MLB Spring Season 2020

The Mets started their spring season yesterday and, going into the new season, they are actually surprising contenders for the NL East title and even the World Series.

In the three spring training games, the Mets’ young talent showed … talent. JD Davis is back and is showing his hitting once again, going 1 for 2 against the Cardinals. The guys out of the bullpen against the Cardinals just allowed 1 run, with vet Marcus Stroman allowing the other one. But, the Mets being the Mets lost to the Cardinals 2-0. Some of the starters last year actually played the full game, like Dominic Smith. That’s why they are hopefuls for the World Series and will continue to get better. They already have an okay team, almost getting to the Wild Card Game last year and having a lot of young talent. In the foreseeable future, they could actually win the World Series. The Mets then lost another one and this one may make them blush. They played the Marlins, who were at the bottom of the ocean last year, a disgusting 57-105. But here, at least they scored some runs, and the final from Port St. Lucie was 5-3. Lumbering vets Wilson Ramos and Matt Adams – Adams being a nice offseason pickup (he will provide the power from the bench or the lineup), Wilson had two ribbies and one hit in 2 plate appearances and Matt Adams had no hits but he did have an RBI. Michael Conforto is probably going to be the leader of the clubhouse going into next season because he is one of the players who has the longest tenure as a Met. He had a hit and a run. A player who will be much better in a few years than Amed Rosario is now is Andres Gimenez, who will definitely replace him as the starter. He only had a hit on Saturday. The young hitters on the Mets, backing up the starters, showed no signs of life at all, having 0 hits on Saturday. The relievers weren’t too good, blowing the tie and the offense never came back.

Today, the Mets’ performance wasn’t quite bad enough for them to lose, but not quite good enough to win, they tied. JD Davis had an RBI, pickup Jake Marisnick who I think deserves a lineup spot, in left or center. Ryan Cordell, a guy who played for the White Sox last year, he hit 7 homers in a pretty solid year for them, he added a dinger for them in this game. The bullpen held amazingly strong, until new guy Franklyn Kilome, who the Mets got in a trade with the Phillies, blew the lead.

As expected, the Nationals fans were funny in their game with the Astros yesterday. One fan held up a sign that said Houston *’s because they (as well as me) believe that a * should be put next to their name in the record book as the 2017 World Series Champions. And many fans banged on their seats to mimic how supposedly the Astros banged on a garbage can in the dugout to relay the stolen signals. Also, there were a ton, and I mean a ton of boos, probably by everyone who’s a fan of baseball also, just in their heads, as the Astros walked on the field. Manager Dusty Baker was applauded by Nationals fans because he was their manager in 2016 and 2017, leading them to NL East titles, then getting fired because he didn’t advance in the playoffs, I don’t know how much of that is his fault, though.

The Yankees got their injury woes back again this Spring Training with Luis Severino, who has never consistently played, is shelved, or partially shelved again this year, this time with forearm soreness. The Yankees also don’t know if James Paxton is going to be ready for the season, so, this means that the Yanks will have two open rotation spots.

Something that I want to see is Yoenis Cespedes being ready for Opening Day – that would be so nice – and him racking up a few hits on Opening Day. I see the Mets winning the NL East by 5 games, Braves in second, Nats in third, Phils in fourth and Marlins in 5 (sorry fish). I see them at about 93-94 wins. Another thing is the Mets will call up Andres Gimenez, I really want to see that.