The 2010 New York Mets are a team many people within the baseball world seem to have written off as a blunder already. I however, have a different view. I truly think that the Mets have a chance to make the post season this year.
Now before you call me crazy, hear me out. The Mets were picked by Sports Illustrated before the 2009 season to win the World Series, and the way I see it, the Mets have only gotten better since the beginning of last season. The Mets have talent, and a potentially lethal team.
The problem with the current team is that there are a lot of questions regarding the HEALTH of the team. If healthy, the Mets have a powerful lineup and with a few small additions to the club, have a well rounded core with strong players who surround them.
The thing people tend to criticize the most about the Mets is their rotation. I think the Mets have a potentially strong rotation. Now, don't get me wrong, there are a lot of question marks, but if all of those questions are answered with positive outcomes, the Mets have the makings of a very solid rotation. As Mike Pelfrey said, the Mets were picked to win the World Series with essentially the same rotation in 2009, but everyone got hurt. It's not like all that potential and talent suddenly dissipated in one year. Lets look at each of our projected starters best seasons:
Johan Santana: 20-6 with a 2.61 ERA (2004)
John Maine: 15-10 with a 3.91 ERA (2007) and in 2008 he wasnt horrible either
Mike Pelfrey: 13-11 with a 3.72 ERA (2008)
Oliver Perez: 15-10 with a 3.56 ERA (2007) but again, I would take 2008 Ollie any day
Jon Niese/Fernando Nieve both showed signs of being solid pitchers in 2009.
All of these pitchers have had excellent seasons within the last few years. This essentially means that the Mets have a rotation with the potential to each win upwards of 10 games. Not many teams can say they have rotations that are able to achieve that. Maine has been dominant at times, Pelfrey has shown that he has the ability to be a front line starter, and at points Ollie has pitched in huge games for us and delivered.
Now, of course just because they have the POTENTIAL to be great doesn't mean they will be. I'm just pointing out that maybe, just maybe, things will go right and all of our starters will reach their potential and deliver.
As for hitting, I was a huge fan of the Mets signing Jason Bay. His hitting will be felt in the lineup and give them a huge jolt in the cleanup slot. The lineup looked a lot more threatening with a healthy Beltran in it, but Angel Pagan should fill in admirably while Beltran rehabs. However, with a healthy lineup of Reyes Pagan Wright Bay Frenchy Murphy Barajas?/Santos/Blanco and Castillo the Mets will need to fight on until Beltran gets back, and everyone can get shifted down in the lineup. If they score (again a question mark) they should have enough pitching to win.
Finally, I think the bullpen is what will make or break the Mets in 2010. While some members are sure things:
- K-Rod will make the game interesting, then get the save.
- Feliciano will continue to do amazing.
- Sean Green will suck.
There are a few options that could really make the difference. Kelvim Escobar's signing was a low risk high reward kind of deal that has the potential to be a great signing. Escobar was filthy at points in Anaheim, and has an arm that can shut down opposing batters. If healthy, he has the potential to be the lights out set up man we envisioned JJ Putz being last year. The other huge wildcard in the pen will be the Japanese import Ryota Igarashi. Igarashi supposedly has been fantastic for Japanese teams, and if he continues he could be a valuable 7th inning man for the Amazin's. However, I am a bit wary of Igarashi. The Mets have not had the best of luck with Japanese imports (Kaz Matsui), but for what ever reason I think Igarashi will be different. Who knows?
Overall, there are a million question marks with the Mets. But, if the Mets reach the potential that many of them posses, they could have a very great season in 2010.
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