What We've Learned About the Mets Through the First 22 Games

Besides the St. Louis Cardinals (14-6), the New York Mets have the best record in the MLB with 15 wins and only seven losses. 

These boys in Queens are playing exciting baseball, with fans across the country finally excited about all of the potential in this emerging clubhouse. The energy seems better around the team than prior years, and some moments are cause for celebration. For instance, when former Yankees star Curtis Granderson had a leadoff homer against the crosstown rivals for the Mets on April 26, most diehards just about lost their minds. But the season is still less than a quarter of the way through completion, of course, with plenty left to learn about this enigmatic team. 

Some things—like how much more successful they could have played had Zack Wheeler not required Tommy John surgery before the season—fans will unfortunately never get to learn. Other questions need to be answered and won't, because they are biological improbabilities, like how 41-year-old Bartolo Colon has managed to lead the MLB with four wins so far this season.

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

Colon (4-1) has allowed just 12 earned runs over 32.2 innings, which is one fewer than 2014 postseason stud Madison Bumgarner—who has actually allowed 13 earned runs over 31.1 innings.

He has helped the pitching staff, which was expected to dominate before the season, remain one of the best in baseball. The Mets have a team ERA of 3.00 (3rd best in MLB) and 14 combined quality stars (second best in MLB) this season. Colon’s success is certainly a surprise and something we've learned about the Mets early this season.

Then there are the mysteries still waiting for us on the horizon: What will change once Travis d’Arnaud comes back from injury, considering how much time prospect Kevin Plawecki has now seen in the MLB? Plawecki, 24, has looked a bit shaky on the offensive side of the ball with a .238 on-base percentage and a .318 slugging percentage through his first six major league games. He has still shown promise, however, and many believe he’s the real deal behind the plate.

Likewise, other fans and analysts are left to wonder how chemistry will change once longtime star David Wright returns from the disabled list, moving Eric Campbell back to the bench. In his second season playing for the Mets in the big leagues, Campbell has looked more consistent getting on base (.340 OBP) than prior. The 28-year-old has also recorded three doubles and one home run over 53 plate appearances.

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

We've learned that Matt Harvey is an absolute rock star, quite literally born (he grew up a Yankees fan just two hours away from Manhattan) to flourish in the New York media market. ESPN morning talk show host Mike Golic even suggested that somewhere in New York City on nights when Harvey is pitching, the Mets need to shine their logo in the sky á la Gotham City bat signal.

At 4-0 with a WHIP of 0.94 and 31 strikeouts through 26.2 innings pitched, Harvey has immediately thrown himself back in the “who’s hot on the mound” conversation among names like Felix Hernandez, Zack Greinke and Gerrit Cole—all of whom have had elite starts to the 2015 season.

Thankfully, fans have also discovered that the Mets are a resilient team and can respond to injury. Not only did Dillon Gee (effectively) replace Wheeler before the season, but the Mets are winning games while Campbell and Plawecki are receiving unexpected playing time. Similarly, Jeurys Familia has performed with stellar success as the new closer after losing Jenrry Mejia to suspension and Bobby Parnell to injury.

In fact, with nine saves, Familia is tied with Joakim Soria for the most saves in MLB. He also has six more strikeouts and a more impressive opposing batting average (.118 vs. .135) in just as many innings. 

Familia has allowed just two earned runs in 10.2 innings pitched this season; compare that with Craig Kimbrel, who has allowed five earned runs in 8.2 innings. According to Baseball-Reference, Familia is signed to a contract that pays him $524,000 for this season. Kimbrel, however, is signed to a four-year, $42 million salary worth $10.5 million per season. Talk about a good value.   

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

Perhaps the other biggest surprise has come in the form of infielder Wilmer Flores, who most doubted all offseason. He now leads the team with three home runs—Lucas Duda led the team with 30 last season but has only hit two through 77 at-bats so far this season. Flores also boats a .296 on-base percentage and a .403 slugging percentage. With an OPS of .699, his mark is more impressive than NL East counterparts Andrelton Simmons (.693) from the Braves and even Ian Desmond (.626) from the Nationals.

Meanwhile, outfielder Juan Lagares has displayed strokes of genius, making ridiculously impressive grabs in the outfield. On offense, his bat is a nice option, and he leads the team in hits. While first baseman Duda has lost some of his "power" at the plate, he is still the team’s active leader in on-base percentage (.413) and slugging percentage (.894), and he has played every game.

He has displayed a perfect metaphor for the successes in Queens this season: not home runs, but steady and consistent baseball that moves the runners from one base to the next. It’s no surprise that Granderson leads the team in walks (16) and runs (15) despite only five extra base hits. He is getting on base, and the depth of this offense is helping him score. 

I've personally learned that when the Mets have the best record in baseball, you can finally wear your Mets jacket to a crowded bar in Eugene, Oregon, and still someone will somehow eventually belt the "Meet The Mets!" theme song with you. This season, I have also discovered that a Mets uniform and/or hat is a cool thing to wear on the streets even if you're not a baseball fan.  

We still don’t know if the Mets are actually good because of how early we are in the season. Heck, earlier this week the New York Daily News called the Mets a “train wreck” (h/t Barstool Sports) after losing two games to the Yankees. But the Mets, who opened 13-3 to start this year, have had their best start to a season since 1986—the last time the franchise won an MLB championship.

Bryan Kalbrosky is a writer whose work has appeared in The Huffington Post, Yahoo! Sports, ESPN Denver and various other publications. For more of his work, follow him on Twitter @BryanKalbrosky.