Bruce Beck

There's a lot of excitement, but it's a different group.

Everybody rooted for Alonzo and Nimmo and Diaz and McNeil, but now they've got Marcus Simeon and Beau Bichette and

Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert and Devin Williams.

I mean, there's a lot of questions, but there's also excitement because the Mets fans believe it was time, I think, to try something new, although they said goodbye to some of their favorites.

I think if you look at the Mets and what happened after June 13th last year, they were 38-55.

And they had a $340 million payroll.

It was a collapse.

And so David Stearns talked about defense, solidifying defense first.

I'm not sure that all those questions were answered because he's got Bo Bichette at third base playing a different position.

He's got Polanco over at first base, hasn't really played there.

But this team, I think, is just trying to reinvent things.

And I believe with Soto and Lindor, two MVP candidates every year.

that they will have a very good offense.

Bo Bichette, the most clutch hitter in baseball last year, I think he will really add something to the middle of that lineup.

I think the pitching staff is the question.

What is going to happen with that staff?

Peralta will be good.

I think McClain, who had eight starts last year, will be an outstanding pro for many years to come.

He's only 24.

You saw what he did in the World Baseball Classics.