Let’s Go, Mets — All the Way in 2024
As a resident of Upstate New York, I don’t often see the spring training games of my New York Mets. But Barbara and I were visiting family in Lakeland last week, so we were fortunate to see the Mets play the Detroit Tigers. As a result of that experience, I am optimistic for our chances in 2024.
The Mets’ spring training site is in Port St. Lucie, so they bussed in for the game, and I was thrilled to see that three of my four favorite players — and key stalwarts of the team — were healthy and in the starting lineup. Second-baseman Jeff McNeil, the 2022 Major League batting champion, led off, and though he didn’t get any hits that day, he walked twice and is the Mets best pure hitter with a career average just below .300. Flashy shortstop Francisco Lindor managed one single in four trips to the plate as did first-baseman and slugger extraordinaire Pete Alonso. Only hustling outfielder Brandon Nimmo did not play, but he is healthy and ready for Opening Day. If these four key veterans can stay healthy all season at the top of the lineup along with newly acquired designated hitter J.D. Martinez, the Mets will definitely contend for a championship.
