Spring 2021 Baseball Season and the Mets

Spring Training kicked off this week, and even though I am in school online, I still stream games, yes, I am a very conscientious student, if you’re wondering but baseball is baseball. I never told this to anybody, but because you are reading this blog, I will share something with you. If you go to http://www.volokit.com/schedule/, you can stream any sports event. Yes! Any sports event, no signup, and everything’s 100% free, no, I didn’t just get money for telling you that, I don’t know anyone at Volokit and no one’s paying me if you still don’t believe it – don’t believe it! Think that you’re reading a very established blog writer’s blog who has many connections and finished second in his Harvard journalism class, and it’ll make your reading more enjoyable.

In the first Mets game of the season, some things struck me: 1)Brandon Nimmo is in for a big year, and will hopefully bat <.290. 2) Francisco Lindor is a bust, the worst signing in Mets history (for those of you who didn’t take a baseball bat and smashed your computer to bits and pieces with that last comment, heaps of sarcasm in that). 3) Hopefully Pete Alonso can rebound this season, even though he was 3^rd in homers in the NL last year, I still want to see him hit 30 and this will complement Michael Conforto and Francisco Lindor in the lineup. 4) Kevin Pillar is set to have a season with about 10 homers and a solid starting role, move Albert Almora. 5) I have mixed feelings about our bullpen. Who’s gonna be closer? Who’s the 5/6^th inning man? Who’s the mop-up man? Can we have an elite set up man? Can Edwin Diaz get off LSD? Can we find a closer who’s drug-free? All of these questions will be answered, but only once we hit Opening Day can we decide, because then our pitchers are set and we can answer these questions.

Next two games: 1) I’m excited to see Jeff McNeil this year, I want to see him leadoff, and then the other potential candidates to lead off can round out the lineup near the bottom. 2) Number one prospect Ronny Mauricio isn’t MLB ready, yet, but hey, we’re not that thirsty for prospects. 3) I know I said Albert Almora Jr. isn’t going to start at center, but hey, if Kevin Pillar plays like dog poop in July, then Almora’s easily sliding in there. 4) The Mets rotation is first or second in baseball, Dodgers, Padres or Mets at 1 or 2, but Mets at 1 or 2. 5) I want to see Luis Guillorme in the starting lineup, somehow, some way, I want to see him starting, I don’t know how, but hey, do I get paid Luis Rojas’ salary to figure that out? No. 6) We should experiment with Mallex Smith in the infield because the outfield is as crowded as a middle school hallway, Smith is fast and versatile, so let him get some reps in the infield.

Next games: 1) I love Pete Alonso. But, a grand slam doesn’t mean anything, even if he hit one, anything could still happen in the early season. 2) Even though David Peterson will probably start the season off in the minors, he’s going to come up this season, as a mop-up man or as a genuine starter. 3) Dominic Smith percolated last year, and being one of the most consistent hitters on the team, he’s gonna explode this year. 4) James McCann is not going to just hit, and he’s also not going to just scoop bad pitches. I’ve heard both sides of the spectrum, and I think he’s going to do both, he’s not called “McCannon” for nothing, and he’s playing really well. 5) I think the Mets should prune the outfield and the team in general. We have so many redundant players and other teams are fish in the Sahara Desert for players. Scoop up some prospects, free up cap space, get a veteran, get someone if JD Davis swings and misses at this upcoming season (smooth, right?). 6) Edwin Diaz may have played well against the Astros, but don’t let it fool you, don’t let it don’t, don’t. Diaz hopefully won’t screw up, but hey, it’s Edwin Diaz. 7) Sadly, there isn’t a sixth man in baseball, like there is in basketball, he’s the best player on the bench, but he’s on the bench. Jonathan Villar would fill that role really well, but right now, I can’t see a role for Villar on the team. You would think there’s a point to this statement, but there isn’t, just expressing what I’m saying. 8) Finally, I have a little faith in the Mets’ bullpen, Aaron Loup, Trevor Hildenberger, and Daniel Zamora all help that theory, and I hope that while Spring Training continues, Luis Rojas’ bullpen IQ increases, his faith in the bullpen increases and the pitcher get into their groove. 

Wipe the mustard off your faces while I watch some games.