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This is Our Year

Willets Point Mar 29 2011 07:14 AM

This is the thread for cock-eyed optimists. List one reason why the Mets will win it all this season. No snark please.

Ceetar Mar 29 2011 07:18 AM Re: This is Our Year Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 29 2011 07:23 AM

[url]http://www.ceetar.com/optimisticmetsfan/2011/03/24/why-the-mets-can-compete-the-starting-rotation/ going up today, the best offense in the NL: [url]http://www.ceetar.com/optimisticmetsfan/2011/03/29/why-the-mets-can-compete-best-offense-in-the-nl/ I feel good about this team. They're healthy, and the players people are dismissing are not washed up flash in the pans like Fernando Tatis. It's perennial sluggers or gold glovers or All-Stars like Reyes and Beltran and Bay. Chris Young and Chris Capuano aren't Brian Lawrence and Jose Lima. They aren't even John Maine and Oliver Perez. They're better than that. I can understand some skepticism about Dickey, but he showed again and again last year that it's not trickery. He beat the same teams multiple times, and he knows what he's doing out there. Why wouldn't we expect Niese to get better? Davis? Thole? All bullpens are in flux every year, why should I believe people telling me this one isn't good? Parnell throws hard and had some success last year, Frankie's still one of the best closers in the game. The Mets actually have TOO MANY relievers that they can't fit them all on the team. And it's not because they all suck and they dont' know who to take, it's that they all look good and they don't want to lose any of them.

metirish Mar 29 2011 07:19 AM Re: This is Our Year

Benjamin Grimm Mar 29 2011 07:20 AM Re: This is Our Year

Everything will go right and nothing will go wrong.

Ceetar Mar 29 2011 07:24 AM Re: This is Our Year

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Everything will go right and nothing will go wrong. We're due for things to swing a little on that side right? I think many fans think everyone getting hurt and everything going wrong is normal and expected these days.

TransMonk Mar 29 2011 07:31 AM Re: This is Our Year

If this team has no long-term injuries (I'm looking at YOU, Carlos!), it will finish above .500. I haven't been as optimistic about an opening day roster since 2007. There isn't too much that bothers me about this team. From the lineup to the rotation to the bullpen to the bench, I think the talent is good enough to compete. 2011 Terry will be better than 2010 Jerry...he can't be any worse, right? 2011 will come down to durability, durability, durability.

Ceetar Mar 29 2011 07:33 AM Re: This is Our Year

TransMonk wrote: If this team has no long-term injuries (I'm looking at YOU, Carlos!), it will finish above .500. I haven't been as optimistic about an opening day roster since 2007. There isn't too much that bothers me about this team. From the lineup to the rotation to the bullpen to the bench, I think the talent is good enough to compete. 2011 Terry will be better than 2010 Jerry...he can't be any worse, right? 2011 will come down to durability, durability, durability. Not just our durability either. Chipper Jones, Chase Utley, etc. This is easy to say before the season starts, I'm sure there will be a goat or two, but the biggest strength may be that there are no _bad_ players on the team.

metsguyinmichigan Mar 29 2011 07:44 AM Re: This is Our Year Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 29 2011 09:26 AM

This team has All-Stars at third, short, right field, left field and in the closer, plus a starter on the DL. Pelfrey, who should have been an All-Star last year, will blossom into the ace he was for the first part of the season. Davis demonstrated he can adjust when league adjusted to him. Pagan is meeting his potential. Thole is a solid hitter. The players we obsess about in bad ways are gone. This is a positive team, and I think it's going to be a fun season.

Ashie62 Mar 29 2011 07:48 AM Re: This is Our Year

Very strong offense and some youth.

smg58 Mar 29 2011 07:54 AM Re: This is Our Year

Two words: Brad Emaus.

themetfairy Mar 29 2011 07:56 AM Re: This is Our Year

Our Guardian Angel -

MFS62 Mar 29 2011 08:46 AM Re: This is Our Year

Balance - in the rotation, in the bullpen, in the lineup. The result will be better than the sum of its parts. Later

Ceetar Mar 29 2011 09:18 AM Re: This is Our Year

Angel Pagan, in over 1000 AB with the Mets .294/.344/.441 btw, that's better than Shane Victorino.

Edgy DC Mar 29 2011 09:23 AM Re: This is Our Year

He's The Streakin' Puerto Rican.

Vic Sage Mar 29 2011 09:37 AM Re: This is Our Year

Ceetar wrote: Angel Pagan, in over 1000 AB with the Mets .294/.344/.441 btw, that's better than Shane Victorino. Yes, lets pretend he's an established full-time player, instead of being a part-time player for 4 years and a full timer for 1, with a 100+ point career differential in OPS vs LHPers and 2800+ minor league PAs with an OPS just barely over .700. Because otherwise it would interfere with the rose tinting of your glasses.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 29 2011 09:43 AM Re: This is Our Year

VIC, YOU'RE OUTTA HERE! "Streakin' Puerto Rican." Can we make that a thing? Let's make it a thing. No holes in the lineup. When/if Paulino gets to the majors, he and Thole will make an Oliver Stone-worthy platoon. Diverse, potentially good-to-great bullpen, led by a guy who-- overpaid though he might be-- put up strikeout numbers like he did in his dominating early 20s, and routinely kicked more opposition ass than he did his in-laws'. Book it: A healthy Chris Young wins Comeback Player of the Year.

Willets Point Mar 29 2011 09:47 AM Re: This is Our Year

Well, we made it 14 posts without snark. Not bad.

Ceetar Mar 29 2011 09:50 AM Re: This is Our Year

Angel Pagan's backup has a .829 (.498 SLG) OPS against lefties.

TransMonk Mar 29 2011 09:50 AM Re: This is Our Year

Vic can't help it. His glasses seem to be tinted with shit. I hope the Mets prove him wrong. Deep down inside, I'd bet he does too.

Vic Sage Mar 29 2011 10:03 AM Re: This is Our Year

Well, we made it 14 posts without snark. Not bad. hey, i had no intention of saying a word in this thread. Ceetar decided to challenge my point in the "worries" thread about Pagan in THIS thread, for some reason, so i responded here. If you don't want snark, don't start snarking. I hope the Mets prove him wrong. Deep down inside, I'd bet he does too. of course i do, and its not deep down inside, its right there on the surface. But i understand the difference between "hoping" and "thinking". I'm pretty sure it involves entirely different lobes.

Ceetar Mar 29 2011 10:07 AM Re: This is Our Year

Vic Sage wrote: of course i do, and its not deep down inside, its right there on the surface. But i understand the difference between "hoping" and "thinking". I'm pretty sure it involves entirely different lobes. And I'm not sure that this thread was meant to be more thinking than hoping. Hoping based on thinking about 1000 AB a guy has had for our team doesn't seem that far fetched. And again, tough lefty, pinch hit Hairston. It'll also be hard to bring in a lefty to face Pagan. It's probably better served to save it for the higher power bat of Ike, when you don't have Wright and Beltran staring you in the face.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 29 2011 10:16 AM Re: This is Our Year

Vic Sage wrote: Well, we made it 14 posts without snark. Not bad. hey, i had no intention of saying a word in this thread. Ceetar decided to challenge my point in the "worries" thread about Pagan in THIS thread, for some reason, so i responded here. If you don't want snark, don't start snarking. Why do you presume that was directed at you? And in what way-- except maybe to a horseblinded Phils fan-- does that sound snarky? I get whence you come. But you just walked into a kids' party with a "Don't Shit On The Kids' Feelings" sign actually bolted to the wall, and you took a dump on the celebrant's placemat. This is "Wishes For Mets," in essence. And if the prospect of Opening Day with a potentially-- POTENTIALLY-- improved team can't make you think stupid, hopeful thoughts, then you and the Mets should probably spend some time apart for a while.

Vic Sage Mar 29 2011 10:29 AM Re: This is Our Year

Why do you presume that was directed at you? And in what way-- except maybe to a horseblinded Phils fan-- does that sound snarky? he responded here immediately after i made a comment about PAgan in the "worries" thread -- of COURSE it was directed at me, or at least in direct response to my point. Do you think it was just a random arbitrary blurtation about Pagan's superiority? Really? Ask him. But that he chose to respond HERE, instead of there, is where the "snark" comes from, cuz its a backhand at me dressed up as a Pagan platitude. And i don't mind a response, but do it to my face, not in your little gingerbread house thread where no one dares to make a fuss!

Ceetar Mar 29 2011 10:34 AM Re: This is Our Year

Vic Sage wrote: Why do you presume that was directed at you? And in what way-- except maybe to a horseblinded Phils fan-- does that sound snarky? he responded here immediately after i made a comment about PAgan in the "worries" thread -- of COURSE it was directed at me, or at least in direct response to my point. Do you think it was just a random arbitrary blurtation about Pagan's superiority? Really? Ask him. But that he chose to respond HERE, instead of there, is where the "snark" comes from, cuz its a backhand at me dressed up as a Pagan platitude. And i don't mind a response, but do it to my face, not in your little gingerbread house thread where no one dares to make a fuss! I meant it ascounter point not a backhand. Here because I believe in it, and it's not something I'm worried about didn't want to turn either thread into a debate

batmagadanleadoff Mar 29 2011 10:40 AM Re: This is Our Year

Pagan sucks doody balls against lefties. Nuf 'ced. I hope I didn't hurt any of the grown-up kids' feelings.

Centerfield Mar 29 2011 10:44 AM Re: This is Our Year

I don't know that this is our year, but ten years from now, when trying to sort out all the championships won in the past decade (there are so many they blend together), we will look back on this year as the one that began the turnaround. Jose Reyes is going to steal 30 bases in the first week of the season and leave Sandy no choice but to sign him to an extension.

Ashie62 Mar 29 2011 10:45 AM Re: This is Our Year

Now thats major League Mets win the WS Snark!!!

attgig Mar 29 2011 10:47 AM Re: This is Our Year

3 reasons: 1)willie harris can't rob a met of a game changing home run.... 2)Jose Reyes is in his contract year. 3)Carlos Beltran is in his contract year.

Centerfield Mar 29 2011 10:56 AM Re: This is Our Year

Ashie62 wrote: Now thats major League Mets win the WS Snark!!! Really? I'm trying to be sincere here. I would love to think the Mets could win it all this year, but it's hard for me to realistically believe this. But I do honestly feel good about the Mets' prospects in the coming years. We have a front office that should be able to follow the Red Sox model closely. I think this bodes really well for the future. This is the optimism thread right? You guys are optimisticking for one championship. I'm optimisticking for a dynasty. The only thing I'm really worried about is Reyes, who I'm afraid this management team may not value as much as we do (if more by our hearts than our heads) and that's why I'm hoping he comes back.

Ashie62 Mar 29 2011 10:57 AM Re: This is Our Year

Centerfield wrote: Ashie62 wrote: Now thats major League Mets win the WS Snark!!! Really? I'm trying to be sincere here. I would love to think the Mets could win it all this year, but it's hard for me to realistically believe this. But I do honestly feel good about the Mets' prospects in the coming years. We have a front office that should be able to follow the Red Sox model closely. I think this bodes really well for the future. This is the optimism thread? You guys are optimisticking for one championship. I'm optimisticking for a dynasty. The only thing I'm really worried about is Reyes, who I'm afraid this management team may not value as much as we do (if more by our hearts than our heads) and that's why I'm hoping he comes back. I didn't mean you!!! Ceetar

Ceetar Mar 29 2011 11:32 AM Re: This is Our Year

Centerfield wrote: Ashie62 wrote: Now thats major League Mets win the WS Snark!!! Really? I'm trying to be sincere here. I would love to think the Mets could win it all this year, but it's hard for me to realistically believe this. But I do honestly feel good about the Mets' prospects in the coming years. We have a front office that should be able to follow the Red Sox model closely. I think this bodes really well for the future. This is the optimism thread right? You guys are optimisticking for one championship. I'm optimisticking for a dynasty. The only thing I'm really worried about is Reyes, who I'm afraid this management team may not value as much as we do (if more by our hearts than our heads) and that's why I'm hoping he comes back. two things. 1. All I think about is this year. So much changes year to year that while I keep an eye on the big things (don't sign Werth to 7 year deals or trade away prospects for crap), I'll focus on this year and what can happen. Often they're hand in hand. Davis getting better, Pagan locking down CF. Reyes getting resigned. Bay recovering. Dickey not being a flash in the pan and Niese growing and learning. The very things that I'm hopeful for this year are also tied to long term success. And beyond that, it's so easy for even smart people to make smart moves that look good and have them backfire. Omar made a lot of good moves, he just couldn't control the damage when things got out of control with injuries and performance. I'm not banking on unforseen 'smart moves' or 'prospect of the future' to get all happy about 2012. Havens could get hurt again. They could bring in a solid pitcher for a good price and still have him eat up innings by dropping to below average. I don't believe anything they've done has sacrificed 2011 for the futures sake, so I'm not going to treat it that way as a fan. 2. Alderson has said that he likes the homegrown aspect, and then there's the 'appeasing the fans' part of the Castillo decision. Both work in Reyes' favor, the biggest thing is him raising his OBP.

Willets Point Mar 29 2011 11:49 AM Re: This is Our Year

Vic Sage wrote: Why do you presume that was directed at you? And in what way-- except maybe to a horseblinded Phils fan-- does that sound snarky? he responded here immediately after i made a comment about PAgan in the "worries" thread -- of COURSE it was directed at me, or at least in direct response to my point. Do you think it was just a random arbitrary blurtation about Pagan's superiority? Really? Ask him. But that he chose to respond HERE, instead of there, is where the "snark" comes from, cuz its a backhand at me dressed up as a Pagan platitude. And i don't mind a response, but do it to my face, not in your little gingerbread house thread where no one dares to make a fuss! I didn't snark at you. It was a positive statement that we made it 14 comments without snark which is pretty good for us.

Vince Coleman Firecracker Mar 29 2011 11:53 PM Re: This is Our Year

Vic Sage wrote: If you don't want snark, don't start snarking. I really love this sentence. Also, this one: Willets Point wrote: I didn't snark at you.

Ceetar Jun 26 2011 09:03 AM Re: This is Our Year

Because we're "In it" in late June, are adding David Wright, and have a manager (and FO) that seems like they'll make the team better with their influence, not worse.

TransMonk Jun 26 2011 10:20 AM Re: This is Our Year

[youtube:21imnj0h]XyqLTdcMKig[/youtube:21imnj0h]

Edgy DC Jun 26 2011 12:03 PM Re: This is Our Year

"Dreaming is free." --- Debbie Harry, 1979

Fman99 Jun 26 2011 01:56 PM Re: This is Our Year

Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.

TransMonk Jun 27 2011 07:35 AM Re: This is Our Year Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 27 2011 08:05 AM

I may say Ceets is a dreamer, but he's not the only one... I'm still paying attention. I didn't think this team would be within sniffing distance of .500 at the halfway point, but here they are, sniffing away. OE: corrected the Lennon parody that I butchered.

Ceetar Jun 27 2011 07:55 AM Re: This is Our Year

TransMonk wrote: I may Ceets is a dreamer, but he's not the only one... I'm still paying attention. I didn't think this team would be within sniffing distance of .500 at the halfway point, but here they are, sniffing away. I see it two ways, you can dream and imagine Johan coming back or just these guys playing good. Maybe Duda took a step towards being the Mets RFer for the next 20 years on Saturday and is going to carry this team Posey-style the rest of the way? Unlikely, but I'd rather daydream bout deciding if I want to go to both tuesday AND Wednesday on 9/13 9/14 because well Santana's pitching on the 14th, but the 13th they may have a chance with a Phillies loss to catch first place. or you can wonder where Reyes will end up next year, read up on all the 'great chemistry' Giants manager Boche and Reyes had at the All-Star Game, and wonder which prospects may or may not pan out and which ho-hum type players the Mets can sign in the offseason. We can read up on lawyer briefs and debate financial investments and really dig deep into analyzing the mental state of various Mets players.