If somebody had said that the New York Mets would be in first place entering the season, some would’ve seen that as a surprise. If they were, the likeliest outcome would’ve been that Juan Soto and the rest of the offense had been one of the best in Major League Baseball.
Soto hasn’t been great, and while some of the other Mets bats have stepped up, the Mets have won games because of their pitching staff.
It’s been as impressive as it can be, and David Stearns made sure to acknowledge it when speaking to reporters after beating the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.
“It’s probably different for each guy,” Stearns said when asked about his pitching staff, per MLB.com. “We are not going to get all of them right. We have not gotten all of them right. But I think the ability to meet a player where he needs to be met at is very helpful.”
Stearns is one of the best executives in Major League Baseball and knows how to find talent. However, the Mets had multiple questions about their rotation heading into the season. With the injuries they’ve also faced, it’s surprising to see this rotation throw the baseball the way it has.
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“We knew we were good,” manager Carlos Mendoza said, reflecting on the injuries that shook up — but didn’t manage to topple — this group in Spring Training. “That’s what we’re seeing right now. Guys are going out there, taking the ball, giving us a chance to win baseball games, attacking the strike zone. And it’s fun.”
Of course, it’s still very early, and the Mets have a few question marks as they head into the heart of the campaign. However, if this staff continues to throw the baseball as it has, they have to feel confident in how things will go.
