MLB preview: New York Mets
You would think that things can't possibly go as badly for the Mets this year as they did in 2009. Then again, the Mets have made a habit of not performing as well as their talent would suggest they should. They've still got some nice players, but I doubt they'll compete seriously in the NL East.
2009 record: 70-92 (23 games back in NL East)
2010 projected record: 79-83 (17 GB)
Probable starters:
C — Rod Barajas
1B — Daniel Murphy
2B — Luis Castillo
SS — Jose Reyes
3B — David Wright
LF — Jason Bay
CF — Carlos Beltran
RF — Jeff Francoeur
SP — Johan Santana, John Maine, Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez, Fernando Nieve
CL — Francisco Rodriguez
RP — Pedro Feliciano, Kelvim Escobar
Strengths: If people get healthy and productive, there's plenty to like. Bay brings plenty of pop to the lineup, and Wright remains a safe bet for a great batting average even if he doesn't regain his home-run stroke. Santana might be starting to decline but is still a guy the Mets have to be very comfortable with heading their pitching staff. Maine, Pelfrey and Perez have a chance to be something between a solid middle of the rotation and, if they all pitch to their potential, a top-shelf one. Rodriguez wasn't great in his first season as a Met but is still one of baseball's most effective closers.
Weaknesses: Essentially every player in the lineup except for possibly Bay comes with a big question. Will Beltran return before June? Is Reyes going to be healthy and productive? Can Wright regain his power? Are Francoeur and Murphy capable of pulling their weight at traditinally offensive positions? Is Barajas really a guy you wants as your No. 1 catcher? Each of the final four starting pitchers is also an enigma in some sense, especially Nieve or whoever wins the No. 5 job. Other than Feliciano, they have nobody that qualifies as an established setup reliever.
