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New York Mets: Checkered flag expected, but the engine light is on

By Joe Noa

Mickey Callaway, New York Mets. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Mickey Callaway, New York Mets. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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The New York Mets are like a high-performance race car. For it to win, all the parts must be in sync and the driver has to steer it into the winner’s circle. The vehicle is there, but the engine light is on.

Once again we see the New York Mets going down the highway heading towards the sunset only for the high-performance car break down again. The engine light goes on and the car has a hard time starting up.

Call AAA! They come to fix a flat, put gas in the tank, or try to jump-start the battery, but the New York Mets situation is much worse. Waiting on the shoulder of the road to get towed, they raised their thumb to hitch-hike, but the Phillies, Nationals, and Braves drive by and the Mets remain stranded.

That was 2018 and the New York Mets crawled to the finish line with wobbly tires and steam coming out of the radiator. It was like a scene out of Wacky Racers.

Forward to the offseason. The New York Mets car is in the pit garage in pretty bad shape. The Wilpons need a chief mechanic and engineer to give them suggestions and recommendation on what to do with this car they call a team. Brodie Van Wagenen knocks on Fred and Jeff’s door. Brodie says you don’t have to tear the car down or junk it.

Van Wagenen has a plan. He can order parts for the car. These parts will upgrade the performance of the car and bring in the technicians to install and test the parts. This car will become an instant contender and the rest of the division will eat our dust.

After extensive analysis and interview with the Wilpons, Brodie was hired to be the chief mechanic and project manager (general manager) for the Mets car to get it running and ready for the 2019 race season.

Brodie picked up two pieces from Seattle, Robinson Cano, and Edwin Diaz. Cano is that rebuilt carburetor and Diaz is that pair of brakes to stop the game on a dime. In return, he parted with a few parts the research and development team were working on for the future.

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He brought in Wilson Ramos to be the part that directs a pitching staff that is believed to have more horsepower than any other team. Brodie then signed Jeb Lowrie to solidify the stability of the infield, but that part was defective and needed to be returned for further work.

The one important spark plug, Jeff McNeil, is having a breakout year providing the juice needed to engage the team to fire up the engine and rev up the RPMs. Brodie is hoping that last part, Yeonis Cespedes, the super-turbocharger will arrive in time for the final push for that checkered flag.

Other parts like Conforto and Nimmo have been inconsistent much like a clutch slipping gears on a transmission. The gear ratio to be monitored and corrected if this car is going to win.

Finally, there are smaller but just as valuable parts, J.D. Davis, Dom Smith, Juan Lagares, Keon Broxton, and the bullpen that will do the roles they were needed for. Van Wagenen connected them to this car to keep the machine rolling.

After yesterday’s meeting between Jeff Wilpon, Mickey Callaway, and Van Wagenen was a review of the New York Mets so far this season and review Callaway’s performance driving this car. With all the improvements and added parts, the owner is expecting Callaway to finish the race in first place.

But if he is not shifting properly and the other teams pass him again, the owners will find someone else to do it. There are other drivers who have experienced checkered flag success. This 2019 Mets car cost a lot of money getting the needed parts and the expectations are high from the project manager and New York Mets fans. And rightly so.

dark. Next. Brooklyn Nets 2018-19 end of season awards

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