I’m just as excited as any long-suffering New York Mets fan by the team’s meteoric start. Their 10-3 record is the best in the National League, and the team’s best start since 1985.
Amazin’ isn’t it? Yes, but this franchise is notorious for perpetually losing. And when they do field a great team, the Mets are also hampered by the memories of some classic, late season collapses.
So far, the Mets are the talk of the town. And, they’re actually drawing large crowds to the usually vacant CitiField. It’s interesting to note that baseball, and sports in general, seem exempt from conventional wisdom when it comes to image and reputation.
There’s no way paying customers would remain loyal to any business that, year-in and year-out, produced an inferior product. Ah, but with loyal Mets fans, hope springs eternal each spring. And, I share that hope. But, I also have an ingrained fear that, by June, we’ll all be saying, “Same old Mets.”
The question is whether they have matured to overcome adversity. Such is the case now with injuries to the catcher Travis d’Arnaud and pitcher Jerry Blevins. d’Arnaud will be out a minimum of three weeks and six for Blevins before they can resume baseball activity. And this timeline is not set in stone.
d’Arnaud was off to a fast start with a .317 batting average, supported by a pair of home runs and 10 runs batted in through 11 games. Meanwhile, the left-handed reliever Blevins did not allow a baserunner in the 15 men he faced.
Historically, Atlanta has gotten out of the starting gate quickly and the Braves have built up huge leads going into the all-star break. Maybe the Mets can do the same and hope they can maintain in the remainder of the season.
Can the bench players contribute? Time will tell.