The Mets Should Be Playing On

Four consecutive seasons and missing the playoffs for the Mets. Rest assured this was not the plan no matter the circumstances of this 60-game sprint or a normal 160. And this team was talented enough to qualify as one of those eight in the expanded playoff format.

But there were circumstances and many. The Mets are not playing after Sunday, and there are many reasons why they are not. Except for the Padres, a team that was on the horizon, the Mets were good enough to play on.

The Reds, Giants, were not supposed to be a part of this playoff equation, and it can be said, 60 games was not enough time for the Mets. But every team had similar circumstances. The Marlins are the story of this unusual and truncated 2020 season.

So with all the analyzing, and breaking down more than one circumstance, the Mets should be playing on. There was enough room to be one of those eight NL teams and perhaps better than the Reds and Giants.

It was all about Jacob deGrom, a third-consecutive Cy Young Award hindered with a start cut short by a hamstring and a brief schedule. It was about a pitching rotation that came in without Noah Syndergaard. A rotation that sustained injuries, and lost Marcus Stroman with his decision to opt out due to COVID concerns.

If Edwin Diaz had turned it around earlier, perhaps, the Mets would be playing beyond Sunday. The bullpen again, Saturday, a culprit to the end that let the first game against the Nationals get away as deGrom lost his steam after five innings and 113 pitches. 

That bullpen and issuing a first batter walk. Saturday, Miguel Castro, runners on the corner and then Diaz allowed the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice that started to put a cap on any postseason hopes. 

And there are so many other things to look back on. A series with the Phillies, a team with bullpen issues of their own. You can look back on the Dellin Betances wild pitch against the Yankees in late August.

The Mets lost the Subway Series on a wild pitch when it looked like they had momentum.

And you can look at taking two out of three from the Phillies at Citizens Bank and Citi Field, a team they had to pass in the standings. But so many ifs can’t change the outcome.

Perhaps, 60 games was not enough for Pete Alonso. The past few weeks it seemed his approach at the plate was adjusting to a half point of 162 games. 

“Wish we had 100 more,” he said. “This team was built to win.”

But it was 60 games. And J.D. Davis, a cog in the lineup last year could not buy a hit the past three weeks. No reason to point fingers because 60 games is not a season but every team brought into it. 

And that stigma of getting runners home in scoring position was a constant. The entire lineup was a culprit. Though, Dom Smith and Michael Conforto progressed and had All-Star seasons as homegrown Mets. As did Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo.

And in so many ways the Saturday twin bill loss to the Nationals was a microcosm to their season. Yes, the Mets could be that disappointing season of the 2020 season and that will be remembered. They were supposed to be good enough to play on.

They were resilient and gave fans something to root for the entire 60-game sprint of a season that was in question. But they won’t play on after tomorrow afternoon.

Knowing also that changes are on the way and many on this roster will say goodbye and thank you after the 60th and final game, new ownership, the GM and manager up in the air.

Rick Porcello (1-7, 5.64 ERA) said to Mets fans after his final start, “Sorry, I could have been better.” He may have spoken for the entire team in what was not a normal season for 29 other teams.

The Mets could never sustain a winning streak. They could have been better in a baseball season that was far from normal.

Twitter: @Ring786

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