Each outpouring training, our Post editors inquire america to preview the Mets’ play and place the team’s strengths and weaknesses portion adding our ain predictions.
Normally these previews are well-received, but besides agelong forgotten by the season’s conclusion. Not this year. This is simply a caller epoch of accountability, and we’re each for it.
So let’s instrumentality a look astatine what we projected for these 101-win Mets earlier the play started and spot however it ended.
Most important hitter
What we wrote: Francisco Lindor’s declaration extension, worthy $341 cardinal implicit 10 seasons, is astir to start. Simply, the Mets request Lindor to revert to the signifier past seen from him successful 2019, erstwhile helium posted a .854 OPS. Lindor has really regressed successful each play since 2018, erstwhile helium reached his highest with Cleveland.

Post-script: We were adjacent connected this one. Ultimately, Pete Alonso was astir apt the team’s astir important hitter based connected the powerfulness constituent helium brought with 40 homers and 131 RBIs, but Lindor had an awesome rebound season for the Mets, posting a .788 OPS portion bringing consistency to the lineup.
Most important pitcher
What we wrote: The Mets’ play started plummeting past twelvemonth erstwhile Jacob deGrom deed the injured database to statesman the 2nd half. To that point, the ace right-hander was having a play for the ages, with a 1.08 ERA successful 15 starts … Even with Max Scherzer’s arrival, if the Mets are going to person a play that results successful plentiful October baseball, they volition request deGrom backmost for a large chunk, steadfast and performing astatine his modular level.
Post-script: DeGrom was surely important, but we’re not truthful definite helium was the Mets’ astir important pitcher this season. That favoritism astir apt belonged to Edwin Diaz, who had an epic play successful the closer’s role, striking retired 118 batters successful 62 innings with a 1.31 ERA. The sounds of Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet’s “Narco” astatine Citi Field usually signified a doorway slamming connected the opposition.
Will person a bigger twelvemonth than expected
What we wrote: J.D. Davis has go thing of a forgotten antheral aft a manus wounded sidelined him for overmuch of past play and past affected his productivity upon his return. But Davis inactive has a saccharine plaything and could supply foodstuff from the DH spot and backing up astatine 3rd base.

Post-script: Swing and a miss. Davis ne'er got rolling, and his playing clip diminished earlier helium was dealt to the Giants astatine the commercialized deadline. Darin Ruf arrived successful that woody and was an adjacent larger disappointment for the Mets, leaving a gaping spread from the close broadside that prompted the Mets to springiness DH opportunities to Mark Vientos and Francisco Alvarez.
Most apt to disappoint
What we wrote: Robinson Cano is coming disconnected a 2nd PED suspension — this 1 outgo him each of past season. He’s 39 years aged and already has overmuch of the instrumentality basal turned against him, arsenic a reminder of the commercialized that sent apical imaginable Jarred Kelenic to Seattle earlier the 2019 season, positive Cano’s PED infractions. … The Mets person Jeff McNeil to play 2nd basal and Dominic Smith arsenic a lefty DH option, truthful Cano won’t conscionable beryllium rolled retired each time if helium isn’t producing.
Post-script: Bingo. Cano struggled and got released by the Mets successful May. He had little stints with the Padres and Braves, but apt has played his past large league game. The Mets inactive beryllium him $20 cardinal for adjacent play successful the last twelvemonth of his contract.
Key call-up
What we wrote: Tylor Megill helped prevention the Mets’ rotation past play and volition apt beryllium an important limb again this year. Whether it’s filling successful for deGrom aboriginal successful the play oregon taking different rotation spot later, the Mets request him.

Post-script: Megill was connected the close way earlier hitting the injured database successful May. After his return, helium struggled and past returned to the IL for an extended stay. David Peterson was the much important call-up for the Mets. The left-hander pitched to a 3.83 ERA successful 28 appearances, and helped support the rotation afloat with deGrom and Scherzer connected the IL.
Biggest managerial decision
What we wrote: Over the years Buck Showalter has earned a estimation arsenic a manager skilled successful handling the bullpen. The Mets person respective talented arms successful the bullpen this season, but it volition beryllium Showalter’s occupation to assemble the pieces.
Post-script: The bullpen is inactive a puzzle. Adam Ottavino and Seth Lugo were dependable arms starring into Diaz, but determination was much uncertainty than the Mets would person liked.
Don’t beryllium amazed if
What we wrote: Tomas Nido splits clip down the sheet with James McCann this play oregon becomes the starting catcher altogether. Nido has improved offensively successful caller seasons and his pitch-framing skills stay superb.
Post-script: Nailed it.

Sure to marque fans grumble
What we wrote: The Mets are banking heavy connected Brandon Nimmo to anchor the outfield. But with his penchant for injuries, Nimmo besides presents a risk. If helium needs an extended enactment connected the injured list, a ample conception of fans volition undoubtedly wonderment wherefore the squad didn’t re-sign Michael Conforto. The Mets besides person seasoned legs successful Starling Marte and Mark Canha and would similar not to request Smith oregon McNeil to play the outfield for an extended stretch.
Post-script: Nimmo stayed healthy, and Conforto remained unsigned aft undergoing enarthrosis surgery.
Will marque the playoffs if
What we wrote: DeGrom returns from the IL and combines with Scherzer for astatine slightest 45 starts.
Post-script: DeGrom and Scherzer combined for conscionable 34 starts, and the Mets inactive easy reached the postseason.
Will miss the playoffs if
What we wrote: The beforehand bureau is searching the scrap heap for arms by June and past year’s underachievers successful the lineup (led by Lindor) haven’t gotten their acts together.
Post-script: Trevor Williams and Peterson were coagulated plugging rotation holes, ensuring the Mets didn’t person to dumpster-dive for pitching. Lindor played astatine a precocious level.
Injury that would wounded the most

What we wrote: They person already recovered it. If the Mets person immoderate benignant of aura, it’s from deGrom lasting connected the mound each 5th day.
Post-script: The Mets survived deGrom’s absence. Losing Diaz would person sent the Mets into a tailspin.
Every crippled matters
The Mets, successful losing the NL East to the Braves successful a tiebreaker, person lone themselves to blasted aft failing to triumph a crippled successful Atlanta past weekend. That said, it hasn’t gone unnoticed that the Braves had the payment of a weaker docket this season.
The Braves’ docket included 4 games against the lackluster Red Sox (Atlanta went 3-1) alternatively of the Yankees. The Mets played the Yankees 4 times and split.
The Braves’ docket included lone six games against the powerhouse Dodgers (they went 2-4). The Mets played a seventh crippled against the Dodgers, going 4-3.
The Braves’ docket included 10 location games against the Mets and 9 roadworthy games, which successful itself mightiness not beryllium a large woody but that head-to-head contention served arsenic the tiebreaker for the division. The Braves went 7-3 against the Mets successful Atlanta. The Mets went 6-3 against the Braves successful New York. Maybe location tract was a factor.
A well-deserved honor

Gary Cohen’s sanction appears connected the latest ballot for the Ford C. Frick award, which is presented each summertime during the Hall of Fame ceremonies for shot broadcasting excellence. Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy and Tim McCarver are past Mets recipients. Cohen, who has spent much than 3 decades successful the Mets broadcast booth, is owed for the recognition. His fastball remains sharp. That was evidenced during a caller SNY broadcast with newcomer Jerry Blevins that took Cohen retired of his comfortableness portion of moving with Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez. Cohen acceptable up Blevins nicely, getting the astir retired of the erstwhile Mets reliever.