New York Mets: My 5 Fearless Predictions for the Start of Spring Training

Hope doesn't spring eternal in Port St. Lucie this year.

Contrary to the optimism posed by Mets GM Sandy Alderson, this team is going to be a bad ballclub.

I like Terry Collins and I read somewhere he would ideally have been the right man for the job when the Mets fired Willie Randolph and replaced him with the boring and clueless Jerry Manuel back in 2008. At least Collins would have had more talent to work with and you know they would have played hard.

I'd like to think I'm realistic in saying this is a 60-65 win team. Especially with the NL East to be shaping up as the beast of the National League.

Without further adieu, here are some fearless predictions and thoughts to mull over this late February winter day.

David Wright

What would make you think that David Wright is staying?

The Mets supposed blueprint for success is to be competitive not next year but in 2014!  

At that point, blue chip pitching prospects Zach Wheeler and Matt Harvey should be ready. David Wright, entering the 2014 season will still be only 31. But more importantly, he will be expensive!  Yesterday's signing of Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman to a reported $100 million extension only solidifies my belief that David Wright will be playing elsewhere next season.

The team made a mistake letting Jose Reyes walk without dealing him at the trade deadline last summer.

The only question is whether Wright will be sent packing in 2012 or during the offseason.

Mets Fans Say Go Rangers!

What do the New York Rangers have to do with the New York Mets?  Plenty!

If I'm Sandy Alderson and the Wilpons, I'm on my knees every morning praying for a Stanley Cup for the Blueshirts!

Everyone knows hockey is all about the playoffs.  

An exciting playoff run, reminiscent of 1994, will shift attention from the back pages of the New York papers and talk-radio from how lousy the Mets are.  

In other words, it buys them some free time to not be focused on how dismal things are and lets them fly under the radar for the first nine or so weeks of the season.

By the way, the hockey playoffs start on Monday, April 9th.

Former Mets Closer John Franco

Where have you gone John Franco?

The new Mets closer for 2012 is slated to be Frank Francisco.  

Not excited?

You shouldn't be!  He's going to suck!

He's not a shutdown closer and although he won't have as many opportunities playing for a bad ballclub, he won't remind anyone of Billy Wagner or Jesse Orosco.

Try Jorge Julio or Braden Looper instead.

His stats last year were average, at best. Seventeen saves for Toronto, with four blown saves and a unimpressive WHIP of 1.32

He does have more strikeouts than innings pitched, but the Blue Jays thought so much of Francisco, that they shared the closer position with new Met Jon Rauch, who also had 11 saves as well.

Expect little and then you won't be disappointed! 

Come One, Come All!

Great seats available . . . come on down!

Seriously, even in a good economy, would you plunk down good money to go to an ordinary weekday evening game in May against the San Diego Padres?

The opportunity to buy tickets on the secondary market on sites such as Stubhub or even Craigslist should make it ideal to get a bargain.  

Certainly you'll be able to get tix below face value and even have a little cash left for the inflated prices for parking, beer and food!

Jason Bay

Jason Bay, perhaps the biggest bust since Bobby Bonilla, can't be worse.

While the expectations for him are minimal, I actually feel he might have a decent, even semi-productive year.

The improved dimensions at Citi Field can't hurt and, although I'm not sure where he will hit in the batting order, the return of Ike Davis and a healthy David Wright will help.  

He's hit a grand total of 18 homers in his two years with the Mets and I think its reasonable for him to surpass that this year. He won't duplicate his monster numbers he put up in Fenway while playing with the Sox, but if he's healthy, he might surprise a few people.

I wouldn't say there's a lot of pressure on him, but he's one guy that really needs to get off to a fast start or the boo birds will become relentless and he might become the most hated local player in New York!