Preview 2008: New York Mets

by Lindy's

Updated: March 23, 2008, 12:34 PM EST 53 comments

Lindy's MLB 2008

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The Mets blew a seven-game lead with 17 to play to finish second to Philadelphia in the NL East, and their meltdown generated lots of references to the 1964 Phillies, who squandered a 6 1/2 game lead over St. Louis with 12 to play.

Amid the stunned aftermath, there were rumblings that manager Willie Randolph would be the scapegoat, but the Mets didn't have much stomach for paying him $4.25 million to sit at home the next two seasons. So Randolph gets a reprieve.

But if people are looking for a more fiery, intense Mets skipper in 2008, they might be in for a disappointment. During Major League Baseball's winter meetings in Nashville, Randolph made it clear that he doesn't expect to change in any discernible way.

"I don't believe that you need to get up on top of the desk and crack the whip or anything like that," Randolph said. "We have pretty much a veteran ballclub. There might be a little more attention to detail, but that's the case every spring. I'm not going to take this experience and change and try to be a person I'm not."

Still, the stakes have clearly been raised in Flushing. Anything close to a repeat performance, and somebody will have to pay.

Pitching

Was the combination of the surgically repaired Pedro Martinez and 15-game winners John Maine and Oliver Perez enough for the Mets to overcome Philadelphia and Atlanta in the NL East? Probably not. That's why the Mets took a run at Johan Santana, Erik Bedard, Joe Blanton and others in the offseason. They landed the big prize in Santana in a move that catapults them to favorite statuts. In the bullpen, closer Billy Wagner saved 34 games, but his ERA spiked from 1.64 before the All-Star break to 3.90 after the break, and the relief corps overall was awfully shaky down the stretch.

Johan Santana — LHP
2007 line: 15-13, 3.33 ERA, 33 GS, 219.0 IP, 183 H, 52 BB, 235 SO, .225 BAA, 7.52 H/9, 2.14 BB/9, 9.66 SO/9.
Significant stats/injuries: Lost three times to Indians Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia. His streak of 123 starts with at least five innings pitched was snapped Sept. 26.
Scouting report: Complete starter. Outstanding delivery. Has an excellent angle to the plate and throws all of his pitches from the same release point. Features a fastball (89-94 mph) with good life both up and down in the strike zone, a slider with a late bite and tilt and perhaps the best changeup in the game. Throws his change on any count and to both right and lefthanded hitters. Fields his position well. Extremely durable.
Grade: 4.5.

Pedro Martinez — RHP
2007 line: 3-1, 2.57 ERA, 5 GS, 28.0 IP, 33 H, 7 BB, 32 SO, .284 BAA, 10.61 H/9, 2.25 BB/9, 10.29 SO/9.
Significant stats/injuries: Made his season debut Sept. 3 following rotator cuff surgery. On the same day, became the 15th pitcher to reach 3,000 career Ks.
Scouting report: Outstanding feel. Impeccable control. Almost low three-quarters now. Adds and subtracts from a fastball that tops out at 88, 89 mph. Throws a big-bending curveball for a strike anytime he wants. Pulls the string on an above-average changeup. Mixes speeds masterfully. Terrific competitor.
Grade: 3.3.

John Maine — RHP
2007 line: 15-10, 3.91 ERA, 32 GS, 191.0 IP, 168 H, 75 BB, 180 SO, .235 BAA, 7.92 H/9, 3.53 BB/9, 8.48 SO/9.
Significant stats/injuries: Worked at least six innings in just five of 15 starts after the All-Star break while pitching through a sore left hip.
Scouting report: Good body. Easy delivery. Builds around a sneaky fastball (90-95 mph); sits on 92, 93 with good run and sink. Likes to come inside on lefthanded hitters with his fastball. Throws a hard, tilted slider down and away from righthanded hitters and in on the back foot of lefties. Shows improved feel and command of his changeup. Adequate fielder.
Grade: 3.2.

These two could be a scary combo. (Doug Benc / Getty Images)

Oliver Perez — LHP
2007 line: 15-10, 3.56 ERA, 29 GS, 177.0 IP, 153 H, 79 BB, 174 SO, .229 BAA, 7.78 H/9, 4.02 BB/9, 8.85 SO/9.
Significant stats/injuries: Tied an MLB record by hitting three batters in one inning Sept. 28. Went 4-1 with a 3.03 ERA against Atlanta.
Scouting report: Quick worker. Deceptive moving-parts delivery. Three-quarters-to-sidearm arm angle. Features a fastball (90-94 mph) with outstanding life, a breaking ball he changes the look and break on, and a changeup with good arm speed. Owns lefthanded hitters. Dominates when he's in sync, but loses the strike zone when he gets out of whack with his delivery. Quick, flexible athlete.
Grade: 3.2.

Orlando Hernandez — RHP
2007 line: 9-5, 3.72 ERA, 24 GS, 147.2 IP, 109 H, 64 BB, 128 SO, .206 BAA, 6.64 H/9, 3.90 BB/9, 7.80 SO/9.
Significant stats/injuries: Was limited to 6.2 IP in September with a tendon injury in his right foot that required postseason surgery. Spent May on the DL with shoulder bursitis.
Scouting report: Funky delivery. Low three-quarters arm slot. Reads the bat very well. Adds and subtracts from his fastball (86-90 mph). Keeps it away from righthanders; tails it back on the outside corner. Elevates it to lefthanders. Varies the size and speed of his breaking stuff; likes to back-door it. Shows a nice feel for his changeup and when to use it. Pays attention to base runners. Good athlete.
Grade: 2.3.

Reliever

Billy Wagner — LHP
2007 line: 2-2, 2.63 ERA, 66 G, 68.1 IP, 34 SV, 55 H, 22 BB, 80 SO, .216 BAA..
Significant stats/injuries: Seventh all-time with 358 career saves, nine behind sixth-place Jeff Reardon. Converted 34 of 39 save opportunities in '07.
Scouting report: Two-pitch closer. Compact delivery. Uses his strong legs to generate velocity. Doesn't throw quite as hard anymore (95-97 mph), but still blows his fastball by hitters up in the strike zone. Keeps hitters off his fastball with an above average hard slider he throws for strikes. Doesn't hold runners. Excellent athlete.
Grade: 4.0.

Aaron Heilman — RHP
2007 line: 7-7, 3.03 ERA, 81 G, 86.0 IP, 1 SV, 72 H, 20 BB, 63 SO, .224 BAA.
Significant stats/injuries: Tied for fifth in the majors with 81 appearances. Permitted opponents to hit just .193 against him at Shea Stadium.
Scouting report: Long arm action. Across-his-body, three-quarters delivery. Attacks the strike zone with a two-seam fastball (91-95 mph) that runs and sinks. Pitches inside with his fastball. Keeps hitters in between with a plus changeup; gets great arm-side fade with the change. Tends to fall in love with it. Mixes in an occasional slider. Will take the ball. Gamer.
Grade: 3.0.

Pedro Feliciano — LHP
2007 line: 2-2, 3.09 ERA, 78 G, 64.0 IP, 2 SV, 47 H, 31 BB, 61 SO, .200 BAA.
Significant stats/injuries: Held lefthanders to a .168 BA with 30 Ks and just 11 BBs.
Scouting report: Situational lefty. Deceptive crossfire delivery. Throws strikes with a fastball (86-89 mph) that sinks an a slurvy breaking ball. Changes speeds and arm angles with the slurve. Throws an occasional changeup to righthanders. Can pitch often.
Grade: 2.5.

Catching

Once the Mets decided that Paul Lo Duca had outlived his usefulness in New York, Plan B took a while to develop. The Mets pursued Colorado's Yorvit Torrealba as a free agent, but that deal mysteriously fell through. Then they acquired Johnny Estrada by trade from Milwaukee, only to turn around and non-tender him. Finally, the Mets acquired veteran Brian Schneider from Washington in a trade. Schneider is nothing special with the bat, but he's skilled at handling a pitching staff, and general manager Omar Minaya is a fan from their old Montreal days.

Brian Schneider — C
2007 line: .235 BA, 408 AB, 33 R, 96 H, 21 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 54 RBI, 56 BB, 56 SO, .326 OBP, .661 OPS.
Significant stats/injuries: Hit just .137 with two outs and runners in scoring position for the Nationals. Threw out 24 of 53 (45%) base stealers.
Scouting report: Contact hitter. Long swing with some loop in it. Hits the ball from gap to gap with occasional pull power. Can be exploited hard above his hands. Good catch-and-throw guy. Catches the ball smoothly; shifts easily. Still shows solid-to-average arm strength and a quick release. Calls a game very well. Good leadership skills.
Grade: 2.7.

Infield

Third baseman David Wright hit .352 with a .602 slugging percentage in September, and was a stand-up guy while many of his fellow Mets were shrinking from the spotlight. With a little help from his friends, Wright might have won the MVP award. Jose Reyes, on the other hand, faded badly in the second half, hitting .251 with a .316 on base percentage after the All-Star break, and Randolph even pulled him from the lineup for failing to run hard down the line. First baseman Carlos Delgado also has some questions to answer after a disappointing season. The Mets took a risk by signing second baseman Luis Castillo to a four-year, $25 million deal. Castillo can be a real energizer-type, but his leg injuries are a perpetual concern.

Carlos Delgado — 1B
2007 line: .258 BA, 538 AB, 71 R, 139 H, 30 2B, 0 3B, 24 HR, 87 RBI, 52 BB, 118 SO, .333 OBP, .781 OPS.
Significant stats/injuries: His .258 BA, 24 HRs and 87 RBIs were his lowest in 12 full seasons. Hit just .188 with runners in scoring position and two outs.
Scouting report: Dangerous bat. Intelligent hitter. Studies pitchers to get an advantage. Crushes low fastballs and mistake breaking balls. Lost control of the strike zone last season; didn't get good pitches to hit. Pulled off a lot of pitches. Defensive liability. Has limited mobility and stiff hands.
Grade: 3.0.

David Wright may contend for MVP this season. (Doug Benc / Getty Images)

Luis Castillo — 2B
2007 line: .301 BA, 548 AB, 91 R, 165 H, 19 2B, 5 3B, 1 HR, 38 RBI, 53 BB, 45 SO, .362 OBP, .721 OPS.
Significant stats/injuries: Had postseason surgery to clear scar tissue from his knee. Hit .296 with 10 SB, 20 RBIs and 37 runs in 50 games with Mets.
Scouting report: Contact hitter. Compact, short stroke. Slaps and runs from the left side. Swings a stronger bat righthanded. Bunts for base hits. Continues to run well, though bigger now than in his Marlins days. Above-average defender. Didn't show his customary range last season because of a bad knee. Turns the double play very well.
Grade: 3.0.

David Wright — 3B
2007 line: .325 BA, 604 AB, 113 R, 196 H, 42 2B, 1 3B, 30 HR, 107 RBI, 94 BB, 115 SO, .416 OBP, .963 OPS.
Significant stats/injuries: Of 107 RBIs, 16 were game-winners and 33 put the Mets ahead. Became the third Mets player in 30-30 club (Howard Johnson, Darryl Strawberry).
Scouting report: Pure hitter. Power to all fields. Recognizes pitches quickly. Hits fastballs, breaking balls, righthanders, lefthanders. Steps up aggressively in the clutch. Appears to run better every year. Quality 3B. Possesses a quick first step; leaves his feet well and shows plenty of arm. Needs only to improve his throwing accuracy to be complete.
Grade: 4.0.

Jose Reyes — SS
2007 line: .280 BA, 681 AB, 119 R, 191 H, 36 2B, 12 3B, 12 HR, 57 RBI, 77 BB, 78 SO, .354 OBP, .775 OPS.
Significant stats/injuries: Has had at least 600 ABs three consecutive seasons. His 78 SBs in '07 broke Roger Cedeno's franchise record of 66 set in 1999.
Scouting report: Off-the-charts athleticism. Game-changing speed on the bases. Stings line drives from both sides; uses the entire field either way. Displays more pop from the left side. Gets a little anxious at times; expands the strike zone. Exciting defender. Has excellent range, hands and arm strength. High-energy player.
Grade: 3.8.

Outfield

The one reliable player is centerfielder Carlos Beltran, who's good for 30 homers, 100 RBIs, 20 stolen bases and a .360 OBP. Beltran's numbers took a slight dip from his MVP-caliber effort in 2006, but a strained oblique muscle and a dinged knee didn't help. Although left fielder Moises Alou still has the bat speed to punish a fastball, he's missed 178 games over the past three seasons because of injury. Alou turns 42 in July. Now that Lastings Milledge and Shawn Green are gone, the Mets have to find someone to play right field. Ryan Church, Endy Chavez and multiple-tool prospect Carlos Gomez are the top candidates.

Carlos Beltran needs to stay healthy. (Al Bello / Getty Images)

Moises Alou — LF
2007 line: .341 BA, 328 AB, 51 R, 112 H, 19 2B, 1 3B, 13 HR, 49 RBI, 27 BB, 30 SO, .392 OBP, .916 OPS.
Significant stats/injuries: Spent more than two months on the DL with a strained left quad. Had a career-best 30-game hitting streak.
Scouting report: Dead-red fastball hitter. Very aggressive. Packs some dynamite in the barrel. Uses his hands extremely well and drills line drives, mostly to his pull side. Consistently delivers in the clutch. Chases sliders down and away. Adequate leftfielder. Relies on good instincts to compensate for declining speed. Can't throw. Spends a lot of time on the DL with leg injuries.
Grade: 3.0.

Carlos Beltran — CF
2007 line: .276 BA, 554 AB, 93 R, 153 H, 33 2B, 3 3B, 33 HR, 112 RBI, 69 BB, 111 SO, .353 OBP, .878 OPS.
Significant stats/injuries: Underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees following the season. Spent time on the DL with a strained left oblique muscle.
Scouting report: Five-tool player. Dangerous bat. Hits with power from both sides. Pulls more as a righthanded hitter. Uses the field lefthanded. Likes to extend his arms either way. Can be exploited hard in. Ranks with the best base thieves in the game when his legs are healthy. Natural CF. Makes everything look easy. Doesn't always take charge on balls in the gap or on popups coming in. Still shows plus arm strength.
Grade: 4.0.

Ryan Church — RF
2007 line: .272 BA, 470 AB, 57 R, 128 H, 43 2B, 1 3B, 15 HR, 70 RBI, 49 BB, 107 SO, .349 OBP, .813 OPS.
Significant stats/injuries: Tied for the Nationals' lead with 43 2Bs. Hit .310 with seven HRs and 27 RBIs after Aug. 1. Ten of 15 HRs came on the road.
Scouting report: Long swing. Aggressive approach. Likes the ball up and shows power to all fields. Does most of his damage against righthanded pitching. Made some adjustments to breaking stuff last season. Can crowd him at or above his hands. Adequate corner OF. Doesn't get good jumps or close on the ball particularly well. Displays average arm strength. Platoon type.
Grade: 2.0.

Organization/management

When Omar Minaya recommended that Randolph return for another season, their fortunes were inextricably linked. If Randolph turns out to be the next Art Howe, Minaya will have to answer for it at some point. Chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon released a statement a day after the season pronouncing ownership "bitterly disappointed" by the Mets' late fade, so the bigwigs aren't exactly in a patient, forgiving mood these days.