Houston – Waiting is just over.
After the Mets delighted fans with an unexpected run the NLCS a year ago, they only raised expectations following the offseason when they signed the biggest contract in MLB history, beating the Yankees in the process, appearing to be one of the serious threats to the National League Dodgers.
No, they don't have a huge spotlight like Los Angeles Will after their World Series victory. And while there's more roster building with the addition of Saga and Blakesnell, the Mets can't sneak anyone like they did last season.
But for the Mets, their goals remain the same.
“Last year we knew we had a good team,” Carlos Mendoza said as the Mets' manager on the eve of his second day. “It's the same this year. [There’s] What happened in the offseason, Soto is one of them, so there's a lot more noise from the outside, but you have to take it a day at a time, keep improving, go outside and compete. We know we have a good team, but that's not easy. We're excited and ready [Thursday]. ”
But even the Mets players admitted that their play has improved when they spoke about not worrying about their rankings after a terrible start in May last year.
This time, if it starts at 0-5 in early June or is under .500, there is confusion for Queens.
Still, baseball business president David Stearns has reiterated that his mentality has not changed since he arrived before last year.
“From a expectations perspective, I know it's a big argument. We had pretty high expectations last year,” Stearns said as the Mets held training at Daikin Park on Wednesday. “I don't know if that's necessarily that different, I know there's more attention. [and] Maybe that's a little different, but we expected a lot of ourselves last year and we expect a lot of ourselves this year. ”
They start with three more times against the Marlins in Miami with a three-game series at Daikin Park.
Mendoza experienced this type of pressure while on the coaching staff of Aaron Boone in the Bronx, and Soto did so in his only season with the Yankees last year.
Clay Holmes brings the Mets a similar experience after throwing three or more seasons from the Yankees bullpen before signing as a free agent to start the Mets.
Holmes said it was “undetectably” similar to what the Mets felt with the Yankees this year.
“We can definitely feel the excitement and anticipation of the Mets,” said Holmes, who will win the ball on Thursday's first day in his first start since 2018.
“The pay and the players and talent we have here, things come with it,” Holmes said. “The most important thing you can feel is to be close to the locker room, the coaches and players. There are certainly expectations, but there are also a lot of accountability.”
And it actually starts on Thursday.
“There's a standard that we're trying to set here,” Holmes said. “It's fun to be part of that. Getting into the season knowing there's a real shot to win a championship is something you want to play. We all feel it and know it.
