Top 10 Bold Predictions for the 2012 New York Mets

After a crushing defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2006 NLCS, the Mets have subjected their fans to some of the most disappointing seasons in recent baseball history. 

2007 saw them blow a seven-game lead with 17 left to play, a collapse that could only be compared to the 2011 Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox.

After losing a 3.5-game lead with 17 remaining in 2008, the Amazin's moved to spacious Citi Field for the 2009 campaign, where home runs went to die and players came to get injured. 

The past three years have seen every cornerstone of the Mets franchise spend long periods of time on the disabled list and divisional opponent Philadelphia dominate the National League.

Armed with a healthy roster, new uniforms and recently shortened field dimensions, fans retain the "Ya Gotta Believe" attitude that made them a perennial playoff team in the early 2000s. 

Here are the top 10 bold predictions for the 2012 New York Mets season.

The Mets Finish Ahead of Jose Reyes and the Miami Marlins

Although no deal is done yet, it looks inevitable the Mets are going to lose Jose Reyes this offseason.  To make things worse, the team that has offered him the best contract so far is the Miami Marlins.

His reasons to go are valid.  It is a warm city with a new name, new ballpark, and a roster full of young talent that includes close friend Hanley Ramirez. 

However, if he goes, the Mets will only be further motivated to finish ahead of the Marlins.

On the bright side, if Reyes leaves, he will be signing a long-term deal elsewhere and Mets fans know all too well he is nowhere near the same player in a non-contract year.

David Wright Returns to Shea Stadium Form

In each of his first full seasons with the Mets, David Wright surpassed 25 home runs and 100 RBIs. 

In his three seasons at Citi Field, he's reached each feat only once.

Part of his failures came from his new ballpark's monstrous dimensions that saw many potential home runs turn into long fly balls.  Likewise, losing protection in the lineup due to injuries to Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran limited Wright's pitch selection. 

In 2011, Wright finally was bit by the injury bug that plagued the Mets in recent history, missing 60 games and watching his batting average plummet to a career low .254.

All hope is not lost, though.  He is coming back healthy, surrounded by Ike Davis and Lucas Duda, and the fences are closer. 

With all these elements working in his favor, Wright has the tools for another 30 HR/100 RBI season.

Johan Santana Makes the All-Star Game

Johan Santana, the Mets' ace of the past few seasons, missed all of 2011 and opponents took advantage.

Without an identifiable ace in the staff, the Mets saw decent stretches from R.A. Dickey and Dillon Gee, but a legitimate No. 1 starter could very well have made New York a .500 ballclub.

Fully healthy in 2012, Santana will thrive.  After missing an entire season, Santana's competitiveness and impressive career statistics will motivate him all the way to the All-Star Game. 

Look for nothing less than 16 wins from Johan while he is still young enough to dominate the National League.

Endy Chavez Rejoins the Mets

The Mets need a spark.  Endy Chavez is available on the market.  Match made in Heaven?

As every fan knows, no negotiations are that simple.  But Chavez, a veteran who could be a fourth outfielder at a reasonable price, seems to be a perfect fit in the Big Apple. 

He's played under New York's bright lights before and been a fan favorite with his walk-off bunt and mythical robbed home run in the NLCS. 

Last season, Chavez hit .301 in 83 games coming off the bench for Texas and could put up similar numbers in New York.  In need of a move to increase fan support, look for GM Sandy Alderson to be in contact with Endy.

The Mets Finish Above .500 in Their New Uniforms

To celebrate the organization's 50th anniversary, the Mets removed the black drop-shadow on the home and road uniforms and made their royal blue cap an official part of both uni sets. 

Additionally, the team decided to paint the wall blue to bring back the homey feeling reminiscent of Shea Stadium. 

The last time the Mets wore blue hats at home and on the road? 2000 when the Amazin's reached the World Series. 

The most recent Mets team that played with a blue wall? The 2008 squad that won 89 games. 

Don't go declaring the Mets as World Series champs just yet—they still have a long way to come after their 77-85 finish in 2011.

But brighter times, like brighter colors, lie ahead for New York and the 2012 squad will win at least 85 games.

The Mets Sign Ex-Phillies Closer Ryan Madson

With the Phillies' acquisition of former Red Sox closer Jonathan Pabelbon, they left their former ninth inning guy, Ryan Madson, available on the market. 

With no reliable closer available internally (Izzy is aging quickly and Parnell struggled in his opportunities), the Mets would be foolish not to take a chance on Madson.

After finishing the 2011 season with 32 saves, a 2.37 ERA and more than one strikeout per inning, Madson proved last year he has what it takes to be a closer in the MLB. 

Possibly the biggest reason the Mets should make Madson their first choice is his knowledge of the NL East. 

He has already faced every other team in the division multiple times with exception of the Phillies, but he had the fortune of watching them play every game this season.

Madson could fill a major void in the Mets bullpen and get revenge on his former club.

The Mets Will Be Buyers at the Trade Deadline

As a fan, there is nothing worse than watching your team ship away great players at the trade deadline for below-market value. 

In 2011, the Mets attempted to clear cap room by waving goodbye to closer Francisco Rodriguez for minimal return and Carlos Beltran, the team's hottest hitter, for a prospect that is still years away from playing in the majors.

This year should be different for the club.  The Mets are finally beginning a season with all their key players healthy.  Additionally, likely losing Jose Reyes in the offseason and replacing him internally with Ruben Tejada should clear significant salary space. 

New York won't be leading the playoff race but they'll be in it, and the front office will make decisions to make this team a contender as soon as possible.

Citi Field Will Be a Top 10 Home Run Park

Remember the old days when you were a kid and you played baseball on an endless field of green with no fence?  Although that park wasn't Citi Field, it might as well have been. 

The Mets and their opponents combined to average 0.735 home runs per game at Citi Field last season, 28th out of 30 in all of Major League Baseball.

However, the Mets played large stretches of last season without their primary power hitters—David Wright and Ike Davis—who will surely boost that total when healthy. 

But the biggest contributor to the pending 2012 total?  Sandy Alderson.

The Mets' GM approved a new layout for the playing surface in 2012 that both shortens the distance from home plate to the fence and lowers the height of the walls.

Mike Pelfrey Won't Finish the Season on the Active Roster

Tired of waiting for Mike Pelfrey to reach his potential?  Frustrated with his constant injuries, balking, and finger licking? 

If you answered yes, you would definitely be in the majority of Mets fans.

Although a tank on the mound (6'7" and 250 lbs.) and capable of throwing 95 miles per hour, Pelfrey has never been a dominating force.  He's a gentle giant toeing the rubber, looking like a deer in headlights and afraid to strike anyone out (4.88 K per nine innings). 

The Mets and their fans are becoming frustrated with the inconsistency of Pelfrey, and the front office has already proved with Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo that they are not afraid to cut ties with struggling millionaires. 

Whether it is by trade or release, don't expect to see Pelfrey on the 40-man roster at the end of the season.

Ike Davis and Lucas Duda Combine for 50 Home Runs

Ike Davis and Lucas Duda may not be the most well-known names on the Mets roster, but after the 2012 season, they will be hard to overlook. 

Davis, who underwent season-ending ankle surgery, was hitting .302 and on pace for 30 home runs at the time of his injury.  In his 2010 rookie campaign, he hit 19 home runs while adjusting to Citi Field and major league pitching.

After his promotion to New York, Duda struggled hitting the impressive NL East arms.  But towards the end of the 2011 campaign, he found his swing and hit some of the longest home runs in recent Mets history. 

His "no doubter power" is a welcome addition to the Mets lineup, because the Amazin's haven't seen that attribute since Carlos Delgado.

Young, healthy, and protected by David Wright in the lineup, look for these young studs to surpass 50 home runs combined.

Terry Collins Wins Manager of the Year

If the Mets lose Reyes, Terry Collins has just the right amount of things working against him to win an unlikely Manager of the Year award.

The Mets finished below .500 last season, and losing their best player without adding any big names seems like the club can only plummet more.

But not in the wild world of baseball.

As shown by the 2011 world champion St. Louis Cardinals, sometimes you need to lose an Adam Wainwright to find a Jason Motte or David Freese.

The loss of a superstar allows for the opportunity for other great players to emerge.

Likewise, Collins has a year of experience in New York under his belt, and the players seem to genuinely respect him. 

If the mixture of elderly leadership and young talent is successful, Terry Collins is definitely deserving of the prestige that comes with being named the best manager in baseball.