In 2016, the New York Mets had multiple pitchers that came specifically through their system that were succeeding for them. Matt Harvey was still in his prime, Jacob deGrom was right about to catch absolute fire, Steven Matz was just getting started himself. Thor and Wheeler were acquired in trades, that's been well reported, but even with Bartolo Colon hanging around, what made the mid-2010s rotation fresh is that so much of it was homegrown, and so much felt like the Mets had earned it themselves.
Right now, there are two former Mets pitching products with genuine Cy Young cases. Neither of them are playing for the Mets. So that's where we are now.
The Wheeler thing I don't blame the Mets for. Zach Wheeler spent so much time injured that once he did hit his prime and become a league talent, he was no longer really wanting to stay in New York, and Philly just had the better offer. But Seth Lugo is gonna be something people look at for a while. Because at any point in his six or so years in New York, they could have started him. They just repeatedly chose not to. And then the moment a team decides to start him, he hits his potential and now with the Royals he's one of the best pitchers of the year. If things get managed differently, Wheeler and Lugo hit their primes in New York, and possibly deGrom even sticks around. But instead...deGrom's making his comeback in Arlington, Wheeler's helping Philly get back to the playoffs, Lugo's a part of a huge Royals team, and the Mets' rotation consists of people like Sean Manaea, Jose Quintana and Luis Severino.
Yet this year, the Mets do have a homegrown starter with a 9-2 record, so that's a step in the right direction.
David Peterson was one of those guys who I wasn't sure if he was ever gonna happen. Mets fans had been excited about this guy for a while, and then he'd get to the majors and do nothing. Lather, rinse repeat. And now in his fifth MLB season, at 28, he's finally having a breakout year. He's 9-2, has a 2.98 ERA and 83 Ks. He's been solid, consistent, reliable and a welcome source of stability after Joey Lucchesi and Christian Scott flamed out. Tylor Megill has also been decent recently, filling in for Paul Blackburn, but I really don't think he's ever gonna show any actual consistency, because the second he starts doing well something terrible happens, and this is every year at this point.
The Mets, meanwhile, have to be thankful for pieces like Peterson, as they're still looking like a surprise favorite for a playoff spot. Right now the Mets and Braves are still deadlocked, and though for a while today's Mets game was looking like a sad sight, eventually Lindor and Alvarez prevailed and made it possible for a potential lap. The Braves have the slightly easier schedule this week, considering that the Mets now have to head to Philly, but the Mets have seen Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Jose Iglesias and Mark Vientos go from questionable to surging, and right now they're on their best tear since the initial Grimace takeoff.
It's not 100% certain that the Mets completely take advantage of this, but if it happens it could lead to an absolutely bonkers playoff campaign for these guys.
Coming Tomorrow- I never thought when he came up with Cleveland that he'd still be playing, and still be a really reliable hitter, at 38.
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