Lesser-known Mets deserve spotlight for key contributions in playoff run

Francisco Lindor is every inch the superstar and October hero the Mets expected and hoped for when they signed him to that $341 million contract. And Pete Alonso’s wild-card winning drive was “a $100 million homer,” claimed one rival executive, who added that the Mets “have no choice but to sign him now.” (Me: That’s probably hyperbole.)

Anyway, Lindor and Alonso are the main headliners. But this great Mets turnaround tale is far from a two-star story.

There’s a whole roster of players plus coaches and support staff who deserve plaudits. Here’s a partial list of other key people and what they did to get the Mets where almost no one — Carlos Mendoza and David Stearns did believe — expected them to go:

The rotation quartet of Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, Jose Quintana and David Peterson is one of the best bargains going. Severino, forever on the injured list as a Yankee, is the workhorse, Quintana is a playoff dynamo and Peterson transformed from borderline starter to rotation star to October shutdown reliever. And Manaea? “He’s Greg Maddux!” exclaims one rival, exaggerating only slightly.

2. The rest of the coaching staff

First base coach Antoan Richardson does terrific work with outfield defense and baserunning. Team defense, which ranked 29th several weeks in, is better than average now. And Brandon Nimmo, never before a base stealer, is 15-for-15. Third base coach Mike Sarbaugh does superb work with the infielders. Bullpen coach Jose Rosado balances diverse personalities.

3. Carlos Mendoza, manager

Owner Steve Cohen calls him “the most positive person I know.” He kept calm through their disastrous start/assorted early disappointments.

4. David Stearns, baseball president

“Best in baseball,” one rival said. The Padres’ AJ Preller and Royals’ JJ Picollo contend for that title in 2024, too, but Stearns’ prescient pickups for relatively small bucks turned this team in alleged transition into a World Series threat. Manaea, Severino, Tyrone Taylor, Harrison Bader, Ryne Stanek, Phil Maton, Luis Torrens and, of course, Mendoza are all hits. He’ll receive bonuses on his incentive-laden contract as they advance, ones Cohen will happily pay.

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5. Jose Iglesias

We can’t really call him unsung, as we hear his ubiquitous song daily. It remains uncertain whether it’s analytics — “analytics [screwed] him,” J.D. Martinez said — or a previous clubhouse rep that caused this good-hands, great-contact infielder to struggle to find MLB jobs. Anyway, he’s not only solidified everything, he’s a clubhouse plus, and not just for his catchy ditty.

6. J.D. Martinez

He’s counseled and coached Iglesias, his South Florida hitting partner Vientos and even Alonso, for whom he’s constantly provided tips. Only four of Alonso’s 34 regular-season home runs went the opposite way but all three in October have gone to right field, including arguably the biggest one in Mets history.

7. Mark Vientos

Some are made for October, and this kid obviously is. Easily the best all-around player vs. Philly. “He’s fielding like Mike Schmidt!” one disgusted Phillie marveled before Game 4.

8. The remade bullpen

While they weren’t close enough to the race to seriously consider giving up a stash of prospects for top relievers in July (Tanner Scott, Jason Adam, Lucas Erceg, Carlos Estevez), pen pickups Stanek and Maton helped replace some injured (Brooks Raley, Drew Smith, Sean Reid-Foley) and underperforming guys.

9. Edgar Suero, traveling secretary

Ex-Mets manager Buck Showalter joked on MLB Network he might be MVP after negotiating that makeshift five-stop, Hurricane Helene-affected trip. “I’m pulling for them,” Buck said of the Mets by phone.