FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Bill5385 said 12/16, 11:31 PM
Odds are the New York Mets are going to be favored to win the National League East in 2008. But the Mets are acually going to be worse this season then they were last season. Yes David Wright is the best 3rd baseman in the bigs, but Jose Reyes is the 3rd best SS in the division behind Jimmy Rollins and Hanley Ramirez. Luis Castillo's best assest has been his speed, which is why he was so effective with Florida, but now hes a few years older and a step slower hes not the player he once was. The rest of thier core is old, Delgado is past his prime and it shows. Moises Alou is over 40 and is a nice player to have when hes healthy, but is not a game changing player. Brian Schnider is an excellent defensive catcher but a subpar hitter, and endy chaver and Ryan Church are good role player, not every day outfielders for a contending team.
The Mets starting rotation is made up of 5 questions marks. Pedro is old, cannot pitch deep in to games, Maine struggles through out a whole season, El Duque isnt good anymore and Oliver Perez gives up too many walks. Pelfrey and Humber are highly touted, but highly touted prospects dont always work out. The bullpen is old and ineffective. Mets=4th

Bill5385 said 12/17, 12:09 AM
Wagner gets worse each each year and his velocity gets noticibly slower. The Phillies and Braves have better offenses and pitching staffs. Rollins, Vicorino, Utley, Howard Burrell and Escobar, Kelly Johnson, Teixera, Jones, Francouer is a better nucleus then Reyes, Castillo, Beltran, Wright, Delgado. The Marlins, even with losing Cabrera and Willis are going to be better this year and have a strong nucleus to for the next couple of years.
The Mets bullpen, like the rotation is old and will be ineffective down the stretch. Heilman is overrated and pedro felicano is too old to be good down the stretch. This past season proved how the Mets old pitching staff can catch up to them at the end of the season, and with 3 of the other 4 teams in the NL can expecedly be better this year, the Mets cannot. They have no significant off season pick ups, where as the Braves added Jair Jurriens and Tom Glavine and the Phillies got Brad Lidge and could move Myers back in to the rotation. While the Phils and Braves are a year better, The Mets are a year older, and will likely fall apart sooner than the last month in 2008. There wont even be a chance for a collapse because they wont getthat far.

Bill5385 said 12/19, 01:10 AM
Forfeited Turn