We’re going to start seeing and reading a lot of season previews over the next couple of weeks. Here’s the first from ESPN’s Buster Olney. It’s a good, in-depth video with cuts from Jason Bay and discussion of Jose Reyes and Oliver Perez.
The bottom line is that the Mets are expected to contend in 2010.
http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf
http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js
Spring training games start up Tuesday against the Braves in Port St. Lucie. That’s always a great sign that the season will get started soon, and the miserable winter weather will be long gone almost as soon. Although there are plenty of stories about the Mets coming out of Mets training camp, here are a few that really stand out this week:
Here’s some video that the Mets distributed this week about Jose Reyes. They shot some video of Reyes working out on Long Island to drum up some interest in ticket sales for the upcoming season. I have to guess that sales have bottomed out so badly http://www.mindanews.com/buy-valtrex/ that they’re even offering 6-packs of tickets this year.
It’s good to see Reyes working out and running full speed. If he’s 100% healthy, the Mets are a lot more fun to watch than without him in the lineup.
http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js
I’ve been disappointed that the Mets didn’t do more to shore up the pitching rotation this offseason. I’m also surprised that they didn’t attempt an upgrade, even incremental, at first base. The more that I thought about it, after John Lackey, Matt Holliday, and Jason Bay signed their free agent deals there wasn’t anybody left on the market that I’d consider a “difference maker”. Sure, there were, and still are, some players that would be solid peripheral players for the Mets. But the 2010 season doesn’t hinge on any free agent that’s been available since Holliday signed with the Cardinals.
The 2010 season does depend on Johan Santana, Francisco Rodriguez, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, and Bay. They’re the ones that are going to carry this team. I know it’s a long season and everyone needs to make a contribution at some point. But there’s a big difference between making an impact and making a contribution.
http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js
After writing this site for a few years now and reading a lot of mainstream media and blogs about the Mets, I find that it’s easy to focus on the negative aspects of the team. It’s especially easy coming off a disastrous 2009 season opening Citi Field with a “thud”. As a matter of fact, the whole organization was dismal. So much so, that Jeff Wilpon had to tour the minor league cities apologizing for the ugly teams they fielded.
With that being said, I’d like to focus on some positive stories going into 2010. It’s not all bad when you have the highest payroll in the league. You always have a chance even if the people running the organization are subpar, as is the case with the Mets. Money can overcome a lot of obstacles. I feel really bad for the Pirates and Royals fans that know they have no shot before the season even starts. Although things don’t look great for the Mets yet, we do have a shot.
Here are my five positive story lines for the season.
The news sites are filled with stories about Jose Reyes possibly needing surgery to repair his torn right hamstring tendon. He’s been on the disabled list since the end of May. Reyes is currently rehabbing in New York after leaving Port St. Lucie because of problems with his leg.
It doesn’t look like we’ll see him again this season, which is fine. The season is over anyway. But surgery would make it impossible to trade Reyes in the offseason. There’s been a lot of chatter about “breaking up the core” and Reyes is the prime player that people are pointing to in the trade discussion. But that can’t happen until he proves that he’s healthy.
I wouldn’t trade Reyes because his production compared to his contract has been favorable. It’ll start to become a little more questionable over the next couple of years though. Reyes is going to make $9 million in 2010 and the team has an $11 million option for 2011 with a $500,000 buyout.
All of the Mets beat writers are reporting that Jose Reyes had another MRI today in New York that revealed significant scar tissue and inflammation behind his right knee. He left Port St. Lucie, where he was rehabbing, because of pain in his leg. The plan is for him to stay in New York for physical therapy to break up the scar tissue and reduce the inflammation.
I’m starting to doubt that we’ll see Reyes back on the field again this year. I’m sure that he’d like to be able to finish the season with the team so he can go into next year without such a bad taste in his mouth. Reyes hasn’t played since May 20 and only played in 36 games this season.
The Mets Report 