The New York Mets and New York Yankees recently concluded their respective seasons, both of which can be described as challenging. As the teams now face an uncertain winter ahead, there are several key factors to consider for each franchise.
Let’s start with the New York Mets. The Mets entered the 2021 season with high hopes after making several significant offseason moves, including acquiring superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor from the Cleveland Indians. However, their season was plagued by injuries to key players, including Lindor himself, who missed a significant portion of the year due to various ailments.
Despite the setbacks, the Mets showed flashes of brilliance throughout the season. Their starting rotation, led by Jacob deGrom, was dominant when healthy, and several young players emerged as promising talents. Pete Alonso continued to showcase his power-hitting abilities, while Jeff McNeil and Dominic Smith provided consistent offensive contributions.
However, the Mets’ inconsistent performance ultimately led to their downfall. They struggled to find consistency in their lineup and bullpen, which resulted in a disappointing finish to their season. As they head into the winter, the Mets will need to address these issues if they hope to contend in the highly competitive National League East division.
One area of concern for the Mets is their starting pitching depth. While deGrom is undoubtedly one of the best pitchers in baseball, his injury history raises questions about his long-term durability. The Mets will need to explore options to bolster their rotation and provide insurance in case deGrom misses significant time again.
Additionally, the Mets will need to make decisions regarding their impending free agents. Key players such as Michael Conforto and Javier Baez are set to hit the open market, and the Mets will need to determine whether they can afford to re-sign them or if they should pursue other options.
On the other side of New York, the Yankees also faced a challenging season. Despite having one of the most talented rosters in baseball, the Yankees struggled with consistency and battled injuries throughout the year. Their offense, which was expected to be one of the league’s best, underperformed for much of the season.
However, the Yankees did manage to secure a spot in the postseason through a wild card berth. They showcased their potential in the wild card game against the Boston Red Sox, but ultimately fell short. The loss highlighted some of the team’s weaknesses, particularly in their starting rotation and bullpen.
Heading into the winter, the Yankees will need to address their pitching staff. Gerrit Cole remains an elite ace, but the rest of the rotation lacks consistency. The team will need to explore options to bolster their starting pitching depth and potentially add another reliable arm to complement Cole.
In addition to pitching, the Yankees will also need to evaluate their offensive strategy. Despite having a lineup filled with power hitters, the team struggled to consistently produce runs. They will need to determine whether changes are necessary in terms of approach or personnel to maximize their offensive potential.
Both the Mets and Yankees face an uncertain winter ahead as they look to address their respective challenges. The decisions made by each franchise will have a significant impact on their competitiveness in the upcoming season. With careful planning and strategic moves, both teams have the potential to bounce back and contend for a championship in 2022.
