Starling Stability?

 

Since leaving the Pirates before the 2020 season, Starling Marte has played for exactly four teams. In the cases of the Diamondbacks, Marlins and A's, he wasn't there for any longer than a year. But finally, Marte has decided to think long-term residency, and has picked a place that will reward him for good work into his 30s as well as value his efforts to help them compete.

I never would have thought this was the case this offseason, but Starling Marte and the Mets are a perfect match. Because look at what they're doing together.

Regardless of whether or not the Mets' lead over the NL East comes crashing down this week with the help of a subway series, you have to hand it to Starling Marte for keeping his 2021 going as a member of a much starrier team. Marte is in an outfield alongside Brandon Nimmo and Mark Canha, both of whom are having great seasons, and where old Marte would outclass his teammates, this Marte is right there with them and helping make a consistently great roster. And while Marte leads the team in steals with 12, this is not the stolen-base-prone guy that the Marlins and A's employed last year. This Marte is a bit more focused on power hitting and stifling opposing defenders. I'm so glad he's working in New York, and that there hasn't been much of a learning curve.

It's also promising that the Scherzer return didn't provide too much of a transition for the Mets' rotation. Scherzer fit right back in where he was and is still in peak form, while Taijuan Walker, Chris Bassitt, Carlos Carrasco and David Peterson are an excellent rotation around him. The question obviously is what happens when deGrom returns in a week or so, and it may have to be Carrasco who takes the relief spot, despite his 10 wins. The other question is what if deGrom shows up, pitches well, and then immediately lands back on the IL, commonly known in Washington as the Strasburg conundrum. If that happens, they've still got enough potential starters to not panic. The Mets have really improved their depth this year, and I'm very happy they've figured that out.

Of course, all this may be for naught given that the Braves have caught fire and don't seem to be letting up anytime soon. As I write this, the Braves have failed to take advantage of the .5 deficit, but the Mets are still scoreless with the Padres, so...it could remain at .5. Meanwhile, the Mets have to play the Yankees and Marlins this week while the Braves are similarly balanced against the Phillies and Diamondbacks. It could go either way. I do want the Mets to stay on top, because I'm honestly sick of seeing their huge division leads completely dissipate halfway through the year. 

Coming Tomorrow- A likable infielder for a surging AL Central squad.