Location: Flushing, N.Y. | Ballpark: Citi Field (42,000) (inaugural season) | Spring Training: Port St. Lucie, Fla. Owner: Fred Wilpon | GM: Omar Minaya | Manager: Jerry Manuel | World Championships: 2
The Mets opened spring training seeking a fifth starter, looking to stabilize their bullpen and hoping to solidify their bench.
ROTATION:
1. LHP Tom Glavine
2. RHP Orlando Hernandez
3. RHP John Maine
4. LHP Oliver Perez
5. RHP Mike Pelfrey
How well the Mets do this year largely depends on what they get from 41-year-old pitchers Glavine and Hernandez. Glavine has had a good spring, but Hernandez has been bothered by little aches, which probably won't go away.
There was little doubt Maine and Perez, based on their strong showing last year down the stretch and in the playoffs, would make the rotation. Pelfrey outpitched RHP Chan Ho Park for the final spot in the rotation, although he technically will start the season in the minors and get called up for his April 13 start.
BULLPEN:
LHP Billy Wagner (closer)
RHP Aaron Heilman
LHP Scott Schoeneweis
LHP Pedro Feliciano
RHP Joe Smith
RHP Aaron Sele
RHP Ambiorix Burgos
Wagner is the closer and Heilman will assume the eighth-inning setup role with RHP Duaner Sanchez out for another four months. Schoeneweis can pitch to righties and lefties. Feliciano is the lefty specialist.
Smith won a job with his sidearm delivery and by not being afraid to challenge hitters. Sele will be in long relief. Burgos is a project.
LINEUP:
1. SS Jose Reyes
2. C Paul Lo Duca
3. CF Carlos Beltran
4. 1B Carlos Delgado
5. 3B David Wright
6. LF Moises Alou
7. RF Shawn Green
8. 2B Jose Valentin
Reyes has the potential to be Ricky Henderson-like, displaying a combination of power and speed. Lo Duca's primary offensive attributes are being patient and advancing runners, which means he's wasted anywhere but second.
Beltran, Delgado and Wright have 30-homer potential. Alou and Green could be good for 20 each, the latter if he's able to correct the hitch in his swing.
Valentin gives provides a switch hitter at the bottom of the order.
RESERVES:
C Ramon Castro
1B/PH Julio Franco
INF Damion Easley
OF Endy Chavez
INF/OF David Newhan
OF Lastings Milledge
Newhan beat out OF Ben Johnson for a bench spot. His ability to play both the infield and outfield, plus hit left-handed, gave him the advantage.
Franco is a veteran pinch-hitter. Chavez plays superior defense and last year hit over .300. Castro handles the pitchers well. Easley can play outfield in a pinch.
Milledge made the team and provides the versatility to play all three outfield positions and can pinch-hit and pinch-run.
ROOKIE WATCH: RHP Mike Pelfrey came to camp competing for a spot in the rotation and beat out veteran RHP Chan Ho Park. With three off-days in the first two weeks, he will open the season in the minors and be brought up in mid-April.
RHP Joe Smith's sidearm delivery won him a spot in the bullpen.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Pedro Martinez (rotator cuff surgery) is not expected back before August.
LHP Dave Williams (herniated neck disk) underwent surgery in early February and only recently had his collar removed. There's no date for when he will throw.
RHP Juan Padilla ("Tommy John" surgery) will open the season on the disabled list.
RHP Aaron Heilman (elbow) underwent surgery after the 2006 season. He also experienced some tendinitis and was shut down for a week early this spring, but he says he's ready for the start of the season.
1B Carlos Delgado (right wrist/left elbow) had surgery after the season on both joints but hasn't been slowed down by either this spring. He did miss a couple of days with a stiff neck.
C Paul Lo Duca (left thumb) had offseason surgery and hasn't been bothered by it all spring.
RHP Duaner Sanchez (dislocated right shoulder) was hurt last season in a car accident. He tore some scar tissue his first time off the mound on March 22, and it then was discovered that there's a hairline fracture in the shoulder. He likely will need more surgery and is out until August.
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I do not know about everyone else and I am sure you will agree, but I cannot watch our beloved Mets, as banged up as they may be, not show up to the ballpark and get blown out. At least try to score runs. They just look clueless out there. Someone besides Santana and KRod needs to pitch decent. Parnell was good until
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After losing 8-0 and almost letting the next game slip away, the Mets held on. We are playing the Dodgers and they are pretty good. We could have folded the tents and gone home. I am not going to get involved with facts and figures this time, I am just happy we w
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I know a lot of people are bashing on Minaya now. Some are certainly justified and some I think are either overstated or just plain short-sighted. One of the lightening rods from this off season was that we didn't sign Hudson - he went with Cora instead. Although most people thought (and still continue to think) that was a mistake, there were a few trumpeting bringing in a guy who could play both
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There is no greater Tatis lover out there than I, but I have to question why he isn't relegated solely to a pinch hitting role. His bat is inconsistent, he had DP-itis for awhile and he just isn't hitting.
The following is addressing the current GM of the Mets and my feelings about this team and his leadership. I am so utterly disgusted, I need to say this and not have it in dribs and drabs over this terrific Mets site. It's obvious from my posts in virtually every thread, that I believe Omar must go if this team comes up short.
The Mets year to date have walked 327 batters, which is behind only the Nationals and Indians, who are the two worst teams in baseball. The Mets have played 83 games, so we are averaging 3.93 walks per game. Issuin
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By no surprise, I'm talking about the Mets offense. 22 consecutive scoreless innings, that's almost 2.5 games without scoring a single run. Can someone say "pathetic". During those 22 innings, the mets have managed 10 hits, all singles.
During this 4 game losing streak, the Mets have hit. 183 an
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That's the state of this offense. The Phillies pitchers look like Cy Young winners against this line-up. 2 losses, 3 runs and only Santana spares them another humiliating sweep. 39-40, 3 back and in 4th place. Offensive.
The Mets have 8 games until the break. It's obvious
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Many of us Mets fans out there have debated back and forth whether Omar Minaya is to blame for the mess this team is in and whether or not he should be fired. Lets take a look at what he has done since he has become the GM and you decide for yourself (compiled from mutliple resources- thanks to all who made this collection of info possible.
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I'm going to give you 22 reasons. I'll start by simply receiting last night's Philies-Reds score, which happened to be 22-1.
(1)The Phillies scored 22 runs against a team who was sending to the mound a guy with the 3rd lowest ERA in baseball. (2)It was 10-0 after 1 inning, 16-0 after 4 innings. (3)They scored 6 r
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Shortstop Jose Reyes had a cortisone shot Tuesday because he still feels pain in his right leg, and center fielder Carlos Beltran will need a rehabilitation assignment once the bone bruise below his right knee subsides. He won't even be re-examined until the A