A Positive Spring

The Mets opened Grapefruit League play Wednesday against the Tigers with Mike Pelfrey getting the start. Pelfrey and all the other pitchers are expected to throw just an inning in their first spring appearances and then add an inning each time they go out.

Since acquiring and signing Johan Santana everything with the Mets has changed and it seems like the collapse of last September is officially old news. While Mets fans were probably alarmed when Santana appeared on the cover of “Sports Illustrated” last week (there is a so-called jinx associated with this) the article itself was very revealing. Even ownership was having a tough time getting over what happened late last season but with Santana in the mix it’s officially “out with the old and in with the new.”

I don’t get really excited over spring training games and even performances because often what takes place in Florida in March is meaningless in Flushing come April. However there will be a lot of attention focused on Jose Reyes, who was an MVP early last season and a disaster down the stretch. Reyes is the igniter of the offense and when he’s on base good things happen but for the final six weeks of 2007 he was popping-up far too often. A return to form by Jose and Carlos Delgado are the keys for the Mets this season.

The Answer To Pitching Questions

The Super Bowl has come and passed, the NCAA Basketball Championships are still weeks away, the Nets aren’t good, the Knicks are awful and everybody makes the hockey playoffs. So with that said what’s the only thing that will get me excited this month? The Mets open spring training on February 15 in Port St. Lucie and Johan Santana will be in OUR uniform. Hard to believe but a pitching staff that was full of question marks now has the answer for the Phillies….Johan!

Look this guy may not be Tom Seaver (nobody ever will come close) but he is the top pitcher in all of baseball and should handle the National League very well. With that said Met fans if he turns out to be a disappointment please don’t say “I knew he wasn’t that good” because there is not one of you out there who doesn’t think we made a great deal. Actually it’s not “we” but Omar Minaya who played the waiting game to perfection…even if we did second guess him to death.

So let’s get ready for the sound of “play ball” because the Mets are once again the team to beat in the National League.

Santana's A Met

Just a couple of days after I wrote about how fans were wondering if and when pitching help would arrive it does in the biggest possible fashion. Johan Santana, among the top three pitchers in all of baseball is close to calling Flushing home. The Mets have until Friday afternoon to reach an agreement on a costly contract extension and for Santana to pass a physical and a deal with Minnesota is completed which changes the picture in the National League.

Santana has won 82 games and two Cy Young Awards over the last five seasons and his addition makes the Mets the favorite in the NL East (sorry Phillie fans) and makes up for what has been a disappointing off-season when it comes to bolstering the pitching staff.

The deal is a real winner because the Mets did not give up any regulars…remember when Minnesota was looking to get Jose Reyes? Headlining the four prospects bound for Minnesota are Carlos Gomez and Phillip Humber and while they might have bright futures there is no guarantee they will be what Santana is right now….a great player.

So for all the Met fans who criticized GM Omar Minaya, his patience paid off and Santana is coming to New York’s most exciting team…the Mets.

Of course if the deal falls apart over contract negotiations or if Santana fails the physical….well forget everything I just wrote.

Ya Gotta Believe...Again.

Here we are only a month away from the first spring training games and Mets fans are wondering if and when pitching help is going to arrive. As it now stands the starting rotation on opening day would be Pedro Martinez, John Maine, Oliver Perez, “El Duque” Hernandez and Mike Pelfrey. Is this group good enough to win the NL East, never mind a World Series? Honestly everything would have to fall into place including a greatly improved bullpen for this starting group to be strong enough to get the Amazin’s to the Fall Classic.

There’s not a whole bunch of change right now from the team that collapsed in September. Brian Schneider replaces Paul LoDuca behind the plate, a move that I’m not thrilled over. However now that LoDuca is going to have minor knee surgery and miss 4-6 weeks it doesn’t seem as bad. Ryan Church takes over in right field for Lastings Milledge and I’m up in the air on this one….we should have traded Milledge a year earlier.

I’m not sold on the Phillies pitching but if the Mets are to win the division then a bounce-back season from Carlos Delgado is a must and Jose Reyes has to get over whatever it was that ruined him down the stretch. Of course as we know the bottom line is pitching and the Mets current staff leads to more questions than answers.