Scott Clarke/ESPN Images(NEW YORK) — After appearing in the playoffs just once over a fourteen year stretch, the New York Mets have made postseason appearances in two of the past three years.
Speaking at the 113th New York Boat Show for Mercury Marine, starting pitcher Jacob deGrom, a boating enthusiast, thinks the 2018 Mets may be playoff bound once again. He tells ABC News he is “looking forward to building on last year,” adding, “Hopefully everybody’s healthy, and if they are I think we have a good chance of being contenders this year.”
deGrom spoke with ABC News at the Javits Center in New York City, discussing the upcoming season and his passion for boats and fishing.
He says he “feels good,” is healthy, and is ready for pitchers and catchers to start in February.
Entering his fifth major league season, deGrom will play under a new manager and pitching coach for the first time in his professional career. Terry Collins stepped down as the team’s manager following the 2017 season. Mickey Callaway, formerly of the Cleveland Indians, was hired to take Collins’ place, and Dave Eiland was named the new pitching coach.
Though he is yet to meet his new manager, deGrom welcomes the change:
“I’ve had several phone calls with Mickey and Dave, and I’m excited and looking forward to meeting them in person and getting things going. Phone calls have been great. They seem really excited for the season and so do we… definitely excited.”
The Mets were expected to compete for a division title at the beginning of 2017, but finished in disappointing fashion. They won just 70 games, the organization’s lowest single-season win total since 2009.
The Mets re-signed Jay Bruce and Jose Reyes and expect to get pitchers Noah Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler back in full health to start the year. deGrom believes good health and those free agent decisions could put New York in a position to make another postseason run come September.
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