New York Mets
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| Projected Lineup |
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| CF |
Roger Cedeno |
| 2B |
Roberto Alomar |
| C |
Mike Piazza |
| LF |
Cliff Floyd |
| 1B |
Mo Vaughn |
| 3B |
Ty Wigginton |
| RF |
Jeromy Burnitz |
| SS |
Rey Sanchez |
| Projected Rotation |
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| LHP |
Tom Glavine |
| LHP |
Al Leiter |
| RHP |
Pedro Astacio |
| RHP |
Steve Trachsel |
| LHP |
Mike Bacsik |
| CL |
Armando Benitez |
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By John Donovan, SI.com
Hello, Tom Glavine; goodbye, Bobby Valentine.
It's a whole new world in New York this season as the Mets, huge disappointments since their appearance in the Subway Series in 2000, again try to unseat the Braves in the National League East.
Yes, yes, yes, the Mets have been trying to do that for some time now. But things really are different this season. At least the Mets are banking that they are.
Manager Valentine was canned after a contentious and miserable two years (157-166) that followed the Series loss to the Yankees. Skipper Art Howe skipped the small-revenue shackles of Oakland to take over in Gotham. And then the Mets stunned a lot of people by stealing away free agent Glavine, the left-handed ace for the Braves, signing him to a three-year contract worth $35 million.
In a lot of ways, the Mets are still the disappointing bunch that so thoroughly underachieved its way to 86 losses and a last-place finish in the NL East in 2002. Mo Vaughn and Roberto Alomar, two free agents who mostly flopped in their New York debuts last season, return to try to make amends. Catcher Mike Piazza is starting to show his age -- he's 33 -- and figures to get more rest than ever this year. Al Leiter, 13-13 last season, still has it. Or does he?
Those are the questions with the Mets. But if newcomers Howe and Glavine and slugger Cliff Floyd and others can contribute, if this high-priced, veteran bunch of players can play anywhere near their capabilities, things really could be different in '03.
If not, it's goodbye postseason, hello mediocrity, one more time.
Howe is supposed to bring some sanity to the cuckoo's nest that has been the Mets, but his first job when the Mets gather in Port St. Lucie, Fla., will be to solidify a shaky outfield.
Pencil in Floyd, the well-traveled slugger who signed a four-year, $26 million deal over the winter, in left. But after that, who knows? Roger Cedeno could play center, if the Mets can't trade him. Jeromy Burnitz, who smacked only 19 homers in a lackluster debut last season with the Mets, could be in right. Or he could be traded, too. Tsuyoshi Shinjo is back after a year with the Giants. Timo Perez is still hanging around. There are lots of pieces, but no can't-miss way to plug them in.
Oh, name a half-dozen. Vaughn and Alomar both have to play better. So does Piazza. And Burnitz. But for one guy, we'll nominate Glavine, the professional's professional. He steps into the role of staff ace, which won't be a problem at all for the well-spoken, thoughtful veteran. No, the biggest pressure Glavine will face will be the actual pitching. The guy has won 242 games (he went 18-11 with a 2.96 ERA last season), for crying out loud, but critics point out that he was just 7-7 with a 3.93 ERA after the All-Star break in '02. Glavine's success is rooted in his reliance on the down-and-away stuff. He has to rely on it. It's been a long time since the lefty could overpower anyone. Yes, he may have lost something over time. But remember this: He's smart, and you don't lose that with age. Count this guy out at your own risk.
He won't make a mark early on, but shortstop Jose Reyes could be in the starting lineup a couple of months into the season, if all goes right. The 18-year-old hit .288 between Class A and Class AA last season and stole 58 bases in 134 games. The Mets envision him as a leadoff man, eventually. If the Mets stumble out of April, and if Reyes shows he can handle things at Class AAA Norfolk, eventually could come by June.
Arrivals: LHP Tom Glavine (from Atlanta as free agent), OF Cliff Floyd (from Boston as free agent), LHP Mike Stanton (from New York Yankees as free agent), SS Rey Sanchez (from Boston as free agent), OF Tsuyoshi Shinjo (from San Francisco as free agent).
Departures: 3B Edgardo Alfonzo (to San Francisco as free agent), SS Rey Ordonez (traded to Tampa Bay for INF Russ Johnson and a minor leaguer), LHP Mark Guthrie (to Chicago Cubs as free agent), RHP Jeff D'Amico (to Pittsburgh as free agent), INF John Valentin (to Baltimore as free agent), RHP John Thomson (to Texas as free agent).
With Glavine, Leiter, Pedro Astacio and Steve Trachsel, the Mets have something. Especially if Astacio (4-8, 7.00 ERA after the All-Star break) can stay healthy. But the Mets have an outfield that could be next to pathetic, and a left side of the infield (shortstop Rey Sanchez, third baseman Ty Wigginton) that scares no one. Add to that a right side of the infield that may be over the hill (Vaughn and Alomar), and a catcher that needs some rest, and the Mets seem to be trying to piece together way too many pieces.
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