Season's End: The Pros and Cons of The 2019 Mets.

Merriest of Football Sundays to you all!

Unfortunately, This will be the last Mets article until a hiring, signing or trade happens for The Mets. 

So until then, Lets enjoy this final article of the Season and have a Thrilling read of this weeks "Sunday Reading!"

Today, we'll talk about the Pros and Cons about the 2019 season!

Coming into this year, The Mets were Projected to be a force in the NL East. With the additions of Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz, Justin Wilson as well as Pete Alonso and JD Davis, this Mets team looked the part of Contender. 

Here's where we Dive into the Pros and Cons.

Lets start with the Cons First:

The Bullpen was atrocious for a great portion of the First Half. An example was Edwin Diaz. Diaz had a terrific March and April and looked like what Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen traded for in the Off-season. If you remember, Diaz had a terrific 2018 season with the Seattle Mariners, being the best closer in the entire league with only 4 blown saves, a 1.96 ERA and 57 Saves! This year after March and April though, Diaz completely imploded! One could say that he can't handle the New York Pressure, others may call it a bad year, but overall, Diaz went from best to one of the worst! He had a 5.57 ERA, 7 Blown Saves and had an absolute miserable season. Fans wanted Diaz to be traded, but the Mets refused to do so and he continued to struggle.

The Bullpen was awful for the entire First half! Another part of that was the lack of an effective Left handed pitcher for a great portion of the First half. With Luis Avilan and Justin Wilson going on the Injured List, the Mets had to resort to a largely right handed bullpen with pitchers such as Ryan O'Rourke and Donnie Hart needing to fill the lefty void the Mets had. Unfortunately, it didn't work and the bullpen continued to struggle in situations where left handed pitching was needed. No matter who was sent in with the exception of Seth Lugo, they Struggled and gave up runs when the Mets had a lead, tied or behind in a game they can catch up and possibly take a lead in.


Starting pitching was rough for the Mets as well. With a combined ERA of 4.86, something needed to be changed. The Mets thought they had their guy in Dave Eiland pitching coach and Chuck Hernandez as Bullpen coach. Both coaches struggled to get to the pitchers and eventually, both were relieved of their duties. The Mets hired Phil Regan as Interim Pitching coach and brought back Ricky Bones as Bullpen Coach.

Defense was another issue for the Mets in the First half. Rosario struggled terribly at Shortstop and it looked like a continuation of last season for him. Rosario was missing plays, wasn't able to properly make routine plays and overall looked miserable at the Shortstop position. 

Robinson Cano was another Disappointment in the First half. He struggled heavily to get the bat on the Ball, yet his defense was still as stellar as it was his entire career. His First half was absolutely terrible and it looked like age was starting to catch up for him as well as the trade for him was looking like a terrible one.

The Mets were dead in the water when the All-Star break came around in the form of being 10 games under .500 and presumed to miss the Playoffs and be sellers at the trade deadline. It was looking like another lost season for the New York Mets.

Now Lets dive into the Pros of the Season.

There are plenty of Pros for the season, one of which was the 2nd Half! 

Put it this way, the entire 2nd half for the Mets was the entire "Pro" of the season! 

The entire pitching staff turned itself around going from a 4.86 ERA, 13th in the National League and 21st in the entire league to a 3.38 ERA, 3rd in the National League and 4th in the Entire League! Whatever Phil Regan and Ricky Bones did, it worked and the Mets never looked back! The Bullpen still struggled at times, but it was more stable and was able to hold leads most of the 2nd half!

Another pro was Amed Rosario completely turning it around Defensively! What most would consider bench-able or even demote-able, Rosario turned into a Stellar shortstop in the 2nd half. It's as if Rosario did a channeled his inner Jose Reyes and looked like an All-Star at the Shortstop position! Fans and Broadcasters were impressed with how he turned himself around in the 2nd Half! Rosario's bat was on fire as well in the 2nd half! Used in the Lead off role or batting 8th, Rosario had a terrific bat, stopped swinging at everything for the most part and was more disciplined at the Plate! Swinging at hit-able pitches and having a .323 in the 2nd half!

Robinson Cano looked better in the 2nd half as well! He went from a .240 BA and raised his BA up by 44 points in the form of a .284 BA! Could it have been just a miserable first half or something going on? An injury perhaps? Maybe lack of Confidence? Age? Whatever it was, Cano put those worries to bed in the 2nd half! He ended up with a Career worst numbers for 2019, but for the 2nd half of the season, Cano made up for his first half, went down with a Torn Hamstring, then somehow came fully recovered and played!

JD Davis, Pete Alonso, Michael Conforto, Jeff McNeil, Brandon Nimmo and Wilson Ramos were big parts of the Mets success as well for the 2nd half! 

Ramos had a 26 game hitting streak which fueled the Mets! 

Michael Conforto came alive, hitting very well, playing good defense and having a career year! During the season, Conforto held a .257 BA for the season, but he smacked a career high 33 Home Runs, 92 RBIs! Despite being Diagnosed with a Concussion, Conforto came alive and was a Key piece of the Mets success!

JD Davis was terrific All season and not just the during the 2nd half! All Season, all the man did was hit, hit and hit! 3rd Baseman by trade, he struggled heavily at 3rd Base defensively. When the day came where he was moved into Left Field, Davis somehow found his Groove and even though the Mets were Short staffed in the Outfield, Davis filled the void beautifully! He also held a thrilling .307 BA and Smacked 22 Home Runs along with 55 RBIs. Davis proved he can be a successful and effective piece for this teams future!

Jeff McNeil (otherwise known as The Squirrel) was spectacular all season! Originally going to play left field everyday and 2nd base on Days Cano got the day off with a rare day at 3rd Base. When Conforto went down with a Concussion, McNeil slotted into Right Field. Everyone thought he would have a problem with Right Field, but McNeil proved he can play virtually any position asked of him! He played 2nd Base, 3rd Base, Left Field and Right Field this season for the Mets and shined at the positions. The Squirrel's bat was electric all season long, holding a .326 BA while hitting 23 Home Runs and 75 RBIs. It wasn't just the Home runs and RBIs, No matter what, McNeil got on base whether by hit or by Walk. Unfortunately for the Squirrely McNeil, he suffered a Broken wrist which ended his season with only 4 games to be played.

Brandon Nimmo, The happiest man in Baseball came back from a neck injury and his plate discipline was 2nd to none and was not one to be a strikeout Victim easily! Nimmo's defense came in handy in Center Field as well in left and right when needed. I can't stress the Plate Discipline enough! This young man can be a great piece for the Mets.

Finally, The Polar Bear, The Who should be Rookie of the Year, The New Rookie Home Run King, Pete Alonso! This young man has been nothing short of sensational! He was worth the Price of admission. He was projected by scouts to have some defensive problems at First base but with a Power bat. Well, Alonso put all the scouts to shame when he adapted to his position very well! Alonso's BA on the year was at .260, Destroyed a Record Breaking 53 Home runs and 120 RBIs and was a driving force to this teams success, not Just on the field, but off the field as well in the Locker room! With Alonso's presence and leadership with him being only a Rookie and looking like he's a bright Future ahead!

Now, we know that Mickey Callaway's job status was in question at the end of the season. It turns out that on Thursday, The Mets relieved Callaway of his managerial duties and will move in a different Direction and look for a Different Manager. Bench coach Jim Riggleman was also relieved of his Bench Coach duties. Despite the questionable decisions made by Callaway, arguments can be made for why he deserved to be fired and why he deserved to keep his job, although since he's gone, there's no reason to talk about it unless the Mets don't hire an experienced Manager. If someone like Joe Girardi, Joe Maddon or Mike Matheny are hired, then the Callaway firing was the right move. However, if another No name, inexperienced manager is hired, then the Callaway firing was the wrong move.

We'll dive more into the move(s) when that time comes.

But for now, I bid my fellow fans and Friends ado until the Next Hiring, Firing or Signing or Trade comes.

Until the Next Article my Friends,

LETS GO METS!!!