Mets Trying to End 2018 Season on Right Note

With a week to go in the Major League Baseball season, the 2018 Mets have almost become an afterthought. Long forgotten in New York back pages, which have been dominated by the up-and-down Yankees and their pursuit of a wild card, NFL training camp, and the start of the regular season. Heck, even Mike Francesa’s $8.99 app got more attention the past month then the Mets.

Oddly enough, ever since the Mets suffered a four-game losing streak from July 31 to August 3, they are 29-20 since August 4. More confounding is they have lost only three series in that time span, at the Cubs from August 27-29, at the Red Sox from September 14-16 and at the Phillies from September 17-19. Two of those series losses could be to the two teams that may end up playing in the World Series next month.

Yes, the Mets have played good baseball.

It’s frustrating. Where was this when it mattered? Where was this version of Michael Conforto in June? Why wasn’t Amed Rosario at the top of the order in July? What happened to the old Zach Wheeler who’d walk the ballpark and exit after blowing a lead? Is Jeff McNeil the real deal?

Yes, as the attention of New York sports has turned to other things, the Mets have turned it on, even though it is too little, too late. While it makes Mets fans even angrier that this team figures it out now, it puts the franchise in a very interesting position heading into next season.

Guys are playing for jobs next year, and many of them are making a strong case to be significant contributors to the Mets 2019 roster.

On the pitching front, we all know what Jacob deGrom has done this year. Leading the major’s with a 1.77 ERA on a bad baseball team has been remarkable to behold. There are so many starts where deGrom pitched with little to no run support it makes one wonder what his win-loss total would be on a good team. Assuming the Mets don’t trade him in the off-season, he is going to headline a staff with Noah Synderaard and Zach Wheeler behind him.

Wheeler has been a revelation this season. It wasn’t that long ago that Wheeler was just hoping to keep a rotation spot on this team. Now he’s their third best starter. Tell me that on June 22 after he gave up four runs to the Dodgers to drop his record to 2-6 with a 4.85 ERA, I would say you’re crazy. But, since July, Wheeler is 10-1 with a 2.21 ERA. That’s impressive.

Not only has his market value shot up, his value to the Mets moving forward has skyrocketed, and he has to be considered in the plans.

Even Jason Vargas, who Mets fans couldn’t wait to give a one-way ticket to Nowheresville, Iowa, has pitched well in the second half of the year.  On August 14, Vargas’ ERA was 8.75. Since that time his ERA is 3.10 in his last 37.2 innings pitched. Now, it’s most likely fools gold, but still, it’s impressive.

Then there is the offense.  Post All-Star Break the Mets are tied for 6^th in runs score in MLB with 292, and are 8^th in RBIs with 275.  Compare that to the Pre-All Star Break with the Mets were 28^th in runs scored, and 29^th in team batting average.

It’s …well … Amazin!

Michael Conforto’s second half resurgence is a big reason why, especially in the month of September where he is hitting .286 with eight homers and 24 RBI. After struggling to just get over the Mendoza line this season, Conforto is hitting .272, and leads the Mets with 16 homers and 47 RBI post All-Star Break.

It wouldn’t be unfair to say the addition of second baseman Jeff McNeil added a much needed spark. All this dude does is hit, hit, hit no matter what. On Sunday, McNeil had four hits in the Mets 8-6 win at Washington.

With a .340 batting average on the year, McNeil appears very comfortable batting second, where his average is .336 with eight walks and 15 RBI. McNeil has been so impactful in the Mets lineup that Amed Rosario has done well in the lead-off spot, and guys like Conforto and Bruce can relax a little and focus on driving guys in.

The question the Mets have to ask themselves now and in the off-season is whether McNeil is their starting second baseman in 2019. By the looks of things, he’s got an inside track.

So while nobody has been paying attention as the 2018 season ends in a whimper the 2019 Mets have already been forming.