New York Mets: 5 reasons for optimism – Part 4 Revamped Bullpen
By Ed Stein
Empire Writes Back continues our five-part series on why New York Mets fans should be optimistic for the upcoming 2019 season. Part four, revamped bullpen.
Its been a rough few years for the New York Mets faithful. Since game three of the 2015 World Series, its been a downhill ride. Since then one thing or another has derailed the Amazins time after time. Injuries (David Wright, Yoenis Cespedes, etc) have set them back as well as unfulfilled expectations of certain players. There have been mental errors and a whole bunch of free swingers at the plate who couldn’t get wood on the baseball.
2019 is when the New York Mets fortunes turn around. It’s the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Miracle Mets. This year’s team doesn’t need a miracle to succeed and we’ll give you five reasons why. Today we continue with a possibly the best starting staff in the National League.
Few things in baseball are as frustrating as a blowing a lead. The starter throws a gem for seven or eight innings only to have the relievers literally throw it away in the late innings. Moments like that can deflate both a team and its fans. It happened often to the Mets last season, just look at Jacob deGrom‘s 1.70 ERA and only 10 wins.
Recognizing that the New York Mets needed a huge change to their bullpen, GM Brodie Van Wagenen went to work. He brought in “top of the line” closing talent and some quality veterans to help in the middle innings. Removed from this years opening day roster are the likes of Paul Sewald (0-7, 6.07 ERA), Jerry Blevins (3-2, 4.85), Anthony Swarzak (0-2, 6.15) and A.J. Ramos (2-2, 6.41) You may see Sewald back if there are injuries, but its a different mix in 2019.