Five Reasons the New York Mets could win the World Series
By Jason Evans
Can the kids in Queens be the kings of New York?
The New York Mets are in a position unseen to them over the past few seasons: first place in August. It’s been a long, slow climb for this organization. From the collapses in 2007 and 2008 to the Carlos Delgado injuries. Carlos Beltran being traded. Jose Reyes leaving as a free agent.
Some bad trades didn’t help (that Angel Pagan for Andres Torres and Ramon Ramirez deal was quite a doozy). Neither did investing a bunch of money with Bernie Madoff, something that still affects the team – which is why they went for rentals like Yoenis Cespedes and Tyler Clippard instead of acquiring let’s say Carlos Gonzalez.
The Mets and their fans have waited for this year to finally manifest, albeit with bumps along the way. Matt Harvey was coming back from Tommy John surgery. Michael Cuddyer was added to the lineup in free agency at the cost of a draft pick (oh well). Zack Wheeler got hurt in spring training. At first it was just soreness, but eventually resulted Tommy John surgery. He won’t be taking the mound at Citi Field until next June. Jenrry Mejia got suspended for steroids. Twice.
The offense has looked worse than your local little league team at times this season. The pitching held the ship together and, after Sandy Alderson made moves for some offense, now they are in a position to do something they haven’t since 2006. And you know what, they could bring a title back to Flushing for the first time since 1986.
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