Philly Blog Mets Forecast

The New York Mets have put new meaning to the word "chokers". In 2007 they looked the part of a team that could repeat in the NL East. Instead they took part in the biggest collapse in major league history. In 2008 they trailed the Phillies most of the season and seemed to get hot at the right time taking the lead in the East in August. History repeated itself though and the choker label reared its ugly head again as the Mets lost the division by 3 games.

In 2009, the Mets need to find at least 4 more wins if they hope to dethrone the 2 time National League East Champion Phillies. They sured up the back end of their bullpen by adding Fransisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz but did they do enough?

Starting with the bullpen, the eighth and ninth innings certainly look more secure with Putz and K-Rod but what else do they have in the pen? They traded Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoenweis away and have no other depth. Pedro Feliciano and Duaner Sanchez, who both had ERA's over 4, are the only solid candidates to fill out the pen. Sure Billy Wagner says he is coming back but can you really bank on that? The Mets will overuse Putz and K-Rod and still not have the bullpen they need to win.

For the rest:

http://myteamrivals.typepad.com/phightin_phils_phorum/2009/02/national-league-east-preview-new-york-mets.html