It did not take long for the 2018 Mets to pick up where the 2017 Mets left off.
Only a week into Spring Training, the Mets are already working through injuries to first baseman Dominic Smith; pitcher Jacob deGrom; outfielders Jay Bruce, Juan Lagares and Yoenis Cespedes; and sideshow Tim Tebow.
Two new names: pic.twitter.com/sd55IAU3FV
— James Wagner (@ByJamesWagner) February 27, 2018
Now, the good news is that none of these injuries sounds particularly serious. Cespedes said his shoulder is nothing to worry about, Bruce is already back, deGrom reportedly threw today, Lagares’ hamstring strain is only mild and Smith is expected to be on the field soon enough. With more than a month until Opening Day, none of these ailments currently seems likely to affect the regular season.
But on the other hand, this is how things always seem to go with the Mets. An injury starts as minor and a player is labeled day-to-day. He misses a game, then two, then four. Finally he is placed on the disabled list, with a promised return date only a week or two away. He suffers a setback, then another. Before you know it, two months have gone by, and that day-to-day injury has sapped a third of the season. According to RosterResource, no team in baseball was hit harder by injuries in 2017.
Anyway, maybe this season will be different. The Mets have a new manager in town, Mickey Callaway, and the team has gotten a touch younger with Smith, Michael Conforto and Amed Rosario expected to see increased playing time. But for Mets fans scarred by recent seasons who see these injuries and expect the worst… well, we can’t blame you.
