Countdown to Opening Day: #20 New York Mets

By Andrew Marcus

Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Pirates, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, biggest spring training question and top prospect.

PROJECTED LINEUP

SS Jose Reyes
CF Angel Pagan
3B David Wright
LF Jason Bay
RF Carlos Beltran
1B Ike Davis
C Josh Thole

2B Luis Castillo
P Mike Pelfrey

PROJECTED ROTATION
Mike Pelfrey
Chris Young
John Niese
R.A. Dickey
Chris Capuano
(Johan Santana out until mid-July)

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - Francisco Rodriguez
Set-up - Bobby Parnell

Top Prospect - Jenrry Mejia (RHP)

Breakout

Ruben Tejada - Luis Castillo may start the season as the Mets starting second basemen and Tejada may be sent to AAA for more seasoning, but I can see a situation where the 21 year old is hitting too well to waste in the minors. The Mets are going to do whatever it takes to put butts in the seats at Citi Field and the best way to do that is win. The best way to win is get a resemblance of and offense and by mid-May that means Tejada will be the best option.

Bust

Carlos Beltran - Beltran's skills are declining on the both sides of the ball. New manager Terry Collins may ask him to move to rightfield to save his legs, but Beltran is an old 33 years old and could have another year we he's in and out of the lineup. Don't expect to see Beltran's name listed without the Day-to-Day tag next to it.

Biggest Spring Training Question
Terry Collins may need a Tom Collins - I don't think Willie Randolph and Jerry Manuel, the Mets last two skippers, set the bar high, but still the Mets fans still want to see what Terry Collins can do to change their fortunes. At least  he can say he was not there during the dark days of choking and hopefully the change in reign is enough to snap this team, that has talented players like Wright, Reyes and Bay, back into contention.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 79-83

Will the Mets can back on the right track in '11?

PROJECTED FINISH: 4th in the National League East

***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
 

Check back tomorrow for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim