Start Your Amazins: Mets '08 Season Preview!! (Part One)

Next year is now. Your season has come. Those were the slogans for the 2006 and 2007 Mets respectively. This year's, 'Final Season! at Shea Stadium', seemingly puts a lot less pressure on the boys from Queens. I don't really like it, but maybe a lot less pressure is something the Mets need in their slogan because there's lots of pressure on the team in general: pressure on Willie Randolph to recover after last year's collapse; pressure on Johan Santana to live up to his new role as savior; pressure on Omar Minaya to show that he truly can put together a winning team with an approximate $128 million payroll; pressure on the rest of the team to do some of their own recovering. With the season starting tomorrow in Miami, the Mets are poised and rearing to go. Let's take a look at what they have to offer (as long as everyone stays healthy)...

Starting Pitching...
1. Johan Santana. While I am still nervous about all of the hype, I got to watch some of his Spring Training outings and I liked what I saw. I had a special place in my heart for Tom Glavine (even though he has gone to the HATED Braves), it is great to have an Ace once again. Not since the Mike Hampton era have I felt secure about that #1 spot in the rotation.
2. Pedro Martinez. Apparently the most fit he's been in his career, it will be nice to have a healthy Pedro back in the rotation full time. Maybe he's a little pissy about not being #1, but he makes one hell of a #2.
3. John Maine. What's great about the addition of Santana is that a good #2 becomes a great #3. He was 3-4 in his last 10 games last year, but remember how the last month or so went for the Mets as a whole. His overall 15-10 for 2007 sounds nice to me.
4. Oliver Perez. Sweet. I got to see him last year in 2 very impressive outings. When he's on, he's on and you'll know it early. When he's not...eep he's not. Get that long relief ready. Ended the season 5-3 and had a season total of 15-10. Not too shabby, #4!
5. Mike Pelfrey. This was one of the big Spring stories, who will win the #5 position- old man Hernandez or Pelfrey? Up until, well, yesterday it looked like El Duque had earned it, but it seems like he's going on the DL for at least the beginning of the season. Pelfrey was roughed up in his last few spring outings, so it makes me a little nervous that he's starting in the rotation. Mike will hopefully prove himself as he did in a few of his games last year. All 3 of his wins came at the end of the season, so let's hope that momentum stays with him to the beginning of this year.
Overall Grade: A-

Starting 8...
1. Jose Reyes (SS). Something happened to Senor Reyes at the end of last season and he has vowed to make certain adjustments to change his bad fortunes. As much as I thought he needed to focus more last September, I don't want him to take away his handshakes and the attitude that make him such a fun player to watch. Hopefully he can get back some of his mojo without changing too much about himself. Let's watch to see if he can he beat his career and Mets-high 78 stolen bases from last year. Maybe he'll get some more hits on the ground this year as opposed to hitting it in the air so much. Triples and inside-the-park home runs are also something to watch out for this season. Watch the throws to first! Keep the errors down. Keep the handshakes.
2. Luis Castillo (2B). Since he was recovering from knee surgery early during Spring, Luis has made some good progress. He's older and with that surgery his injury-risk is up, but he did a nice job as the #2 hitter for the team last year. Good 2nd baseman. Let's see if his knee holds up well enough to get those grounders.
3. David Wright (3B). The Mets' golden boy is poised to have a fantastic season. At 25, he has not yet hit his prime, has emerged as a leader of the team and he had a great year last season with 30 home runs, 107 RBI and a 325 average. His defense is also improving every year. In one pre-season prediction, he was picked as NL MVP. Whew.
4. Carlos Beltran (CF). So he's not quite the man that the Mets signed in 2005. I heard on WFAN that Wright is in front of Beltran in the line-up because the Mets are afraid to have him run. His knees are weak. He won't steal as many bases this year. Here's how I see it- Beltran will be 31 next month. He can still hit. Well. He can still field. Well. If he doesn't steal bases, he doesn't steal bases. That's not something I'm really worried about. Actually, Carlos Beltran isn't someone I'm really worried about.
5. Carlos Delgado (1B). Someone I am worried about is Carlos Delgado. He had a flat out bad season in 2007. He was injured in Spring Training. There are lots of questions- Was last season the beginning of the end or just an off year? Will he be able to hit in the clutch (even a little bit)? I'm hoping that Carlos (my mom says, 'David Wright is cute, but Carlos Delgado is HANDSOME') can regroup to his 2006 form. I like him 5th in the batting order though. Not as much pressure there.
6. Angel Pagan (LF). Once Moises Pees-on-his-Hands Alou gets back from his hernia (ouch), he'll be the starting left fielder. Until then we have Pagan, who kicked some ass during Spring Training. He played to make the team and earned his spot. Let's see how he does when the games count.
7. Ryan Church (RF). He's new and he was out for a lot of the Spring. First he had that head-on collision and then his wife had a baby. Last year he hit 15 home runs, had 70 RBI and an average of 272. He's the starting right fielder either way, so I'll guess we'll just have to wait and see.
8. Brian Schneider (C). More of a defensive catcher than an offensive powerhouse like Mr. Mike Piazza, we'll get to see the new guy call some great games. Six home runs, 54 RBI and a 235 average aren't great numbers, but he supposedly knows how to handle a pitching staff, so let's hope he's recovered fully from his Spring Training injuries.
Overall Grade: B

Check back tomorrow afternoon for a look at the Mets' bullpen and bench! Until then, have fabulous baseball-filled dreams.
~MissMet