Mets split squad find mixed results, Steve Cohen meets with media

The owner shared his thoughts on the state of the organization with camp set to break in a week

Linda Surovich

Mar 18, 2024

What’s up with the Mets? 🍎

The Mets split squad lost to the Nationals 8-9 in the first game (box)
In Game 2 the Mets walked off the Marlins 7-6 (box)
RHP Tylor Megill struggled in his start against Washington and gave up four runs in 3.2 innings
3B Brett Baty’s struggles continued at the plate by going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts against Washington
RHP José Quintana also struggled in his starti giving up four runs in 4.1 innings against Miami
3B Mark Vientos bounced back from his rough day at the plate and hit his fourth home run of spring while going 2-for-4
RHP Edwin Díaz pitched a clean inning in his first appearance after the birth of his son
2B Jose Iglesias sent the Mets home happy in the ninth with a walk-off home run against the Marlins

What Steve Cohen said on Sunday… 🗣️

Steve Cohen believes in the prospects they have in the system and thinks the team will be competitive for a long time, noting the organization is, “stacked.”
The organization is endeavoring to build strong pitching from within, Cohen Said, noting that he’d like to combing a strong pitching pipeline with the resources they have to build a sustainable system. “Pitching is so friggin’ expensive out there,” the owner said
The owner stated that there has not be any talk of an extension with Pete Alonso but the team has found themselves in this position before with other players. “We’ve done this before,” Mr. Cohen said noting they were able to re-sign both Brandon Nimmo and Edwin Díaz in their free agencies
He isn’t concerned with revenue changing with respect to the club’s contract ending with SNY in a couple of years
Mr. Cohen maintained the club’s position that they feel this is a team which can make the postseason in 2024
He is frustrated with the club’s results since he took over as principal owner, but noted, “I would hope that we would have had more winning seasons, but it’s not easy. In the end, I was given what I was given.”

Injury Updates 🏥

RHP Sean Reid-Foley (arm fatigue) will be temporarily shut down but manager Carlos Mendoza believes he will throw again before the end of camp
Jeff McNeil (biceps soreness) will make his Grapefruit League debut on Tuesday

Today’s Game 🗓️

The Mets will enjoy an off day before taking on the Cardinals in Port St. Lucie on March 19.

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Can the Mets actually make the playoffs this season? ✍️

When he met with the media on Sunday, owner Steve Cohen discussed several topics including the farm system and where things stand with Pete Alonso. Beyond those two topics he also mentioned that one of the goals of the season is to make the playoffs especially given there are very few juggernauts in the National League. He believes that they have improved the ballclub enough to put them in a good enough position to make it to October.

But the question on everyone’s mind is have they done enough to chase away the disappointment of last season, and can the Mets live up to their own lofty expectations?

The recent trend around baseball is to do just enough to get in and then see what happens come October. After going for it last offseason, the Mets now find themselves in this category. They didn’t land any big free agents (Yoshinobu Yamamoto), or make any blockbuster trades (Juan Soto), but they instead raised their floor instead of their ceiling.

Of course, that ceiling is lowered for now with the absence of Kodai Senga.

Megill and Quintana’s most recent performances aside, the pitching has been a strength this spring with their ERA being tops in the majors at 3.09. There was alot of concern about the revamped pitching staff over the offseason but for now they look promising even without Senga.

The biggest concern is their offense, which has struggled in almost every category this spring. They are 28th in average and OPS, 25th in slugging and 17th in home runs. The trio of Mark Vientos, Brett Baty, and DJ Stewart have not inspired much confidence in their third base and designated hitter situations, although Vientos had a strong performance at Clover Park on Sunday. It is hard to say if any have placed themselves ahead of the others to win the position. Baty is hitting just .237/.293/.342 with just one home run and an OPS of .635.

Vientos is at least hitting for some power but is still hitting .200/.234/.511 with four home runs and an OPS of .745. DJ Stewart’s numbers are even worse this spring. He has hit just .167/.306/.267 with an OPS of .573. Yes spring training numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, but those three have all struggled in the majors over the course of their careers so those numbers are alarming.

Coming off down seasons, Starling Marte has also struggled in camp and Jeff McNeil just returned to game action after being sidelined with an injury, so if one were to look at the projected Opening Day roster there are question marks throughout. JD Martinez is still out there but the Mets seem content to roll with what they have and hope it is enough.

They don’t have to win the division, and probably won’t anyway - they just need to get one of the Wild Cards but that is what was said last season too and they failed to accomplish it. While it is easier to get in there is still no guarantee it will happen. Cohen feels they are in a better position now than the end of last season and there is an argument for it, but there are concerns too.

Hopefully Cohen’s confidence in his team will be reflected on the field when the season starts, but given the disappointment of last season and the offense’s lackluster performance so far, a healthy dose of skepticism is warranted.

Around The League 🚩

Toronto 1B Joey Votto hit a home run on the first pitch he saw with his new club
Reds OF TJ Friedl was diagnosed with a fracture in his right wrist and will miss the beginning of the season
The Padres are reportedly close to signing a one-year deal with OF Tommy Pham (Nightengale)
Houston starter José Urquidy underwent a MRI on his elbow after leaving his last start early with elbow pain