Baseball's Back (Almost)!
Well, it's almost that time again (finally) - baseball returns on Monday when the Mets host the Nats. This, of course, has absolutely nothing to do with the picture, which I provide for the benefit of Bookie (go Gators!).
In any event, I wanted to know what people really think about the Mets' chances this year. I'm not terribly concerned about second base -- we need a decent glove there, and Kaz will still be buried by June in favor of Hernandez, I predict -- or the batting order, which I think will work itself out. No, the issue, as always, is starting pitching. We somehow managed to go from a record surplus in starting pitching in '05 to a record deficit in '06 (forgive the political analogy), basically giving away Kris Benson and Jae Seo for bupkes. Here's hoping Bannister emerges, Pedro stays healthy, Zambrano finds himself, and Heilman doesn't whine about being in the pen. That's asking an awful lot. The pen should be solid especially if Heilman stays there and Julio is relegated to mop-up duty.
What do the rest of you think? I know Sonny's predicting a 15-win season, but I'll predict 90-72, second place in the NL east, and wild card winners. Yes, I've learned my lesson, and I am NOT picking against the Braves ever again, no matter who's on that team. As Joe B said on WFAN, you could put nine blind men in Braves uniforms and they'd beat the Mets.
YJIT
posted by Toasty Joe @ 11:48 AM
7 Comments:
86-76. Primed for another let down year. There seems to be little depth to this team, and if any of the major players (Pedro, Delgado, Wagner) go down, we are in trouble.
Assuming we stay healthy (fat chance), I think we'd do ok, but I'm worried about the starting rotation. Can Pedro stay healthy? Can Glavine pitch like second half '05, or suck it up like in the first half? Zambrano finally step up? Bannister? Trax?? Personally, I think Trax is done. He did aight for us in the past, but I don't see him stepping up this year. I think Zambrano will be better than last year, so far his control issues have been quiet. I think Bannister will put up pre-2005 Trax-like serviceable numbers. I really would like to see Heilman in a starting role, which may happen if Pedro is down or Bannister sux. He has been pitching so well, he deserves a chance.
I don't think offense will be a problem so much, but they need to be able to produce consistently, instead of scoring 17 runs one day, and then 4 runs the next 3 games.
I think the team to beat this year is the Phillies. They have a potent offense, and they have young pitching that is coming around, although is still a question mark for them. And of course the Braves will always battle.
whatever the case, let's go mets!
i agree with mcdev here. You call your self fans? I mean our offense is sick. David Wright could be a legitimate MVP candidate this year for gods sake. pedro plays possum every chance he gets and he will continue to dazzle which will trickle down to the rest of the rotation. I would like to see Heilman get a starting shot, but heck I will take him as a set up man for Wagner to close out every frickin game for us with that 100mpher.
Let's dare to dream and say Subway Series '06!! I mean Joe, think of the great Subway commercial they could do then.
Geez- I am picking them to win the Wild Card, for pete's sake - how can you say I don't have "hope"? 3 of the last 4 WS champs were wild card winners, after all.
It's not that I don't have hope, I'm just trying to see the team realistically. Just like any team, you need certain things to go your way to do well (i.e. health, some luck). I'm just pointing to a lack of depth on this team, that may hurt us at some point.
That's the realistic view I have. As a fan, I think this team will kick ass.
At least this team isn't made up of a bunch of pussy ball slapping, ex-steroid users back on the roids led by a coach who picks his nose with a bat, and then sits on it.
I love the Anonymous guy's post. I bet you guys DO have Piazza posters over your bed. I am thinking the old school Sports Illustrated poster with the white border. Although I suspect Bookie actually has David Wright's face taped over Piazza's and the back of his own head taped over the crotch. The yanks will win 172 games this season, and Derek Jeter will be declared the Supreme Chancellor for life of Baseball and David Wright will be forced to wear a full black suit (equipped with breathing apparatus and full helmet) and scream like a girl whenever he hears the name JEETAH!
I have Tim Teuffel's poster up over my bed. He's so dreamy.
So, I don't know who is more knowledgeable about geeky baseball stuff than BIWON, but I say "boo" to you sir. I'm siding with the Schwizz on this one. This is the time of year to have hope and to make outrageous predictions. Shit even KC Royals fans are predicting a better season for their team than 86-76. You are an eternal pessimist!
I say we finally take the NL East, win the series, cure cancer, and, if the stars are aligned, cure Jeter of his homosexuality.
Great, Great picture on the front page. I agree on 86-76...as the score Florida beats LSU in the NCAA finals and wins the National Championship, baby!! GO GATORS!!
As for the Metropolitan Baseball Club of New York, I am more optomistic than my fellow Met fans. However, there is a major impediment to the Mets' success this season, and his name is Willie Randolph. All of his meddling is going to cost us valuable wins. LoDuca batting 2nd? Wright batting 6th? We're talking about a .300/30/110/20/100 player, and Willie thinks he still "needs to pay his dues." Why not Beltran 2nd? He only produced some of the greatest seasons in recent memory batting 2nd, but hey, Lo Duca had a great 2001 and makes contact. Heilman in the 'Pen in favor of Bannister? So, are we just admitting that the Benson & Seo trades were for nothing? Heilman has been lights out since last year (and that includes winterball and Spring Training), and his reward is the opportunity to be a late-inning leftie specialist??? We know Pedro's health is a concern, and that he may not be ready for weeks, so why not start with your best pitchers in the rotation?
That being said, there is a ton of talent here--Wright, Beltran, Delgado, Reyes, Floyd. Even the Nady/Diaz combo looks promising. If the pitchers perform decently, the Mets should win enough ballgames early to stay competitive and maybe have the opportunity to acquire a frontline starter at the Break (or, even bring up Mike Pelfrey, though I'm hoping it doesn't come to that). Maybe, by the Break, Pedro is up to full capacity as well. Then you have a staff and a lineup hitting on all cylinders. August and September will be rockin, and the Mets will finish...94-68, good enough for 1st Place and the Postseason. Then Willie will bench David Wright and Jose Reyes due to lack of playoff experience, move Pedro to the bullpen and name Jose Lima as Game 1 Starter, and we will be swept by the Wild Card Winner Houston Astros. As for Jeter, he's on my roto team this year, so I'm hoping for .330, 25 HR, 90 RBI, 110 runs and 20 SBs. Either that, or he develops leprosy and is forced to leave MLB for a commune in Hawaii.
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