buck showalter

If one player was a lock to succeed for Buck Showalter in 2022, it was closer Edwin Diaz. When Timmy Trumpet's "Narco" began, that usually meant the game was ending for the Mets' opponents. The "lock" took a big hit in the WBC on Wednesday and in essence, so did the World Series dreams for Buck and the Mets.

Money can't buy happiness, nor can New York Mets owner Steve Cohen buy a World Series for his team's fanbase. Cohen will certainly try but it's not going to happen in 2023. Here are 5 reasons why:

New York Mets manager Buck Showalter, despite not winning a World Series, has had a pretty good year. First, after being spurned by a canceled spring training appearance, Showalter gets to meet pop-star Shakira. (Who would have thought that would be a big deal for the the Mets skipper but it was.) Then, Buck's team rattles off 101 regular season wins, leading to Showalter being named National League Manager of the Year for the fourth time in his career. But the biggest and maybe most surprising honor of all came out this week. Buck appears to be the best looking manager in Major League Baseball. No, I'm not kidding.

Some may say that dishing out a record contract to your closer days after the conclusion of the World Series isn't playing your hand slowly. As New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler heads into his second off-season at the helm of Steve Cohen's team, he is well aware that one has to move fast at times and be patient at others to be successful. Eppler made some key acquisitions last winter, like right fielder Starling Marte, left fielder Mark Cahna and third baseman Eduardo Escobar. Those three moves, along with Eppler's hire of Manager of the Year, Buck Showalter, changed the culture of the Mets. Now it's time to continue the improvement. That is what Cohen expects.

The New York Mets do not have a storied history of great managers. Gil Hodges was terrific for his few years prior to his passing in 1972. Davey Johnson did a great job winning games with his late 1980s teams but his undisciplined style rubbed management the wrong way. Terry Collins was terrific in 2015, especially if you want a guy to win with a sub-par roster. However, none of them was ever named National League Manager of the Year, like this year's winner, Buck Showalter.

As the winter months edge closer, New York Mets fans will begin to soften on the disappointments of their team's 101 win season. Then they will reflect on the sound of "Narco" by Timmy Trumpet blaring out of the Citi Field speakers, as the crowd rose its feet and closer Edwin Diaz jogged from the bullpen. It was a good season for the Mets and especially on the mound. Fortunately for fans and the organization, the pitching coach behind that success, Jeremy Hefner, looks to be returning.

Max Scherzer failed when the New York Mets needed him the most, and Scherzer is the reason the Mets were a one and done in the playoffs.

When you are a Major League Baseball play-by-play announcer/analyst, at times you are paid for your opinion. Ex-players and managers stack broadcast booths across the country to provide key insight. Mets play-by-play star, Gary Cohen grew up a New York Mets fan, not too far from Shea Stadium. Cohen along with former 1986 Mets Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez combine for one of the most popular broadcast booth trios in the game. On Sunday night, Cohen was part of the SNY postgame crew, as the game was on ESPN. The ever-popular Queens native got roundly booed by the live audience for his comments regarding Mets manager Buck Showalter.

On the same evening that New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge crushed his American League record, and non-steroid era record, 62nd home run, the Bombers' crosstown, National League little brother was making some MLB long-ball history of their own. After winning the first game of the doubleheader, with a whisper of hope of winning the NL East, the New York Mets needed to come out firing on all cylinders and that they did at a historic pace.

Friday night may have been the most important game of the 2022 regular season for the New York Mets, actually I think it is Saturday but we'll get to that later. Manager Buck Showalter re-arranged the pitching rotation to start Jacob deGrom in Game 1 in Atlanta, much like you will expect to see in the upcoming playoffs against whomever the Mets face, in whatever series they are in. However, there was much more on the line for deGrom and Mets owner Steve Cohen.

If Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer can stay healthy the rest of the season, and that’s a big if, the Mets can win the World Series.

For the past six seasons, New York Mets fans have craved to fill the void at third-base left by their Captain, David Wright. Remember Eric Campbell in 2015 starting at third? Then fan favorite but couldn't fill the hole, Wilmer Flores took the job in 2016-17. Then there was the "Toddfather" Todd Frazier in 2018-19, followed by JD Davis and Jonathan Villar. Now, Eduardo Escobar is doing his best to fill #5's shoes at the hot-corner. He's fine but the Mets need better. Fear not, Blue & Orange faithful, the next David Wright has been blasting his way through the minor leagues on his way to Queens.