NEW YORK METS

JOHANN SANTANA

JOHANN SANTANA

The Mets finished 12^th in runs scored, 6^th in batting average, 6^th in on base percentage and 18^th in slugging percentage, with a 77-85 record to finish 25 games behind Philadelphia.

The Mets had the injury jinx hit once again last season, with Ike Davis and Johann Santana both out, and the injuries to David Wright and Jose Reyes, plus poor relief blowing games they should have won.

As far as the free agent Market this winter: SP Chris Capuano signed on with the Dodgers, resigning Scott Hairston for 1 year for $1.1 million, their biggest lose in Jose Reyes going to Miami, Ronnie Cedeno from Pittsburg to spell Tajeda at short, Frank Francisco RP from Toronto for 2 years and $12 million, and Jon Rauch 1 year, $3.5 million,

With Jose Reyes gone and Carlos Beltran long gone, there is no offense to speak of once you get by those two. However from what you and I have been hearing, with the fences coming in, and the return of Davis ^1st, Duda RF, hitting them where they’ve never gone before, the hope of the shortened outfield bringing back some confidence in Jason Bay, and the growth of Thole as a everyday catcher, and Wright 3^rd breaking out of his snide of the last few years, they have a formidable hitting team with power.

The starting Pitching is not bad: it is a staff that has some good young arms, experience and Santana coming back from shoulder trouble for the first time since 2010! Gee impressed the first half of the year, Niese and Gee are both one year more experienced and should improve their ERA’s.

With injuries to key hitters, the Mets only hit 108 home runs last year due also to a very large ballpark, and no starting pitcher finished with more than 13 victories. I think if everyone stays healthy, the improvement of relief pitching they now have and hopefully the return of Santana, they will finish a lot higher than last season and can win about 15 more games this time around. That’s right, 92 victories, but once they start losing their veterans to injuries, all bets are off.