This has felt like one of the longest off seasons in team history, mainly because our season was pretty much over last July, but finally pitchers and catchers are officially reporting to Spring Training today.
It’s really hard to assess this team, will we return to 2006-08 competitive form or the sloppy play and mental mistakes that dominated last season. I think with the return of health and the starters the team will be in decent shape but the true success of the team will revolve around the rotation as it did last season. We were hoping for 15 wins out of Pelfrey last year and it seemed he took a step back. We thought that Maine and Perez would give you at least 10 wins and they both got hurt. Ollie will be key this season, let hope that off season training in Arizona paid off.
There are some key position battles that will play out in spring training.
First base is open for either Dan Murphy, who I’d say is the leading candidate, Mike Jacobs or Fernando Tatis.
Centerfield, till Carlos Beltran returns, will be manned by either Gary Matthews Jr. or Angel Pagan, I don’t see either one getting too much of a strangle hold on the position though.
The last spot in the rotation is also up in the air. Will it be Fernando Nieve, Jon Niese, Nelson Figeuroa or maybe Hisanori Takahashi.
Finally, in an off season in which Omar Minaya cornered the back up catcher market, and by the way we’re still looking at Rod Barajas, the starting catcher position is the last one to be played out this spring. We have a multitude of candidates in Omir Santos, Josh Thole, Chris Coste, Shawn Riggins and of course Henry Blanco aka Hank White.I’m not even sure if any of these guys will get enough playing time to show their stuff. I assume the one that works the best with the pitchers will have the edge here, although if Josh Thole is batting .400 at the end of March, you never know.
Well it’s almost here folks, the first step is in place, pitchers and catchers. The success of the team will rest on these pitchers and catchers this season. The rest of the team will join by next Tuesday and we’ll see what we have.
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The only thing that has me excited about Mets baseball this season is the over under on most games started at catcher. The line is now 61.5. I say way under. Apparently Mets brass think we need 16 catchers for competition. How bout you guys signed a man that so desperately wanted to play for your team in Hudson to give castillo some competition. Or how bout a pitcher too that wouldve been nice. So excited to see this team pitch, defend and play to there speed. Oh wait we have one solid pitcher we have 1 gold glover maybe 2 and one guy that can run the bases pretty well. The Mets will lose 100 games this season. At least well finish strong with wally backman as met manager.
I am trying to keep positive about this team, but here are a few things to look at in this lowered expectations post.
Over under on :
public lies by Mets front office 9.5
over under on number of catchers used in season 5.5
Number of weeks Ollie P will be in the rotation 8.5
new inventive ways to blow games 7.0
Excessive save celebrations from K-Rod 27.5
Number of days Gary Matthews will be on the team after Beltran returns 4.0
Number of Japanese players still on major league roster when season ends 1.0
Number of times that Omar makes that stupid f’n face at press conference 48.5
http://theforumblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/omar-minaya2.jpg
Number of Dolemite style pimp slaps given out by Razor Shines ∞³
You kids play along and come up with some fun over unders
I agree with Freddie, Manuel is up to his old tricks again with his bright idea to bat “the most exciting player in the game” third instead of first. Who is going to be the leadoff man? Pagan? Castillo? Why not just let the best leadoff hitter in the game do his thing? I just don’t understand the mets sometimes. Freddie is right, I can’t wait to start cheering for the Mets when they are managed by Wally Backman, and while we’re at it, let’s have Ray Knight as their bench coach. They know the game and have a fire under them and wont tolerate the crap that is being accepted now.
haha Ill have an official over under later post before the season starts but this is a good start…How about over/under on how many times Jerry Manuels threatens to slash/stab a player – 10..Average game licks of the hands by Mike Pelfrey – 12