New York Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen is confident that the team still has a chance at the postseason.
The New York Mets aren’t in a horrible position currently, but they’re not in a great one either.
After Saturday night’s win against the Saint Louis Cardinals, the Mets are now 34-36, sitting at third in the NL East division. They’re 6.5 games back from the division leading-Atlanta Braves and a good five games back in the NL wildcard race.
Mets fans do have a reason to breathe, though. The position the team is currently facing doesn’t mean the year is in shambles. There are still 92 games to be played in this regular season. The Mets need to be optimistic in that there’s still a ton of time to get on the right track.
Brodie Van Wagenen, the team’s first-year general manager, is showing that needed optimism.
“My hope is and my belief is that we can be in contention over the next several weeks and we can continue to push that gas pedal down,” Van Wagenen said before Saturday night’s win, per Greg Joyce of the New York Post.
The Mets do have potential with their current lineup. Rookie first baseman Pete Alonso already has 23 home runs and 53 RBI and is making a big case to win NL Rookie of the Year if he stays consistent. Michael Conforto is also showing potential as a big bat, as he’s hit 13 home runs and 33 RBI through 61 games this season.
The only issue is the bullpen, whos’ ranked 26th in the majors in earned run average, with a 5.24 ERA.
Van Wagenen realizes the team still has some work to do to get where they want. However, the Metropolitans general manager is confident that that work will get done.
“Our season so far has had moments of progress, moments of signs where we think we can make a run and I think we are three games behind .500,” Van Wagenen said. “We’ve got work to do to get back in the race for the division.”
The Mets finish out their four-game series against the Cardinals on Sunday at Citi Field. First pitch is scheduled to occur at 1:10 p.m. ET.
