There's Reason To Believe This Spring Training Is Different

by Tim Reilly February 25, 2021

Do you sense that, Mets fans? Anticipation is in the air, optimism is in our minds and hope is in our hearts. No need to pinch yourself, that's our new reality this Spring Training.

Shout out to everyone who covers this team! Been loving all the content these last few days. #LGM pic.twitter.com/6dJI4BqhCG
— The 7 Line (@The7Line) February 24, 2021

No more second fiddle. No more little brother. No more watching Quadruple-A talent battle it out for roster spots. For the first time in what feels like forever, the Mets are operating like a major-market team. Steve Cohen has put the New York back in front of Mets.

It's a new day indeed.

Good morning, my neighbors! #Coming2America @Lindor12BC pic.twitter.com/hUsL8GuDqE
— New York Mets (@Mets) February 25, 2021

You know that Mets group chat that used to double as a therapy session with your buddies? I bet it's done a 180, hasn't it? It started with the Cohen news and hasn't stopped since. Sure, there's been a few LOL Mets moments this offseason but even those washed away rather than leaving the stains they did in years past.

That's a telling sign.

Lindor, and Carrasco, and McCann, and Walker, and May, oh, my! Pete and Dom have another year under their belts, McNeil looks jacked up, Noah is progressing, the Stro show is ready to shine and deGrom is already throwing 99-mph seeds. Good. Vibes. Only.

Jacob deGrom was throwing 99 MPH at camp today:

"It's getting ridiculous" - Luis Rojas pic.twitter.com/por7DRPQZy
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 23, 2021

There's a camaraderie about this squad. I know there's always a sense of happiness when the guys first report. Good teams become great teams when they become family. There's a core in place that's formed a strong bond in recent years. Now that core knows the pieces are in place around them to do what they haven't before: Win the whole damn thing.

We know it, they know it and the whole league knows it. This isn't a spring training full of empty promises and "best shape of their life" storylines. Rather than looking ahead at prospect projects, we're looking ahead at October possibilities. This is a spring training of a team coming together with one singular mission in mind and the mission is actually obtainable.

The boys are back at camp, they'll be back in Queens soon and so will fans. The smile gets bigger with each day that passes this Spring Training. It's a smile that will hopefully stick around for a march down the Canyon of Heroes.

Is that asking too much? Maybe. But you should feel that way. This is an organization build on miracles and the "Ya gotta believe" mantra. A miracle shouldn't be needed anymore. Now it's about reaching the goals that have been set by Steve Cohen.

This spring is all about working toward those championship goals. This spring is different, after all.