A mystery, inside an enigma.
-Winston Churchill
The quote above is a metaphor for the Mets’ start to the 2023 season. But that’s demeaning to a metaphor since the Dictionary definition is “a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.”
Unfortunately for Mets fans, this team routinely brings other words and phrases to mind that are not literally applicable and definitely considered not safe for work. They figure to infuriate this fanbase with an absolute lack of action offensively, especially after the seemingly historic on-base production from last year. And too many faithful, including myself, have repeated vulgar and explicit-laced speeches to no one in particular about starting pitchers not even reaching the sixth inning.
Oh how quickly the wheel turned.
-William Shakespeare (maybe)
There is enough controversy about its authenticity that the Shakespeare authorship question has its own Wikipedia page. There are enough radio segment notes, columnists’ questions in long form and comments after any and every story about the construction of this team to match its depth of opinion. It’s a constant deluge about the drawbacks of bringing back most of last year’s 101-win team, questioning the inability to find suitable replacements for those not deemed worthy or the delay in bringing up minor league talent to replace players still on the roster.
It was just a few weeks ago the Mets were 14-7, pounding out 13 hits in a 7-0 shutout as part of a long 10-game West Coast road trip. The pitching staff was missing four-fifths of the projected starters, but the overall feeling was upbeat after seven innings from Joey Lucchesi, a left handed starter who returned from Tommy John surgery to complete the best start of his brief MLB career.
Old Billy the Bard had some similar quotes. From Hamlet - “Oh, how the wheel becomes it!” And King Lear telling Cordelia, “I am bound, upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears, do scald like molten lead.” That last one describes watching this team every day, bound to see starters unable to throw first-pitch strikes or experience the bliss that is a home crowd rising late in a game to cheer the pitcher into the 8th inning.
The Mets were expected to catch fire as the schedule turned to May and opponents with early subpar records or ownership not concerned about paying to put the best product on the field. But disappointment is what lies between expectation and reality. The reality is a team can rely on subpar pitching and the top four in the lineup can’t be a one-headed monster.
The reality is Brandon Nimmo is earning his large off-season contract, similar to Starling Marte earning his contract by being voted an All-Star last year for being the ideal lynchpin before the two hitters behind him in the 2-hole. He finished the season with a .292 average, but he also missed the last month due to injury. His inability to return to his previous form shines bright, especially when Pete Alonso is struggling.
Similar to how some animated characters don’t talk about Bruno, Mets fans don’t talk about Alonso and his .235 batting average. His career low .318 on-base percentage or the number of times he hasn’t had the ‘big hit’ this year. It’s been apparent that Alonso is the true lynchpin for the team. As he goes, so goes the Mets offense. But his 11 home runs and a breakout game with seven RBIs has quietly hidden an overall slow start to his season.
The worm has turned.
-Anonymous
Wikipedia says the phrase was first recorded in the 16th century and used in Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part 3. It is defined as someone who has tolerated a lot of bad treatment unexpectedly changing their behavior. It could be the counter to another famous phrase with no known author - The early bird gets the worm. Which brings us back to King Lear and “The wheel is come full circle.”
The initial quote from Churchill at the beginning of this article was only a small part. The full quote by the British Prime Minister about Russia in 1939 is, “It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, but perhaps there is a key.” It took more than six trips through the rotation, but the Mets will finally feature the top third of the expected starting staff when the Mets start a three-game set in Cincinnati. Buck Showalter was questioned after a horrific 13-6 loss to Colorado that brought out the boo birds at Citi Field and dropped the team a game below Mt. .500.
Is the key to unlocking this season as simple as his answer - “Play better”?
Upcoming Series: New York Mets at Cincinnati Reds
Tuesday, May 9 - 6:40 PM
Max Scherzer (2-2, 5.56 ERA) vs. Luke Weaver (0-2, 7.88 ERA)
Wednesday, May 10 - 6:40 PM
Justin Verlander (0-1, 3.60 ERA) vs. Hunter Greene (0-2, 3.74 ERA)
Thursday, May 11 - 12:35 PM
Kodai Senga (4-1, 3.38 ERA) vs. Nick Lodolo (2-1, 6.29 ERA)
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- Mets notes From spring's first pitch in Florida - February 26, 2024
