NFL
Major League Baseball has announced the 2020 regular season will open on July 23 or 24. The season will be 60-games, both leagues will have a designator hitter and extra innings will start with each team having a player on 2nd base. All these rule changes are to favor the offense and bring more excitement to the game. Because of Covid-19, teams will not do an immense amount of traveling and will only play games in their region.
The New York Mets finished the 2019 season with a 46-26, record. Pete Alonso shocked the baseball world when he set the rookie record by hitting 53 home runs. He also drove in 120 RBI. Michael Conforto had a career high 33 home runs and 92 RBI. If veteran Robinson Cano can hit .280 or higher, this team can shock the baseball world.
The pitching staff will always be an elite unit with Jacob deGrom and Marcus Stroman as New York’s 1-2 punch. Noah Syndergaard will not play this season because of off-season surgery. Losing the man, they call “Thor” will hurt their depth. If Steven Matz could limit giving up the long ball, he could become the No.3 starter in their rotation.
Mets relievers posted a 4.99 ERA (25th in MLB) and blew 27 saves (tied for 22nd in MLB) in 2019. Edwin Diaz looks to have a bounce back year as the closer and Jeurys Familia could be the set-up man for Diaz. Familia came into spring training 30lbs lighter.
Mets hired Carlos Beltrán to be their manager in November 2019, however in the wake of the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal, on January 16, 2020, Beltrán was let go. On January 24, 2020, Luis Rojas was hired as the Mets manager. Rojas father is Felipe Alou. He comes from a baseball family background, but he will have to adjust quickly and learn on the fly for 60 games.
Prediction:
The pitching, for all teams, should be ahead of the hitting. The Mets staff has enough talent to not go on extended losing streaks. Once their offense warms up, they should be able to score runs. For a few years now, Mets fans have been hearing how good 24-year old, Amed Rosario can be. It is time for him to have a break out year.
The New York Mets finish the season with a 35-25 record and make the playoffs.
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