Mets Projected Opening Day Lineup and Season Prediction

The New York Mets will try to put together a turnaround year in 2011. After battling another season of heavy injuries, the Mets will try to at least hit .500, but they will have to play very hard, and even acquire some luck. The Mets will probably go with an Opening Day Roster that looks somewhat like this:

1. Jose Reyes

2. Angel Pagan

3. David Wright

4. Jason Bay

5. Carlos Beltran

6. Ike Davis

7. Ronnie Paulino/Josh Thole

8. Luis Castillo

9. Mike Pelfrey

Obviously, Reyes will start at shortstop, Wright at third base, Ike Davis at first and Luis Castillo at second. Bay will play in left field. However, Beltran won't be playing center this season. He gave the position to Angel Pagan so Beltran will patrol right field instead. 

The catcher will either be Ronnie Paulino, acquired from the Florida Marlins, or Josh Thole, a home-grown prospect who played a bit near the end of the 2010 season. I'd give the edge to Paulino though to start Opening Day, being just newly acquired.

Pelfrey will probably get the season debut start, due to Johan Santana being injured until half the season.

If I had to make a prediction for the Mets, I would say they go 83-79 this year, if everything goes according to plan. They cannot afford to lose players for a long amount of time due to injuries, and they need big years from Wright, Bay, Beltran, Reyes, and a solid season from Ike Davis. If these players perform well, and the pitching is good, they can push for a bit over .500, but that's if everything goes right for them.