It was early in spring training four years ago, photo day at Mets camp, and I wanted to witness the moment myself. A sense of hope had enveloped the franchise. The previous fall, the Mets won their first pennant in 15 years, a triumph built on the back of their suffocating starting pitching.



Matt Harvey kept the ball in the ninth in the World Series, and though it ended in agony, it represented the trust that he had earned. Earlier in that playoff run, Jacob deGrom survived an elimination game against the Dodgers with almost nothing. His effort was preserved by Noah Syndergaard, who emerged from the bullpen throwing lightning bolts that appeared to come from another world. Steven Matz returned late in the season and made three starts in the playoffs. Only Zack Wheeler had missed the party, sidelined by Tommy John Surgery in the spring. But once he returned, the Mets would have a full house, the foundation for a sustained run of success.



That’s why I wanted to be...