New York Mets: How the Mets are becoming a competent baseball team

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 16: Wilmer Flores #4, Jose Bautista #11, Michael Conforto #30, and Todd Frazier #21 of the New York Mets celebrate a grand slam by Bautista in the top of the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park on August 16, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Mets defeated the Phillies 24-4. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 16: Wilmer Flores #4, Jose Bautista #11, Michael Conforto #30, and Todd Frazier #21 of the New York Mets celebrate a grand slam by Bautista in the top of the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park on August 16, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Mets defeated the Phillies 24-4. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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The New York Mets are coming off their two best consecutive games ever in terms of runs scored. But, even before that, they have been on their best run since April. So, how are the Mets becoming an actual MLB team again?

The New York Mets, man. They might be the only team in baseball capable of going 11-1 then proceeding to have the worst record in the NL ever since.

Then, the team that once almost went three games without scoring a run, explodes for 16 then 24 runs in consecutive nights vs different opponents.

Sure, it is easy to evaluate them and gloat in their glory right after they scored 40 runs in two nights, but this is just an excessive example of a surprisingly admirable turnaround.

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Going into the second game of Thursday nights double-header in Philadelphia, the Mets had won seven of 10.

It does not matter they beat the Marlins and  Reds during that stretch because they are both teams the Mets couldn’t beat from May until August.

So, how are the Mets somehow showing life in the bottom quarter of the season?

Well, to start the trade deadline probably helped. The Mets, at that point, clearly should have been sellers. The rumors swirling likely sparked the talent of multiple players.

That was definitely the case with Zack Wheeler who has been lights out since.

But, the real reasons the Mets are slowly turning things around, or are at least looking a lot better has to do with production.

Mickey Callaway might have been butchering his lineup the entire season, but, in my opinion, he is doing well with the bullpen. Many guys make up his bullpen and a lot of times they are hittable.

But being able to get guys like Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman to adjust out of the ‘pen has been integral.

It is also important to note that the Mets have finally seemed to move on from Yoenis Cespedes. I do not mean literally. It just seems like the Mets are finally learning how to hit without him being in the lineup.

In addition to that, the pitching is finally coming to fruition. The rotation, when healthy, was always at least decent if you don’t include Jason Vargas.

However, they were always solid, but it never worked out. Vargas got run support and wasted it. Jacob deGrom got no run support so they were wasting him.

Now, the Mets seem to finally realize that even two runs in a deGrom start can win them the game.

Michael Conforto is becoming the productive hitter he is capable of being. Amed Rosario is finally bringing life to the Mets’ lineup one year after he was supposed to. And Brandon Nimmo is simply Brandon Nimmo. Decent player and a likable guy.

The New York Mets are far from complete. By that I mean they are still not really close.

However, the delusion that the Mets could compete in 2019 is slowly looking less crazy.

If the Mets can roll through the end of August and into September keeping this type of play up. Win back to back series a few more times and keep hitting, we will know how close they are going into 2019.

With guys like Rosario, Conforto, deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Jeff McNeil, and Mickey Callaway getting even better at using his bullpen, the Mets could be onto something sooner than it seems.

Of course, this is just another 10 game stretch where they could just be setting up to be astronomically and impressively bad down the stretch again, but they are still showing they could have more talent in-house than it seems.

Talent can win you a lot of games. The Mets are somehow proving that. Now, and this is always the problem with the “Amazins'” it all needs to come together for longer and at the same time.

Only time can finish this narrative.

dark. Next. Keith Hernandez is right again

However, based on the small sample size we are seeing in August, the Mets are slowly becoming an actual big team again. Hopefully, they don’t get stuck in the little league after Sunday’s game in Williamsport.  The Mets have dealt with that enough.