Just Mets

“We have high expectations,’’ manager Terry Collins told Kevin Kernan of the New York Post. “A lot of it is because we basically went out and got a No. 1 pitcher — Matt Harvey — even though he’s been ours, we got a No. 1 starting pitcher. They’re hard to find.’’

This is the new and refreshing breath of fresh air which has surrounded the Mets over the last few months. But it’s too simplistic to think expectations translate simply to winning. It’s an expectation the operation of the club, the tone and demeanor inside their clubhouse, and the general attitude have all matured and evolved in a manner that only winning is acceptable.

“The feeling is we’re not just competing anymore, that we expect to go out there and win, Tim Teufel told Marc Carig of Newsday. “I think that’s a big difference in thought. I think we know we have a good team. The pieces are here to do it. We’ve just got to execute.”

Whether they can or cannot, will or won’t, that has all apparently transpired. This team believes they’re a winner with not only dreams, but expectations, of playing October baseball. As realistic as I am, they have me believing too on this cool and crisp April morning, eight hours before they play a game that counts.

That hasn’t happened for me in a long, long time.

It’s important to have confidence and a little swagger. Talent will always prevail, but they have that now, and I believe all of that plays into how a team plays the game. I certainly would be concerned if the same complacency and simple hope to compete was resident in their clubhouse, the way it was in 2012 and 2013. 

If Spring Training showed me anything that wasn’t a meaningless statistic is this team is now playing with that confidence and cohesiveness. They have the step to their game which had been missing between 2009 and the middle of last summer when the foundation of Sandy Alderson’s Mets began to settle. They’re deep, they’re rich in talent up and down their organization, they have their ace back to form one of the most dynamic 1-2 punches the game has seen in years. Their captain is healthy and hopefully rejuvenated. The rest of their talented core is out of diapers, and growing up. And, there are more babies on the way.

They’re finally all together, the way it was supposed to be. It was always about 2015, I suppose.

It all starts today. The hope, the hype, and now the expectation for years of success has finally sprung for eternally. It’s been a long 5-8 years for us and for them. The sun has risen, as their owner might put it, and they’ll have us believe there is no chance of rain this season. And, as I said, I think I’m buying it.

The talking is over, the pitches Matt Harvey,  Jacob deGrom and all of the other pitches throw count now. The at-bats with their refined approach have meaning in the box score. They have the tools, they have the talent, and they have the philosophy and camaraderie all in place. It’s time for execution and winning. Nothing else matters. Just ask the captain, who said this to Marc Carig:

“Certainly, there’s a lot of excitement in the clubhouse,” Wright said. “But we’ve got a tough road ahead of us. Now it’s time to quit the talking.”

In other words, it’s time for the Metropolitans to back up the talk, swagger, and plea for years and years of patience and understanding with many more wins than losses.

That’s it. Happy new year, everyone.