LAS VEGAS — What a difference an Opening Day makes.
A year ago the Mets were still a theory. Still a mystery. Still a promise as yet unkept.
Steven Matz and Noah Syndergaard had yet to throw a major league pitch, and Matt Harvey had not done so since late August 2013. Jacob deGrom had come from nowhere to win Rookie of the Year in 2014, so more evidence was needed that he was not a fluke.
Jenrry Mejia had not yet been suspended for the first time for failing a PED test, and Jeurys Familia was just a guy manager Terry Collins believed could close some day.