“There’s no question that the Phillies are a great team. They have, I think, arguably one of the best offenses in baseball, they’ve upgraded their starting pitching, and they play like winners. They play like they expect to win. So no one ever said it’s going to be easy, but we have to find a way to de-throne those guys… and it’s not just the Phillies. I think the Braves have made some good additions.  I think the Nationals have had a tremendous offseason with some of the signings they’ve had. And then you’ve got the Marlins, who go out there and play that loose, dangerous style of baseball.  I think we’re in one of the best divisions in baseball, but I don’t think, by any means, should anybody be counting us out before spring training starts.†-David Wright
And people wonder why this kid is the face of the franchise. David has been putting out the best PR for the Mets this off season and I think he is poised for a big season. Ialso think with a year under their belt playing at Citi, the Mets can now treat this place as a “home field advantage”. I also think pundits and overly pessimistic Met fans truly underestimate the impact a guy like Jason Bay and a returning star like Jose Reyes do to a team. I can understand being jaded from the 09 season but ladies and gents…we have a hellova team for 2010.
As David already said, the improvements made by the other NL east teams have to be taken into consideration as they all have gotten better. That being said, the Mets also have improved and gotten better…even if some of that improvement comes from returning health. In my opinion the biggest improvement of all is the fact that the Mets are no longer the favorites to win anything. I know David and Johan play it down significantly but what has made teams like the Marlins so dangerous is the “underdog” perception.
While your waiting on you turn here at the barbershop, lets get so to some real Mets talk
1. Reyes will have a better season than Jimmy Rollins.
Its all in the hips
2. Johan will throw a no hitter. Hes just got that look man…its on
Reporter: "Who is the best pitcher in the division" Johan: "Santana"
3. Oliver Perez will emerge as our #2 pitcher.
Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water AND make it drink...Ollie agrees
4. Krod will continue to give us gray hairs…but will get the job done. He will finish with over 40 saves and get into a on field brawl…
Iron K for Knockout!
5. David Wright will hit 40 home runs. When you look like this at spring training….
Your Welcome Ladies
Your either getting a gig at Chip & Dales or your going to hit 40 home runs…maybe in David’s case he might do both.
6. Jeff Francoeur will make the difference in getting this team to the offseason. Check this article out to see why.
Why So Serious.....
7. Murphy will grow out a stache in honor of his mentor and will make another highlight play at 1b
Hey Murph...Nice game pretty boy
8. The Mets will retire Mike Piazza’s number
Time to put the Monster back in its cage...For all time
9. Jerry Manuel will make 1 really shrewd play to win a game
Im praying this one goes better than the Omir from the bullpen move
And last but not least..
10. Citi field will erect a statue in honor of GKR
Because i mean...who wouldn't...They are awesome
So there ya have it, a couple of statements for this upcoming year. Even if half this stuff doesnt comes to pass, it should be a very exciting year…LGM!
46 comments
prismo
2/22/2010-11:45am at 11:45 am (UTC -4)
Epic jinx. You better be knockin’ on wood all day boy!
dirtysanchez
2/22/2010-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
lol…its more talking bull than anything…
prismo
2/22/2010-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
haha I know. Just teasin’!
prismo
2/22/2010-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
Wright looks RIPPED. It’s almost scary…those arms, jeebus. All of a sudden I feel really weak and tiny.
DNDJohan aka kistics
2/22/2010-12:14pm at 12:14 pm (UTC -4)
Those arms look like mine…. hahahahaha my calves maybe…
njstuckintx
2/22/2010-1:12pm at 1:12 pm (UTC -4)
i’ll say 27 HRs, but yeah, he’s pretty ripped. MF4D will be all over this one!
metsfan4decades
2/22/2010-2:26pm at 2:26 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, yeah. If only I were younger……
ceetar
2/22/2010-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
I’ll take it!
I get more excited every day.
The Citi Field thing. I miss it. I only made it there 7+2 games last year, but I can feel it looming. (tix sale, march 7th) Last year at this time as much as we wanted baseball, we were thinking almost as much about Shake Shack, the views, the actual physical park than how the players will play in it. Now that stuff gets pushed back into the awesome side note category. (Although I’m excited to check out McFaddens, just for the novelty of a bar around Citi Field)
As long as we’re talking bull, Santana’s perfect game will come against the Yankees, at Yankee Stadium. Castillo will catch the final out. The three Yankees fans left in the building will slink out quietly.
dirtysanchez
2/22/2010-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
AWESOME!! lol
Mr North Jersey
2/22/2010-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
Well let’s see how about Santana pitches a no-hitter on Opening Day where the Mets win 4-0 on a lead off hr by Reyes and a 3 hr day by Wright where we find out Frenchy told Wright that the opposing starter was tipping his pitches allowing Wright to hit those 3 hr’s and Murphy making an over the shoulder one handed catch to keep the no-no intact to start the 9th inning and Jerry with 2 outs having the infield shift toward 1st leaving a huge void at 3rd only to watch the hitter hit a liner straight to castillo who because of jerry’s move was way out of position and able to catch the liner for the final out and the Mets 1st no-no. Because of the great call of the final out by Gary Keith and Ron the Mets quickly announce a statue will be erected capturing them as they made that final call of the Mets 1st no-no.
I think that covers most of the above.
stickguy
2/22/2010-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
You are right about the off season being misinterpreted (or undervalued). I guess it makes for good “reporting” to rag on the Met FO for not making enough moves, but that overlooks the big picture (improvement to the team) when predicting how 2010 will go.
Simply, a team could make no moves to bring new people in, and still be better (based on who they already had).
So, like I said, the best off season trade could be Reyes for Wilson Valdez. How many teams can pull off a move like that?
Even if you just look at the 2nd half (when they went from in the race to lost), they have effectively traded Sheff, Valdez (etc.) Misch, a wounded Johan and Figgy for Bay, Reyes, a reborn Ollie, Maine, and a healthy and pumped Johan.
That is 20% of the team right there, and IMO, has to be considered a “significant off season upgrade”
Calvery baby!
GravediggerHebner
2/22/2010-12:41pm at 12:41 pm (UTC -4)
Since you were kind enough to give us some specific topics, here are my thoughts on them:
1. Reyes better season than Rollins.
I think it depends on how you define “better season.” Assuming health ™ Reyes will probably have the better all-around offensive season, certainly better OBP. The SB numbers will depend on if Reyes actually bats 3rd for any length of time. At age 27 if Reyes is ever going to make the leap into the 20 HR category this seems like a good year. If he does that, he will clearly be the better offensive performer. But Rollins is the better defender and at SS that counts for a lot.
2. Johan will throw a no-hitter, and 3. Oliver Perez will emerge as the # 2 SP.
Johan’s clearly the most talented and productive SP on the roster. But if anything his control is too good. Obviously you can throw a no-hitter with good control but I think it helps if you’re a little wild and that’s why I think Oliver Perez, with health, experience and Santana’s tutelage will have the 1st Met no-hitter because no one can really “dig in” to the batters box against him. If Ollie does throw that 1st Met no-hitter it will be as part of his evolution into that # 2 SP in which he turns his wildness into effective wildness.
More later…
njstuckintx
2/22/2010-1:16pm at 1:16 pm (UTC -4)
I wrote some time ago that Ollie would pitch the Mets first no no. I still stand by that. Heck, is J. Sanchez can do it out in SF, why not Ollie?
GravediggerHebner
2/22/2010-1:32pm at 1:32 pm (UTC -4)
Exactly!
DNDJohan aka kistics
2/22/2010-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
LOL now THAT would be funny
stickguy
2/22/2010-1:19pm at 1:19 pm (UTC -4)
Lot of discussion on the catcher thread about the 40 man.
Besides the obvious (there may not be anyone alive that understands all the nuances of the 40 man roster!), looking at guys the Mets will have getting squeezed out makes you realize that other teams are going to have roster problems too.
So, just like last year when Sheff dropped out of the sky (decide for yourself where he originated..), quite possibly some other useful guy (even a pitcher) will suddenly be available late in ST.
Mr North Jersey
2/22/2010-1:20pm at 1:20 pm (UTC -4)
Francessa is putting me to sleep.
Not really back I think very boring opening 20 minutes.
metsfan4decades
2/22/2010-1:26pm at 1:26 pm (UTC -4)
I echo that. I tuned in hoping he was still away and Joe and Evan were covering. I knew that wasn’t happening when I heard Joe and Evan on at 11:00….
DNDJohan aka kistics
2/22/2010-1:44pm at 1:44 pm (UTC -4)
We should invite Evan to this site. He fits well with this comment section.
metsfan4decades
2/22/2010-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
LOL – I like Evan, Joe and Steve. The rest I can take or leave. I can’t stand MF.
He just said he’s not doing much baseball this week since they’ll be covering ST on site next week. So there is no reason for me to tune in at all since I really can’t stand him.
And he just said he read Willie Mays book, he’ll reserve comment on that but will say he didn’t care for Mays the ball player and I think he said he didn’t like the book either.
Didn’t care for Willie Mays the ball player????? Why – b/c he never wore pinstripes?
Mr North Jersey
2/22/2010-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
Actually he went into that a while back. Apparently he says that Mays once said that he would never stay longer than he should after watching Mantle play the game too long. Mike took that as a slight since he is an admitted Mantle fan and when he saw Mays stay too long he was glad to see it happen to him because of what Mays had said about Mantle.
So he admittedly is saying his fandom has to play with how he feels about Mays.
Mr North Jersey
2/22/2010-2:13pm at 2:13 pm (UTC -4)
Wow Francessa has his b game today. BORING.
When does Somers come on?
GravediggerHebner
2/22/2010-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
If you’re listening you probably heard him say this but in case you missed it he said he won’t be talking much baseball this week because next week is going to be a heavy concentration on baseball. Right after he said that I put on some music.
I don’t know exactly when but he did say the exception would be when he has Steve Phillips in studio for an extended sit down, but as Met fans I’m not sure that entices us to listen.
Mr North Jersey
2/22/2010-2:21pm at 2:21 pm (UTC -4)
Your right he did say that but Mike is really bad today. He is not a hockey guy but to start the show with does anyone really care if USA wins comments, ouch. I am over on 1050 espn and they are at least doing hockey bringing up the fact that they stopped serving beer at the end of the game.
I guess that is big news in Canada.
ceetar
2/22/2010-3:00pm at 3:00 pm (UTC -4)
And he didn’t even bother to do the research to realize that the 1980 game was 30 years ago today, even though I heard that in passing 3 times since last night. Oh, and none of the guys that work for him did either.
(I only listen at lunch these days, and I can’t stand cowherd on 1050. The other day I tried to switch over during a commercial and he was talking about the Oakland Raider’s kicker’s contract. )
So many times I feel like he’s floundering to remember facts or news that happened hours ago taht everyone already knows except him.
GravediggerHebner
2/22/2010-1:43pm at 1:43 pm (UTC -4)
You voracious readers have probably already seen this but I just read it and I love it. From Adam Rubin:
Does Beltran have hard feelings about the January episode in which the organization went public, suggesting he didn’t have permission yet to undergo the procedure?
“No, I didn’t have hard feelings. You know, it took me a while because I’m a human being, of course, and I’m a person who has feelings. It took me like a week for me to forget everything and focus on what is important for me. What is important for me right now is just to be with the team, be ready, and being able to play.”
njstuckintx
2/22/2010-1:47pm at 1:47 pm (UTC -4)
Who knows, it could be the start of something beautiful… Beltran waiving his no trade. I’m kidding, sort of. Oh, the planner Omar is. heh.
Mr North Jersey
2/22/2010-1:55pm at 1:55 pm (UTC -4)
Noooo me? I have no hard feelings. I mean sure at the time I had I mean hey I am only human but after a week I focused on what is important to me. Getting better so I can leave this club as soon as I hit free agency.
metsfan4decades
2/22/2010-1:58pm at 1:58 pm (UTC -4)
And could we blame him?
Mr North Jersey
2/22/2010-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
Maybe Minaya won’t be around by that time and he may have a change of heart.
stickguy
2/22/2010-2:08pm at 2:08 pm (UTC -4)
Boras is still his agent.
Ergo, he is going where the biggest offer is, whether he likes the team or not.
I don’t actually expect him back after 2011, but more because it will be a good time to cut ties, given the issues he has had with his knees and his age at the time.
Spending big SS to re-up a 34/35 YO CF after multiple knee jobs? Not likely to end well.
A perfect scenerio though to offer arbitration to a likely type A FA. Exactly what the Angels would do. You either get a 1 year extension, or 2 nice tasty draft picks.
Mr North Jersey
2/22/2010-2:12pm at 2:12 pm (UTC -4)
October 2011 is so far away I can’t even fathom what will be my feelings on Beltran by then.
metsfan4decades
2/22/2010-1:54pm at 1:54 pm (UTC -4)
Great post. I feel the excitement…
#1 – check. I think Rollins best ‘year’ has come and gone. We shall see.
#2 – check, check and check. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Ollie.
#3 – Love to see Ollie as the #2, especially since I was probably only 1 of 2 who wanted that resigning – LOL.
#4 – no argument from me on KRod there. Unlike many others, I don’t believe his best days are behind him.
#5 – 40 HRs for DWright seems a tad optimistic but looking at that body, you have to be optimistic about 30.
#6 – Don’t know about making THE difference but you gotta love Frenchy’s attitude.
#7 – I’ll go along with another amazing play but the stache? Nah….gotta have that black hair for that to look good.
#8 – Retire Piazza’s #? I’m not laying odds it happens this year.
#9 – Well, with 162 opportunities, I’ll give Jerry odds he makes one shrewd decision…
#10 – Love to see a statue of GKR, but you know that’s not happening. I don’t even think they have the museum ready yet, do they?
stickguy
2/22/2010-2:10pm at 2:10 pm (UTC -4)
I think #9 is by far the biggest stretch of the bunch.
GravediggerHebner
2/22/2010-2:08pm at 2:08 pm (UTC -4)
4. KRod will save 40 games.
Seems perfectly reasonable. 2009 Mets won 70, he saved 35. 2008 Angels won 100, he saved 62. 2007 Angels won 94, he saved 40. 2006 Angels won 89, he saved 47. 2005 Angels won 95, he saved 45. So over the last 5 seasons his teams won 448 games and he saved 229 or 51%. Yes 2008 is a crazy outlier but I think this Mets team will win enough games for KRod to pile up 40 saves.
5. David Wright will hit 40 home runs.
I don’t see it. He’s never done it. His 4 full seasons prior to last year he averaged 29, 40 is quite a jump. If he gets back to his average I’ll be quite satisfied. As far as who on the Mets might hit 40 home runs, I don’t think anyone will but if I were being forced to pick someone I’d pick Jason Bay. I was reading some fantasy baseball park factor analysis of guys who have changed teams and this analysis concluded that switching from Fenway to Citi will lower Bay’s doubles output (can’t accrue them by hitting flies off the green monster) but his home run totals will go up (balls that he did hit off the green monster for doubles will now go over the fence).
More later…
ceetar
2/22/2010-2:28pm at 2:28 pm (UTC -4)
I dn’t see Wright hitting 40 either, despite the bulked up body.
And I don’t think the Mets need a 40 home run hitter either. Sporadic power and aggressive play will go a long way. Doesn’t have to be home runs all the time. 30 from Bay, 25 from Wright and Beltran, 10 from Reyes, 2 from Castillo (hey, I can dream) 15-20 from Murphy, 20 from Francoeur and 10 from Catcher adds up to 135 or so. A very nice, threatening, number without it being the dominant part of their game. (probably 5 or so off the bench as well, which is a weak spot right now)
GravediggerHebner
2/22/2010-2:37pm at 2:37 pm (UTC -4)
I agree completely on both that they don’t need a 40 HR guy and that the total you’ve come up with is attainable for the roster. Your numbers (yeah, I checked) actually add up to 137 with Murph at 15 or 142 with him at 20 which is a good enough total.
For what it’s worth as a comparison the 2009 Mets hit 5 pinch-hit HR. Santos, Murphy & Sheffield each hit 1 and Tatis hit 2.
ceetar
2/22/2010-2:57pm at 2:57 pm (UTC -4)
The only number I’d put as high is Beltran’s 25, which depends on if he’s back by May first (I think he will be) and if he’s got his power stroke back or not right away.
but count on him for 5 against the Cards in the NLCS.
GravediggerHebner
2/22/2010-3:12pm at 3:12 pm (UTC -4)
I like the spirit of your last sentence but I’m going to go ahead and say those 5 Beltran NLCS homers will be against the Rockies not the Cardinals (note neither of us said the Phillies).
ceetar
2/22/2010-3:13pm at 3:13 pm (UTC -4)
I hold to my belief that the division is the Mets to win or lose, as it has been every year, and the Phillies won’t make it.
I only chose the Cardinals cause I want Beltran to pass the Babe for career postseason home runs against them.
Mr North Jersey
2/22/2010-2:46pm at 2:46 pm (UTC -4)
LoL if you want to have a chuckle you have to watch Jim Bowden in GM’s Corner Podcast breakdown new age statistics GM Theo Epstein of the Red Sox, GM Jon Daniels of the Rangers and GM Dayton Moore of the Royals with stats gurus Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus and David Cameron from Fangraphs.
http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=25789e2d-f44b-452b-a90d-86baa273c81e&from=IV2_en-us_foxsports_cp_mlb
Bowden says if he had uzr he would of never traded Paul O’Neill to the Yankees. To which I just have to laugh.
metsfan4decades
2/22/2010-2:53pm at 2:53 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, you beat me to it! I just watched this a few minutes ago. Was going to link it here for you all too.
And I did not realize that Rangers GM was that young. What a dream job for that young man. Didn’t know he grew up a big Met fan in the 80s….
Mr North Jersey
2/22/2010-2:57pm at 2:57 pm (UTC -4)
I just saw that also maybe he can hook us up with a trade.
Also did you see how it ended? Bowden looking at the babes boobs saying I like these stats. WOW! Bowden took his tie off for that one lol.
metsfan4decades
2/22/2010-3:01pm at 3:01 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, it was too funny. Worth the 20 minutes or so I spent watching it.
I laughed right out loud when J. Upton said he knew nothing about these new age saber metrics, it’s not what he was raised on. But when they pointed out some of them are comparing him to the likes of Griffy Jr., he said something like ‘well, that’s fine then’. LOL.
GravediggerHebner
2/22/2010-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
Wow thanks for posting the link. I’ve never watched any of those Fox “lunch with benefits” things before. Now I know what they mean with that title.
It was reaffirming to see that the “stat geeks” actually looked and sounded like “geeks.”
I wonder how high Justin Upton was during that, nice shades.
Speaking of nice shades Kevin Goldstein’s were a great color (the ones on his windows).
DNDJohan aka kistics
2/22/2010-3:19pm at 3:19 pm (UTC -4)
David Cameron looks like a chubby version of David Wright… LOL
Interesting stuff though…