What to think about this team? Since the era of the “New Mets” launched in 2005, it’s been a bit hard to track what exactly this team is about, sort of like trying to figure out what, exactly, Art Howe was thinking in managing his bullpen.
We know two things: first, the bullpen will be a lot better -- maybe going from one the worst ever to among the better pens in baseball. Second, this team should score a decent amount of runs, bringing back the core of a lineup that scored 799 runs in 2008, although spacious City Field should lower that number. And maybe we know a third thing: the Mets can count on ace Johan Santana to be dominant after June 15. Santana, a notorious horse in the second half, was unbeaten down the stretch and probably would have won both 20 games and the Cy Young Award were it not for the tender mercies of the pen, which blew game after game that Santana left with a lead.
Okay, it’s a good team, but because of questions both in the starting lineup and rotation, not a great one. This team should win 90 games and stay in contention for the whole season. But can they dethrone the World Champion Phillies to win the division, or even win the Wild Card?
Those are more difficult questions to answer.
http://www.flushinguniversity.com/moxie/features/mets-2009-season-preview.shtml
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