You Gotta Believe More in ’24

National League Town

’Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the pod, hosts Greg and Jeff craved Yamamoto’s nod; free agents, alas, decide on their own time, not paying heed to our recording deadline. All this is our merry way of saying that when National League Town put together this episode, the Mets had yet to sign their main free agent target. Thus, rather than dwelling on the uncertain, we devote the bulk of our holiday episode (28:00) to a replay of our golden-anniversary salute to the 1973 season — who was going, who was coming and how the Mets came on late to go from last place to first and ultimately the pennant. It was the year we were told, “You Gotta Believe,” and a half-century later, that’s a sentiment we still take to heart. We also share a few fresh words on third base possibilities, bullpen construction, a welcome Spring Training innovation and the only Met pitcher who won more than he lost during the first three years of the franchise (17:30).