Did A Curse Find the Mets This Year? The Age of Reason

Born April 16, 1969, at 40-year-old New York Met pitcher Ken Takahashi is the oldest player on the Mets 40-man roster.

When players like Carlos Delgado (37), Carlos Beltran (32), Jose Reyes (26), Alex Cora (34), J.J. Putz (32) and finally Johan Santana (30) went down, Mets fans wondered why such bad luck had befallen one team.

As an outsider looking in, I suspected that the core of the team was too old, causing the core players to break down.

The Mets average age is 32.72 and the players on the disabled list average 32.90 years old, almost 33 years old.

I also looked at the average age of the positional players, taking into consideration the Jamie Moyers of the pitching fraternity, as well as other left-handed pitchers, who could pitch well into their early 40s.

The average age of the positional players for the Mets is 33.1 years of age.

When you see the other top teams, you will see a disparity of ages, enough to make a difference in a baseball season.

Catcher Brad Ausmus, born April 14, 1969, at 40 years old, is the Dodgers' oldest player.

The addition of Jim Thome, 39, added to the Dodgers' overall age of the team, which is 33.55 years old, slightly older than the Mets.

While the Dodgers still are tied for the best record in the Naitonal League at 84-58, the are only 2.5 games ahead of the streaking Colorado Rockies.

It could be a reason for the Dodgers to fade down the stretch. They should still win the division.

The average age of positional players is better at 30.68 years old.

If Jamie Moyer keeps pitching, his age will soon match his uniform number. At 47 years old, he is not only the Phillies oldest player, but the oldest player in all of baseball, since Julio Franco retired in 2007 at the age of 49.

The Phillies are either too old, or at the prime of their careers, with the team's average age at 31.3. That is still a whole year younger than the New York Mets and enough to make a difference.

The core of the team is in their late 20s and early 30s: Ryan Howard, 29 going on 30; Chase Utley, 31, and Jimmy Rollins, 31.

Their core players are even older at 32.25, but that includes Paul Bako, 37 and Matt Stairs, 41.

Next year, if the team would stay the same, the Phillies would be as old as the Mets.

That why their window of winning could be closing sooner, than later.

Brendan Donnelly, 38, is the Florida Marlins' oldest player. The pitcher is shown here in a 2002 promotional photo while a member of the Anaheim Angels.

Showcasing the exciting Hanley Ramirez, 26, the Marlins average 29.075 years of age.

Their positional player average is younger at 27.25 years of age.

Considering their championship years (1997, 2003), next year could be their year to win everything again.

Their average age next year, all things remaining the same, will be between 30 and 31 years old. A good age for any team to win it all.

John Smoltz, a sure-fire first ballot Hall of Fame candidate, is the Cardinals' oldest player at 42 years old.

Led by Albert Pujois, 29, the Cardinals, if indicated by their average age, are set for the long run. The average age of the team is an incredible 27.80 years of age. Their positional players average 28.9 years of age.

Tie with the Dodgers for the best record in the National League, the Cardinals should be good for a couple more years, and if any indication in this study, have the freshest arms and legs heading into the playoffs.

More than showing the Mets to be an old team, this study clearly shows the Cardinals to be the favorites heading into the World Series.

Whoever wins in the National, age a help or hinderance, the winner will likely face the best team in baseball: The New York Yankees.