Jets Options in Free Agency

With the lockout finally being over (thank God), teams will finally be able to shape their rosters and begin their quest to opening day 2011. Of all 32 NFL teams, no one needed the lockout to end more so than the New York Jets. Whether it be young Pro Bowl calibre players like Santonio Holmes, Antonio Cromartie, Braylon Edwards, or Brad Smith, or 2010 starters like Shaun Ellis, Brodney Pool, or Damien Woody, the Jets have more work to do in free agency than any other team before they attempt to make good on Head Coach Rex Ryan's Super Bowl Guarantee.

To keep it simple, lets outline a basic plan of what General Manager Mike Tannenbaum will be able to do with respect to the cornerback and wide receiver position.

Option A
Resign Santonio Holmes and Antonio Cromartie

-Holmes is the best wide receiver on the market and is apparently the Jets #1 target to re-sign. Cromartie was very up-and-down last season but you can't find a better #2 cornerback in football. Both guys will be looking for mega contracts. To replace Braylon Edwards, the Jets could look to sign Randy Moss or Plaxico Burress. The Jets have been the only team to be linked to Randy Moss since the season ended and Rex Ryan has always spoke highly of Moss' ability to strike fear into opposing defenses, even late in his career. Some more food for thought....Santonio Holmes and Randy Moss share the same agent. Keep an eye of Plaxico Burress as well.

Option B
Resign Braylon Edwards and Antonio Cromartie
-If the reports are true, Dan Snyder is ready to throw a boatload of cash at Santonio Holmes. In effect, this could put Holmes out of the Jets price range. Braylon Edwards has stated multiple times that he will take a hometown discount to return to the Jets next season. If the Jets were to lose Holmes, one would think that Plan B would be to lock up Braylon immediately. The Jets would also save some money by choosing Edwards over Holmes and could use the left over cash to improve the team elsewhere.

Option C

Resign Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards

-Obviously, this move would indicate that disappointing 2010 first round pick Kyle Wilson would have to step in and be a starter this season. It is hard enough to play opposite of Darrelle Revis, let alone doing it when you've never been a starter before. On the other hand, the Jets offense would be as dynamic as any in football. Holmes and Edwards complement one another as good or better then any other wide receiver duo in all of football. Both are young, super talented receivers who bring speed and play making ability to the position. Lets face it, the NFL is now a quarterback friendly league. Winning a Super Bowl now requires an above average passing game. Having Holmes and Edwards for the next 4-5 years will go a long way in making Mark Sanchez one of the games top quarterbacks.

Option D

Sign Nnamdi Asomugha and Randy Moss/Plaxico Burress

-To be blunt, Jets fans that think Nnamdi Asomugha is going to take a big discount to pair up with Darrelle Revis are dreaming. Asomugha is arguably the best free agent of the last decade and teams are going to pony up for his services. However, if the Jets were to let Holmes, Edwards, and Cromartie all leave through free agency, they would have the necessary dough to pair up Asomugha with Darrelle Revis, creating arguably the best cornerback tandem in NFL history. The downside? It seems a bit outrageous to have close to 40$ million dollars of a team's salary cap tied to two cornerbacks, not to mention the fact that Asomugha is going to be 30 years old next season. In addition, losing Holmes and Edwards would scale back the Jets offense tremendously. Signing Randy Moss/Plaxico Burress would help somewhat, but make no mistake about it, the Jets offense would take one step forward and four steps back without it's top two receiving targets from a year ago.

My prediction? Option A

What Will Jets Do With Free Agent Wide Receivers?

Once the lockout is over and the dust clears, the New York Jets will be facing more personel decisions than perhaps any other team in football. There are questions to be answered in the secondary, linebacking core, and along the offensive and defensive lines. However, no position on the Jets will be under more scrutiny and require more evaluation then the wide receivers. Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, and Brad Smith could all potentially be unrestricted free agents this summer. Together, Edwards and Holmes were one of the best receiving duos in all of football last season while Brad Smith provided a countless number of big plays as both a kick returner and Wild Cat quarterback. The Jets will be forced to make decisions concerning which of the three do indeed return, and perhaps more importantly, they must decide how they will replace those that move on to other teams.

Potential Resignees

Braylon Edwards

After a 2009 season that consisted of just as many big plays as drops, Edwards responded with an outstanding 2010 campaign that saw him average over 17 yards per catch while hauling in over 900 yards and 7 touchdowns. Even more impressive was that Edwards dropped only one pass throughout the 16 regular season and 3 postseason games in which the Jets played. Also, he made one of the biggest plays in Jets history by hauling in an 18 yard reception with less then 30 seconds to play that led to Nick Folk's game winning field goal against the Colts in the Wild Card Playoffs.

Edwards is one of the most physically gifted wide receivers in all of football. At 6-3 with tremendous speed, he is a matchup problem every week and forces defensive coordinators to take notice of his presence. In addition, he is one of the game's best blocking wide receivers, which perfectly suits a Jets team that runs the ball as much as any team in football.

Edwards has stated numerous times that he loves playing in New York and he wants to retire a New York Jet. He has even hurt himself in potential negotiations by stating that he will take a discount to remain with Gang Green. After being the 3rd overall pick in the 2005 draft, Edwards has collected his share of millions and it appears he would rather be winning in New York then collecting paychecks from a bad team.

Odds of returning- 7/10

Santonio Holmes

Santonio Holmes did not make his Jets debut until a week five Monday Night showdown against the Minnesota Vikings. From then on, he provided game winning plays and spectacular catches. In only 12 games, he hauled in 52 passes (only one fewer then Edwards, who caught 53 over 16 games.) When Holmes entered the lineup he immediately became Sanchez's go to guy, especially with the game on the line.

In a consecutive three week stretch, Holmes made the game winning play for the Jets. In week 9 at Detroit, he broke lose over the middle for a 52 yard catch and run in overtime that set up Nick Folk's game winning kick. One week later in Cleveland, he broke a tackle in route to a 36 yard catch and run that resulted in him scoring the game winning touchdown in overtime. In week 11 at home against Houston, he caught the game winning touchdown with 10 seconds left to bring the Jets to 8-2. According to Head Coach Rex Ryan, if the game is on the line then its "Tone Time."

Perhaps even greater then his three game winning catches was his seven yard touchdown grab against the New England Patriots in the Divisional Playoffs. It came midway through the 4th quarter on 3rd and goal with the Jets leading 14-11. On the previous drive, New England had marched down the field and scored a touchdown, bringing it to a one score game. If Holmes didn't make a spectacular catch then the Jets would have had to settle for a field goal and may not have won the game.

However, all was not perfect for Holmes in 2010. He had a number of bad moments that ended up costing the Jets victories. In week 8 against Green Bay, he dropped an easy drag route that would have led to a touchdown. The Jets ended up losing that game 9-0. A few weeks later against Miami, he dropped a wide open touchdown that would have given the Jets the lead. The Jets lost that game as well.

Holmes has stated that he is looking to cash in this offseason. In not so many words, he has said that he is going to go where the money is. Holmes has not yet made his millions. He was a late first round pick and he knows that this offseason is going to be the only big money contract he ever signs. He has a Super Bowl ring and Super Bowl MVP, the only thing left for him to collect is the nice contract.

The biggest bargaining chip that the Jets, or any NFL team for that matter, has against Holmes is that he is one substance abuse violation away from a one year suspension. Are teams going to be willing to throw nine/ten million dollars a year at a guy who is one joint away from taking a year long vacation? Only the market can indicate.

Odds of returning- 5/10

Brad Smith

Since he was drafted back in 2006, Brad Smith has been making plays all over the field for the Jets. Whether it be at wide receiver, running back, quarterback, kick returner, punt returner, or gunner, Smith has always made his presence felt. He is a smart player who rarely makes mistakes and usually makes his impact plays during the game's biggest moments.

Though Smith has done plenty of great things in his five seasons with the Jets, the odds of him returning are slim to none. The Jets are going to need to invest money in guys like Holmes, Edwards, and Antonio Cromartie way before they even think about approaching Smith with a new contract. For everything he brings in the return game and in the Wild Cat formation, Smith's biggest weakness is playing the position he is listed at...wide receiver. Over the last three seasons he has caught only 23 passes. His statistics are more indicative of a running back as he has had more rushing yards then receiving in four of his five professional seasons. Also, for all the love Smith gets as a Wild Cat player, he has only thrown eight career passes. In other words, Smith is a jack-of-all trades but master-of-none option.

In any other offseason, Smith would be a guy that any team would want to bring back. However, because of all of their other free agents, as well as the new kickoff rule (moving the kickoff location from the 30 to the 35 yard line), the Jets will be hard pressed to even attempt to resign Smith. This is going to be his first and only opportunity to cash in with a lucrative contract. The circumstances surrounding the Jets are going to make him expendable.

In a move that may indicate that the Jets are preparing for the inevitable, the team drafted TCU wide receiver Jeremy Kerley in the 5th round of the draft. Not only is Kerley a viable slot receiver going forward, he is an exceptional return man and has experience in the Wild Cat formation (he threw a touchdown pass to Cincinatti Bengals 2nd round pick Andy Dalton last year.) That selection appeared to be a direct indication that the Jets are ready to move on from Smith.

Though he will be missed, there is little to no chance that Brad Smith returns for the 2011 season. The biggest thing that Jets fans can hope for is that he does not sign with the New England Patriots or Miami Dolphins.

Odds of returning- 2/10

2011 NFL Draft: News, Notes, Predictions

Compared to recent years, the 2011 NFL Draft is a weak class. Of the top ten or so players, none are considered slam dunks. We are less than 48 hours away from the draft and we still do not have a definitive answer as to who will be the number one pick will be. However, no matter who goes number one, three or five, the 2011 NFL draft will always been remembered as the "Cam Newton Draft."

Though Newton is raw and has a questionable past, there is no denying his physical ability. He had arguably the greatest season in the history of college football, dominating the best conference in route to a Heisman trophy and National Championship. He is bigger and faster than Tim Tebow and has a stronger arm. Newton will have to overcome poor accuracy and demonstrate that he is able to learn and understand a complicated NFL offense after playing in a simple "One-read then run" system at Auburn. Considering that Carolina has no established quarterback on the roster and that the other three teams in their division have Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, and Josh Freeman, it will be hard to justify passing on Newton if they believe he can be an NFL quarterback. No other player at the top of the draft has anywhere close to his potential.

Overrated

Blaine Gabbert (QB Missouri)- In all my years following the draft, no player has received more undeserved praise than Blaine Gabbert. He was underwhelming in a passing system in which his predecessor Chase Daniel put up astronomical numbers. Gabbert has prototypical size and arm strength but after watching the film there is nothing that makes you believe he is worth a first round pick, let alone a top 10 selection. He rarely took snaps from under center, his throws rarely went further than 12 yards, his pocket presence is below average, and his footwork is poor. To be blunt, Gabbert was never mentioned among the top college quarterbacks in any of his years at Missouri. He compares favorably to ex-NFL quarterback Rob Johnson; a tall, handsome, big armed passer who may have the tools but has never put it together.

Julio Jones (WR Alabama)- Tall, strong wide receiver who never had much speed in college. Ran a 4.39 at the combine and suddenly he is flying up draft boards (he has been projected as high as #4 overall.) Jones had problems getting separation in the tough SEC conference and now NFL scouts expect him to get open at the next level? Receivers taken in the top ten need to be physical freaks. Guys like Andre Johnson, Braylon Edwards, Larry Fitzgerald, and Calvin Johnson had elite size, athleticism, and speed. Julio Jones is simply not in their class. He also has a history of drops. Compares favorably to Dwayne Jarrett. Both were big time, productive college wide receivers but cannot get away from coverage.

Patrick Peterson (CB LSU)- There were many who thought he projected as a safety at the next level due to his questionable speed. Like Julio Jones, he ran well at the combine which boosted his draft stock. However, when putting on the tape, Peterson looks too big and too thick to stay at cornerback over the long haul. He had some dominating performances in college but he did get lit up on occasion. For a guy that has been mentioned as potentially the number one overall pick in the draft, Peterson does not compare favorably with elite corners like Darrelle Revis or even last year's number one cornerback Joe Haden.

Cameron Heyward (DE Ohio State)- Projected to be drafted in th late first round, Heyward simply does not make enough plays to be considered a first round pick. In four years at Ohio State, he had 15.5 sacks while playing mainly against weak competition. In comparison, now epic draft bust and ex-Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston had 14 sacks in his junior year alone. While Heyward may be a better run stuffer, there is no way to justify drafting a 3-4 defensive end in the 1st round if he cannot rush the passer.

Justin Houston (DE/OLB Georgia)- Fierce pass rusher in college football's toughest conference. Had 10 sacks last season and 18.5 tackles for loss. Ran a 4.6 forty at the combine at over 265 pounds. Why is he on the overrated list you ask? For a guy with as much physical talent as Houston, he has a very questionable motor and does not give 100% on every play (I hate to bring him up again but scouts said the exact same thing about Vernon Gholston.) Houston's most recent issue was testing positive for marijuana at the combine. He knew he was going to be tested so the fact that he tested positive anyway leaves serious concerns about his character and judgement. Because of his ability, there is still a chance Houston can develop into a dominating NFL player but he is not worth a 1st round pick.

Underrated

Jake Locker (QB Washington)- Locker will be the best quarterback of the 2011 draft class. He played on a bad team in a tough conference with little to no help around him. He is used to playing under deres and on the run, something he will have to do at the NFL level, especially early in his career. He has experience in a pro style offense and demonstrated extraordinary leadership ability over his four year college career. Though his completion percentage is low (54% in his four years at Washington) he rarely threw short/high completion passes. He plays with the same reckless abandon as Brett Favre and that style will quickly win over his future teammates. Along with his big arm and great touch passing the ball, Locker has exceptional speed (ran a 4.59 at the combine.)

Randall Cobb (QB/RB/WR Kentucky)- Played exclusively WR at Kentucky but is an ex-high school quarterback with experience in the Wild Cat offense. When looking at the successes of NFL players such as Josh Cribbs and Brad Smith, Cobb's future appears bright because not only does he possess the throwing ability of Cribbs and Smith, he was an elite wide receiver at the college level. Cobb always seemed to make his biggest plays at the biggest moments no matter what situation he was put in. In addition to running routes and lining up in the backfield, he has experience returning punts and kicks. Cobb is the jack-of-all trades that will help an NFL team in any number of ways.

Akeem Ayers (DE/OLB/ILB UCLA)- Ayers is the complete defensive player. He has experience rushing the passer, dropping back in coverage, and stopping the run. When watching him on tape, he is lined up all over the field. His production was exceptional no matter where he lined up and he gives 100% on every play. He ran poorly at the combine which has hurt his draft stock but he plays much faster then he timed. Ayers has the ability to develop into a Terrell Suggs type player because of his versatility and athleticism.

Leonard Hankerson (WR Miami)- Has all the tools to be an elite #1 WR at the NFL level. He has the size (6-1 209 lbs), the speed (4.43 at the combine), and the college production (1,156 yards and 13 TDs last year) that should make him an obvious first round pick. He runs smooth routes and doesn't drop many passes. For whatever reason, Hankerson is grading out as a 3rd/4th round pick. It may sound crazy but he looks very similar to fellow Miami Hurricane and now NFL great Reggie Wayne.

Ahmad Black (S Florida)- Made big plays in big games all throughout his college career. Though he may be undersized (5-9 184 lbs) Black is an above average tackler and has exceptional cover skills. He has fallen drastically down draft boards because of poor forty times but he never looks slow on film. After the Gators lost most of their defense to the NFL one year ago, Black took on the leadership role and came through in the team's biggest moments. Last year, fellow Gator safety Major Wright was drafted in the 3rd round by the Chicago Bears and looks to be their long term starter. Black was a far superior college player and will pay dividends for whoever selects him in the middle/late rounds.

Greg McElroy (QB Alabama)- Though he does not project as a long term starter, McElroy looks to be the perfect long term backup. He did not lose a game as a starter from eighth grade until his senior years in college. No matter how talented his team around him was that is still an impressive statistic. He has experience in a pro style offense and always took care of the ball. He had a 4.0 GPA throughout his years at Alabama and earned the highest score of any player on the Wonderlic test, correctly answering 43 out of a possible 50 questions. McElroy will most likely not be drafted until the 6th/7th round but whoever takes him will be thrilled to have him


Predictions

-There will not be any running backs taken in the 1st round.

-There will be four quarterbacks selected in the 1st round. Cam Newton to Carolina, Blaine Gabbert to Washington, Jake Locker to Minnesota, and Andy Dalton to Jacksonville.

-A.J Green will be a Cincinnati Bengal and Julio Jones will be a Cleveland Brown.

-Surprise, surprise, the Patriots will trade down and stock pile picks for next year.

-The Bills will not draft a quarterback in the 1st or 2nd round.

-The much maligned Ryan Mallet will be an Oakland Raider.

-No tight ends will be drafted in the 1st round.

-Da'Quan Bowers will fall past pick #15.

2011 NBA Playoff Predictions

First Round
Eastern Conference
(1)Chicago Bulls over (8)Indiana Pacers in 5 games

(2)Miami Heat over (7)Philadelphia 76ers in 4 games

(3)Boston Celtics over (6)New York Knicks in 6 games

(4)Orlando Magic over (5)Atlanta Hawks in 6 games

Western Conference
(1)San Antonio Spurs over (8)Memphis Grizzlies in 5 games

(2)Los Angeles Lakers over (7)New Orleans Hornets in 4 games

(3)Dallas Mavericks over (6)Portland Trail Blazers in 7 games

(4)Oklahoma City Thunder over (5)Denver Nuggets in 6 games

Semi-Finals

Eastern Conference

(1)Chicago Bulls over (4)Orlando Magic in 6 games

(2)Miami Heat over (3)Boston Celtics in 6 games

Western Conference
(4)Oklahoma City Thunder over (1)San Antonio Spurs in 7 games

(2)Los Angeles Lakers over (3)Dallas Mavericks in 5 games

Conference Finals
Eastern Conference
(2)Miami Heat over (1)Chicago Bulls in 6 games

Western Conference
(4)Oklahoma City Thunder over (2)Los Angeles Lakers in 7 games

NBA Finals

(4)Oklahoma City Thunder over (2)Miami Heat in 6 games
Series MVP-Kevin Durant

Did We Overreact With the Red Sox?



 Who would have thought that in early April it would be up to Daisuke Matsuzaka to save the Red Sox? Save may be too strong a word for this early in the season but something is going to have to change quickly before the Sox make their home debut at Fenway Park this Friday.

In acquiring Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, the Red Sox became a shoe-in for a World Series championship. Considering that they finished 89-73 last season with a roster full of injured superstars, it seemed only logical that they could win 100+ games in 2011. However, in a surprising twist, the Sox now find themselves at 0-4 with their most unreliable pitcher set to take the mound tonight. Considering that they were dominated in three straight games in Arlington, followed up by a 3-1 loss in front of 9,000 people in Cleveland, there is room for concern.

However, rather then saying that Boston is now destined to an 0-162 season, but at the same time not saying they will be 158-4, lets meet somewhere in the middle. Baseball media and fans alike (including myself), seemed to not only predict that the Sox would win the World Series, they virtually guaranteed it. The Rays had lost some of their cornerstone players, the Yankees had no pitching, the Rangers lost Cliff Lee, it appeared the door out of the American League was open only to Boston. Now, Boston may very well still be the best team in the American League and may still be the representative in the World Series, but it is time to stop acting as if nobody else has a chance. Hell, lets not count out the Baltimore Orioles. They have the best record in baseball since Buck Showalter took over as Manager on July 29th of last year.

Contrary to popular belief, Major League Baseball is not the most predictable professional sports league in this country. That title belongs to the NBA. Over the last ten years, the mighty Yankees have won exactly one World Series. Of the 30 teams in baseball, only the Blue Jays, Orioles, Royals, Nationals/Expos, and Pirates haven't made the playoffs during the last decade. Teams like the 2002 Anaheim Angels, 2003 Florida Marlins, 2005 Chicago White Sox, and 2010 San Francisco Giants came out of nowhere to win the World Series. The list of surprise teams that have shocked prognosticators by making it to League Championship Series and World Series over the last ten years is much longer then the average fan would think. Sure, baseball has issues with small market teams that seemingly will never compete for championships, but more teams have had surprise runs and more supposed powerhouses have fallen short then baseball gets credit for.

This brings up back to the 2011 Red Sox. They do have two young pitching studs in Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz. They do have an infield consisting of three great players in Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, and Adrian Gonzalez. Their outfield has an All Star in Carl Crawford and a .300 hitter who has lead the league in stolen bases in Jacoby Ellsbury. Oh and to top it all off, their DH is one of the better power hitters in all of baseball. In other words, they're stacked. But again, lets not guarantee that they are going to the World Series. The American League is made up of plenty of good/great teams. The Yankees, Twins, White Sox, Rangers, and Athletics are legit playoff contenders while teams like the Tigers, Blue Jays, Rays, and Angels have enough talent to stay in the race.

Things are bad in Boston right now. They might turn it around tonight or it might take a week or two before things begin to click. All in all, this does make it for a fun start to the season and hopefully an entertaining 2011 campaign.

2011 New York Mets Preview

With Jerry Manuel and Omar Minaya in the rear view mirror, the new era of New York Mets baseball is about to commence. After a long offseason of financial uncertainty, low expectations, and unending criticism, the 2011 team is a critical part of the Mets successes in both the short and long term.

Upon taking the job, new General Manager Sandy Alderson was designated with an overpaid roster with little player flexibility. Unlike his two predecessors, new Manager Terry Collins takes an in-your-face approach that management hopes can ignite a team that has not lived up to expectations in each of the last four seasons. Alderson and Collins will have at least two years together to turn around a franchise that has seen nothing but heartbreak since losing Game 7 of the 2006 National League Championship Series.

On the field, the Mets appear to be a team that will need to rely on an offense that boasts numerous former All Stars. Not only is the pitching staff suspect to begin with, but there is no assurance that their ace Johan Santana will pitch at all in 2011. As a whole, the Mets have as many question marks as any team in baseball. If young players like Josh Thole and Jonathon Niese can continue to progress, if Mike Pelfrey can recapture the dominance he sported during the first half of the 2010 season, if Jason Bay and Carlos Beltran can stay healthy and bring some much needed power to the lineup, then the Mets list of question marks could be cut in half....at best.

As far as sure things go, David Wright and Jose Reyes should and will continue to be the foundation of the team. After a poor 2009 season, Wright bounced back in a big way with 103 RBIs and 29 HRs last year while Jose Reyes played well after missing most of '09. The biggest question involving the Wright/Reyes combination is if they will still be teammates by August 1st. There have been numerous reports, rumors, speculations, etc. about the future of Jose Reyes with the Mets. He is set to become a free agent and he will absolutely be looking to cash in on what could possibly be the last big money contract of his career. It is no secret that the Mets appear to be financially strapped going forward so trading Reyes may be their only choice. Much like the Denver Nuggets of the NBA, the Mets may be forced to trade their superstar simply because they would rather get something in return then watch him walk away in free agency. Sure they may not be compensated with equal value, but getting something is always better then nothing.

Perhaps the best thing that the Mets can hang their hat on is their future All Star First Baseman Ike Davis. Davis came on strong last year and appears to be one of the game's future stars. His calm demeanor fits well in the New York market and his maturity goes way beyond his years. Davis has the potential to reach 30 HRs and 85 RBIs this season. To go along with his bat, Davis is a stud defensively. His range and reliable glove make him a fixture at first base for the next ten years. The future is bright for the former first round pick.

Its too bad the Mets can't sprinkle some of the first base reliability to second, because it appears that Luis Castillo's old stomping grounds will be a roller coaster all season. As for now, Brad Emaus will be getting most of the playing time while Daniel Murphy and Chin-lung Hu fill in when necessary. Murphy showed plenty of promise in 2009 but missed all of 2010 due to injury. Murphy appears to be the team's most valuable bench player as he will come in at a number of different positions when called upon. Though his fielding may be suspect, he can deliver on the offensive side, which makes him a valuable piece of the Mets lineup.

No unit on the 2011 Mets has undergone more turnover then the bullpen. Gone are fixtures like Pedro Feliciano (Yankees) and Hisanori Takahashi (Angels), while newcomers Tim Byrdak, Taylor Buchholz, and D.J. Carrasco will be asked to pick up the slack. Byrdak is an older reliever who has been around and is considered a lefty specialist. He could provide solid innings but at his age injuries will always be a concern. Buchholz was elite...in 2008. The Mets cannot put too much pressure on him from the get go because he has missed the majority of the last two season recovering from shoulder surgery. Carrasco will be asked to pitch a lot of innings. He has past experience as a starter and considering what else the Mets have in the bullpen, he could play an integral part of the 2011 squad.

Back from last year are Francisco Rodriguez and Bobby Parnell. Other then Jason Bay and Carlos Beltran, perhaps no Met player has more pressure on him then K-Rod. He had an ugly falling out last season and it appears that the organization is waiting for his departure. For this season, K-Rod will need to do better then he has in his first two seasons in New York. Since leaving the Angels, K-Rod has never come close to matching his past performances. In his two seasons with the Mets he has been a solid closer, but he has not lived up to the contract that Omar Minaya gave him after the 2008 season in which he set the Major League record for saves in a single season (62.) Bobby Parnell has an elite fastball, sometimes reaching speeds as fast as 98mph. Some in the Mets organization believe that Parnell could possibly be the Mets future closer. It will be interesting to see just how many innings he pitches this season. He was effective last year (2.83 ERA), but he only pitched in 35 innings. In 2009 he appeared in 88 innings and his ERA was almost double that of last season (5.30 ERA.)

From afar, the Mets do not appear to be a team ready to contend for the playoffs. Over the last few years, however, more teams in Major League Baseball have seemingly come out of nowhere then people seem to realize. In terms of how this season will play out, here are a plethora of predictions---good and bad

The Good
-Josh Thole will continue to progress and make believers out of those who do not think he can be the catcher of the future

-R.A. Dickey will prove that last season was no fluke. He may not have as low an ERA (2.84) but he will provide quality starts for the Mets and will finish with at least 13 wins.

-Jonathon Niese will have an ERA under four and will add to the success he saw last season.

-Angel Pagan will bat above .280 and steal at least 35 bases

The Bad
-Mike Pelfrey will again drive Mets fans crazy. He will not be the consistent pitcher that the organization is hoping for. He will not reach the 15 win total that he achieved last season.

-Johan Santana will return in July but will not instill much confidence in the team as he will struggle to close out the season. It is not crazy to believe that 2011 may be the start of Santana's decline.

-Jason Bay will be better then 2010 (he cannot be much worse) but will not make anyone believe that he was worth the 4 year $66 million dollar contract that he signed last offseason. He will hit no more then 22 HRs.

2011 New York Mets record- 82-80

2011 MLB Predictions

American League

AL East



Boston's newest stars

1. Boston Red Sox*

2. New York Yankees*

3. Tampa Bay Rays

4. Toronto Blue Jays

5. Baltimore Orioles

AL Central

1. Minnesota Twins*
2. Detroit Tigers
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Cleveland Indians

AL West

1. Oakland Athletics*
2. Texas Rangers
3. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
4. Seattle Mariners

National League

NL East

Greatest rotation of all time?

1. Atlanta Braves*

2. Philadelphia Phillies*

3. New York Mets

4. Florida Marlins

5. Washington Nationals

NL Central

1. Milwaukee Brewers*
2. Cincinnati Reds
3. St. Louis Cardinals
4. Chicago Cubs
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
6. Houston Astros

NL West

1. San Francisco Giants*

2. Colorado Rockies

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

4. San Diego Padres

5. Arizona Diamondbacks

Playoff Preview

ALDS

Boston Red Sox over Oakland Athletics

Minnesota Twins over New York Yankees

NLDS

Philadelphia Phillies over Milwaukee Brewers

Atlanta Braves over San Francisco Giants

ALCS

Boston Red Sox over Minnesota Twins

NLCS

Atlanta Braves over Philadelphia Phillies

World Series

Boston Red Sox over Atlanta Braves

Individual Awards

AL MVP- Joe Mauer

AL Cy Young- C.C. Sabathia

NL MVP- Troy Tulowitzki

NL Cy Young- Roy Halladay