Mets Season Has High Hopes - Team Can Make Postseason THIS YEAR!

Since there's only 2 more baseball seasons left until the end of the world in 2012, let me make a bold prediction that many will think is crazy: The Mets have a legitimate chance at making the postseason THIS YEAR with the team as constructed TODAY. Yes, it's true.

All we hear is Philly, Philly, Philly. And I'm not saying the Mets will beat the Phils for the division, but despite the Phillies perceived dominance, you still have to play the game. Ask the San Francisco Giants about that one! The postseason is certainly not out of the question if you look at the Mets roster and the potential that lies therein.

Before you call us crazy (too late), we will offer a big assumption, and that assumption is that key players return healthy and stay healthy. That is the whole key to this team, because if you go position by position, you may have to look at this team in an entirely different light. Let's do that:

No one's going to mistake Ike Davis for Albert Pujols, but Ike had a solid season last year and shows every indication of getting better (unless you believe in the sophmore jinx, which of course is completely ridiculous). Davis hits for power, drives in big runs, plays great defense, and is a team leader already in the clubhouse. Who'd you rather have, realistically? Obviously, first base is no problem for the Mets, both offensively and defensively.

How many third basemen in the game today are better than David Wright? Maybe Evan Longoria? The bottom line is David Wright will hit 30 homeruns, drive in 110 runs and hit close to .300 this year. He continues to get better and you can't find a player in MLB with a better attitude toward the game in general. GM's all over the game all point to him being a key player, so once again, the Mets are blessed at third base with one of the best in the game. No problem here at all.

Josh Thole impressed everyone last year behind the plate in limited appearances. He's got potential, he's got the desire to get better, and he's already a great defensive catcher with the ability to call a good game. The Mets don't need him to be Mike Piazza with the bat, so if he hits .250 this year, and continues his trend of timely hitting from last year, the Mets have a winner behind the plate. Again, who'd you rather have today? (and don't say Jorge Posada). Behind the plate? Check!

Let's talk about Carlos Beltran. If he comes back healthy and stays healthy throughout the season (a big "if" for sure, but if you're a betting person, you have to bet that would be the case), Beltran will be playing the whole year for a contract. And what do most players do when their in a contract year? They play great and put up monster numbers, that's what they do!!! Trade Beltran? Is everyone crazy? A healthy Beltran will hit 35 homeruns, drive in 100 plus runs and hit about .280, all while playing solid defense whether he plays center or right. Sounds like an MVP season to me! Okay, I get it that he took strike 3 a few years ago - Carlos Beltran was, is, and will always be a gamer, and a healthy Beltran means healthy wins for the Mets. This whole issue with Beltran?: overblown media sensational nonsense.

Now we get to Jose Reyes and again the health question comes up. But that's the only question. A healthy Reyes batting lead-off terrorizes pitchers, makes things happen, and provides a catalyst on this team that no other baseball team currently has. None. That's how unique Jose's game is. And people want to trade this guy? For who - Jimmy Rollins? No thanks. No where else can you get speed on the bases, a little pop in the bat, and the overall uneasiness he creates on opponents. And his defense isn't bad either. Oh, and he's playing for a contract extension - what happens to players when they play for contract extensions? See Beltran above!

Jason Bay's had about a season and a half to recover from his injuries. Can he possibly be as bad as we saw him last year (to this day, I'm convinced he was hurt way before he smashed into the outfield wall - why else would Boston just give him away after his monster year with them?). But the past is the past and again the health issue rears its head. A healthy Bay with CitiField experience certainly beats last years numbers and pace, and we predict a 30-120-.275 year from him (plus steady defense). Crazy numbers?..., not if you look at his previous healthy stats in the second year with teams. Take it to the bank folks with a huge offensive season from Jason Bay.

Next we turn to rightfield (or center) with Angel Pagan, who many consider to be the MVP of the Mets last season. When trade talks happen and involve his name, fans generally point to him as "untouchable" for some reason. Perhaps that reason is because he continues to get better and better and has all the tools necessary to become a star player in the very near future? Maybe this year? Is there a downside to this guy? No, there isn't - just like (other than health), there isn't a downside to the entire Mets outfield if you really look at it.

Finally, we get to second base, which of course every Met fan knows is the problem with this team since Castillo is so bad - except of course, that the stats actually show else wise. Castillo's a solid hitter and does the little things well that generally don't appear in the boxscore. His range on defense is a bit suspect, but the Mets don't need him to be Chase Utley. With the way this team is constituted right now, they just need him to be their 2011 version of Doug Flynn, even without the stellar defense. And even if Castillo isn't the secondbasemen, what's wrong with Daniel Murphy? Just a short time ago, Met fans were looking at him as the next Keith Hernandez. Or even Ruben Tejada or Brad Emaus? Certainly the team can do worse.

So we look around the league and see that as an overall picture on offense and defense, not many teams have what the Mets have (again, assuming health). They even have some depth on the bench with the much improved Lucas Duda, veteran Scott Hairston, and catcher Ronnie Paulino among others. People, dare I say it, this team is GOOD!

But of course we have to look at the most important part of the game: pitching, and even that doesn't look too bad if you're once again assuming health. Mike Pelfrey heads the staff, and again, when other teams talk trade with the Mets, Pelfrey's name seems to always come up. Why? Because he's a solid pitcher... no Tim Lincecum, but a solid starter nonetheless. Can there be an issue with R.A. Dickey after his poise and attitude from last year? Plus, he's a knuckeballer so you don't have to worry about him pitching heavy innings or his arm falling apart. Jon Niese showed the stuff last year which make him comparable to a young Jon Matlack and there's certainly no reason to think he won't get better - maybe even have a Jon Matlack type of season. As for Chris Young, yes, he's coming back from an injury - but he sounds confident and all medical reports point to him being back... and does anyone remember how good this guy was? There's a very good chance that Young will be the steal of the off-season with the Mets this year, and I predict that at some point THIS YEAR, fans and media alike will use the term "staff ace" at some point, because he's going to be that good. Finally, you want to talk Chris Capuano, Pat Misch, Dillon Gee, et al? Well, certainly no head turners, but the Mets went to the World Series a while back with much, much worse. So while the Mets starters don't stack up to the Phillies staff, they absolutely have enough to make this season interesting. And don't be surprised if the offense makes up for some stinky outings every once in a while.

But the bullpen? That's important too, right? Let's put it this way: KRod may be a jerk, a home-wrecker, a hot-head, uncontrollable, unpredictable, a-hole, but guess what? There's not many relievers out there who are better! Despite the cardiac arrests, he gets the job done. The Mets closer (on the field) is not the problem. When you look at middle relief, you have flamethrower Bobby Parnell, Manny Acosta, and maybe even Oliver Perez, which I give you looks a bit scary. But remember this: the bullpen is by definition the worst part of ANY team - you can't expect them to be good, otherwise, they'd be starters! Manager Terry Collins will have his hands full with this, but then again, every bullpen turns their managers hair grey. And by the way, we didn't even mention Johan Santana coming back either, which will only be a shot in the arm, even if he comes back as effective as a number 3 starter would be - unlike his previous Mets experience, watch the offense bail him out this year instead.

And speaking of managers, the Mets finally have a manager that can manage and coaches that can coach. We have a GM who knows what he's doing and the culture of the team is slowly turning positive. Will the Mets beat the Phillies for the division? Probably not, but compared to what else is out there in the National League and the points I've made above, they most definitely have a realistic shot at a wild card berth THIS YEAR - and if that happens, well, who knows what happens in the postseason? Health is the key issue. A few strange bounces of the ball sees the team winning here and there and maybe even ending up in the World Series. (isn't that what being a Mets fan is all about - hope, dreaming, doing the amazing?)

Personally, I'm looking forward to this year. You should too. Forget the negativity, it's all media induced so writers can write something and bloggers can blog. Because if you look at it logically (and the health gods smile upon the team) it's quite clear that this team can compete as it's presently constructed, whether the Wilpon's go bankrupt and sell the team or not.