1 of 4 | New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard's success in the home opener on April 3, 2017, is a good sign for the team. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI |
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NEW YORK -- In the books, it goes down as a single victory. Still, the New York Mets' 6-0 win over the Atlanta Braves on Opening Day at Citi Field pulsed as if it were more.
As Noah Syndergaard was crackling through six scoreless innings and the rest of the Mets were waiting out Atlanta starter Julio Teheran before scoring six runs in the seventh, it felt the club was sending a message to its fans and the rest of baseball: get used to seeing this because it's going to happen a lot.
"Our guys understand the recipe for what makes us good and the recipe for success," Neil Walker said. "We know what it's going to take."
One had to circle the Mets as a contender long ago if for no other reason than it boasts a starting rotation that is the envy of most every other team.
When the club re-signed Yoenis Cespedes and picked up the contract option on Jay Bruce, it meant that they would rejoin Curtis Granderson to give the lineup three 30-homer hitters. And, of course, many have the benefit of experience from reaching the 2015 World Series and the 2016 postseason.
But this club also has an interesting intangible, two very different elements in the same body. There is the young and dynamic starting pitching staff. And there is a lineup full of players in the final year of their current contract and playing for their next big deal.
It's a potentially potent combination.
"I do believe guys who are in 'walk years,' guys who have a chance to become free agents, it's always amazing what they do that last year as they get ready," New York manager Terry Collins said. "They're just doubly motivated, not only to win but also to prove to the rest of the baseball world that they are major league stars."
This could work very well for the Mets.
"That means we want to win now," third baseman Jose Reyes told Newsday last week, "because we don't know if we're going to be together again. We have the talent, and with half the team going to be free agents, we have to say, 'Let's do it now.'"
On the team that Collins put behind Syndergaard, only left fielder Cespedes is under contract next season after signing the four-year, $110 million deal. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who had three hits Monday, has an option for another season with the Mets. The rest will determine their futures with how they play this season.
"This is how they make their living and the better you play, the more money you're going to make," Collins said. "I think that all ties in."
Syndergaard set the bar high for the rotation on Monday as he struck out seven and didn't issue a walk before coming out of the game with a broken blister after the sixth. He will get an extra day of rest before starting Sunday night against Miami.
The next three up are, in order, Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler. All were on the disabled list at the end of last season but returned to form before the end of spring training. DeGrom (ulnar nerve relocation) has looked especially good and Harvey (thoracic outlet syndrome surgery) is getting back his velocity. Zack Wheeler, who will be on a 130-inning limit after missing two seasons following Tommy John surgery, pitched too well to be left out of the rotation.
It's promising but not perfect as Steven Matz and designated sixth starter Seth Lugo are on the DL with elbow discomfort.
The players who may be beginning their Mets swan song performed well at the plate. First baseman Lucas Duda had the three-run double that broke the game open. Bruce had three walks and drove in a run. Granderson had a sacrifice fly.
For the Mets, however, the most promising thing may have been the way the offense unfolded. The hitters were patient and kept the line moving through 11 at-bats in the home seventh. They took walks and ran the bases alertly until the big hits came. No hitter looked like he was pressing to be a hero or like he was worried about anything other than this season.
"We had a conversation the other day: we're here right now," Collins said. "If you play well and win, the future will take care of itself."
