The fifth starter is up for grabs, I would prefer to see Pelfrey grab the spot, but if El Duque can prove that he can stay healthy and pitch effectively, then let experience have the fifth spot. Luckily for El Duque the Mets schedule starts off with out needed a fifth starter until about the second of third week of the season, so it gives him time to get some more work in. Pelfrey has had some ups and downs in the spring, but he is another pitcher that looks effective when he has his pitches working, and keeping them low in the strike zone. Either way the fifth starter looks to be effective and add on a few wins to the strong performances that the first four starters should pile up.
On to the biggest concern of the 2008 New York Mets, their health. When more than half of a team's starters begin Spring Training hurt, it would make any fan worry. But this team will have nothing to worry about. Beltran, Delgado, Castillo, Chavez, and Church are all back. Delgado showed a bright spot on Saturday with an opposite field home run. Beltran is back in center field, and Castillo is back at second. They will be ready and playing strong on March 31. Alou does hurt the line up, and puts added pressure on Delgado, but he'll be back in May, rested up and ready to make the early push for the playoffs.
Many people look at the injuries to the Mets as a bad thing. Last year the Mets had nothing left in their tanks, and take this as an early resting period for some players to be more effective towards the Pennant Race in August and September.
Carlos Delgado is not an issue for the New York Mets. Many Mets fans believe that he is, but I assure you that he is not. Delgado is his 'off' year last season, still hit 24 home runs and drove in 87 runs. A lot of players would love to have a season like that. Yes, he didn't come through in the clutch a lot last year, but its the job of his teammates to pick him up. The Mets should be happy if he puts up numbers like that this year, maybe cut out a few of his team leading 118 strike outs and put the ball in play. Delgado should have a strong year, and if his home run total diminish, I guarantee his doubles total will increase.
Jose Reyes is eager to start the season, getting ready to prove that the last 3 months of the 2007 season were a fluke and he looks ready and determined to get the 2008 season started. Once again Reyes will steal over 60 bases, put up Gold Glove type numbers in the field, and help spark the Mets line up. With Luis Castillo and Reyes in the one and two spots in the line up, should provide the Mets with a lot of base runners, equaling a lot of runs scored.
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