How the Universal DH Impacts New York Mets
By Evan Desai
The 2020 MLB Season is finally here, and with it brings a new strategy for the New York Mets thanks to the universal DH.
The 2020 MLB Season started later than any season before it, and with it, we have some new rules. One of the biggest/most intriguing new rules is the universal designated hitter rule. The addition of the designated hitter to the National League allows for new strategy and game-planning.
The New York Mets’ new coaching staff has most likely run through plenty of DH options with obvious candidates to guys they think will surprise this year.
The Mets look like a solid team offensively this year, Jeff McNeil is Jeff McNeil, Michael Conforto has power, Wilson Ramos is one of the better hitting catchers in baseball, and Pete Alonso needs no introduction.
The Mets’ roster as a whole looks solid on paper, but it’s a tough division and an underrated National League. However, the Mets have put themselves in a position to seriously compete.
The Mets are probably even deep enough to the point where they still stack up well when adding the new universal DH in the MLB this year. Their roster looks like it could be deep enough to actually maybe even gain an advantage over other NL teams competing for October with the new DH announcement.
The Mets have a couple of older players who have been very effective at the plate in the past but have been struggling with injuries in recent years.
The best decision would be to use them sparingly this season, that way this 60-game slate truly is a sprint to the finish line (postseason), and they can make the most of this ever-so-brief 2020 campaign. Rather than giving them frequent days off, the best move would be to use them as designated hitters frequently.
So what are some options for the Mets at the designated hitter slot?