CTOD: New York Mets

In the course of one year the New York Mets have gone from perennial playoff contender, slash September choke-show, to a team drowning in a sea of turmoil. 2010 was an entirely forgettable year for the Metropolitans and an off-season where ownership was paralyzed by personal financial troubles does little to raise the hopes of their embattled fans.

Indeed, very little went right in 2010.  Jason Bay, Carlos Beltran, and Johan Santana all suffered significant injuries and missed time. Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo, and Jose Reyes continued to perform far under expectations. K-Rod beat up his girlfriends father. David Wright rediscovered his power stroke but saved his whining for the umps as he watched his OBP plummet to a career low. On the positive side, off-setting this mammoth list of disappointments were the emergences of Ike Davis and R.A. Dickey; the latter featuring an insane knuckleball and thus becoming one of the few must watch pitchers in the league on a start-to-start basis.


Overall, the Mets have become one of those quintessential New York sports franchises that are characterized by big names, bigger contracts, and lackluster results. On paper, a lineup featuring healthier versions of Bay and Beltran, a rediscovered Reyes, as well as Wright and Davis, looks like a possible powerhouse. If Santana can get back early and Chris Young can return to previous form then the Mets could feature a solid 5 man rotation rather than a collect of #4 starters. However, the likelihood of all this coming together is almost nil.

So here is what the Mets have to look forward to in the upcoming season: new ownership, $60 million coming off the books at the end of the year, contract negotiations with Jose Reyes, a labour fight with the MLBPA for trying to keep K-Rod's innings under 55 and thus preventing a $17.5 million option from vesting, Beltran running as little as possible in RF, and a spring/summer of rehab for Johan Santana.

Prediction: Best case scenario - can run with the big boys. Worst case scenario - can grab a stapler and head to the basement. It is hard to see this team being any better than .500 which puts them in a dogfight with the Nationals at the bottom of the NL East.

Surprise Player: Jose Reyes

I think Jose will be a surprise for all the wrong reasons. Although still just 27 years old, it appears that Reyes is going in all the wrong directions both at the plate and in the field. At present, management is unwilling to commit to a contract extension, or even negotiations, until later in the summer. This reflects the impatience the front office, and fans, feel towards the man that was once the most exciting player in baseball. Thus far Reyes has done little to cause excitement during spring training, managing just one extra base in over 40 plate appearances. Overall, a disappointing season for both the team, and him, could see him become trade bait for a needy contender come August.