We’ve heard of the Yankees “Core-Four.” Now, their cross-town rivals, the New York Mets, have something talented brewing of their own.

By Robby Sabo

On July 25, 2012, the New York Mets squared off against the Diamondbacks in Arizona.

Under normal circumstances, this night would’ve just been yet another disaster during this era of awfulness the Mets have provided their fans. New York finished 74-88 during this particular season.

However, this wasn’t any obscure Mets night.

On this night, Matt Harvey made his Major League Baseball debut.

Harvey, receiving the call from Triple-A Buffalo, fanned 11 batters in just 5.1 innings-pitched.

The kid was so dominant that this game in Mets history marked a new era for this franchise. An era who’s architect is Sandy Alderson. An era that is built on pitching. An era, that hasn’t yet fully began.

This era is one of the “Phenom-Five.”

During the late 1990s, the New York Yankees rattled off four World Series Championships. Despite the many ignorant people out there believing money was the pure cause of the success, the magic potion lied in the farm.

Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada were all home-grown fellas who came up through the system and formed this nucleus for outrageous success.1mets2

The name of “Core-Four” was bandied about and eventually stuck.

This, despite the fact that Bernie Williams was just as important as any of these other guys, but I digress.

Now, with baseball now firmly planted in a different era – as witnessed by the speedy, defensive, and bullpen-happy Kansas City Royals from a season ago – Alderson has constructed a future starting rotation to die for and fully relate with this new age of baseball.

These five guys aren’t just young prospects, they will be the heart and soul of this organization for years to come.

Pitching, pitching and more pitching has been the philosophy for the team that calls spacious Citi Field home. It turned out to be a calculated, patient approach by the front office who allowed this embarrassment of riches at the pitching position to formulate.

What started with Harvey in 2012, soon went to Zack Wheeler in 2013, Jacob deGrom in 2014, Noah Syndergaard in 2015, and Steven Matz any day now.

While even the casual onlooker can argue that this Mets club doesn’t have a lineup worth a big-league lick, and a bench that more closely resembles a Minor  team, they simply cannot argue that this rotation will always keep them in games and in pennant races, despite the offensive futility.

Furthermore, the troubles this lineup faces without David Wright, Daniel Murphy and Travis d’Arnaud (until yesterday), are so worrisome that most couldn’t believe Alderson hadn’t yet pulled the trigger on trading one of these young power-arms.

The conclusion is easy to spot. Alderson does not want to trade any of these five studs.

Instead, he’ll lick his offensive wounds right now and pray that injuries heal quick, a positional prospect rises fast, or somebody of value falls in his lap.

In any event, this club is still a first-place team at 32-29, a half-game ahead of the struggling Washington Nationals.

Much like the Yankees enjoyed having their “Core-Four” at the turn of the century, the Mets will bask in the glory of their “Phenom-Five” for many seasons to come.

Here is the Phenom-Five:

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Robby Sabo is a co-founder, CEO and credentialed New York Jets content creator for Jets X-Factor - Jet X, which includes Sabo's Sessions (in-depth film breakdowns) and Sabo with the Jets. Host: Underdog Jets Podcast with Wayne Chrebet and Sabo Radio. Member: Pro Football Writers of America. Coach: Port Jervis (NY) High School. Washed up strong safety and 400M runner. SEO: XL Media. Founder: Elite Sports NY - ESNY (Sold in 2020). SEO: XL Media. Email: robby.sabo[at]jetsxfactor.com