SB Nation's 2010 MLB Previews: New York Mets, The High Cost Of Low Expectations

My preview of the Mets on SBNation.com. 2,600 words, hundreds of which are brand new and not taken from one preview or another that I had written previously (like the one for the Talking Chop Annual, for instance).

almost 2 years ago Eric Simon 11 comments 0 recs |

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the title really sums up the mets experience doesn't it.

"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'

it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.

by Gina on Mar 20, 2010 5:26 PM EDT reply actions

Yup. The title says it all...

That’s a very complete, on-the-ball write up, though.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Mar 20, 2010 6:17 PM EDT reply actions

Depressing

But well thought out and well written.

by Dapoil on Mar 20, 2010 10:56 PM EDT reply actions

The Bright Side: Not That Gloomy

The upshot of all of this is that the Mets will spend well over $100 million on players in 2010 but will still enter the season with near-replacement value at first base, second base, catcher, and in right field

When you think about the core group of everyday players that we have locked up (Wright, Reyes, Beltran, and Bay) and then compare with the AAAA players filling our other positions flling the other 4 positions (and the other 2 players filling in for Reyes and Beltran for the start of the season) it’s easy to feel a bit down about the team, especially for 2010 as we may be out of it before Reyes and Beltran make it back. But on the bright side it’s not that we don’t have viable options for those positions in the near future. Looking at near-ready (or already ready) prospects for those positions things look much, much better for 2011 and beyond:
CA: Thole
1B: Davis
2B: Tejada/Havens
RF: Martinez

Realistically speaking not all 4 will likely hit right away but as mid-season callups (or before) they should all be seasoned enough for 2011. Although one or two might reach their potential as a ML starter as a unit they should outperform what we have there now.

If Mejia reaches his #1-2 potential and Neise and/or Holt become a decent #3-4 starter 2011 is looking like a very good year for us.

We know we have big holes now but our farm is really under-rated but has made huge strides in the last year and with many pieces coming for cheap Omar should have money to add one more big piece giving us perhaps our most deep team in a long time. Think of 2009-2010 as transition years until a future dominant run in 2011-2020!

by M.C.Teufel on Mar 20, 2010 11:59 PM EDT reply actions

yes because Beltran isn’t breaking down and Bay isn’t in the second half of his career. Plus Bay played in a much better lineup last year and in a hitters’ park with the Green Monster only an inside fastball away. Not to mention how Beltran’s range in CF will be deteriorating due to injuries and Bay is a defensive liability in LF. Just screams success.

by packimop on Mar 21, 2010 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

What a cheerful perspective

Bay isn’t a world beater, and Beltran may well have problems. But he’s not exactly ancient, and he’s spent the last couple years with pieces of cartilage floating painfully in his knees. It is possible that with them cleaned out, he gets another strong couple years. At which point we’ll probably be moving on, as we have always expected.

by SuperT on Mar 21, 2010 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

Even at somewhat diminished capabilities, both are closer to the cream of the crop than they are the absolute worst that exists in the MLB.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Mar 21, 2010 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

It's not like they are 35 Year Olds

Those two are the only every starters over 28 years old right now. The potential lineup and age for Opening Day 2011 would be:

1) Reyes – 28
2) Beltran – 33
3) Wright – 28
4) Bay – 32
5) Davis – 24
6) Martinez – 22
7) Thole – 24
8) Tejada – 21

Even our pitching staff is kind of youngish with most in their 20s and only Johan over 30 (32).

Although Omar deserves blame for his choices in filling out our bench and pitching over the past 2-3 years he’s done a great job in building up our farm again and not giving up any key pieces. Yes 2009 was a wreck and 2010 probably won’t see us that much above .500 but we have some great young talent that have blossomed quite a bit in the last year and none our key players are on the wrong side of 34 years old as they were in 2006-2008 (e.g. Delgado, Trax, Glavine, Lo Duca, etc.).

2011 will likely find the Mets with the largest number of young, talented internally-developed players we’ve seen since the mid 1980s. I’m willing to lose 2010 if it means we will be serious contenders again going forward.

by M.C.Teufel on Mar 21, 2010 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

By the way

When is the Amazin Avenue Annual coming out in print?

Gas prices today are a lot like a pitcher's ERA. Anything under 3 is amazing, under 4 is pretty good and anything 5 and up is something you want to avoid.

by Bobby Baseball on Mar 21, 2010 10:36 AM EDT reply actions