The New York Mets hoped to build on their 101-win 2022 season by adding high-salaried free agents who would propel them past the wild card round in 2023. Instead, they ended up a major disappointment, a 26-win swing in the wrong direction as they were beset by injuries (real and phantom), underperforming veterans and, and, at least in this writer’s analysis, a failure to recognize the impact of new rules changes that should have prompted a different overhaul of the roster.

The Mets’ newest second baseman, former Rangers star, Gold Glover, father of five, and now owner of the Most Spoken Words in a Zoom Call Since 2020, Marcus Semien met the New York media today for the first time. And if first impressions matter… well, Mets fans, start stretching now because this guy plays like he expects you to run out every grounder too. From the jump, Semien was vintage Semien: direct, thoughtful, polished, and sneakily funny in that “I’m a dad of five and