Sandy Alderson stopped short of making the same mistake of predicting 90 wins for the New York Mets in 2015, but the general manager wasn't too modest with his projection of 89 triumphs for the Amazin's this coming season.
The Mets haven't made the playoffs since 2006 and haven't put together a winning record since the team was almost entirely different from top-to-bottom in 2008. New York is coming off of a 79-83 finish in the NL East in 2014 and Alderson believes they can improve to 89 wins in 2015.
"We won 79 games last year, which was an improvement over the year before," Alderson told Chris Russo on MLB Network on Monday. "We need to take a bigger jump next season. One of the reasons we've been quiet in the offseason is that we have quality players at every position. They're not all proven above-average major league players, but we're at the point now where we have to give them the opportunity to perform. Travis d'Arnaud behind the plate took some big steps forward last year, Lucas Duda at first base, in the outfield Juan Lagares, and then of course the young pitching that we have. Most of our bullpen is fairly young."
He continued: "So one of the reasons we've been fairly quiet is that we've got players with the potential to improve us by 10 games, which is what we need. And so we're comfortable going into spring training, and excited actually, to see those players and see what kind of step forward they take and whether that can translate into 10 or 12 games for us in the 'won' column."
The Mets have had a very quiet offseason, inking Michael Cuddyer to a two-year $21 million contract and adding John Mayberry Jr. to shore up their bench.
New York fans really were hoping that Alderson would add a shortstop this offseason, but the Mets didn't make a move for one.
There is still time for things to shake up before spring training, but right now New York's roster seems to be set. There is the possibility that the Mets trade a pitcher -- such as Dillon Gee -- before Opening Day, but it remains to be seen.
"Things will probably work themselves out in spring training," Alderson said. "Hopefully we don't have an injury, but we do have some flexibility in the pen. So if somebody has to move to the pen for a period of time, I think that would be acceptable to us."
The Mets haven't won 89 games since the 2008 campaign when they collapsed in the second half and missed out on the playoffs on the final day of the season for the second straight September in what was a somber closing to Shea Stadium.
But there is room for optimism in 2015 as the Mets are flush with young arms and could bring Citi Field its first winning season -- and perhaps first ever playoff game -- since its inception in 2009.
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