#LGM

Mets baseball is back. There is an amusing, well-done commercial on SNY with various members of the team serving as customer hotline reps, answering questions, and taking seat orders. Diaz has a good bit about "closing."

Scherzer started (and pitched two innings) in the Sunday game. The sideline reporter had an opening bit and noted how he "hasn't slowed down." Gary also had some positive opening remarks. Both are sorta full of shit.

Scherzer started strong but then got hurt. He was out of the rotation for a long period and then did not seem to same when he came back. His failure to seal the deal in the final days -- both at the end of the season and in the first round of the playoffs -- was an important part of the Mets running into a brick wall. Why can't you say this? Are we stupid?

One NY Daily News analysis [the paper is one of many that got rid of Dilbert after the "anti-woke" cartoonist really crossed the line] noted that the Yanks and Mets still have issues. Sure enough. 

But, the idea that the new Japanese pitcher has to be better than Bassett (a #3) is dubious. The team won 101 games. The PHILS -- the third-place team -- got to the World Series. Only the first seed gets a bye. So, really, getting a wild card (two options) is basically not a big problem. The Mets don't have that much of a home-field advantage.  They will find a way to stress us out.

There are questions to be answered about the two old pitchers and the new Japanese pitcher, who has so far fit in well with the team and fans as far as I can see. The big issue really is if there will be a bit more offense, especially from DH and some rookies. 

There are various mostly tiresome new rules. This doesn't involve a change of the ghost runner or no DH, which would be actually an improvement. The bigger bases might mildly help safety. Doubt it helps much. It also might help base stealing in some cases.  The whole shift deal is stupid to me. They are mildly banning it. If you want to get around a new strategy, use a new strategy.  

Last year, the Mets were a bit better [until the end] than expected. This season should be a bit more balanced expectations-wise. The team would be a major disappointment (with two wild cards) if they didn't make the postseason. OTOH, with two strong rivals (it will be determined to see if the Nats are AS BAD), unless we have another collapse, the second place won't be as upsetting.

Meanwhile, hopefully, the Orioles can keep up their decent record last year, and don't revert some. It is tough though to see them do much more with the competition. Still, with a second wild card, there is some chance for an upset team.

There is also news of an 83-year-old pitching coach for the Mets bringing an age discrimination suit.  If some behind-the-scenes stuff is nasty, fine, but replacing him (after he helped the pitchers reduce their ERA some) with Jeremy Hefner is not exactly harsh in my opinion.  That was a few years ago.  How long is an eighty-something going to have a full-time position?