The Phillies improved their pitching in the offseason. The Dodgers and San Diego are better. St. Louis lost some pitching. The Giants added Barry Zito. Atlanta didn’t do anything special. The Cubs spent a pile of money. The Astros are worse.
The Mets didn’t add a big name starter, so they are pretty much in the same position as they were at the end of last year.
Who in the National League should the Mets be concerned about? What’s the team that could derail them?
20 Comments
“The Mets didn’t add a big name starter, so they are pretty much in the same position as they were at the end of last year.”
Hey John,
I’m not sure that your conclusion here follows logically from the initial premise. Pelfrey and Humber are possible factors now – they weren’t last October. Ollie Perez is going to have had an offseason and ST worth of work with Peterson. Ditto Maine (who is the only pitcher I fear real regression out of). And so it goes with pitching. Alou ought to be a significant upgrade over the rightfully beloved Cornelius Floyd. If Milledge has made the leap so few around here expect him to, that’s a huge plus. Also, Wright ought to be superior to the hitter he was after the All-Star Break (I’m not hung up on his homerun power, solely, but I’d like to see him drive the ball with two strikes more often than he did at the end of last year). And so on with hitting. I think we are better than we were last year. As with all sports, it will all come down to health, but come on. The Phillies added Freddy Garcia. That’s it. Don’t try to tell me that just because they spent exuberant dough on Adam Eaton that he will become anything other than what he has always been: he stinks.
Only team that possibly contends with us in the East is the Phillies if and only if Hamels and Myers break out and stay healthy.
The Dodgers could win some games, but come a critical series in the late regular season (or playoffs), I don’t believe that our best would have problems with their best.
To paraphrase FDR—The only thing we have to fear is The Mets themselves. Look the other teams got better at the margins not significantly. However, I always worry about The Mets when they are removed from a playoff year. They always seem to be bit by the injury bug or have a let down.
The saving grace this year is the manager doesn’t suffer let downs well. If this team performs to the players average years they will be fine.
I am sure that Minaya will be lloking to improve whenever the chance arises. I am excited about the kids (pitching and otherwise). Let the games begin
screw the what-if’s.
PLAY BALL. let casey stengel come down and go boo in our oppositions ear !
Lets Go Mets Go!
I fear Jimmy Rollins!
1. The Phillies. Hamels and Myers are both legitimate, front-of-the-rotation guys; this puts Freddy Garcia at #3 on their staff, followed by Jamie Moyer and either Adam Eaton or Jon Lieber. No matter how you slice it, this rotation has a lot of depth. Hitting-wise, any team built around Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Pat Burrell and Jimmy Rollins will likely score some runs.
2. The Braves. If Hampton returns to form, their big three of Smoltz, Hudson and Hampton could do some damage. Their bullpen appears strengthened with Wickman, Gonzalez and Soriano. Replacing LaRoche and Giles with minor leaguers won’t be easy.
3. The D’Backs. Their rotation is built around Cy Young winner Brandon Webb, Randy Johnson, Doug Davis and Livian Hernandez. And their offense, while lacking that bona-fide “big” bat, features some interesting young hitters in Stephen Drew, Conor Jackson and Carlos Quentin.
4. The Dodgers. Jason Schmidt, Brad Penny, Derek Lowe make an impressive big three, with guys like Randy Wolf ready to fill in the back end of the rotation. Their offense has some solid performers, but no legitimate power bat.
5. The Astros. If they lure Clemens back, their rotation could feature Oswalt, Clemens, Jason Jennings and Woody Williams—not a bad quartet. Their struggling offense should get a lift with the addition of Carlos Lee.
6. The Padres. Peavy, Young, Maddux and Wells, if they stay healthy, could be an imposing rotation. Trevor Hoffman is about as solid as they come. No real legitimate power threat in their lineup, though.
I agree with Steve :)
However, I worry a bit about the Phils.
That said, Go Mets!
Dave
Ps.
By the way, with appologies to John for bringing another site in here, I read this on the Mets site. It has a nice listing of the players and potential ‘07 lineup.
Nothing John has not already addressed, just that it is in one nice little package.
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070204&content_id=1794314&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym
John, I’m just happy that you realize that although the Braves have improved thier bullpen it was at the expense of thier offense and all 3 of thier big dog relievers are injury risks.
The Giants may have added Barry Zito but lost Jason Schmidt. So to the me it doesn’t ammount to much. They’re nothing.
I don’t worry about the Phillies, Braves, Cubs, Astros, Giants, DBacks, or any of these “sexxy picks” to beat the Mets. I don’t “fear” any of them, I do however feel that the Dodgers are a very good and well balanced team. I like them. I don’t fear them but they have the best team in the NL.
Benny, do you think the Dodgers have the best team in the NL, or in the NL West, or the best team in the NL that’s not in NY?
Mets>Dodgers
Diamondbacks=Dodgers
Lister,
I think the Mets and Phils will vie to be the best team in the NL. I think the Mets have the better starting eight, but that the Phils’ rotation is deeper and probably more consistent. The wild cards here are the Mets’ young arms and the Phils’ bullpen, either of which could surprise.
As for the NL West, on paper right now I’d give it to the Dodgers; on the plus side, they’re a veteran team that’s consistently good, but, on the down side, they don’t have a much higher ceiling (i.e., they don’t have a lot of room for improvement via a young player blossoming). That said, the D’Backs do have those young players who could very well turn the corner this year and propel them to the top of the NL West. If Arizona’s young bats come around, I’d probably take their rotation over the Dodgers’. The big thing the Dodgers, D’Backs and Padres are all missing is a legitimate clean-up hitter. If one of them is able obtain a slugger during the season, then that acquisition could feasibly swing that division.
Yeah, the NL West is going to be another dogfight, chamption will come out with like 85 wins, unless someone acquired that big bat or some youngsters really step up. As for a team to fear, I’ll say the Phillies. If Hamels and Meyers really blossom and our guys don’t, it’ll be much more of a fight for the division. Their bullpen is ugly though, and our 1-8 is better than theirs. They also strike out a lot. I also think our young guys (Wright and Reyes) still have more room to grow, whereas Ryan Howard just had a career year and Utley has probably plateaued. Also, Freddy Garcia does not scare me.
Talking NL East only, I fear everyone. Met dominated last season until Pedro and El Duque bit it and slow pitch, innings eater, Trax, got derailed due to a clouded head by virtue of a divorse. (Sh) It happen… though I’m glad he’s gone even though we could use him.
This season will be a photo finish and the Mets have to hope for an injury free season with another Banister-like rookie to step up for the fifth man in the rotation plus the fourth man is far from resolved. In addition, Phillies are Mets killers who under achieved until the end of the season. If they continue with all their juniors including Ryan Howard another year senior – watch out!
Arch rival, Braves, solved took a page from Omar ad improved their bullpen, so don’ plan o the Braves blowing games in 2007.
Florida, is also another year older and Met have not acquired any their pitching.
Expect a photo finish upon the best of circumstances and hope for rotation help. In other words… Get ready to bite your nails.
Dean Barbella
PS: I read the Mets may be interested in Twins ace at 20 million a year next season… so what was wrong with Zito at 18 million this year?
Zito, wanted too long of a contract, memory serves.
As a Met fan you shouldnt fear any team after a season like last year. you sit and wait and see how the first half of the season progresses.
Hey John – come out and play, lately you throw out these debates; sit back and laugh. come join the fun ;-]
I think we should all fear Chan Ho Park.
Dean Barbella,
Perhaps because Santana is a true ace and Zito is perhaps a 3?
Dave
I just read Mets.com will have a vid cam on the new Shea stadium so we can watch it progress as we get bored with other stuff.
Dave
just what i always wanted. :-\
Our piching problems are solved!
Just read that we have an agreement with Chan Ho Park for 3 bills!
Everyone breathe a sigh of relief. We now have our staff ace for 2007!
Let the games begin!
Dave
ps.
John,
This is your fault! You seem to have taken a well deserved break from your blogging this week :)
600K for Chan Ho Park, not 3M.
We can dump him if he sucks now without crying over the lost money.
Also, the guy who compared Santana and Zito needs to get his head checked.
SAN
TANA
LMAO