Baseball isn't just about statistics, home run totals, and wins and losses. It's also about emotions, thrills, chills and personal stories that we can invest in.

Thankfully, the Mets are never short on stories and bizarre moments worth dissecting.

That said, here are five storylines I hope to see in 2020...

1) J.D. Davis and Yoenis Cespedes are among the best left field duos in the NL

Returning from myriad leg injuries and surgeries, and having not played in nearly two years, Cespedes is in need of multiple days off each week -- not to mention often being removed late in games. In his place, getting an equal number of at-bats, Davis takes advantage of each opportunity given to him.

As a result, Davis and Cespedes combine to create one of the best left field duos in baseball while hitting 30 home runs and producing around 3.5 WAR.

2) Noah Syndergaard rediscovers his 2016 form

Despite Wilson Ramos being the everyday catcher, the Mets give in to Noah Syndergaard's request to always pitch to Rene Rivera.

With Rivera behind the plate, the duo recaptures their previous 2016 success, during which Syndergaard had a 2.50 ERA and 157 strikeouts in 23 games pitching to Rivera.

As a result, for most of the season, Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom find themselves in a friendly rivalry competing for the Cy Young award, creating a wonderful debate among fans and talking heads.

3) It's Pete Alonso's world and we all live in it

He doesn't hit 50-plus home runs again. Instead, he knocks out 40. It doesn't impact Pete's popularity, though. As a result of his obvious hunger to win, bold personality, populist approach to connecting with fans, again winning the Home Run Derby and being considered for the MVP, Alonso is in high demand across New York and all of baseball.

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He becomes a regular doing national interviews, he appears on countless magazine covers and is used repeatedly by MLB to market the game. Most important, it doesn't faze him, he remains the same focused, humble and productive player he was before fame, which helps to further increase his popularity and pride in him among Mets fans.

4) The third star is born

Michael Conforto returns and looks terrific hitting between Alonso and the left field duo of 'J.D. Cespedes.'

Amed Rosario isn't as great as he was during the second half of 2019, but he's consistently good enough to be considered for the All-Star Game and calm any questions about whether he's the organization's future shortstop.

However, no one is in the conversation for best Met with deGrom, Alonso and Syndergaard quite like Jeff McNeil.

McNeil stays healthy, decides to cut down on launch angle and swinging for home runs and, instead, becomes a doubles machine, accepts his destiny and wins the NL battling title.

Looking eerily similar to Wade Boggs, McNeil joins Jose Reyes as the franchise's only other batting champion, while doing so only earning the league minimum salary.

5) Subway Series Part II

It's a rocky road, as usual. However, despite doubt creeping in during June, the Mets keep their boat afloat and scratch and claw their way in to a last-week pennant race. Sadly, they miss winning the division to the Braves, but are able to hang on to host the Wild Card game.

The Mets advance beyond the Wild Card game, win a dramatic series against the Braves and get to the NLCS where they defeat the Dodgers. As a result, 20 years after playing one another in the World Series, the Yankees greet the Mets at Yankee Stadium for just the second Subway Series since 1956.

Bobby Valentine and Joe Torre throw out the first game's first pitch, Timo Perez and Armando Benitez are not allowed in to watch the series, and the Mets win in seven games after McNeil slaps a series-winning walk-off single up the middle.

Matthew Cerrone (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Contact) is a senior writer of MetsBlog.com, which he created in 2003. His book, The New York Mets Fans' Bucket List, details 44 things every Mets fan should experience during their lifetime.

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