We’ve now approached the final full week of April, and the New York Mets are 12-9. It’s been a solid start to the season, to say the least after being 0-5 in the beginning. However, as Mets play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen said during the opening of Sunday’s broadcast, it hasn’t come without a cost.
The Mets as a team suffered a couple of big blows from the injury bug during this past weekend’s series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Francisco Alvarez and Brooks Raley are the victims, and they’ve both been placed on the 15-day injured list. Both players have been so significant on the field, and to lose them to injury is gut-wrenching. Let’s look at the specific ways this team will be affected by these crucial injuries.
How the Mets Will be Impacted by Recent Injuries
Francisco Alvarez
Offensively and defensively
So, let’s start with Alvarez. This guy is currently in his sophomore year and is the Mets No. 1 catcher. Now, Omar Narváez and Tomás Nido are taking turns with the catching duties. That’s because on Friday, April 19, 2024, Alvarez ended up injuring his left thumb while running to second base. He appeared to have done this via a stumble on first base and then sliding to second in the first game of the series with the Dodgers. It was later revealed that he was diagnosed with a left thumb sprain, followed by a torn ligament that requires surgery. Alvarez confirmed that he is expected to be sidelined for 6-8 weeks.
All that said, his on-field performance will be missed. And rightfully so, because of how solid he is at the plate. For a guy who’s 22 and is playing his second full season in the big leagues, he provides outstanding offensive power. The other two catchers, Narváez and Nido, are honestly a bit less effective than Alvarez.
Same thing on defense. Alvarez plays such good defense just about every time he is behind the plate. Narvaez and Nido aren’t bad, but the Mets are in better shape with Alvarez as the catcher. Let’s also remember what happened in the 10-0 loss on Sunday against the Dodgers when Nido threw out a runner attempting to steal second base. That’s the first time the Mets successfully performed a caught stealing play this season, and who knew it was going to be Nido? So maybe they’ll be okay on this side of the field, but it’s a shame that Alvarez can’t be there.
Leadership
Alvarez has provided the Mets with such great leadership for his teammates, the clubhouse, and the entire organization. He gets along well with everyone. He also provides the power and energy this team needs. Without him, the environment is going to be different. Hopefully, someone else or multiple players can step up the energy level.
Brooks Raley
Bullpen help
Now, let’s get to Raley. What a good, reliable pitcher this guy has become. He hasn’t allowed a run in eight appearances before getting hurt. Unfortunately, it was announced on Sunday that he has left elbow inflammation, and he is expected to be sidelined for at least the next two weeks barring any setbacks.
With Raley out, that leaves the Mets with Jake Diekman as the only left-handed option in the bullpen as of now. Diekman isn’t bad, but it’s vital to have multiple left-handers in the bullpen as depth for any given situation. Grant Hartwig was called up from Triple-A Syracuse to take Raley’s spot on the roster, but he is a righty. It would be wise for the Mets to make a trade or sign another lefty. We’ll see how they’ll handle this huge loss.
Mets Outcomes During Games Without These Two Players
Well, it’s hard to predict what exactly is going to happen for the foreseeable future due to Alvarez and Raley being on the injured list. It’s a long season and we’re still in April. However, if you’re a Mets fan, you have every right to be concerned. It’s not going to be an easy time by any standard, especially during games. Then again, as Tug McGraw said, “Ya Gotta Believe!” We’ll find out how it all goes starting Monday, April 22, 2024, when they begin a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants.
Main Image: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
