MLB.com Picks the Mets

[MFS62]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article_perspectives.jsp?ymd=20060207&content_id=1307889&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp

Dis this just build the bandwagon for other publications to jump on?
Has anyone else seen any predictions yet in other publications or websites?

Later

[Guest cooby]

Nice! I've been waiting almost a third of my life for this!

[Benjamin Grimm]

The favorite Metshttp://www.mlb.com/images/logos/38x45/nym_38x45.gif They have a few areas of concern, but the Mets also have enough impressive pieces to think they might celebrate the 20-year anniversary of their 1986 World Series win with another playoff berth this season. The upgrade Wagner represents at closer and the added production the arrival of first baseman Carlos Delgado and catcher Paul Lo Duca, means the bottom line should more than offset the losses of Jae Seo, Roberto Hernandez and Kris Benson particularly if Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine, et al, stay healthy. Projected regular-season finish: NL East champions Biggest Spring Training challenge: Finding setup men, especially a lefty, to bridge the gap from the starters to Wagner is the most pressing issue facing the Mets. Sanchez and Julio have decent arms and some experience, and if Aaron Heilman doesn't crack the rotation, he would join those two as the likely bridge candidates -- though all are right-handers. Best position battles: The starting job in right field, with Xavier Nady and Victor Diaz the main candidates with Endy Chavez also in the mix, should be close. Wild Card: If Pedro and Glavine go down or the pitching overall drops off considerably from last year's level of production, New York's vulnerability could be exposed.

[G-Fafif]

MFS62 wrote: Has anyone else seen any predictions yet in other publications or websites?

The Sporting News Yearbook and Street & Smith both picked the Mets a little behind the Braves. Consensus pick for the Wild Card at least.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Each of the past few years, everyone hops on the "The Braves are going down" bandwagon and every year, they're wrong. I'll believes it when I sees it.

As for their commentary on 2005, sure, Loop sucked after he got hurt, but isn't the real problem that Willie kept trotting him out there AFTER Loop was hurt, even though he had better options in Robo & Heilman?

Anyway, I'm a little terrified of what's going to happen when it's close & late, our SP is tired, and there are a few good lefties coming up. Sanchez is solid, but he sucks against lefties, as does Bradford. Julio's split isn't as dramatic as theirs, but with his ERA clost to 6.00 last year, it's kind of a moot point. Padilla's been good against lefties, but he was clearly pitching over his head last year and he might not even make the pen. IMO, he would be the guy I start with unless we pick up a LOOGY between now & April.

When Heilman & Robo were in the pen, we didn't need a LOOGY, since they were both good against them, but now we're kind of helpless unless we bring in our closer early--a bad idea with Wagner, who's reportedly fragile.

I should probably take this to the bullpen thread, huh?

[Guest Bret Sabermetric]

or to the "brainless and testicularly-challenged Willie" thread.

[Guest d'Kong76]

This was supposed to be the Jets year too to make some noise.

[metirish]

IIRC more than a few 'experts'(me included) picked the Mets last season to win the east, I'll wait to hear Michael Kay's pick before I going picking anyone.

[Frayed Knot]

I generally find the whole concept of, and analysis over, pre-season predictions to be thoroughly uninteresting.

[nymr83]

Looper was tagged with seven losses and eight blown saves. Not all Looper's fault of course, but do the math. If those numbers had been halved, the Mets, who finished seven games behind Atlanta, would have made the playoffs last year.

if you assume that 5 of those 8 blown saves WERE losses you suddenly have only 10 games that looper "lost." that takes us down to a margin of 3 games to tie the braves, so if Wagner had been here he would have had to blow 2 saves and lose 1 game that wasnt a blown save to be 7 games "better" than looper... how many closers have ever had a combined 3 or less losses + blown saves (not counting losses that were a result of a blown save), i'd guess 1, maybe 2, EVER.

[Elster88]

particularly if Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine, et al, stay healthy.

That's a big if.

[Zvon]

Everyone I speak to, fans of other bb teams, say the same thing.
"Your Mets look good.
You still have to get by the Braves first."

Bastages >

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

The road to the National League East crown winds through Atlanta. They remain the favorites, in my view, until someone actually knocks them from their perrenial perch atop the division.