Younger Generation of the New York Mets Is the Key to Success

Many like to identify the New York Mets by their old age.  They see Pedro Martinez, Orlando Hernandez, Billy Wagner, Carlos Delgado, Luis Castillo, and Moises Alou as guys who are well past their primes and crippling to any potential success for the Amazins’ in 2008.

However, many like to forget that there is plenty of young, proven talent on this 2008 team as well. 

Tuesday night’s 6-0 victory over division foe Washington serves as evidence that the young starts will be the ones to make the Mets shine.

24-year-old Jose Reyes got four hits in his return to the lineup from a sore hamstring.

29-year-old Ryan Church, hitting in the number two spot for the first time in 2008, also reached base twice, aiding 25-year-old David Wright in driving in five runs.

30-year-old Carlos Beltran also drove in a run.

And let’s not forget the efforts of the pitching staff.  24-year-old Mike Pelfrey threw seven shutout innings, while 29-year-old Aaron Heilman threw a scoreless eighth, and a 28-year-old Duaner Sanchez threw a scoreless ninth in his first appearance since 2006.

Aside from Tuesday’s game over the struggling Nationals, the Mets have seen strong performances from some of their other young players in 2008.  One of them has been from 26-year-old Angel Pagan, who is hitting .381 as of Tuesday night and has filled in admirably for Alou in left field.

26-year-old Oliver Perez didn’t give up an earned run in his first two starts this season to follow up his 15 win season from 2007.  His 26-year-old, 15-game-winning counterpart, John Maine, has struggled thus far in 2008, and will have to get back into his late 2006 and early 2007 form to help guide the Mets to the playoffs.

There’s another 30-and-under player lurking in the Mets’ clubhouse that they are counting on too this year:

29-year-old Johan Santana.