“Let me tell you this: Without Santana, we felt as a team we have a chance to win in our division. With him now, I have no doubt that we’re going to win in our division. I have no doubt in that. We’ve got what it takes. We have good chemistry as a team. He fits great because he’s a great guy. He’s one of the best pitchers in the game. Who doesn’t want to have him on any ballclub? Without him last year we did good until the end of the season. So this year, to Jimmy Rollins, we are the team to beat.” -Carlos Beltran, New York Mets
Carlos Beltran may not be as flamboyant as some of his teammates, but from the moment we exchanged glances at an MLB All-Star party in San Francisco I knew there was another side to that man. Ah, but that’s another story for another day, kids.
So now the NL East has a new prophet, but should we believe him?
The defending NL East Champion Philadelphia Phillies have been sporting a shirt that says it all: “Winning Starts Now.”
Well, once you get over the picture on the front of a bare-chested Pat Burrell doing bicep curls, the message is clear. The Phillies are ready to defend their title and go farther in the playoffs.
There are people who like to say that the Phils got lucky in 2007. Yes, the Mets had a horrible September, ending the month with a 5-10 record in the last two weeks, while the Phillies had a great month, with an 11-4 record in that same span.
However, the season is not just one month; the season consists of 162 games.
Just think, if the Phillies didn’t have such a slow start, the race wouldn’t have been so close last year. But when it comes down to it, all the “what ifs” don’t matter.
Some argue that our position players among the best in the NL East. Many say our lineup is a force to be reckoned with.
Almost all say the problem is in the pitching.
With a potent offense and a questionable pitching staff, can the Phillies repeat as NL East Champions?
Yes they can.
The Phillies are right—winning starts now. There is no room for slow starts and injury-plagued rosters.
So the question is, who believes Carlos Beltran? Are the Mets the “team to beat”?
My loyalty resides with the Phillies.
9 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Dan Kane about 1 year ago
Finally, some baseball writing from someone other than some close minded Mets fan. Excellent work.
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
I take offense to the term close-minded. I am a long-suffering Met fan whose glass if half-empty.
Anything I write about the Mets comes with much trepidation and apprehension
JF
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
That's right Beltran u tell those Philthies who's boss, those Philthy peopleare so dumb that they don't even realize that their team got lucky. Mets are definitely the Team to beat
METS #1
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Claire Reclosado about 1 year ago
Wow. I won't even respond to that—it would be way too unfair.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
The only thing that will stop the Mets from taking the east would be setbacks due to injuries. The Mets have some major players that could be vulnerable to injury-Pedro, Delgado, Alou, El Duque, Castillo,; Duaner Sanchez still has to prove his health. Beltran also had knee surgery in the offseason.
Phillies fans need to remember though that the Mets #3 and #4 starters both finished in the top ten in the league in W's and K's last season. With their fourth starter also ranking top 10 in ERA. With Santana they have three guys that should be top ten in those categories. I haven't even included Pedro or El Duque, who may be fragile, but when healthy are awesome. Pitching separates the teams plain and simple.
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Josh Niemtzow about 1 year ago
Great article I love it.
Mets fans so far (besides my uncle) seem to be trashy and they wont say that they have any weaknesses at all.
Hey Anonymous, Take you and your filthy Mutts fans away. You are disgusting and you continue to bolster the image of the Met fan Stereotype
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jeremy turner about 1 year ago
just cause el duque has a cool sounding nickname doesn't mean he's a good picther. The guy is a flat out junk ball who will be hit around plenty. On paper i guess you'd have to say the mets have the better team, but on paper the yankees seem to always have the best team. The bottom line is that both rosters are pretty stacked you can't deny it. I think if the phillies don't start off really slow like they have the past several years then they can and probably will take the division.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
!!just to play devils advocate!!. Sure you can say if the phillies start strong theyll win the division. You can also say if the mets finish strong then they will win it. Many people believe the phillies only made it to the post season because of the mets collapse. Which may have been bolstered by the fact the phillies were blown away in the first round of the play offs.
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Claire Reclosado about 1 year ago
Oh no, that was my point as well. We may attribute the outcome to factors such as a slow start or collapsing at the end, but what it comes down to is the team's final record at the end of the regular season.
As for their quick exit from the playoffs, I see the cause of the lack of offense as a result of lack of postseason experience. The Phils didn't go about it the right way, they were too excited, too analytical, and didn't play the game the way they did at the end of the season.
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