2026 is yet another chapter in the many multi-faceted tactics of the Steve Cohen administration. He packed a roster one way, it didn't make the playoffs, he let it grow out, it made the playoffs, he added to it with Juan Soto, it didn't make the playoffs, he threw in the kitchen sink. And so we're now at the level of roster bloat that, by baseball standards SHOULD lead to a playoff team, but by Steve Cohen standards hasn't quite. The question is 'if you put Luis Robert, Bo Bichette, Freddy Peralta, Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco, Devin Williams and Luke Weaver on the same team, one that already has Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto on it, can they all play well at the same time?' So far the answer is 'possibly yes'.
The 6-4 start the Mets have gotten off to is earned, and was definitely buttressed by a sharp series win against the San Francisco Giants, but...those losses against the Pirates and Cardinals stand out a little. Robert, Semien and Williams have taken to Queens handsomely, but Bichette is struggling on several levels, Polanco isn't hitting, and batters are finding the flaws in Freddy Peralta somehow. The big veteran Met performers have not been the ones you'd expect, with Clay Holmes getting off to the best start of everybody in the rotation, and Mark Vientos hitting .476 with 10 hits in 7 games. Vientos was looking to seal up the 3rd base spot, then 2025 happened and he was better off a backup, and now Swaggy V seems to be back in full force. I was in a thrift store in the tri-state area and they had a Swaggy V official Mets giveaway bobblehead priced at 15 bucks. I assume someone's snagged it by now, the way he's playing. Then again, when I found my Hunter Pence Phils bobble at a card show it was I think 7 bucks, so...maybe the price is keeping it there.
Ultimately, the Mets are proving that building a team means adding new people and stacking the deck with proven options. Marcus Semien is on this team because he allegedly wasn't gelling well with the Rangers, and you can tell Semien's in a better mood because, for the first time in like 5 years, he's actually hitting well in April. .257 average, 6 RBIs in 10 games, it's definitely better. Even at 35, Semien works as a solid mid-lineup bat with power perks. Like Polanco, he was a gamble, and he seems to be paying off.
But the other side of that coin is that to make room for all these new people, the Mets had to deal away a lot of working MLB options. Brandon Nimmo went to Texas in the Semien deal, and I think the Mets might be regretting that, seeing as he's hitting .359 with 14 hits and 4 RBIs in 10 games, and Carson Benge, in his stead...isn't. I think 'scorned at the way they left town' is sort of the theme of this Rangers team, cause they've got Andrew McCutchen, still mad at the Pirates, and he's hitting well. And I guess Jacob deGrom falls into this category as well, because the Mets didn't want him back and then signed the entire league. deGoat is looking alright so far this season, not fully exacerbating anything yet, but he has, at least been pretty dominant.
That's gotta be a tough one, when the Mets have to play the Rangers. DeGrom the ace, Nimmo leading the pack. Kumar Rocker, who they did not sign, also in the mix. Not like the O's series will be much easier, with Alonso and Helsley after their revenge.
That's gonna be one of the themes of this season for sure, will the ex-Mets outdo the actual Mets. Last night Amed Rosario had a huge clutch homer for the Yankees, we're still hearing about Dominic Smith's steady work as DH in Atlanta, Alonso's plugged into that Orioles lineup, Seth Lugo's still a crucial part of the Royals rotation...the list goes on. The Rangers, even with their flaws, could be a team that eases into the race this year, and they've got a bit less pressure on them than the Mets. So it's an intriguing narrative, and we'll see if the Mets can do any better than last year, especially in the later months.
Coming Tonight: I know it's fun to talk about ex-Mets, but an ex-Yankee on a team loaded with them is off to a terrific start.
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