The New York Mets are in spring training, and David Stearns, who isn’t a general manager, is leaving right field open to interpretation and praying that first base and the bullpen work itself out. Does that sound like the plan of a championship team? 

I think the Mets can win 90 games. But that means Carson Benge or Brett Baty have to play big innings in right field. That’s what Stearns is hoping for, and I think that’s a very important position to leave up in the air like this. 

Juan Soto will be fine in left field, but there’s a missing strong arm in right field for at least seven innings a game. Tyrone Taylor can’t play more than a few innings. So my point is that late-inning defense isn’t the same as defense for an entire game, and not having a strong arm in right field might cost them a few runs early in games. Teams are going to run on them. 

Is Devin Williams Cured?

Devin Williams was unreliable, and that’s being nice, for the New York Yankees this year. He had four blown saves in 22 tries before he was ousted as the closer. So this is the replacement for Edwin Diaz? 

Williams’ last good season in Milwaukee was in 2023. My problem with the players Stearns is selling us is that they were all good in Milwaukee in prior years, and we know bullpen arms aren’t consistent like good starting pitchers. Again, this is a hope, and there’s no evidence he will have a good season. Nothing on paper said that last season. 

First Base is a Reach

Mark Vientos and Jorge Polanco will be the Mets’ choices at first base. Watching Polanco scoop grounders seemed unnatural for him. Will spring training be enough time for him to be comfortable at the position? I’m not sure. Vientos seemed more natural with the scoops, and we know that he’s a marginal first baseman at best. The defense that Stearns boasts about might not be at first base, and that’s an important position, especially if Bo Bichette has to start the season at shortstop, and Stearns won’t consider that because he is hoping Francisco Lindor will be there for Opening Day. 

This season is one big hope. There’s no way around it.