2014 MLB Team Previews – Mets
The last time the Mets qualified for the postseason was in 2006 when they went all the way to the NLCS after winning 97 games that season.
The last time the Mets qualified for the postseason was in 2006 when they went all the way to the NLCS after winning 97 games that season.
The Pittsburgh Pirates finally broke down that barrier and burst through by getting into the playoffs last year. They hadn’t been there since the 1990’s. Pittsburgh picked up 94 wins in what was an amazing season.
The St. Louis Cardinals couldn’t quite add another World Series title last year, but they did get to the World Series and they were only one step away.
The Tigers have been playoff regulars of late, last year losing a series to the eventual champion Red Sox that definitely left a bad taste in their mouth.
The Los Angles Angles enter the 2014 season with high hopes after a pair of back-to-back disappointing seasons, which ended without a postseason appearance, including a dismal 2013 campaign that concluded with the Halos finishing 18 games back of Oakland in the race for the AL West.
Since 2010, Texas has evolved into a perennial World Series contender, and after winning 91 games in 2013, it won’t be good enough if the Rangers cannot get into the playoffs this season.
The A’s stunned the baseball world in 2012 , making a shocking comeback to take the AL West championship on the last day of the regular season. Then they followed that up with winning 96 games and taking home their second straight AL West title last season.
The glory days for this franchise that led to a World Series title in 2008 are becoming a fading memory after posting an 81-81 mark in 2012 and ending last season’s campaign with a losing record of 73-89.
Two years ago Miami moved into their new digs at Marlin Park with Ozzie Guillen at the helm as manager and a renewed hope of making a much anticipated return to the postseason.
Things quickly became unglued with that entire situation, so when you fast forward to the start of this season, you have Mike Redmond in his second season as manager, leading a team that went 62-100 last year, which was the worst record in the National League.
It has not been a revolving door in Miami this past offseason but a few prominent faces have come and gone.
There will be whole new look in the infield with Garrett Jones penciled-in at first, Rafael Furcal taking over second base and Casey McGehee manning third base.
Jarrod Saltalamacchi was also added to handle the catching duties. Gone are Ryan Webb, Chad Qualls, Logan Morrison and Justin Ruggiano.
Projected Starting Lineup
Rafael Furcal (2B)
Christian Yelich (LF)
Giancarlo Stanton (RF)
Garrett Jones (1B)
Marcell Ozuna (CF)
Jarrod Saltalamacchi (C)
Casey McGehee (3B)
Adeiny Hechavarria (SS)
[dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
This lineup probably will not strike all that much fear in the heart of too many starting pitchers this season, but it has nowhere to go but up after the Marlins finished last season ranked 30th in runs, batting average and slugging percentage.
Jose Fernandez
Nathan Eovaldi
Henderson Alvarez
Jacob Turner
Fernandez leads the rotation after earning NL Rookie of the Year honors and finishing second in the Cy Young voting with a 12-6 record and 2.19 ERA. Eovaldi and Alvarez are coming off an injury-plagued campaign in 2013 so there are still some remaining question marks with both of these starters.
Turner is listed as the fourth starter, but that is still subject to change following a less than stellar performance last season. The fifth spot in the rotation remains up for grabs heading into opening day.
The Marlins’ bullpen took a hit with the loss of Webb and Qualls, but it still has a few quality arms in Mike Dunn and AJ Ramos. Closer Steve Cishek is back after finishing last season with 29 consecutive saves, which is currently the longest active streak in the Majors.
A lot would have to go right for Miami to stay in this division race much past the month of June, but it will not take all that much in terms of injuries and/or poor performance to send it spiraling towards another last place finish in the NL East.
The best case scenario would be a 70+ win season, but I would not be too quick to jump on the OVER for the Marlins’ projected win total of 69.5 games.
The Tampa Bay Rays have gone from laughing stock to one of the most consistent teams in the AL the last half-dozen years – they haven’t had a losing record over that span and they have made the playoffs four of the last six years.
What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time we were talking about the Blue Jays as a legitimate World Series contender – this year we are talking about the team just being competitive and with an outside shot at a Wild Card spot.
Whew – things have certainly changed in the Bronx ahead of the 2014 season! Gone are Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano from what was a typically potent lineup and in are some new pieces including Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran.
The Boston Red Sox will attempt to build on a worst-to-first 2013 campaign while trying to repeat as improbable World Series Champions. The Sox had a relatively quiet offseason – there were more departures on this team than there were acquisitions.
The Baltimore Orioles will be looking to get back to their 2012 form in which they won an astounding 93 games with what was, on paper, an average team.
I know it may not seem like it in many parts of the US and Canada but spring is just around the corner and in the world of Baseball, catchers and pitchers are already reporting to camp. This year, the oddsmakers like a few of the usual suspects and they have welcomed in a few new teams into the realm of the MLB favorites.
The Cardinals won the World Series last season, but with Pujols gone it will be tough to repeat and the Phillies, Yankees, and Pujols’ new team of the Angels have the best odds to win the World Series this season.