“The Mets took two steps back in their offense by committing to Castillo and throwing away Milledge and Estrada for the anemic bats of Schneider and Church… ”

How do you figure? What did Milledge do that was so fantastic? You call Church’s offense anemic, but have you checked out his stats? His offense last year was comparable to a normal Aaron Rowand season. Remember, Paul O’Neill didn’t become “Paul O’Neill” until he came to the Yankees. While he certainly isn’t O’Neill now, and most likely will never be as good as him, he is far from “anemic” as you put it.

Schneider is not here for his bat. He is here to play defense. He’s going to get about 100 games with Castro getting the other 62. Everyone forgets this. Schneider/Castro is going to be a nice catching situation.

I don’t understand how the Nationals misusing Church constitutes any kind of valid judgment of his skills. Last I checked the Nationals/Expos were a poorly run organization. I also don’t put a lot into Bowden’s evaluation of Church. Much like Minaya, he’s spent his first few seasons there bringing in “his” guys: Wily Mo, Kearns, Young, etc.

I really hate to have to be the one to always defend Church, because I come across as making the guy out to be the second coming, but this just isn’t the case. He’s not going to turn into Shawn Green circa 1999, however I also doubt he’s going to be Todd Hollansworth. IMO, Church is going to be a solid everyday OF who sometimes sits against tough lefties.

As for his defensive abilities, even if he’s not very familiar with RF, he HAS to have more range than Shawn Green circa 2007.

As for Castillo, while I would have much rather seen them just hand over the position to Gotay, let’s not pooh pooh Castillo’s contributions. He played very well down the stretch last year, gave us a legit #2 hitter for the first time in a few years, and he is a maestro at turning the double play, even with his diminished skills. You could do a lot worse than Luis Castillo.

I share your concerns about Alou and Delgado, however I will say this: if healthy, Alou will hit. The guy is a very good hitter, even at this advanced age. I’m willing to give Delgado the benefit of the doubt. He’s in pretty good shape, and should come into the season stronger since he did not have to endure two offseason surgeries this year. Yes, I am aware he broke his arm, but a broken bone is usually easier to come back from than ligament surgery.

If we were 86 or 88 teams we’d be talking about a team that can easily win 95+. This team is a 90 win team. That is enough to make playoffs in NL. Once in, youv’e got a chance.

Any fan who knows something about the game and is objective has to look at this team and say they have a chance. But if they are like most callers who call into the radio talk shows, I agree. They don’t know BB and they think their hearts not their heads.

Care or not you have to look at your competition to better assess your prospects.

Braves and Phils are defintely flawed, as are Mets. But I like the Mets chances.

As far as teams scaring me, I don’t know and I don’t care what they have. If we’re good we win, and if we’re not good enough we won’t. If we have heart we’ll be ok, but I’m not sure we have so much heart and fire on this team. The new position guys are used to perennial losing. Can they play when it counts? The left fielder can’t stay healthy. The 1st baseamn may be done. The SS collapsed in his first real tight race. Was that him or just a bad time for a slump? The closer chokes when it counts, another benitez and Heilmann is the same in the clutch. Maine and Perez and Pedro and El Duque they all got the heart and the fire and so does Wright and Beltran. Santana we’ll see. He got the stuff but does he got what it takes on game 162? Don’t you all wish anyone pitched that last game other than the Brave?

I can very easily see 4 15 game winners from this group. It may not happen but is very do-able.

If there is not a rash of injuries, they play the basics like their manager teaches, play D, play small ball and stay focused this will be a good season.

If they do the above this season will take care of itself and altho we will find out who scares us no one jumps out. We scare them.

Dave

As far as JDs post, yes there are still weeknesses on this team, that’s a fact. But the most important part of any team was addressed. There are other factors to address but I believe they will be handled in season to ensure that they are proved to be a weakness.

I am happy to start the season with this team. And I do believe that over all they are the best team in the NL. I don’t believe that this always means a winner, but on paper …

That being said I’d like to ask JD and the posters this question – Who in the NL really scares you? Who improved so much that you are scared?

The DBs improved starting pitching but that wasn’t their downfall, hitting was. The Rockies look good, The Phils lost key people and don’t scare me. The Braves? Third place again I would bet.

What really scares me? The Mets. They have always been a hard luck team!!! As Sloppy said “It takes luck, chemistry, heart, good subvs to repalce those injured,and a lot more.” I’ll take the luck anyday!!!

By the way I don’t hunt, I don’t eat lobster and I don’t eat veal… now so what it doesn’t make Pedro right or wrong does it?? You are either an apologist for anything that your guys do or you are very naive to think this will go away quietly.

I agree with you, I’m just worried about the mets. I don’t care about the braves and phillies.

The Santana deal doesn’t just make the Mets “better” in the abstract. It makes them the odds-on favorite in their division, a point basically conceded by their rivals (with all the standard “let’s see it on the field” caveats).

So, pointing out that Santana doesn’t bring any guarantees with him is like telling me that people breath. The Mets have flaws? Really? Say it isn’t so. If you want to be insightful tell me a) as of right now, who in the NL East is better and why? b) if you’re implying that the Mets should have done something different, then pray tell, enlighten us rubes.

All one can hope for is that your team has a chance to make playoffs. When they make the playoffs, anything can happen (ie., Giants).

Mets are now a team that will contend for a playoff spot.

Who cares what the media thinks.