Drop Everything

 

What I'm getting from all of this is that the Mets really want to make the playoffs.

Look, August was rough. There was a long stretch of no activity. And then towards the end of the month there were some huge wins, including 4 double digit wins [plus two more in September]. Getting Francisco Alvarez back, once again, meant a rise in production, and now Juan Soto is in full 'untouchable' mode despite some points during this season where he was clearly very touchable. He's looking at a 40 homer year, an 100 RBI year, and one that seemed to come a lot less naturally than the last two. The Mets are taking off, and even if there's still some ill-timed losses that make creeping up to Philly a bit more difficult, they want it bad.

The move they made this week was one that cemented that. In order to include all three prized prospects in the current rotation, meaning all of Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat, the Mets sent Kodai Senga down to Syracuse. The guy who, going into this season, was supposed to be the team's ace, is down in the minors right now trying to straighten out. And thus the current major league rotation consists of David Peterson, Clay Holmes...and three rookies. Explain that to a Mets fan in April. In April this rotation was looking like it was gonna be Senga-Manaea-Holmes-Megill-Montas. Montas and Megill are hurt, Manaea's relieving again, Senga's down, and joining Holmes is Peterson, who'd yet to really click til this year...and three rookies. That'd horrify everybody. On paper there's no leverage. You can't make David Peterson out as the ace before this season, before they realize he's got it.

And how do you sell that the Mets, starting 3 rookies, are still competitors, and favored at that? Well...all three rookies are *ready*. Look at Nolan McLean. I'm already in awe of this guy. Like, deGrom in 2014 levels of in awe. McLean's made 4 MLB starts, and is 4-0 with a 1.37 ERA and 28 strikeouts. The sheer dominance this guy is capable of even NOW..that should be worrying people. Then you have Jonah Tong, whose unconventional windup makes him a wild threat and who only allowed 1 earned run in his debut. And then you have Brandon Sproat...who's supposed to be just as good. All three of those guys, in good condition, hurling at you down the stretch. The future...leading you to a postseason spot. That'll win people over, right?

I know I shouldn't be, but I am kinda worried about the Mets. The Phils have to play these guys next week. It's very likely that they're gonna have to face McLean again, and it didn't go well at all the first time. They're still 20 games over .500, holding onto the wild card spot with no immediate competition [though somehow the Giants are approaching], and threatening to lap the Phils soon. Yes, these are the Mets at the end of the day, but pare back enough MLB pieces and you see the rest of this decade glaring down at you, and that's not comforting whatsoever.

Coming Tomorrow: Possibly one of the most entertaining characters in the game. Losing Joey Votto may have hurt, but there's plenty of Votto-type guys hanging around the league.