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New York Mets: It is Now or Never

By Nikhil Potpally

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We’re sitting here in late August with September soon approaching and the New York Mets are in sole possession of first place in the NL East. At this pace, the Mets are on their way to the playoffs for the first time since 2006, and are in position to make some noise this year. Still, the team cannot lose sight of its plans and must realize that it is in a must-win mode for 2015.

A major contributing factor of the recent success of the New York Mets has been the rejuvenation of the lineup. The acquisitions of Yoenis Cespedes, Kelly Johnson, Juan Uribe, and Tyler Clippard have helped them get to where they currently are. 2015 has turned around quickly for the team, and the team looks to have a fighter’s chance in the postseason. The young pitching staff, combined with the newly potent lineup, will present many problems for the rest of the National League and strikes fear in opponents.

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However, the Mets cannot be complacent in regards to the coming years. Yes, the key starting pitchers are anchored for the near future, but the same cannot be said about the bats. Cespedes in particular has a unique situation with his contract. The limited five-day window for negotiations after the World Series signals that Cespedes will NOT re-sign with the Mets. He will be looking to get the most money out in the free agent market, and the Mets are at a major disadvantage due to the terminology of his contract. Unless they offer him a deal north of $20+ million/year, Yoenis is only a 2015 rental.

He is the main player who fans want to see retained, but Uribe, Johnson, and Clippard are also free agents at the end of the year. Daniel Murphy‘s contract is also up, and he will probably be demanding more money to stay. Keeping these players or replacing them with others will cost money (AKA something the Wilpons may not be willing to spend readily).

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With that being said, all is not lost for the Metropolitans. 2015 is by no means a lost cause, and they have a legitimate shot at contending for the World Series this year. They have a comfortable lead over the disappointing Washington Nationals, and unless they experience a major collapse, the Mets will lock up the division title.

The first round of the playoffs projects them facing the winner of the NL West (Los Angeles Dodgers or San Francisco Giants). The Giants could be the scarier team, but the Mets should be able to take care of them or the Dodgers if they play to their own strengths. Going against Madison Bumgarner, Clayton Kershaw, or Zack Greinke would present difficult matchups, but the Mets have peaked at the right time. I fully believe that the offense could perform against those pitchers, and that the main factor is the Mets’ bullpen.

If they are able to advance past the first round, they would have to go through a tough NL Central team in the NLCS. This year, the Mets are 3-17 against the Cardinals, Cubs, and Pirates.

Those team matchups would be the biggest challenge for the Mets and would present an even playing field. The Cardinals are the most dangerous of the three, due to their experience and MLB-best regular season record. The Pirates and Cubs aren’t easy opponents either, as the Mets are winless against them so far. They have to resolve their issues and hope for strong postseason performances from their expected contributors.

And if the Mets somehow manage to get past that challenge, the winner of the ALCS will be waiting for them. The Royals had a magical run through the AL last year, but fell short in the World Series. Even if the Mets get hot and reach the World Series, they must win in order to be remembered.

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We all saw what happened with the Nationals a couple years ago, falsely anointing themselves as perennial championship contenders. Having a young core doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re lined up for multiple rings. Sometimes there’s the “luck factor” and unpredictability that influence the outcome. The Mets need to realize that annual contention is not always a given, regardless of how young your players are. In spite of their dynamic pitching staff, this year could very well be the best chance they’ll have in the next 10+ years.

The recent comebacks and high-scoring wins for the Mets may have unintentionally caused a false illusion. Just because they scored 10+ runs against last place ballclubs does not mean that their offense should be taken for granted now. The Rockies and Phillies do not represent the competition of playoff-level teams, and strong performances against low level teams should be taken with a grain of salt.

The Mets may even coast through the rest of their easy schedule looking like an offensive juggernaut, but that wouldn’t do much in October except give them some premature confidence.

The future is now for this team, and they must go all-in. From the pitchers and defense all the way down to the coaches and position players, a complete effort will be required. The Mets haven’t been to the World Series since 2000, and haven’t came close until 2006. Especially with the financial situation for the team and upcoming free agent (potential) losses, the Mets must win the whole thing for 2015 to be a success. Sandy Alderson’s plan has folded out now and it’s time for the team to follow its blueprint.

“Now or Never” should be the mentality of this team in October, and we’ll soon see if their time is now.

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