2007 New York Mets Preview
The 2007 Baseball Season Looks Good for The New York Mets
The Mets have the hitting to dominate the National League East. But their big three starting pitchers are too old and brittle to lead them back to the Division Title.
The Mets starting pitching is old and getting weak. Tom Glavine, Orlando Hernandez and Pedro Martinez all come into the 2007 season with more questions than answers. As great as they once were, this trio canot lead New York to a National League East title.
2006 Record:
Regular Season: 97-65 (First in NL East)
NLDS: Beat Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0
NLCS: Lost to Cardinals in 7 games.
2007 New York Mets Strengths
The Offense
Jose Reyes and David Wright are the best tandem of young superstars to come along in years. Carlos Beltran returned to form after a tough first year at Shea. Then there’s Carlos Delgado. Last year, many were predicting his demise, but the man produced big. He collected 41 home runs and 118 RBI. He will excel again in 2007. That’s just who he his. And don’t underestimate what Moises Alou can do for the Mets. Alou hit .301 with 22 HR and 74 RBI in just 98 games with the Giants. He will round out a powerful lineup that could lead the National League in Runs.
The Closer
Billy Wagner got a lot of flack from Yankee fans last year for entering games to the heavy metal thunder of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” It didn’t seem to bother him, though. The southpaw had his best season ever: 70 appearances, 40 Saves, and a 2.24 ERA. Given Wagner’s ability to bring the heat combined with his durability, the Mets are in good hands in the ninth inning.
2007 New York Mets Burning Questions
Starting Pitching.
If this were 1999, the Mets would have the best starting trio in the game: Tom Glavine, Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez. But it’s much later than 1999, and these three have caught a dose of that terrible affliction known as aging. Glavine, who faltered over the second half last season with an ERA over 5.00, turns 41 later this month.
“El Duque” Orlando Hernandez is older than his stated age of 37. How much older is one of baseball’s mysteries, but the records do show that Hernandez pitched 36 seasons in Cuba alone. No they don’t. That was a lie. But the guy is old. A recent bout with arthritis sidelined him for five days during this 2007 Spring Training. Over the past five seasons (including his lost year of 2003), Hernandez has averaged 17 starts a season. If that record and his current problems are any indication, Met Fans should expect to see Hernandez on the shelf a lot during the season. Even if he is healthy, El Duque is just 20-20 over the past two seasons, with an ERA over 4.80.
It would be a surprise if these two produce more than 20 to 22 wins between them in 2007.
The hottest question of the Mets spring is: When Can Pedro Martinez pitch?
The question should be: Once he recovers, how much will he be able to pitch? Martinez had off-season surgery on a torn rotator cuff, and cannot throw off a mound until April 1st. The earliest he will pitch in actual games is July. That means the Mets may be able to get about 20 starts from their ace. Given Pedro’s age and his frailty, however, that number will probably be closer to 15. That simply won’t be enough for the Mets.
2007 New York Mets Prediction
New York is still close to a Championship. If their veteran starters could perform like they were once capable, they would win the East. But the odds suggest that all three former studs will be a bit less potent than they were during the last century. The Mets will suffer as a result.
89-73, Second Place in NL East.
Scouting the Competition? Check out the 2007 Philadelphia Phillies Preview.
