapult them to their first National League East division title since 2006. Much of this was attributed to the emergence of what was expected to be an exceptional starting rotation. Once in the postseason, the team, underdogs in both the NLDS and NLCS, bested both the Los Angeles Dodgers, which owns the league’s highest payroll, and the Chicago Cubs, who won 97 games thanks to their potent offense. However, the Mets’ flaws were exposed against the pesky and determined Kansas City Royals. Although New York had a lead in every game, KC bested them in five grueling games. Now the Mets are in a spot they rarely find themselves in: as favorites. Because of a solid off-season (thanks to the miraculous re-signing of Cespedes) and a full season of what is likely the best rotation in the game, many not only expect them to win the division again, something the team has never done in its history, but also win the World Series. Returning to the fall classic is never easy. Do the Mets have what it takes? METS STRENGTHS ROTATION This is the biggest ‘duh’ in all of baseball. Lots of young starting pitchers that show promise don’t deliver. The Mets have five potential young starters that do. The biggest star of the bunch, Matt Harvey, who returned from Tommy John surgery, was sensational given the severity of the injury. With a year under his belt and no innings limit, expect an improvement from an already solid year. This could be a potential Cy Young candidate. Jacob Degrom proved that winning Rookie of the Year Honors Noah Syndergaard in 2015 was no fluke, making it a debate on who is the team’s ace between the two. Then there’s Noah Syndergaard, the flamethrower that got called up towards the middle of last season. Not only does he have the stuff to baffle even the most feared hitters, he exhibits a fearlessness and mental toughness on the mound. Stat lovers may say that doesn’t matter. It does, especially in big markets. Then you have the pride of Long Island, Steven Matz. The lefty was also called up later in the year, but showed nasty stuff before getting injured after just a couple of starts. He was asked to pitch playoff games with limited experience and fared well. Now, he just has to stay on the field and hone his skills. Bartolo Colon will give you solid innings, and some real stinkers, but he’ll be just fine as the fifth starter until Zack Wheeler, another hard throwing righty with great potential, returns during the season from an elbow injury that derailed his career for over a year. There really isn’t a team that can match these five (and eventually six) starters. Finally a group of gifted prospects that deliver in the majors! Matt Harvey Jacob deGrom ááá
ASPIRESPRING2016
To see the actual publication please follow the link above