No, the 2016 Mets season did not finish as we thought it would.
We wanted the World Series. But, despite not making it all the way, we should be proud. The Mets overcome all of the injuries this season and still fought for a playoff chance. As Mets fans, we should be proud.
The Rising Apple team is here to reflect on this past season. We’re here to share what we each think of when we remember the 2016 season.
Michelle Ioannou, Editor
Well, of course I think of Bartolo Colon, because you all know I’m obsessed by now and you will hear a lot more about him in the offseason. But seriously, the guy hit his first ever home run this season – with the Mets. Something to be proud of.
Speaking of being proud, how can you not be proud of this team? A majority of them had a stint on the DL. The majority of our starting rotation — the one we all thought would be perfect before the season — was injured and yet the Mets still got into the Wild Card game. How crazy and amazing is that?
For me, one of the big takeaways from this season is that ya gotta believe. Nothing went the way we thought it would this season, but the Mets didn’t just crumble and fail (minus that horrid little stint in August). They came from being 5.5 games back at the end of August to play in the Wild Card game. The team gave us something to believe in and showed their resiliency.
Am I still an upset Mets fan? Of course I am. But when I think of the 2016 season, I will of course think of all of the injuries — and how the Mets overcame them.
Danny Abriano, Editor:
As Michelle said, it’s impossible to not think of how resilient the 2016 Mets were.
They were basically written off in August before going on one of the most incredible runs in the history of the franchise.
It’s not a tangible thing and can be laughed at by the stats guys (of which I’m often one), but the team showed tons of heart while battling their way to the Wild Card game.
Yes, we wanted them to finish their unfinished business. But as much as we envisioned them making an improbable postseason run without Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, and Zack Wheeler, the cards really were stacked against them.
So while the Wild Card loss was crushing and I so badly wish it was the Mets who were hosting the Cubs tonight at Citi Field in Game 3 of the NLDS — not the Giants hosting them in San Francisco — I can’t help but smile when the 2016 Mets enter my mind.
I’ll remember Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo coming out of nowhere to help save the season and Addison Reed becoming a shutdown setup man. I’ll remember Yoenis Cespedes‘ majestic blasts and him becoming our Lion King. And I’ll remember Asdrubal Cabrera gutting his way through an injury.
Most of all, I’ll remember how the Mets didn’t waste a chance this season. Instead, I’m viewing it as them sticking together and succeeding while overcoming obstacles on their way to 2017 — which will be when they finish what they started in 2015.
Rich Sparago, Staff Writer:
Going into the 2016 season, everything seemed just right. The Mets were going to have a possible ace on the mound every day. Yoenis Cespedes was back. Most importantly, the team had the “unfinished business” mantra from last year’s World Series loss that was going to drive them to complete the job they had begun in 2015.
But very quickly, we were reminded that no matter how well things may seem to be aligned, nothing is certain in baseball.
I go back to the first inning of game one on April. With one out, Mike Moustakas hit a line drive to left field that Cespedes simply dropped. Was that an omen for the season, telling us that rough times were ahead?
At first it seemed that the Cespedes drop was a simple anomaly, as the Mets went 15-7 in April, and all systems were “go.” However, May was a different story, with the team posting a 14-15 record. Soon thereafter, the injuries began to mount.
First it was Davd Wright. In July, Matt Harvey went down for the season. As the season moved along, Neil Walker, Steven Matz, and Jacob deGrom saw their seasons cut short. Zack Wheeler did not return as expected. Cespedes and Asdrubal Cabrera played through injuries. The wheels were coming off.
But the Mets fought on. They did so with the non-household names of Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman. Jose Reyes returned to Flushing and made significant contributions. T.J. Rivera made his debut, and Rene Rivera became a thing. The Mets began their rise from the ashes in late August, and gave us six thrilling weeks.
Who can forget the walk-off Cespedes home run on August 29 against Miami? Or the two-of-three against Washington on Labor Day weekend, followed by a sweep of the Reds? How about the come-from-behind win against Atlanta on September 10? To me, these were great moments, but none produced the thrill of the multiple comeback game of September 22 against the Phillies. The Reyes bomb to tie it in the ninth, followed by the improbable three-run jack by Cabrera in the 11th to win it. The “replace-Mets” had something special.
Their run came to a sudden end in the Wild Card game. However, this season re-taught me two baseball lessons.
First, no matter how great things may look on paper, nothing is guaranteed. The season is long, and stuff happens. Second, it doesn’t take a roster full of stars to go on a run. It takes veteran leadership, and a crop of players who never give up, and are willing to do anything, even play hurt (Cabrera played on one leg since mid-August).
In 2016, the Mets were supposed to dominate. Those plans went awry. By midseason, they were supposed to give up and surrender to their injuries. They didn’t. As winter sets in, I’ll think about the six-week run when the Mets gave us inspired, thrilling baseball.
And that has me pumped up already for 2017.
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