NL East Preview: New York Mets

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

While the Phillies have had a good two years there is a team just north who has been having fits. The New York Mets have blown a lead in the NL East race twice to the Phillies and continue to search for answers that can get them back to the playoffs.

After improving the bullpen there is reason for Mets fans to be optimistic about the 2009 season, which may be viewed as a season of redemption. Here to answer some questions in our series of previews of the NL East teams is Regis Courtemanche, a contributor to the most popular Mets site out there, MetsBlog.com.


Questions about the Mets

The Mets struggled to close out the NL East the past two years. Are the Phillies in their heads or is there something else going on?

The Phillies weren't in their heads, if anything it could have been the Marlins on that last game since it was eerie how they did them in two years in a row. But here's the real reason, 29 blown saves.

If your old friend Billy Wagner didn't get injured, I can guarantee the Mets make the playoffs and most likely win the division. But to give credit where it's due, the Phillies played well when it mattered, and deserved to win the East.

The Mets made noise this offseason by bolstering their bullpen. How much better is the team as a result?

The bullpen may have gotten stronger, so what are the feelings about the starting rotation?

Ask me this a few weeks ago, and my answer might be a little different. Since then, John Maine seems to be over-analyzing his mechanics, and Oliver Perez returned from the WBC “out of shape.”

But I don’t put too much stock into spring training results, so I think with a rotation of Santana, Perez, Pelfrey, Maine, and Livan Hernandez (who I am not thrilled about), again barring health issues, it could be a very strong year for the Mets staff.

Sure there will be inconsistencies, but when each of those first four are on, they are extremely good pitchers.


Jerry Manuel started out as an interim manager to replace Willie Randolph. Is Manuel the guy that can lead the Mets on a postseason run?

I love Jerry Manuel. He thinks outside the box and is very candid and honest. He calls bullshit when he sees it, with his players and the media, and has a positive, humorous attitude. I felt that although Willie was once a good fit, he wore out his welcome, and his attitude had become very defensive.

That being said, I think Jerry can help keep these guys in the moment, keep things light, and do a good job. However, I was not a fan of his “Luis Castillo lead off” experiment this spring.

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