The New York Mets surprised fans by making a run to the World Series. That New York fan base now wants more than just a pennant.
A professional sports competition such as Major League Baseball is a “what have you done for me lately” business. The Mets are about to learn that the hard way. Winning the National League Championship Series and playing in five World Series games was a pleasant surprise from a team that has been a disappointment for several years.
Welcome to New York, where fans are only truly pleased when they are celebrating titles and attending parades.
We have entered the “hot stove” portion of the MLB calendar. It is that magical time of the year when free-agent ace pitchers sign life-changing deals and when any available sluggers are swooped up by teams willing to overpay for power hitters.
World Series winners are not bought via free agency as they were during the 1990s and parts of the 2000s. True contenders to the throne use this period to build on solid foundations that were previously created via drafts and prior signings.
Each of the 10 teams that are spotlighted in this piece could be in it to win it in October 2016. All of them would do well to get busy this offseason. Every day that passes could represent a lost opportunity for a club that is a few players away from being a World Series contender.
Even the team that celebrated winning it all earlier this month needs to be back on the clock as Thanksgiving Day approaches.