2010 New York Mets Preview

After coming off two straight seasons of late season collapses that led to the archrival Philadelphia Phillies claiming the National League East, the Mets had hope 2009 would be the year the "underachievers" became the dynamic team that Sports Illustrated had picked to be the team to beat.

While the New York Mets lineup starting off the '09 season seemed strong, the rotation looked to be a waiting disaster with below average pitchers filling out the rotation behind Johan Santana. No late season collapses were seen in the 2009 season. Instead, a miserable, injury plagued 70-92 record gave Mets fan yet another reason to question GM Omar Minaya, and the team's future. Coming into the 2010 season, the Mets were poised to address their number one problem...pitching. With big name free agents such John Lackey, Jason Marquis, and Jon Garland, and projects such as Ben Sheets available, the Mets seemed to have their choice, and time with choosing the one that would suit them best. With all four of Lackey, Marquis, Garland and Sheets taken off the board, the Mets must now go into 2010 with a rotation of Santana, Pelfrey, Maine, Perez, and Niese or take a gamble with a project in free agent pitchers Erik Bedard, Chien Ming Wang, or veteran pitcher John Smoltz to round out the staff.

While pitching may be the most important hole that needs fixing with the Mets, certain positions of the Mets offence also must improve if they expect to go toe to toe with defending N.L Champions, Philadelphia Phillies. Spending a long part of the offseason still unsigned, Jason Bay eventually joined a Mets offence that looks (on paper) as good as any other teams in the National League. After Bengie Molina decided to take less money to return to San Francisco, catcher remains as one of the question marks on the field as Omir Santos is scheduled to become the opening day starter (baring a trade). Assuming the Mets and Carlos Delgado officially part ways, inexperienced converted first baseman Daniel Murphy will take the reins for the 2010 season. Playing in a big market such as New York, and playing second fiddle to the New York Yankees, this year the pressure is on the Mets, and specifically General Manager Omar Minaya, to get it done.